My Father Goes to Court by Carlos Bulosan

The How’s, What If’s and If ever’s

1. How are Filipino neighbors described in the story?

•Filipinos are known to be hospitable and friendly. There was a scene in the story when the poor family is having a good time and laughing together, their neighbors also stopped in their yard to join  them. Here in our country, we do not treat our neighbors as other people. We often see them as our friends and sometimes, we even consider them as part of the family. 

2. What Filipino values are portrayed by the poor man’s family?

•The poor man’s family portrayed Filipino values such as having close family ties and showing contentment. Although the poor man’s family cannot afford to eat three times a day unlike the rich man’s family, the members still managed to be happy and be thankful for what they have.

3. How does the story reflect the present situation of Filipino families?

•The story reflects the current situation of Filipino families by citing scenes which are based on real-life situations. It was shown here how Filipinos value their families despite of any circumstances. It was also portrayed here that although Filipino families are not that rich, we can still be happy as long as we have each other.

4. Does one’s social status affect his way of life, his principles? Why or why not?

•Yes, I think social status affects one’s way of life and his principles. A person’s way of living or lifestyle is dependent on the environment he grew up in. Just like in the story, I believe that there are many differences between a poor family and a rich family. Their perspectives and outlooks in life are very much distinct. Usually, those who belong in the higher class have higher standards than those who belong in the average and lower class that have a simpler way of living.

5. How does laughter help you as a person?

•As the saying goes, Laughter is the best medicine; although it is not in a form of a capsule, tablet, or injection, I believe it helps to improve one’s health or condition. As a person, laughter helps me live longer. It relieves me from all the stress and negativities I’m facing. Without it, I might have mental problems or issues because of depression. Laughter makes my heart and mind happy because of the positive vibes it brings.

6. What does Bulosan’s My Father Goes to Court tell us about happiness?

•My Father Goes to Court tells us that there’s no exception for happiness. Everyone can be happy as long as he chooses to; it does not matter whether you are rich, poor, or average. Happiness is not that hard to achieve; it can be attained by doing simple things and appreciating those. The author also wants to tell his readers that money is not everything. Sometimes, all we need is a loving family whom we can rely on at any time.  

7. If ever you have a chance to talk to rich people in a convention, what important reminder will you tell them about living life to the fullest?

•If I were given a chance to talk to rich people in a convention, I would tell them to just enjoy life. I would remind them to be humble at all times and stay their feet on the ground. Money is not everything; being rich is far different from being happy. Relax and have a break from work. They must avoid showing superiority among the people who do not belong on the same class or level as theirs. Life is short. They should spend it by doing good and helping others. In the end, we are just human beings made by God and we’re all equal in His eyes.

🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽

The Wedding Dance by Amador Daguio

1. Nowadays, what is your ideal wedding? How do you view marriage?

•Being a woman living in the 21^st century, I still value the importance of marriage. For me, marriage is one of those most awaited happenings in a woman’s life. It is a dream of every girl that she thinks of as she grows old.  It is like the beginning of your own fairytale to happen. My ideal wedding is just simple –be with the special persons in our lives on the wedding day, be married at a church that has a significant meaning between the both of us, wear my dream bridal gown as I walk into the altar with my parents, and feel like a princess turning into a Queen as I approach my life’s King. I want our fairytale to be as memorable and sacred as it should be, to have a good start of living our dream reality as couples.

2. If you were Awiyao, would you also give up your marriage just to follow a certain tradition?

•If I were Awiyao, I would not give up our marriage just because of an existing tradition. As the saying goes, “Love knows no boundaries.” – If you truly love your partner, nothing can stop you from being with him/ her. I would ignore whatever that tradition is. I would do whatever it takes for our marriage to last. Also, it is a matter of weighing which is better between the two. For me, marriage is a sacred thing – which makes it more important than following traditions or what people are used to do.

3. If you were Lumnay, would you also follow the tradition?

•If I were Lumnay, I think it’s not me who would make the decision. I will let my husband, Awiyao, to choose if he wants to stick with our marriage or not. It is because the tradition was only appropriate to him and my decision would base on his’. If he wants to follow the tradition, then I will sacrifice and leave him. But if he opts to disregard the tradition and stay with me, I will be with him until the end.

4. Do you also believe that having a child makes a family complete?

•Yes, I believe that having a child makes a family complete. A part of being married is the want of the couple to have a child. It makes the relationship of a married couple be worthwhile. A child adds color to the life of a husband and wife. It gives them a lot of reasons to fulfill their duties and responsibilities as parents. It makes their life together as parents, be a meaningful one.

The How’s, What If’s and If ever’s

1. How do you think expectations of society affect the life of married couples?

•Societal expectations affect the life of married couples in a way that they add more pressure on their relationship. Society expects married couples to achieve that “perfect relationship.” It sets the unwritten rules that may cause problems on their life as partners. There are many dos and don’ts, shoulds and shouldn’ts; married couples are hesitant to do what they want because society has made a standard that they must follow.

2. What if you belong to Awiyao and Lumnay’s tribe, will you also follow the same practice?

•No, I will not choose to follow that practice especially if it’s against my will. I would not let my husband and our relationship suffer just because of a practice or tradition. I also believe that the reason why couples were married is because they want to spend their life together until the end. Hence, there must be no reason for them to separate because love knows no boundaries.

3. For Females: Do you also believe that between a man and a woman, the latter is expected to do more sacrifices?

•Of course not, I believe that both men and women were made equal. No one is made to do more sacrifices because we’re both humans. What men can feel, women can feel too. Both deserve to be treated equally and fairly.

4. How are men and women portrayed in the story/ Their roles? Their rights?

•The story showed how men and women were treated before. They do not have the right to choose what they truly want because there are boundaries set for their relationship like following such customs and traditions.

5. What dominant characteristic of each is shown by Awiyao/ Lumnay’s character in the story?

•For me, there are two dominant characteristics that both characters possess in the story. First is the positive one; each of them showed their loyalty to their tribe's traditions. They set aside their feelings to follow what others expected them to do. The second is the negative one - they have shown an act of cowardice. They are not brave enough to fight for their relationship, and face the problems that they will encounter.

6. If ever you are Awiyao or Lumnay, how will you prove your love for your wife or husband?

•Marriage is something that you can hold on to until the end. If I were Lumnay, I can prove my love for my husband by being with him no matter what happens. I will not easily give up our marriage just because of any traditions. I will fulfill my promise to him that we will be together through thick and thin, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. Whatever problem we might face, I will make sure that I am with him all the way until the end.

7. How do you live to the expectations of society? Do you consider “society’s expectation” important?

•Over the years, society has formed this perfect person, with expectations that no one could ever reach; expectations which belittle people if they weren’t met. As a woman and a teenager, I can say that it is important to follow these expectations made by the society, but not to the extent of doing everything because the society or the universe expects you to do so. Graduate high school, get a degree in college, have a stable job in the future – these are some of what people look forward to us, teenagers. These things help us to achieve our goals and become better individuals. I live by following those expectations that became the “standard” of today’s generation.

8. What will you choose: dignity or love? Explain your answer.   

•It depends on the situation. Love makes the world go round - everyone prefers to love and to be loved. However, love has always a limitation and that is dignity. If I were on a situation where love becomes toxic in my life, I would prefer dignity. I believe that one should not let his/her dignity be affected or downgraded because it is a matter of respect for yourself and your feelings.

🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽

Why Women Wash the Dishes by Filomena Colendrino

1. Based on your observations, what factors contribute to the separation of married couples? #Expectations

•Nowadays, annulment or separation is not an issue for some married couples. Based on my observations, miscommunication between them is one of the factors why couples arrive to such decision. Miscommunication can lead to many problems that can ruin the relationship of the couple. It can lead to many expectations that one seeks from his/her partner. If those expectations were not met, it will cause misunderstanding between them which leads to many problems and arguments.

2. What do you think is the best way so couples won’t argue with duties and responsibilities at home?

•To avoid having arguments at home, couples must have equal distribution of duties and responsibilities. They should have proper communication to keep themselves from fighting. With equal assignment of chores, they can avoid arguing on who did better. Couples can refrain from ranting and complaining on each other. They can live in a much harmonious relationship if proper communication and balanced distribution of tasks are present in the first place.

  

The How’s, What If’s and If ever’s

1. How are men and women’s roles portrayed in the story?

•As portrayed in the story, men are responsible for working outside to earn a living for his family. On the other hand, women are expected to stay at home and do all the household chores. Before, men are expected to be stronger than women. Women do not have the right to choose what they want because they have no other choice but to stay at home.  

2. What strengths and weaknesses of both parties are shown by Colendrino in her story?

•As shown in the story, men usually have the sense of superiority and authority because they are the head of the family. However, it was also shown that men's weakness is their wives; they are afraid of their wives especially when they started nagging and became angry. On the other hand, women tend to be braver than their husbands because they believe that they are always right. What serves as their weakness is they become impulsive; they let their emotions control their actions, without even thinking the consequences.

3. For Females: Do you agree that wives should just stay at home and take care of house hold chores? What is your stand on “women are for domestic purposes only”?

•As a woman, I highly disagree that “women are for domestic purposes only.” First, men and women should be treated equally. We should have equal rights and treatments in our society. Second, women do not deserve to just stay at home and do all the household chores. We are not maids. We are not robots. Third, we have the right to be educated and to achieve our dream jobs. Over the years, I also think that women have proven many things and achievements that can justify our value in the society. Women can do what men can.

4. If ever problems arise in the family, how do you think should married couples deal with those?

•Married couples should handle well whatever problem they will encounter. Each of them should talk about their problems first before doing any decision. They should have proper communication within their relationship to avoid making things worse.

5. As children, what do you think are your roles whenever you see your parents fighting?

•As children, we should serve as a balancer or equalizer when our parents are fighting. We should help them to resolve their problem as soon as possible. We should not take any sides; talk to them first and understand each. Let ourselves be the key to a healthier relationship between our parents and among the family.

6. What are the common problems faced by married couples nowadays? How do they solve their problems?

•Based on my observation, problems which are commonly faced by married couples nowadays include financial problems and/or having a third party in their relationship. Oftentimes, these are the reasons why married couples argue a lot, and worst, the causes of separation. However, parents who are responsible and who consider most the welfare of their family often solve these problems by having proper communication and understanding. They do not let anger destroy their relationship easily. Also, planning and equal distribution of expenses of the family help them to resolve their financial problems. When it comes to third party issues, he/she should remain loyal to his/her partner and his/her children at all times.

🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽

We, Filipinos are Mild Drinkers by Alejandro Reyes Roces

1. If ever you have the chance to talk to an American, what best feature about Filipinos will you tell him?

•If I were given the chance to talk to an American, I will tell him that being religious is the best feature that we, Filipinos, have. From then up to now, our faith in God has not been changing; it keeps getting stronger. No matter how good or bad the situation is, we always look up to Him. Also, most of the existing beliefs and traditions we have are based on our religion. This feature is one of the Filipinos’ trademarks and what makes us unique from other nations.

  

The How’s, What If’s and If ever’s

1. How are Filipinos portrayed in the story? What certain characteristics of Filipinos are present in the character of the farmer?

•In the story “We Filipinos Are Mild Drinkers,” Filipinos were portrayed through the character of the farmer. The farmer in the story represents the common characteristics of us, Filipinos, which is being humorous and sarcastic at the same time. These were shown during the scenes when the farmer had encountered the Americans. Filipinos tend to remain humble at all times unlike other foreigners who are boastful. We are not that “loud and proud” type of persons especially on the things we can do. Most of the times, we also tell things that actually mean the other way round to make it sound less formal and fun.

2. What if an American invites you to drink but of his choice, would you join him?

•I think I would prefer not to join him. Although Filipinos are said to be hospitable and friendly, there are still limitations set. I am not that type of person who trusts people easily especially if I really do not know them personally. Also, I do not drink liquors at all that's why I think I would not accept his invitation. 

3. Do you believe that Filipinos are mild drinkers?

•No, I don’t believe that Filipinos are really mild drinkers. The author only used the phrase to present his piece in a sarcastic and humorous way. I think that liquors in our country, like lambanog, have higher or stronger alcohol content than what other countries have. Also, Filipinos are also used to drinking alcohols at any occasion or even during their free time – that’s why they are not really mild drinkers; but hard drinkers, rather.

4. Do you agree that there should be an ordinance/ law about drinking liquor? Why or why not?

•Based on the current situations I have seen, I agree that there should be an ordinance about drinking liquor. Drinking alcohol isn’t bad at all as long as the person drinks moderately. The existing law in which minors are not allowed to buy alcohols must be continued. I also believe that too much liquor can cause a person to misbehave that’s why the government should set limits on the number of liquors a person can buy.

5. If ever you were to decide on what age are Filipinos allowed to drink liquor, how old should he be? Explain your answer.                

•If I were to decide on what age Filipinos are allowed to drink liquor, I would stick on the usual age limit which is 18 years old. He must be of legal age so that he is matured enough of his actions. Filipinos who are minors may not be aware of what is right and wrong, and are more likely to misbehave.

🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽

Children of the Ash Covered Loam by N. V. M. Gonzalez

1. What for you is the significance of the line, “Kapag may nawala, may papalit.”

•"Kapag may nawala, may papalit." --- This line signifies that whatever leaves, there will always be a replacement. God will not let us feel down for losing things that are important to us. Maybe sooner or later, better things than what we’ve lost are coming. What’s important is, we should learn how to wait for His right time. We must always trust His decisions and the perfect timing for everything. 

The How’s, What If’s and If ever’s

1. How can you relate to Tarang in the story? Compare your way of living to that of Tarang’s?

•Like Tarang, I also grew up to a simple way of living. My parents taught me to be simple and obedient. I can also see myself in Tarang's character. Just like him, I am also hungry for new experiences and learning. I want to explore things around me that I am conscious at.

2. What if your belief is totally against your parents’, would you still insist and ask them to listen to you? Why or why not?

•If there is nothing wrong with my beliefs and principles in life, I would still insist my parents to listen to me. I believe that each one of us were made different and, as my parents, they should support me. I also believe that I am on the right age to know what's right and wrong; as long as I am not hurting someone, I will continue doing things I want to do.

3. If ever you were to make an ending for the story, how will you end it?             

•If I were to make an ending for the story, I would let Tarang's parents to realize that they should have also consider the beliefs of Tarang. Sometimes, they should also learn how to observe things and accept whatever life has to offer.

🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽

Liham ni Pinay Mula sa Brunei by Elynia Ruth S. Mabanglo

1. What is your common opinion on the woman’s decision to work abroad and leave her family behind?

•Being an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) isn’t a joke or an easy thing to do; it is a struggle that many Filipinos are facing nowadays. In my opinion, it is alright if a parent chooses to work abroad but, it is not fair if the woman will do it. The father, being the head of the family, should stand for the things he must do as the head. Instead of allowing his wife, he must take the responsibility of working abroad if that would make his family in comfort. I also think that mothers are the best guardians for their children that’s why they should not be separated from their family.

2. What are the beliefs and traditions found in the story that you believe are still present up to this day?

•The story includes some beliefs and traditions that are still present up to this day. From then up to now, women are believed to be responsible for all the domestic or household chores. It was also shown in the story the tradition of many OFWs working abroad. We get used to have a balikbayan box from them once they got home for our pasalubong. 

The How’s, What If’s and If ever’s

1. How does the poem about Pinay open the minds of younger generation like you?

•Liham ni Pinay Mula sa Brunei serves as an eye-opener for many Filipinos especially for the younger generation. This poem greatly contributes on our way of thinking and on how we see things at present. It allows me to realize how hard a Pinay mother does for the sake of her family. It also focuses on many OFWs who need to sacrifice and leave their family behind. This poem gives me a lot of reasons to be thankful for having such wonderful parents who will do everything for our family.

2. What if you are in the woman’s shoe, would you also leave your family and work abroad? Why or why not? 

•If I were in Pinay’s shoe, I might also do the same thing. If there’s no other choice, I would also choose to work abroad. Even if it means being away from them, I will do it. I cannot afford to see my family suffer from hunger. I’d rather be the one to sacrifice than to watch them live in pain.

3. If ever this situation happens in your family- having a father like Pinay’s husband- what will you do? 

•If ever I had a father like Pinay’s husband, I will just focus on helping my mother. I will do the best that I can to lessen her burden from all the duties and responsibilities she carries. Although he is not a responsible parent, he is still my father. I should still respect him and I believe that I do not have the right to preach him because of his behavior. 

🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽🔽