LEARNING TASKS

IN 119

Submitted by:
Fatima Faye V. Daguman

Submitted to:
Mr. Rogelio Mora
ACTIVITY 2- DEAD STARS
1. Write your own analysis about the situation of the characters in the story
The short story "Dead Stars" by Paz Marquez Benitez is conveying the theme
that pertains to forbidden love. It says that forbidden love is only apparent, and
its banes haunt the person until such time that he realizes his faults. The
underlying theme is responsibility, as shown by the story that Alfredo is
engaged to be married to Esperanza and the people expect him to get married
with her.
In the story dead stars, men are easy to fell out love and easy to fall in love.
The protagonist, Alfredo is uncertain by his decisions in his life. He was
engaged to Esperanza, his fiancée of four years. But for some reasons,
apparently on Alfredo’s part, a change of heart has taken place. He has fallen
for Julia Salas, the sister-in-law of the judge whom his father had a meeting
with. His confusion, weakness and unreasonableness are innate flaws of
humans. Alfredo sees something different to Julia Salas that Esperanza don’t
have and I find it very egotistical for him that he differentiate the two women.
He sees women as second choice of his dreams when it is fade.
2. Look for any object in the story that would symbolize something then explain
Dead stars symbolize things that are present but are left unspoken of. The love
between Alfredo and Julia seemed to be real but, as time goes by the love they
had lost and fades like a dead star so disillusionment, reminiscent of
the past that doesn't exist anymore. No, not because of lost youth, he
finds her to be different from that person he perceived her to be all these years.
And he is disenchanted. The illusion he harbored all these years are nothing
but dead stars, long dead but emits light that seems real for the distance it has
to travel, light being seen even if the source has lost its own brightness or died.
Esperanza's devotion to Alfredo also resembles love, but since she
believes in the "regenerative virtue of institution" more than true love, it is
safe to say that she is in the relationship, because of moral obligation.
ACTIVITY 3
SUMMARY

"A Child's Sorrow" is the very first Filipino novel written in English. It
was published in 1921 by Zoilo Galang, a Filipino Novelist.
The story was set one summer when Lucio Soliman decided to
accompany his friend Camillo in the beautiful town of Merry Town, Camillo's
hometown. Lucio was a very poetic man who'd prefer sitting all day just to
read. But because his friend was too eager to show his friend reality, he
insisted that Lucio must take a vacation in their town.
Thereshe met a young, innocent, and delicate maiden that made
Lucio's heart beat by the name of Rosa Garcia. He fell in love with her. And as
Lucio describe the love he felt towards this girl, he said it will make Apollo's
lyre play. He was madly in love. Rosa felt the same towards Lucio.
Until the end of summer vacation drew near and they knew they have
to be temporarily apart. Lucio has to pursue his dreams, he studied. Known for
his intelligence, he became a popular person. He became very busy, but still he
misses the company of his dearest loved. He became sorrowful. Not until Rosa
wrote a letter to make him bliss. Then he regained his strength. They have not
forgotten the love that empowers both of them. Until a celebration in merry
Town paved way for the lovers to reunite. Lucio was invited to speak in the
public. But the Governor (Rosa's Father) was not please and her has this ill
feeling towards Lucio. He instantly asked Oscar (His most trusted man and
Rosa's persistent suitor) who is the man speaking. When he found out that it
was her child's fiancee, he was not happy.
Days, week, and months had passed they were surprise of the news
that Rosa will be married not to his fiancee, but to Oscar. But because Lucio
was to obedient to his parent, he permitted Rosa to marry Oscar which made
both of them sorrowful .It was hard for him though. But he just wanted Rosa to
follow her mother. Though Rosa does not want to marry Oscar, she was forced
to because he was raped. For the sake of her "delicadesa" she was betrothed to
Oscar.
Later had passed Lucio's father died, and after several weeks his
love, Rosa died. This made Lucio felt a lot more of sorrow.
ANALYSIS
The setting, the scenarios, and the traditions in the novel were much alike in
the early 1920's. Back then, the way how people live is being conveyed through
the portrayal of the traits of people. Like for example before, there is a long
process of courting, they don't just easily give there answer. They tests their
suitors if they are really serious about them.
It can also be seen in the stories that politicians, especially rich
people use their prowess in order to gain whatever they wanted. They will do
whatever it takes just to acquire what they needed, even though acquiring it
through the means of force and harassment. Manipulating people through
their power is showed in the novel. Which is very evident until now.
Touch of Spanish culture is also shown in the novel. Wherein
their traits, even the way they dress is being employed. Allusion even are
present in the story.
The story tells us about the feeling of being in love. In loving a
person, you must be prepared to face the ups and downs, and the twist and
turns of life. Couple with the feeling of love and happiness, there is always
sorrow. You must learn to sacrifice and be hurt in the thing called LOVE.
It also tells us the fact that in the world of politics, politician use
their powers in order to conceive what they wanted whatever it takes. Which
Don Ismael represents.
Another representation are of Rosa and Lucio. Rosa represents
the true nature of a Filipina. A demure, moral and beautiful inside and out.
Lucio represents the author, who addicted to books. This made him experience
life in a second hand way.
In totality, the story conveys the reality that life is a series of
challenges. Life is not all about being happy. In order to truly experience life,
you must bravely encounter both the happiness and sorrows. This serves as
an inspiration to all.
ACTIVITY 1

1. Cardamon
- the aromatic seeds of a plant of the ginger family, used as a spice and
also medicinally.
2. Rigged up
- to make something quickly out of whatever you can find
3. Rickety
- lacking stability or firmness
4. Shaft
- a long, narrow part or section forming the handle of a tool or club, the
body of a spear or arrow, or a similar implement.
5. Anchored
- to make something or someone stay in one position by fastening him,
her, or it firmly
6. Biceps
- any of several muscles having two points of attachment at one end.
7. Wrenched loose
- to free something that was previously anchored somewhere
8. Mottled
- marked with spots or smears of color.
9. Searing
- extremely hot or intense.
10. Incontrovertible
- not able to be denied or disputed.
1. Characterize Roberto Cruz by citing supporting details from the story
- Roberto Cruz was a brave fellow man because of his courage to climb a
tower even though there is a chance that he might fall but he believes in his
self
2. How does the author show us the progress of Bert as he climbs the
tower? Is this technique effective? Why/why not?
- While Roberto climbs the tower the author shows us that it was nerve
wracking because he might fall if he is not careful enough but through his
journey at the tower Roberto feels he gain something while climbing the tower.
I don’t think it is effective because there are other ways to look for some
answers that you want by travelling or even climbing on a mountain rather
than a tower.
3. What is the importance of Bert’s “shedding off his shoes”? what are the
omens in the story?
- He shed his shoes to avoid accident while climbing the tower. The omens
in the story are the roof in the cottage where the galvanized iron sheets had
been wrenched loose by the wind and the rain-gutter where it cut an angle with
the porch. Saw hi knapsack and the notebook pale white.
4. Why was Bert distributed by the thought of these omens?
- He was disturbed because he thought that while climbing the tower
could bring misfortune or those omens that he saw could lead to something
while he’s in the tower.
5. What is the importance of the ship in the story? Why does its color and
surroundings change?
- The importance of the ship is that there are times that we need to let go
in order for us to welcome a new beginning. It is color changing and
surrounding changing because he felt a victory while he was climbing the tower
that while he’s in the tower he could see things that under could not it is life
changing.
6. After the climb, why did Bert not “hold up his head proudly, or throw out
his chest”?
- Bert did not hold his head because even if that thing that he did could
bring to him he should be always humble and see things that whenever you
have gain something always be humble and be grateful.
7. Why has he become “somehow afraid of himself”?
- He was afraid of himself because he knew that he would do something
more extreme than this.
8. What does the wireless tower represent? Explain it in connection with
the last sentence of the story.
- Wireless tower represents new beginning because no matter what the
past is you just make sure work hard to catch your dreams no matter what
obstacles you may have encounter in life.
9. In what way does the story identify Bert for you as a boy? What makes
his identity unique?
- Bert is adventurous because he likes to see things on his own. His
unique because his thoughts want him to do things that could find answer to
what his bee looking for.
ACTIVITY 4

The Very Last Story of Huli by Lilia Quindoza Santiago

Summary
This story is about the life of Huli after she survived the sexual exploitation
from Padre Camorra. After jumping out of the dormitory window, she dwelled
around in search for food and shelter. As she was roaming around, she
happened to pass by a group of men who were drinking. These men then raped
her, leaving her an emotional trauma she would carry on for life. She had the
chance to seek help from an investigator but unfortunately, she was also raped
by the investigator. She later on met Tinyong who took her in. Thinking that
this man is a good-hearted person, she went with him only to experience
sexual exploitation again but Huli survived after she managed to kill Tinyong in
fear for her life. After a long time of suffering, her sanity escaped her
consciousness and was sent to the mental hospital. The story of how she came
to be a bum and how she lost sanity became the talk of town.

Setting
The story began at dawn, when Huli, a mute, garbage woman, screamed loudly
and woke the people of her town, Dimatanto, which is also where the whole
story occurred. The story revolved around the time when Huli in Dimatanto,
which started as her being a baby born from a disgraced child from a rich
family and to when the story ended, her left her mad (she was planning on
escaping the hospital where she was brought to “change the society”, as the
last part of the story suggests). Interestingly, the name of the town, Dimatanto,
is a word in the Filipino language, which means “incomprehensible” or “not
understandable”. This wordplay seems a little self-evident but really crafty
because it somehow explains the story of the people against Huli, and as well
as their lives as well, which can be both described as tangled, tattered and
does not know where it’s going.
Plot
The plot surrounds on Huli’s life, from her deafening shrill at dawn from killing
Tinyong, her life as garbage woman roaming around the streets, then going
back in time to tell to tell her story since she was a child, when she grew to be
abused for her disability, and to her on the caring hands of Tinyong, her being
molested by the town investigator, up to her murdering Tinyong and on the last
part, which is just a lamentation of all the things that happened to her and the
town. The story also discussed her mother’s life briefly, her frustrations about
being voiceless and helpless, and of her being with and eventually being away,
together with the “children of the dark”.

Analysis of the Theme

A lot of themes can be brought from this story, like the triumph of evil over
good or the magnitude of the effects of bullying, and a lot more but, the story
seems to emphasize the plight of the Filipino society. The story emphasizes the
voiceless Filipino people, which was mentioned a lot earlier, and how these
unheard voices are always controlled and modified and manipulated for the
sake of an unknown gain. This means that Filipino focuses on molding itself
into a nation of seemingly unspeakable magnanimity but refuses to start the
change within themselves. Most of the Filipino people focus on the large picture
and not concerned with the tiny yet very intricate and important aspect of the
society. This brings total chaos and severe consequences for the people,
because what they created is a dysfunctional and crippled society, barely
moving because of disability. As for the triumph of evil over good, it is
important to think that Huli is good, but what she did was evil, so her
frustrations led her to do something horrible towards someone.