IS102

FOOTNOTE TO YOUTH
By Jose Garcia Villa

GROUP 3 AND 4
 SHORT STORY
The sun was salmon and hazy in the west. Dodong thought to himself he would tell his father about Teang
when he got home after he had unhitched the carabao from the plow, and led it to its shed and fed it. He was
hesitant about saying it, he wanted his father to know what he had to say was of serious importance as it would
mark a climacteric in his life. Dodong finally decided to tell it, but a thought came to him that his father might
refuse to consider it. His father was a silent hardworking farmer, who chewed areca nut, which he had learned to
do from his mother, Dodong’s grandmother.

He wished as he looked at her that he had a sister who could help his mother with the housework.

I will tell him. I will tell it to him.

The ground was broken up into many fresh wounds and fragrant with a sweet earthy smell. Many slender soft
worms emerged from the further rows and then burrowed again deeper into the soil. A short colorless worm
marched blindly to Dodong’s foot and crawled clammily over it. Dodong got tickled and jerked his foot, flinging
the worm into the air. Dodong did not bother to look where into the air but thought of his age, seventeen, and he
said to himself he was not young anymore.
 Dodong unhitched the carabao leisurely and gave it a healthy tap on the hip. The beast turned its head
to look at him with dumb faithful eyes. Dodong gave it a slight push and the animal walked alongside him to
its shed. He placed bundles of grass before it and the carabao began to eat. Dodong looked at it without
interest.

Dodong started homeward thinking about how he would break his news to his father. He wanted to
marry, and Dodong did. He was seventeen, he had pimples on his face, then down on his upper lip dark-
these meant he was no longer a boy. He was growing into a man – he was a man. Dodong felt insolent and
big at the thought of it, although he was by nature low in stature. Thinking himself a man–grown, Dodong felt
he could do anything

“I will marry Teang,” Dodong repeated. “I will marry Teang.”

His father kept gazing at him in flexible silence and Dodong fidgeted on his seat.

I asked her last night to marry me and she said… “Yes. I want your permission… I… want… it…” There was
an impatient clamor in his voice, an exacting protest at his coldness, this indifference. Dodong looked at his
father sourly. He cracked his knuckles one by one, and the little sound it made broke dully the night
stillness.
“ Must you marry, Dodong?”

Dodong resented his father’s question; his father himself had married early. Dodong made a quick impassioned
essay in his mind about selfishness, but later, he got confused.

“You are very young, Dodong.”

“I’m seventeen.” “That’s very young to get married at.”

“I… I want to marry… Teang’s a good girl…

“Tell your mother,” his father said.

“You tell her, Tatay.”

“Dodong, you tell your Inay.”

“You tell her.” “All right, Dodong.”

“All right, Dodong.”

“You will let me marry Teang?”

 “Son, if that is your wish… of course…” There was a strange helpless light in his father’s eyes. Dodong did
not read it. Too absorbed was he in himself.

Dodong was immensely glad he has asserted himself. He lost his resentment for his father, and for a
while, he even felt sorry for him about the pain in his tooth. Then he confined his mind to dreaming of Teang
and himself. Sweet young dreams…

Dodong stood in the sweltering noon heat, sweating profusely so that his camiseta was damp. He was
still like a tree and his thoughts were confused. His mother had told him not to leave the house, but he had
left. He wanted to get out of it without clear reason at all. He was afraid, he felt afraid of the house. It had
seemingly caged him, to compress his thoughts with severe tyranny. He was also afraid of Teang who was
giving birth in the house; she face screams that chilled his blood. He did not want her to scream like that. He
began to wonder madly if the process of childbirth was really painful. Some women, when they gave birth,
did not cry.

In a few moments, he would be a father. “Father, father,” he whispered the word with awe, with
strangeness. He was young, he realized now contradicting himself of nine months ago. He was very young…
He felt queer, troubled, and uncomfortable.
 Dodong felt tired of standing. He sat down on a saw-horse with his feet close together. He looked at his
calloused toes. Then he thought, supposed he had ten children.

The journey of thought came to a halt when he heard his mother’s voice from the house.

Somehow, he was ashamed of his mother for his youthful paternity. It made him feel guilty as if he had
taken something not properly his.

“Come up, Dodong. It is over.”

Suddenly, he felt terribly embarrassed as he looked at her. Somehow, he was ashamed of his mother
for his youthful paternity. It made him feel guilty, as if he has taken something not properly his. He dropped
his eyes and pretended to dust off his Kundiman shorts.

“Dodong,” his mother called again. “Dodong.”

He turned to look again and this time, he saw his father beside his mother.

“It is a boy.” His father said. He beckoned Dodong to come up.

 Dodong felt more embarrassed and did not move. His parent’s eyes seemed to pierce through him so he
felt limp. He wanted to hide or even run away from them.

“Dodong, you come up. You come up,” his mother said.

Dodong did not want to come up. He’d rather stay in the sun.

“Dodong… Dodong.”

I’ll… come up.

Dodong traced the tremulous steps on the dry parched yard. He ascended the bamboo steps slowly. His
heart pounded mercilessly in him. Within, he avoided his parent’s eyes. He walked ahead of them so that
they should not see his face. He felt guilty and untrue. He felt like crying. His eyes smarted and his chest
wanted to burst. He wanted to turn back, to go back to the yard. He wanted somebody to punish him.

“Son,” his father said. And his mother: “Dodong..” How kind their voices were. They flowed into him,
making him strong.

“Son,” his father said.

 And his mother: “Dodong..”

How kind their voices were. They flowed into him, making him strong.

“Teanf?” Dodong said.

“She’s sleeping. But you go in…”

His father led him into the small sawali room. Dodong saw Teang, his wife, asleep on the paper with her
soft black hair around her face. He did not want her to look that pale.

Dodong wanted to touch her, to push away that stray wisp of hair that touched her lips. But again that
feeling of embarrassment came over him, and before his parent, he did not want to be demonstrative.

The hilot was wrapping the child Dodong heard him cry. The thin voice touched his heart. He could not
control the swelling of happiness in him.

“You give him to me. You give him to me,” Dodong said.
 Blas was not Dodong’s only child. Many more children came. For six successive years, a new child
came along. Dodong did not want any more children. But they came. It seemed that the coming of children
could not help. Dodong got angry with himself sometimes.

Teang did not complain, but the bearing of children tolled on her. She was shapeless and thin even if she
was young. There was interminable work that kept her tied up. Cooking, laundering. The house. The
children. She cried sometimes, wishing she had not married. She did not tell Dodong this, not wishing him to
dislike her. Yet, she wished she had not married. Not even Dodong whom she loved. There had been
another suitor, Lucio older than Dodong by nine years and that was why she had chosen Dodong. Young
Dodong who was only seventeen. Lucio had married another. Lucio, she wondered, would she have born
him children? Maybe not, either. That was a better lot. But she loved Dodong… in the moonlight, tired and
querulous. He wanted to ask questions and for somebody to answer him. He wanted to be wise about many
things.

Life did not fulfill all of Youth’s dreams.

Why must this be so? Why one was forsaken… after love?

One of them was why life did not fulfill all of the youth’s dreams. Why it must be so. Why one was
forsaken… after love.
 Dodong could not find the answer. Maybe the question was not to be answered. It must be so to make
youth. Youth must be dreamfully sweet.

Dreamfully sweet. Dodong returned to the house, humiliated by himself. He had wanted to know little
wisdom but was denied it.

When Blas was eighteen, he came home one night, very flustered and happy. Dodong heard Blas’
steps for he could not sleep well at night. He watched Blass undress in the dark and lie down softly. Blas
was restless on his mat and could not sleep. Dodong called his name and asked why he did not sleep.

You better go to sleep. It is late,” Dodong said.

Life did not fulfill all of the youth’s dreams. Why it must be so? Why one was forsaken after love?

“Itay..” Blas called softly. Dodong stirred and asked him what it was.

“I’m going to marry Tona. She accepted me tonight.

“Itay, you think it's over.”

 Dodong lay silent.

I loved Tona and… I want her.”

Dodong rose from his mat and told Blas to follow him. They descended to the yard where everything was
still and quiet.

The moonlight was cold and white.

“You want to marry Tona, Dodong said, although he did not want Blas to marry yet. Blas was very young.
The life that would follow marriage would be hard…

“Yes.”

“Must you marry?”

Blas’ voice was steeled with resentment. “I will marry Tona.”

“You have an objection, Itay?” Blas asked acridly.

“ Son… non…” But for Dodong, he does anything. Youth must triumph… now. Afterward… It will be life.

As long ago, Youth and Love did triumph for Dodong… and then life.

Dodong looked wistfully at his young son in the moonlight. He felt extremely sad and sorry for him.
 VOCABULARY
1. Footnote - an additional piece of information or explanation at the bottom of a page, typically
used in a book or document.
2. Youth - the period between childhood and adulthood; young people are considered as a group.
3. Validation - the act of confirming or proving the truth, accuracy, or validity of something.
4. Maturity - the state of being fully grown or developed; the quality of being mentally or
emotionally mature.
5. Infatuation - an intense but short-lived passion or admiration for someone or something.
6. Paternal - relating to or characteristic of a father.
7. Responsibility - the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control
over someone.
8. Poverty - the state of being extremely poor; lacking sufficient money or material possessions.
9. Legacy - something handed down from an ancestor or predecessor; a gift or inheritance.
10. Marital - relating to marriage or the relationship between spouses.
 VOCABULARY
11. Ambition - a strong desire to achieve something or succeed in a particular area.
12. Reverie - a state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts; a daydream.
13. Sacrifice - the act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as
more important or worthy.
14. Contentment - a state of happiness and satisfaction.
15. Scarcity - a situation in which the demand for a certain resource or good exceeds its availability.
16. Reflection - serious thought or consideration; the act of thinking carefully or deeply.
17. Recall - the action or ability to remember something from the past.
18. Despondent - in low spirits from loss of hope or courage.
19. Longevity - long life or existence; the length of time that something endures.
20. Disillusionment - a feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not
as good as one believed it to be.
 CHARACTERS
1. Dodong - A 17-year-old youth wanting to marry his sweetheart.
2. Teang - The girl whom Dodong wanted to marry.
3. Dodong's father
4. Dodong's mother
5. Lucio - A former suitor of Teang who was nine years older than Dodong.
6. Blas - Dodong's eldest son.
7. Tona - The girlfriend of Blas.
 SETTING
The story took place on a farm where the house of the main character
is located which speaks a lot about the social conditions prevalent when
the short story was written in 1933.
 PLOT
The plot of the story is four-pronged. It has four parts that sweep
through two generations from the day Dodong decides to get married to
the day his eldest son Blas approaches him to tell him that he himself wants
to get married. Dodong was seventeen when he married Teang. They
immediately conceived Blas soon after. Blas is eighteen when he asks his
father's permission to marry his sweetheart Tona. That said, the story
covers a time span of 17 years.
 SUMMARY
Part I - On a sunny afternoon after a hard day's work in the fields, Dodong
decides to tell his father that he wants to marry his sweetheart Teang. He's
only seventeen years old. After a sumptuous dinner, he spills out his plans
to his father. His proposition is met with hesitation and discouragement. His
father tells him that he's too young to get married. But in the end, his father
agrees to his wishes and grants him permission to marry Teang.
 SUMMARY
Part II - Nine months after their marriage, Teang gives birth to her first son.
Dodong experiences a whirlwind of conflicting emotions during the birthing
process - confusion, fear, discomfort, embarrassment, and guilt. But when
he hears the little baby whimper and cry, he swells with happiness.
 SUMMARY
Part III - Blas is followed by six more children. Dodong didn't want any
more children but they came anyway. This makes him angry at himself
sometimes. The parade of children is also taking its toll on Teang. She
often wishes that she was not married. She sometimes wonders if her life
would've been better had she married Lucio, a former suitor she rejected
for the reason that he was nine years older than Dodong.
 SUMMARY
Part IV - Blas is eighteen years old. One night, he tells his father that he
wants to marry his girlfriend Tona. Like his father before him, Dodong
doesn't want Blas to marry as he's too young. He knows what's going to
happen if Blas marries too early. He gives him permission to marry
anyway. But he does so with sadness in him.
 CLIMAX
After all that, Dodong saw her wife with their firstborn child named Blas.
Dodong heard his baby cry. Dodong could not control the swelling
happiness in him and also felt embarrassed because he is still not ready to
provide for his family.
 ENDING/CONCLUSION
The final outcome of the story could be best described with the saying
“History repeats itself” wherein Dodong was confronted with the fact that
his son, Blas is undertaking the same journey he travelled on when he was
his age. And the sad part is he wasn’t able to do anything about it.
 MORAL LESSON
If ever you are gonna get married, think about it properly, think if you are
up to those responsibilities, think if you can support your family. Don't rush
things, you will be there soon. Consider the future before making up your
mind.
 GUIDE QUESTIONS
1. Does the saying "history repeats itself" apply to the
narrative in the story?
2. What is the meaning or central theme of the story?
Quiz 1: Reading Comprehension.

I.Choose the correct answer. All answers should be in capital letters.

Question 1: Who is the author of the short story "Footnote to Youth"?

a) Jose Garcia Villa

b) Nick Joaquin
c) F. Sionil Jose
d) N.V.M. González
Question 4: Who is Dodong's love interest in "Footnote to Youth"?

a) Teang
b) Lucio
c) Dodong's father
d) Blas

Question 5: What warning does Dodong's father give him regarding marriage?

a) Marriage is a lifelong commitment that should not be taken lightly.

b) Dodong should wait until he is financially stable before getting married.
c) Dodong should focus on his education and career before considering
marriage.
d) Early marriage leads to happiness and fulfillment.
Question 6: How does Dodong feel about his decision to marry at a young age as
the story progresses?

a) He becomes disillusioned and regrets his decision.

b) He feels proud of his maturity and responsibility.
c) He believes he made the right choice despite the challenges.
d) He remains indifferent and unaffected by his marital situation.

Question 7
Who is the woman Blas wanted to marry?
a.) Lisa
b.) Tona
c.) Rosalinda
d.) Teang
Question 8
In the story, why did Dodong hesitated in asking his father to marry?

a.) His father was an ill-tempered man

b.) Dodong thought that his father will not understand why he wanted to marry early
c.) Dodong does not want his father to know
d.) Dodong thought that his father might not approve of him marrying at such an early
age

Question 9
What was the initial reaction of Dodong when asked to come into where his wife gave
birth?

a.) Excited
b.) Embarassed
c.) Overwhelmed
d.) Mad
Question 10
Nearing the end of the story, what did Teang felt about herself after being married for a
while and having children?

a.) Teang sometimes cry and wish she had

not married, but kept it a secret as she does not want Dodong to dislike her.
b.) Teang felt a sense of satisfaction with the life that she had.
c.) Teang wanted to abandon the family due to depression.
d.) Teang never complained of her maternal duties.
Quiz 2: Reading Comprehension

II. Identify the statement, write T if the statement is true and F if the statement is
false.

1. Dodong's father warns him about the difficulties of early marriage.

2.Dodong becomes increasingly satisfied and content with his married life as time goes
on.

3."Footnote to Youth" serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of impulsive

decisions in youth.
4. The story emphasizes the importance of personal growth and maturity before
committing to marriage.

5.Dodong eventually regrets his decision to marry early and longs for the freedom of his
youth.

6. Dodong's disillusionment with marriage is primarily due to financial difficulties.

7. Dodong and Teang have their first child shortly after getting married.

8. . Dodong eventually regrets his decision to marry early and longs for the freedom of
his youth.
9. The story emphasizes the importance of personal growth and maturity before
committing to marriage.

10. Dodong falls in love with Teang when he is 17 years old.

Quiz 3 VOCABULARY

III. Matching type: answer should be in capital letters.

TYPE A
1. A situation in which the demand for a certain resource or good exceed its availability.
2. A state of being pleasantly lost in one’s thoughts; a daydream
3. An additional piece of information or explanation at the bottom of a page, typically used in a book or
document.
4. An intense but short-lived passion or admiration for someone or something.
5. A feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one
believed it to be.
6. Relating to or characteristic of a father.
7. Something handed down from an ancestors or predecessor; a gift or inheritance.
8. The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone.
9. A state of happiness and satisfaction.
10.It is in low spirits from loss of hope or courage.
TYPE B
A. FOOTNOTE K. AMBITION
B. YOUTH L. REVERIE
C. VALIDATION M. SACRIFICE
D. MATURITY N. CONTENTMENT
E. INFATUATION O. SCARCITY
F.PATERNAL P. REFLECTION
G.RESPONSIBILITY Q. RECALL
H. POVERTY R. DESPONDENT
I.LEGACY S. LONGEVITY
J.MARITAL T. DISILLUSIONMENT