Arcellana's Works

To tell you frankly, I didn't like the two stories (The Mats and Divide by Two) of Francisco Arcellana, which was discussed in the class this week. I am a typical Filipino reader who has a lazy mind and wouldn't want to think what would have happen next after reading the ending of the story. Ayoko sa lahat ay bitin ang kwento. Gaya na lamang sa panonood ng sine, ang gusto ko happy ending, nagagalit ako kapag namamatay ang bida.

Francisco Arcellana's work is good. It vividly emphasizes how we, Filipinos, run our daily lives. Sometimes, I think it is just right to write about the wrong concepts existing in our culture. People in all walks of life give very much attention to their beliefs, be it superstitious or not.

But before I criticize the two stoties, let me share to you an experience I had which made me think hatefully of the story 'The Mats'.

I remember a distant relative of mine, who lost a husband from a car accident five years ago, after the accident; she left the Philippines and only returned back home, last Christmas. I asked her once when she came back, 'Masakit pa ba?', she looked at me with anonymity on her eyes and said, 'Hindi ko kailan man makakalimutan ang pagkawala ang aking asawa. Kahit kailan. Masakit pa rin, nasasanay na lang siguro ako sa sakit na aking nadarama.'

I never knew that such pain could really exist.

Ang paghihirap ng kalooban na naramdaman ko galing sa mga salitang binitiwan ng aking malayong kamag- anak ay kung aki'y wawariin ay parang isang panaksak na ipinukol sa aking sarili.

Hindi ko alam na ganun kalakasan ang intensidad ng pagmamahal na kaniyang inaalagaan para sa kanyang asawa na kahit wala na ay hindi pa rin niya nakakalimutan. Hindi pa rin niya tinitigilang mahalin.

And now, for the criticisms;

Let me start with 'The Mats'. Aside from having an unforgettable experience that I happen to associate in this story. I didn't like the way the father's feelings was presented. The author made him weak. Not that I am archetyping, but I think the author could've made the father strong while accepting the truth about the other three kids. 'It's okay for men to cry', that was what I said before. But I think there should have been an understudy for that kind of emotion. My father also cries, but he makes it sure that my mother and I would be able to see it. Perhaps men by nature really are weak, but mothers are weaker...

With regards to the second story, 'Divide by Two', I didn't like it because I never knew what happened next? What had Belle said to the two men which surprised them both... I really hate suspense... Siguro hindi lang talaga ako sanay sa mga ganitong istorya. I think this story would be best tackled by law students. Pinag- isip talaga ako ng istoryang ito ng tungkol sa pag- aasawa. Pucha! Ayokong magka- asawa nang katulad ni Belle!!! Palingkera na English ang vernacular na ginagamit! (Wink!)