Yearning

Both stories showed how males swooned over women – young or old. However, that observation did not even scratch the surface of both stories. Yes, both stories showed the “power” of women, however this “power” has an underlying social pretext, which should be delved on further.

Bread of Salt

N.V.M. Gonzales

In a nutshell, the boy was put back to his senses. The story started out with the boy buying pan de sal for his grandmother. This errand started out as something of value to him as he guarded the pieces of pan de sal from harm every single morning that he purchased it for his grandmother who after losing three molars, could only take pan de sal for breakfast.. He was in love with Aida. He spent most of his time pining for Aida – saved money for a brooch, excelled in academics, and played the violin well. Eventually, the boy grew restless of his errand of buying bread, as he wanted to spend more time mastering the violin. His efforts gave fruit as the violin drew him closer to Aida – his band was tasked to play at the asalto of Aida’s cousins. The irony of it all was that just as when he was so close to Aida, Aida saw him at his weakest moment. He was shoving egg yolk desserts dipped in peppermint down his throat like a hungry pheasant boy and even managed to pocket quite a few. The story ended with him back at the baker’s store, waiting for the pan de sal, back to his senses.

The boy’s efforts to win the attention of Aida and his far-fetched thoughts were prevalent in the story that one might say that Aida held him on his sleeve as he swooned over her. She had in a way a “power,” maybe unknown to her, but she had it nonetheless. What is the social pretext of this? It should be noted that Aida was the niece of a Spaniard who lived at plain view from the baker’s store. Not only did the boy love Aida, he desired to have a lifestyle acceptable to Aida and to the elites of that time – landed Spaniards and the like.

It was a puppy love story, so to speak, that mirrored the reality of that time. It was very hard to live at that time, indeed! It was a time when a Filipino had to standout in order to be recognized. It was a time when a Filipino had to slave his way into society in order to be accepted much like how the boy had to save for Aida’s brooch only to find out in the end that he had no idea what suited her – he had no idea what that life was.

Maybe he should have taken a bite of the pan de sal he was guarding from harm, after all. That way, he would not have noticed the old Spaniard’s house. He would have instead savoured the pan de sal; he would have savoured the life he had and did not yearn for more than what he was ought to have. After all, he still ended up with pan de sal.

The Summer Solstice

Nick Joaquin

The story was set during the feast of St. John where the cult of the Tadtarin is celebrated. On the first night, a young girl heads the procession; on the second, a mature woman; and on the third, a very old woman who dies and comes to life again. At the heart of the story was a couple, the Moretas – Don Paeng and Doña Lupeng. The couple could be considered part of the affluent members of the town at that time, hence certain decorum is expected of them. Men were thus considered the padre de familia, while the women would take care of the household. The men were the providers of the family, hence they are stereotyped as strong; while the women on the other hand are considered the weaker sex, hence, they should be loved and respected.

The celebration of the female sex was prevalent in the story as women would dance during the three days of the celebration of the cult of the Tadtarin, while men are dumbfounded and were in awe of the women who they took for granted during the other days of the year.

Much like the transition of seasons, which characterized the summer solstice, Doña Lupeng transformed from a woman who found the cult of the Tadtarin as deviant from the norms of society into someone who actually participated in the dancing at the plaza. From someone who was content to being loved and respected, she transformed into someone who also wanted to be adored. From this observation, one may deduce how feminism abounded in the story, how the “weaker sex” of that time demanded for equal or if not superior treatment from the men, however, an underlying social pretext of the patriarchal system which abounded on that time seems more worthy of further discussion.

As mentioned above, the patriarchal system of that time gave men this macho image, while women were given this frail image. Therefore, women were to be loved and respected. As men achieved this ideal treatment towards women, they themselves gained respect for themselves since by respecting women and providing for their family, they likewise were deemed respectable and honourable men. It could be considered a paradox because women were respected and loved because they were thought to be weak and helpless without men.

When I look for innocence I look at the children. Where are the children?

Innocence once lost is lost forever. This could be the reason why in both stories the parents were concerned about keeping the innocence of their children. In the same manner, both stories somewhat allude to Pilate’s ‘washing of the hands’ to purge him from sin as the once innocent children in both stories washed their bodies in hopes of regaining their purity.

Magnificence

Estrella D. Alfon

The children in Magnificence were naïve and innocent – they were easily amazed after having been given pencils of different colors by Vicente, their tutor. Vicente was described as a queer yet gentle men, characteristics that gravitated the children towards him.

Without implicitly stating the obvious, the girl was taken advantage by Vicente. He took her to his lap and afterwards must have conjured obscene thoughts in his head causing him to be aroused. The mother saw this incident and forced him with slaps out of their house.

The last few scenes struck me the most as the mother hurriedly searched her daughter’s body for signs of abuse and later bathe her. It seemed like a cleansing ritual. Though a so-called cleansing ritual was done and the tutor was taken care of, the child’s innocence was already blemished. The next scene wherein the mother burned her clothes immediately yet mentioned that the pencils can be discarded the next day seemed like the mother’s acceptance of the incident, that her daughter was in fact violated – she already accepted the existence of the pencils (a reminder of Vicente’s presence).

Generations

Ninotchka Rosca

Three generations were portrayed in the story. The first generation was Old Selo and his wife, the second was the drunkard husband and his wife, and the third generation consisted of the children. All three generations were greatly affected by the unjust society. Old Selo had to experience giving a share of his harvest to the landowner. The second generation on the other hand, had to experience poverty to the extent that they are unable to have enough rice for the family. The third generation on the other hand seemed to have been bled dry by the unjust society so much so that the only thing they had left, which was their innocence, was still taken from them.

Because of poverty, people have only their rights, dignity, and self-worth left to their name. They are hungry and oppressed, but they have this. Unfortunately, as seen in the experiences of the young girl who bailed out her drunk father from jail who violated the curfew, she had to give up even this; she gave up her innocence.

She realized eventually that she was entitled to this right and to have dignity and self-worth. It was too late, yet this did not stop her from taking revenge. She gave her father a fatal blow in the head. Thereafter, she met her siblings and told them to have a bath in the canal before heading home. Once again, an image of cleansing was portrayed. In spite of this ritual cleansing, the girl was still unable to regain her innocence.