HOME OF THE ASHFALL

John Jack Wigley

Pampanga
Home of the Ashfall is an essay written by John Jack Wigley. It focuses
on his experiences and insights during the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.
Mount Pinatubo is an active strato volcanic caldera in the Zambales
Mountains, located on the tripoint boundary of the Philippine provinces of
Zambales, Tarlac and Pampanga, all in Central Luzon on the northern
island of Luzon. Pinatubo was heavily eroded and unobtrusive from view.
The dense forests covering the volcano supported a population of several
thousand indigenous Aetas. Its eruptive history was undisclosed to most
before the pre-eruption volcanic activities of 1991, just before it erupted
on June 15, 1991.
 Culture Reflected
One culture that can be reflected from the text is
the abundance of volcanoes in the Philippines; not
all countries have volcanoes. The Philippines
belong to the Pacific Ring of Fire where most of
the volcanoes in the world are found.
 Culture Reflected
The dialect of the Kapampangan is also one of the culture that can be
reflected from the text. Here in the Philippines, we have 175 dialects. This
only states that our culture, especially our language is comprehensive and
diverse unlike other countries which have one dialect only throughout their
country.

Lastly, another culture that can be discerned is that the Filipino

still smile and think positively in spite of devastating calamities.
Some people in other countries are too affected during
catastrophes; they mostly get depressed.
 Literary Technique
The essay is in the mode of first person narrative.
The author speaks directly to his readers in this
mode of storytelling so that the readers may feel an
interaction with the author.

One technique that the author used is

including their own dialect in the text,
which is Kapampangan.
 Literary Technique
Another technique that he used is applying humorous lines to the text. One
amusing situation in the text is when he said that the barker thought he was a
sissy. Another comical scenario in the text is when the barker said that he
would be charged extra because of his weight. The technique was used for the
readers to be enthusiastic and attached in reading the text. Another effect of
this technique is also to cause readers to remember something distinct.

One more technique that he included is the use of figurative

language which is done by most authors. One example of
figurative language in the text is when the eruption of Mount
Pinatubo is compared to a firecracker.