The Bougainvilla by Ma. Elena L. Palma

 "Believe it or not?”

If someone accidentally broke a glass, something bad happened. If someone dreams that his or her tooth falls out, a family member will die. Or sweeping outside in evening will result in bad fortune.
These are only a bunch of the numerous superstitious beliefs Filipinos have become used to. These beliefs were influenced by the Chinese. Well before the Spaniards came, Filipinos were already communicating with the Chinese. They are the ones that have made great impact in terms of our beliefs. Also having beliefs in such things like duwende, kapre, manananggal, and aswang were obtained from Pagan beliefs. In the book “History of the Filipino People” by Gregorio Zaide, it notes that during pre-Spanish times our ancestors were either Muslim or Pagans which have these kind of credence. Filipino people are said to be very religious but still there are lot who are receptive to unfounded beliefs.

‘The Bougainvillea” is one of the many stories written in Paulma’s book “Southern Stories and Strays’. It’s a story that implies thatrumors and superstions.I think  the idea of ‘The Bougainvillea’ came from the people Paulma has met in Mindanao. She said that she wrote her stories at Pili Drive, street in Butuan, which we can see a bunch of  bougainvilleas. That same house is next to a playground filled with 25 children, all belonging to three households (Paulma, 2016).
I think that Paulma wants to address the social issue about  violent acts against women. Bansin is the first victim of the “possession” in their neighborhood and raped by her cousin an causes  her emotional and mental breakdown as said in the story. Examples of this idea are horror films that tackle the exorcisms. In movies like ‘The Possession of Hannah Grace’, and ‘Paranormal Activity’, women the targets of demonic activity.
I admire  Paulma’s knowledge  to describe each scenery in a detail. I can already visualize Pili Drive in my head. I can  picture out every scene like a film or a movie.
It was said in the story that the people did not pay attention to the real story behind Bansing’s possession; when she was raped by her cousin. Victims of fake news could lead to low self cofidence. Based on the study  of Hendricks and Hansen (2014) regarding of fake news, they reported when people are not knowledgeable about a certain phenomenon, it makes excellent sense for them to look to others’ apparant beliefs, whether it is true or not. The Acquiescence Theory proposed by Risen (2015) aims to understand how superstitious stories and magical beliefs are maintained even if one already knows they are untrue.
Superstitions became one of our traditions. Superstitions were passed down generations to generations.Thie defines who we are as Filipinos.

                                                                                                       Written By: Paul John Bolos

REFERENCES

Paulma, M. (2016). Where I Write From. Retrieved on 12/17/19 from https://upworkshop2016.wordpress.com/2016/05/26/poetics-ma-elena-pa ulma/
Risen, J. (2015). Believing What We Do Not Believe: Acquiescence to Superstitious Beliefs and Other Powerful Intuitions. Retrieved on 12/17/19 from https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/rev-0000017.pdf
Hendricks, V. & Hansen, P. (2014). Why we Believe Fake News. Retrieved on 12/17/19 from https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190905-how-our-brain s-get-overloaded-by-the-21st-century

The Sadness Collector by Merlina Bobis

The Sadness Collector is a short story written by Melinda Bobis; A successful Filipina author who had written her own fair share of Filipino literature; novels, poems and such. The story that takes a more melancholic tone as it progresses and Rica's relationship with her parents worsen. It pays attention to the relationship of the Filipino families or families in general while one of the parents work overseas and the effects it'd bring to the family whether it is negative or not. 

The Sadness Collector is about a six year old girl who goes by the name Rica who begins to grow up with issues due to the lack of a mother figure, since she lives with only her father because her mother works overseas; namely in Paris as a caregiver, yet illegally. Her mother would often send gifts and letters to Rica, it was her way of showing love while she's far away from her. And since her father didn't want Rica to pay much attention to her loneliness and the longing for her mother, he told her the story about a big lady who eats sadness from houses every night, and if she eats too much sadness she'll grow too big to the point of bursting- and the only way to prevent that is to be a good girl and not feel sad. Since then, Rica grows curious and would listen to the sounds from the kitchen at night, and expected for the lady to show up. Until that night came when she heard noises again, and caused her to worry that the big lady might have eaten too much sadness and would burst anytime soon, but only to find out that it wasn't the big lady at all, nor her aunties, but it's none other than her father in a drunken state. Yet, like the child she was, she believed and argued that it wasn't him, but the big lady- then, he began to reassure her and that she won't take her away from him. "She" seemingly referring to the mother.

Rica longs for motherly comfort and love. Since her mother left to work overseas at a young age, and then lived with her father. And it seems the reason why her father told her the story about the big lady was to keep her distracted from the problems their family is facing, not to keep her dwelled to the thought of the mother being far away. The father himself seem to spiral into a depression, as can be suspected from coming home drunk late every night- it could be the same thing for him; he longs for the mother, and their family to be complete even if they'd be suffering financial issues. It was known that the mother works illegally until near the end of the story and the hints throughout the letters- that the mother seemed to have her own family in Paris, and became "legal". 

Especially what the father had said to Rica;

" She can't take you away from me. Just because she's "legal" now. That whore- ! "

It is also hinted that the mother plans to take Rica with her to Paris, and her new family- especially when she received a letter along with a perfect Parisienne winter hat from her mother. It seems that Rica's family had took a turn for the worst.

The story revolves around Rica's lack of love and affection from her parents  and what it means and feels to have a family work overseas. How it could potentially break family relationships and sever it without communicating towards one another. Therefore, it teaches us a moral lesson especially to children for them to understand the reasons why some parents have to work overseas.

                                                                               Written by: Claire Althea A. Dela Victoria

Childhood in the Path of Typhoon By: Cecilia M. Brainard

Typhoon is a serious matter, It brings disaster, It can damage people lives, animals, houses. Because of typhoon they are classes that are postponed. It can bring a big distraction. Typhoon have signs when it is approaching. It can bring worries to everyone.

 The typhoon Yolanda was one of history’s strongest recorded typhoons, shattering coastal communities in central Philippine islands of Visayas and completely inundating local government units (LGU) in places such as Tacloban City. As stated by C. Brainard, "It has been painful to see images of villages destroyed, of people wandering around in the midst of all the rubble, of survivors holding up signs begging for food and water". In the Childhood in the Path of Typhoons by Cecilia Brainard, she discussed about how she grew up and lived in the midst of the typhoons. Moreover, she also talked about what happened in typhoon Yolanda and the aftermath. But, what really went wrong? What should be the better plan for the government that could reduce the destruction of typhoon Yolanda?  The Shortcomings.  In its 2014 report released last Sept. 10, the COA said P382.072 million in local and foreign cash donations for the victims of Super typhoon “Yolanda” was kept idle and locked in DSWD bank accounts. The amount, according to the state auditor, is one-third of the P1.151 billion that the DSWD received during the period November 2013-December 2014—unused funds that could have been maximized to cover the survivors’ immediate needs.The COA noted as well that the DSWD had as much as P141.084 million worth of undistributed, expired, or about-to-expire family food packs consisting of rice, canned goods, instant noodles and coffee.Aquino’s overarching argument was that the national government did the best that it could within the confines of its constitutional responsibility as well as institutional capacity, but the sheer strength of the typhoon was just too overwhelming. Ahead of the storm’s landfall, the government claims to have evacuated up to 800,000 people from vulnerable areas, while constantly issuing warnings to and coordinating efforts with various LGUs, especially in places such as Cebu and Bohol, which were hit by an earthquake in 2013.But for many critics, the national government should have been even more proactive and vigilant, given the relative underdevelopment of LGUs and precisely because of the rising intensity of natural calamities due to climate change.The first lesson is that, national agencies and the international community need to be ready to respond to multiple natural disasters each year in the Philippines. The country is one of the world’s most disaster-prone. Typhoon Haiyan was the third crisis to hit the country in two months, following conflict in Zamboanga and an earthquake in Bohol, which combined displaced 750,000 people. This meant that response services including national and international agencies and the Philippine army were already stretched. A second lesson is that, in any emergency response, aid agencies need to be prepared for the situation on the ground. Foreign medical teams need to bring enough food, water, shelter, fuel and communications equipment to be self-sufficient, particularly in areas that are physically cut off and where communications are poor or non-existent. Third lesson is that, serious warnings and more effective evacuations along the coastline could have saved many lives. GIZ, which has been involved in disaster risk management in several areas across the country, is now working with the United Nations Development Programme, the UP-National Institute of Geological Sciences (UP-NIGS), among others, to create a new map that would show the inundation or affected areas due to Yolanda.The Philippines faces multiple natural disasters each year, and to respond to them we need to have the right emergency services and systems in place. As the time pass by, chances of having a typhoon stronger than Yolanda is high. We should strive hard and lend a hand to each other for this is our country.

 We all know that Philippines is prone to typhoons and other some calamities because it lies Astrid the typhoon belt and Philippines is surrounded by bodies of water and it is near the Pacific ocean. The story tell us how typhoon Yolanda one of the strongest and deadliest typhoon that ever recorded in the Philippines, And because of this typhoon many properties and things are damaged.

 Every storm comes in our country we should stay at home to avoid risk. Always prepare yourself if the typhoon came we should stay alert .

Written By: Kimberly Posadas

11-Peridot 

In a Bed of Roots by Justine Camacho

           

              This short story shows the tradition and beliefs of a Filipino that is still practiced nowadays. Furthermore, it reflects for what it believes not just in giving emotions but it is the reflection on how it shows the love for the family and a symbol for being a Filipino.

            The young character here tells about what happened in Saturday in a detailed way.  This was happened in a cemetery in which the family wanted to check for the gravesite after their lola’s funeral. It says that the other part of the shrub has a langka tree in which it has a story behind. she met a gravedigger who told a story behind that langka tree in which it is carefully wrap by a newspaper obviously to be sold that was planted behind the grave.this story deals with the gravedigger talking to a persona about the story behind the grave of a young girl underneath the langka tree which is said that the body of a young girl as hugged by  the roots of the said tree that’s why the fruit is so tasty .Its bones wrap by the langka roots seemingly it is lovingly embraced carefully by a lover. Not to mention its bone was white and like the tree takes every bit of her flesh. For as to the young character, no wonder where the langka was sold and what stole it could be. Every time they are going to buy at the market, it is always sweet. And to think of it, her mother was buried there. And maybe the one they always bought was came from her mothers’ love showing that the taste of sweet representing that they felt was a love after all.

For us Filipino, we can’t actually hide the fact that our culture results from what we believe. Like for example this short story In a Bed of Roots greatly represents us. The character we always portray to others and the love and for being wise is part of our personality that was still the effect or cause of what we believe that was actually came from our deities. To keep in mind, we show our sincerity not just to our family, to others, but also to ourselves.

Therefore conclude, the roots symbolized the love that embraced us. This story fits to a person who lost their love ones. Why do I say so? Because they can actually relate especially about family.  I’m not specifically saying that this In a bed of Roots is tragic and making someone to feel lonely. Practically speaking no, the author actually intended to show what exactly on how strong we are in terms of strength to measure exactly to the family.

Written By: Kyle C. Pabunag

11-Peridot

AMERICA By: Simeon Dumdum Jr.

            The author presents his main theme of fate by bringing the readers the aspiration of coming America and what is the beauty in America which was described in the poem (Dumdum).  The third person wants the reader to have bigger dreams and achieve it in no time. In the first lines of the poem, the author is describing someone who came from America and mesmerized how that man speaks same as what they usually see in the movies (Dumdum).

            In this poem, America, the author is describing someone who came from America and also the place. The author wants the readers to have the strong admiration in going to America, where the third person wants to go to America (Dumdum). The third person wants to see the big and cheap things that are seen in America. Also, the third person wants to travel around the America. However, there are more years before the third person can reach the America.

            The author ultimately does well to bring to the reader’s attention how beautiful America is (Dumdum). By use of symbolism he clearly shows the desire of a person in going to America. The people should dream bigger and in no time, achieve it.

Written By: John Paul Lucernas

11-Peridot

Fatima The War Nurse by Nassefh Macla

       

           Stories and poetry about war and peace in Philippine Literature promotes peace and unity, telling us that wars are  created by people and can also be solved by people. One of the young writers in Mindanao Mohammad Nassefh Macla a Kaagan Moro writer who also contributes in Dagmay: Literary Journal of Davao. Most of his works tackles about the unending issues of wars in Mindanao. One of his admirable work was entitled Fatima The War Nurse published on year 2016 in Dagmay. It is a free verse poem that revolves about the experiences and hardships of a veiled war nurse. The author himself had grew up experiencing war between his clan and the government, and through writing this poem he expresses the wrath of wars and the attainment of peace with the use of imagery and symbolism.

          The poem started with describing how most of the nurses or war nurses felt during their job, always silently praying hoping no one had been severely injured. The author also employs the use of imagery in most part of the poem to make the readers dive into the experience of being a veiled war nurse. Starting from expressing the sacrifices,hardships and how chaotic it is in the battlefield, these emotions can be observe in verses 2 and 10;

       "But when the forest hushes from gunfire and grenades, she hears howls of pain, Tabang,tabang kamo!""Fatima hears gunfire go off again as she washes her hands."

The repetition of the word 'tabang' which means asking for help in vernacular,it emphasized the pain and sacrifices of each fighters. In this unending war in Mindanao injuries and deaths couldn't be avoided. The author made us imagine what are the common wounds these soldiers could experience.Nonetheless aside from the sad results of tragedies, nurses existed to be brave enough to take the duty of feminine, taking care and healing the warriors. Always prepared and mask their fear with smile to give hope and bring light to their patients. But in the poem I conclude that veiled nurse experience is somehow different from the nurses who doesn't wear veils. From the author who aims to describe his experiences and observation in Bangsamoro through his talent in writing. Moro or Muslims most of them are misjudged as part of a rebel group that's why some patients refused to be in their hands. It was presented in the poem when a patient refused her care because she was wearing a veil.  But that doesn't stop the persona to stop her services, she just look into another patient since then and continued her duty.I admire the persona for staying on her job despite all the criticisms she receive just because of her culture in wearing a veil. People may feel like she's dirty but she was determined enough to serve.Some symbolism in poem were the veils, for Moro's it's a sign of liberation or freedom from the harassment of men. Since nurses heals soldiers which are men they must wear veils to protect themselves. However in the story it isn't just a veils to protect themselves, especially she wears it in the color of pink. Pink symbolizes care, compassion and love to one another, this color relaxes the patient knowing that the one who wears it will be healing them. And aside from bringing relaxation the pink veil also gives them hope, hope and light that tomorrow could be the day where in they can achieve the peace they were longing. One of her patient mentioned "allahamdulliah" which means Glory to God and it made her smile. Nurses' caring actions aim to facilitate the patient's belief and relationship with God. And the beginning point of the concern showed by the nurses is their relationship with God, (Lovering,2008).The author ended the poem with the persona closing her eyes and waiting for the forest to be completely silently. And that's what all people do may it be the soldiers or the war nurses they just hope and pray for the chaos to stop.

         Fatima the War Nurse is a poem that tackles the reality behind the abundance of Mindanao it is the unending wars with Muslims. And the author expressed his emotion and showed to us his experience by the use of imagery and symbolism's through his poem that presents hope by the use of the character Fatima. Fatima symbolizes our Hope for the peace that we wanted to gain for our country. A war nurse who was judged because of her appearance yet it never did stop her to continue serving and be the light for the hopeful soldiers. According to the Theory Wounded Healer by Conti-O’Hare (2002)  individuals are often led to specific professions, such as nursing, by their desire to relieve the suffering of others after experiencing or witnessing traumatic events in their own lives. That's why nurses are often called wounded healer, Fatima had experienced pain but it's her desire to continue helping and be the instrument of Allah to show hope to other people.

         The poet had effectively deliver his emotion and make us experience the reality of wars. According to poet Moldez (2013), “A poem is a manifestation of social dynamics. It does not affect to change society. A poem cannot do that, but it can change people’s attitude. And as writers, we can humanize the horrors of war with the beauty of words." Literary writers are peacemakers, they write to express. These stories of war are not to promote injustice but to expose the unity behind these chaotic events. This urge us to be united and seek peace together as we hear each other screams of help. This pushes us to be hopeful of the brighter tomorrow, and that's what the author Nassefh Macla wants us feel, to be hopeful.

Written By: Eowyn M. Sab

11- Peridot

References:

  Lovering, S. (2008). Arab Muslim Nurses’ Experiences Of The Meaning Of Caring retreived from

 http://scholar.google.com.ph/scholar_urlurl=http://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/2123/3764/1/sr_lovering_2008_thesis.pdf&hl=en&sa=X&scisig=AAGBfm2nxjZE4sItBA1lvfZjs8YJ5a-Tvg&nossl=1&oi=scholar

 Moldez, R. (2013).War and peace–and literature, retreived from https://www.google.com/ amp/s/lifestyle.inquirer.net/141545/war-and-peace-and-literature/amp

Conti-O’Hare, M.(2002). Lateral Violence in Nursing and the Theory of the Nurse as Wounded Healer retreived from http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-19-2014/No1-Jan-2014/Articles-Previous-Topics/Lateral-Violence-and-Theory-of-Wounded-Healer.html

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