What Filipino is Like  

by Excel P. Parnoncillon

              Filipinos has one of the best traits in the world one of you must know. Although we have been colonized by several countries, core values from our ancestors remained intact and is still applied up to this time. Filipinos are not perfect, but we have great characteristics and qualities everyone of them must be proud of. That's why, there is no doubt that the Filipino spirit is alive and strong. The Filipino's identity is evident in the traits, traditions, passions, and attitudes of a people with a diverse and unique culture. And based on the plays that were read, several Filipino traits be it negative or positive are evident and are clearly portrayed.

The World is An Apple

 This play is written by Alberto Florentino. As I had read this, the first trait or culture that I had noticed is the  our  practice that  usually men or fathers usually do the work to earn money and be able to sustain the family. It is evident that Mario was the one working while her wife Gloria just stays at home to take care of their daughter Tita. Another trait that was evident in play is the negative trait of "crab-mentality". It can be observed when Mario's co-workers tried to pull him down that he will be kicked off from his work and be replaced by those persons whom they want to work with them. Another thing is that what we call "kapit sa patalim". When Mario was nowhere else to go, he decided to go with his friend and return to his bad habit which is stealing. But amidst those circumstances that they had been facing, they did not forget to believe and call out to God which is one of the best traits of the Filipinos which is religousity. 

The New Yorker in Tondo

In this play, we can really see that Filipinos really do have their great ambition in life just like Kikay who dreamed, and finally was able to be in New York. Kikay was able to adapt the Western way of living to the extent that even though she is already at home, she is still acting as though she is still in New York. Kikay is just like those typical Filipina who just went to other country for a short period of time, that when they came back at home or in their province, they already speak another language and pretend that they already forget their own.

Three Rats

In the  Three Rats,  I observed  a negative trait of Filipinos which is infidelity. It is evident when Anita has a secret affair with her husband's bestfriend, Adrian. Sometimes, there are these instances that Filipinos could do this specially when their partner is working in other places. Just like what had happened to our neighbor. She is a teacher and she is assigned in a remote place. Because she would only go home every evening, she did not know that her husband has already an affair with our another neighbor. When she knew about all these, she let her husband decide to whom is he going to be with. .And of course, he chose her, the legal wife. Her husband promised to change. But I am not really that sure that he really has changed.

Sabina

In the play Sabina, it is evident that Filipinos really believe that it's never been right to marry or have an affair with a person who is already married. That's why, Sabina's parents really opposed with the relationship of Sabina with Mr. George for he is already a married man. It can also be hypothesized that Filipinos are intense when it comes to loving person. Because just like Sabina, she really killed herself, knowing that Mr. George is already married, she could not see him, because her parents prohibit their meeting, and that the fact that she could not really have him and that she was just being fooled.

Sepang Loca

Pardon me if I just observed those negatives that could be found on the plays. Because positives are just too common to enumerate. The negative trait that  I had observe in the play Sepang Loca is that Filipinos do take advantage to those who are weak. It can be proven when Sepa was being sexually taken advantage with a nasty man who took advantage of her insanity. There some in our society who do the same. Who oppress those whom they think don't have the power to fight them back.

shadow poetry

Luna

You

   were my

      first dandelion

         wish, my cotton

           candy kiss, and sweet

            lullaby.  With you nested

              in the palm of my hand,

               we became one with the night,

               ruling over the stars in the sky.

               You have been my guiding light

                through sleepless nights, my

               muse, and friend, always

              lending a listening ear, and

            offering your soft, glowing

          light to ease my fears.

       You are my warm,

    goodnight moon,

Luna.

Copyright © 2003 Marie Summers

22nd Old Street

                                                  22nd OLD STREET

                                               

                                                  T'was three at dawn that time i bet,
                                              This damn old memory I still can't forget.
                                           Found myself sitting on a crooked old bench,
                                          Beside an unknown road that seemed so trench.

                                                         I looked up, the sky was clear,
                                                I listened around, only crickets I did hear.
                                                I made a sigh, on the bench about to lean,
                                           With this baffled  mind, "What place have I been?" 

                                             Turning head right, thought I've seen a ghost,
                                              I stood up and found,there's a sign on a post.
                                              I walked towards it with this damn cold feet,
                                              When I came nearer it read, 22nd Old Street.

                                           Startled and pondered, "Alone why I'm here?"
                                                With no one around, I'm in a nowhere.
                                                    I walked right and decided to go,
                                         Tried to tackle this road that this mind don't know.

                                            With my few blind steps, a man did a appear,
                                           With his black old cloak and shaggy white hair.
                                               He's  a few steps away! I trembled with fear
                                               I could not run back, he's drawing so near!

                                                   On his hand, held a long sharp dagger,
                                                    I started to shout, my body did shiver
                                                I cried and begged, so many tears I shed,
                                But the man seemed no mercy, struck his dagger on my head

                                              I opened my eyes, and out loud I did scream,
                                            Looking around I realized, 'twas only a dream.
                                                   No man, no dagger, no 22nd old street, 
                                           Just a piece of nightmare that frightened me a bit.