Republic of the Philippines

WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY – PHILIPPINES

COLLEGE OF NURSING AND ALLIED MEDICAL SCIENCES
3100 Sampaguita St. Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija

Elizabeth C. Bernardino

BSN 2-5

“The wedding dance”

On his wedding night to a new bride, Awiyao takes a break from the festivities to see his
prior wife, Lumnay, at his home. They've been dating for seven years yet have yet to have a child
together. As a result, Awiyao decided to divorce Lumnay and marry a younger woman named
Madulimay. Awiyao still loves Lumnay and Lumnay still loves Awiyao. However, in order for
Awiyao to be considered a man in his culture, he must have a child. Someone to carry on his
father's name, as he had done with his own. Lumnay refuses to leave the home and attend the
wedding dance outdoors, despite Awiyao's persistent requests. He assures her that if she attends
the dance, one of the men will notice her and may even propose to her. If she's luckier with the
man, she might even bear a child with him. But Lumnay tells him that she doens't wan't anyone
else. She is just interested in him. Lumnay declines Awiyao's offer of the house, explaining that
she must see her parents, who are elderly and require assistance in growing beans and pounding
rice. Awiyao then offers Lumnay a field, but Lumnay turns it down. Lumnay simply asks that she
keep her beads since they remind her of Awiyao's affection for her. Twenty fields are worth the
pearls. Awiyao handed her the beads and returned to the celebrations. Lumnay resolves to go to
the wedding and confront the throng, suddenly filled with the strength to fight for her sentiments.
Tell the village leader that taking Awiyao away from her because she can't carry him a child is
wrong. The brilliant lights startle her as she approaches the area where the wedding dance is being
held. She takes a step back and heads up the hills, away from the settlement. Lumnay can see the
brilliant lights of the wedding dance from a clearing at the summit. Lumnay is lost in the bean
pods in the clearing at the end of the narrative.