to OWN is to HIDE

first text: THE MATS

It is a story about a family trying to accept pain. Pain that is caused by the death of 3 family members. Specifically, the 3 daughters or Mr. and Mrs. Angeles.

After reading this story, I realized 1 thing. The whole family was denying the fact that they are still in pain. They refuse to admit that they are not yet ok. In a sense that when the 3 daughters are being talked about, they cry. They feel the pain once more. As if it only happened yesterday.

Nana Emilia is the most affected person in the story. She cannot talk about the three girls. Or whenever she remembers them, she breaks down. That's why she pushes herself to forget her daughters. Forget in a way that topics about the girls will never be talked about just so she can hide the pain. As if the girls never existed. But the thing is, Mr. Angeles is still in pain and he faces pain as manly as possible. He tries to accept the fact that they are dead but he does not want to forget them. That's why in the story, when there where 3 mats left, Nana Emilia was stunned. She thought that it was over and that they will never have to talk about the deaths again, but then again, Mr. Angeles loved his children so much that even death won't be a hindrance to show his children how much he loves them.

He wants his family to have whatever it is that they need. Meaning if they all need mats, everyone in the family has to have one. Even the dead.

.....

second story: DIVIDE BY TWO

This is a story about 2 neighbors. I had fun reading this story because I imagined things that were unthinkable. At first I thought that this story was about LUST, ENVY and AFFAIR. But then I realized in class that this is about owning something. Or someone? haha

There is a conflict in this story. It is only about this adobe blocks. That their lands were not divided equally and stuff like that. This became a big thing for them. That they even have to write a note to the other family to talk about this blocks that were not placed in the correct area. one inch lang naman ung difference. Ang labo. Big deal n un sa kanila eh. Wala na tayong magagawa. Parang pinalaki nalang eh. Halatang may tinatago. haha

They want to have everything they ever wanted.

...

~So for this texts, the theme for me is--TO OWN:TO HIDE

To own something, like the mats and that part of land is like to cover up the past, to hide the pain, to forget things that you do not want to remember.

...

You would want to move on but still you cannot, because of these little things that make you hurt once more.

Family first

How to describe the Filipinos??

Hmm, I think that we are:

family-oriented and very traditional

• We Filipinos kahit na were old enough to live on our own, we still choose to live with our parents. Eventhough you have your own kids, has a good job and all, some Filipinos stay with their parents. Parang hirap na hirap umalis ng bahay. Unlike the Americans, na once they turned 18, they have to get out of their parent’s house, find a job and live on their own. It’s just that, we Filipinos value our family so much. For example, before my kuya left our house kasi he has his own family na, they lived here in our house for a year muna. My parents wanted them to go on their lives and find their own place. But one thing stops them, their grandchildren. They cannot live a day without holding or kissing their apos. They love playing with them kahit na sobrang layo na ng age gap at minsan hindi na makahabol sa mga bata. Haha! :):):) But still, they play with them. Sabi nila nakakatanggal daw kasi ng pagod. Ewan. Sorry but I don’t get it. Mas nakakapagod pa nga un diba kung habol ka ng habol? And eto ha, sobrang spoiled yung mga apo sa kanila. Whatever the kids want they would get it. Kahit matagalan basta they will give it pa din. And to think na I am the youngest in the family and I should be the one that they are spoiling. (bitter? hahaha!) NOT.

• Seems like it’s hard for us to make a decision unless we talk to our parents and ask them to guide us. Sobrang nakadepend tayo sa parents natin. We were raised like that, even our ancestors are like that, and we cannot change it. Honestly, I think that it is good to have a trait like this. :)

• Filipino families are very traditional, just like in the story, How My..... We have this tradition that your parents should meet your partner. As much as possible before getting married you should do pamamanhikan first.

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After reading and interpreting the two texts (My Father Goes to Court and How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife), the authors gave their readers a hint of what they faced during their time in a foreign land. How they were discriminated and treated.

They showed two different characters. One is a Filipino family or in a Filipino point of view and the other is an American family or in a foreigner's standpoint.

The story How my brother....depicts the life of a Filipino family, and how their son brought home his wife without them knowing her first. The dad tried to test the girl even though it was not stated in the story, you can guess that he really wanted to see if the girl is good enough for his son.

I believe that every conservative family would try to do this also. Try to know thew new kapamilya secretively. Just to make sure or talagang you cannot help yourself but to check is he or she fits in you family. This is tried and tested in my family. HAHA:)

We Filipinos are very happy. In the story My Father...the father was accused of stealing the spirit of happiness in the life of the rich family. In the story, the Filipino family tends to laugh off their problems. Just like in real life, some Filipinos find wealth through their families. Parang they can live without all the material things around them basta nandiyan lang ang pamilya at buo, masaya na. Contented.