Reflection on “The Day the Dancers Came”
The 1995 short story written by Bienvenido N. Santos entitled “The Day the Dancers Came” represents the reality of Filipino immigrants. While there are those who miss their hometowns and are very accommodating and welcoming of their fellow citizens like Fil, there are those like Tony who focus more on themselves.
The mere thought that they are Filipino satisfies him. The common desire of longing for one’s hometown among Filipino immigrants no matter how desperate it may seem (like Fil’s desperation to be friends with Filipino dancers who perform in their nearby place) reflects the typical Filipino immigrant’s value for his native land.
It also shows the sense of belongingness that is missing and present within the two characters. Fil has belongingness and found excitement and optimism through the dancers. He even wanted to share these feelings with Tony. Tony on the other hand was dismissive, indicating he cared no as he was sick. Maybe Fil thought sharing his excitement would lighten Tony’s mood, bring him faith and optimism even, but maybe Tony felt like he belonged in neither place. Maybe his sense of belongingness was within himself not with people and maybe just maybe, Tony didn’t realize or even see it that way.
The dancers consumed Fil’s mind and he failed to realize that his friend, Tony, was actually dying. At the end, when the tape was getting erased, the spools were spinning faster as it got closer to the end of the tape just like Tony’s life was quickly unraveling as it got closer to his death. Tony’s demise made Fil come to terms with losing everything— he ended up losing his friend and losing the memories and the feeling of happiness the tape recording gave him.
The story teaches us to enjoy the present as much as we can and that no matter how kind, respectful, or genuine we treat people, it shouldn’t be within our expectations for them to reciprocate the same treatment. We can’t expect ourselves (our ideas, feelings, and aspirations) from other people. They have the right to accept and deny our favors, and the same applies to us. It also teaches us that our perspectives may it be optimistic, nihilistic, or pessimistic, is all up to us. If we want a life that is fruitful, we must bear it. If we want to live with no regrets, we must accept. If we want to have our final moments as something that is joyous, we must enjoy even the simplest and tiniest things, most especially the efforts of those who hold us, dear.
Reflection on “The World is an Apple”
Alberto S. Florentino’s story entitled “The World is an Apple” is about the struggles of poverty. It teaches us that hopelessness in life can urge people to commit sins as a way to survive. This desperation makes us realize the harshness of living in extreme poverty – people have to make a living, even if the cost is their life.
While there are those who choose to do good, there are those like Mario, the protagonist in the story, who are stuck between good and evil and have no other choice but to earn finances without basing on whether or not it is morally right. Since he attempted to keep his “job” as a secret, we learn that he was fully aware that it wasn’t just, but he thought of how “good” it would be for the family – for the sake of having meals, for the sake of helping their home, for the sake of their daughter.
The other characters such as Gloria, his wife, and Pablo, his friend, also represent the reality of people. Gloria represents those who accept the past and mistakes of people believing goodness and change is attainable, while Pablo represents those who don’t want to change for the better as they believe their way of living, may it be wrong, lies on their comfort and that this comfort can be used as a way to invite people into choosing a lifestyle that sucks the life out of them – breaking laws, breaking morals, and breaking families apart.
Despite Mario’s change of lifestyle, Pablo’s temptation lured him right back in, proving to us that change is constant, fluid, and sudden. You can change for the better and you can change for the worse.
Reflection on "May Bagyo Ma't May Rilim" (Though It Is Stormy and Dark)
This poem has made me realize the impact of colonization not only with regards to economic, societal, and cultural domains but with religion as the main context. The theme and message of the poem centralize on hope and faith as reflected by the reality of the author’s feelings and motives as a believer/follower of God, further describing his belief as strong and unwavering – despite obstacles, the harshness of nature (may it be environmental or of human behavior), and circumstances of Earthly pleasures, his faith will continue to be resilient. In relation to religion as the context of the poem, it shows the relationship of the oppressors and the oppressed where commonality is what equals the two – Christianity. Faith is what encourages the writer to look past what should be right and what should be wrong but to focus on what is ahead instead – the afterlife with Christ. Furthermore, the poem tells me the author is thankful for the hardships as they have made him stronger and this mindset of “I have surpassed troubles in the past, I can surpass troubles ahead as I am faithful and God is with me” is what inspires the author to inspire others.
