MANILA SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL

English
First Grading Period
Student’s Name
Year and Section
Teacher’s Name: Miss Leversia Rivera
Date:
Reaction Paper: F. Sionil Jose’s Po-on

Roots and Bases

While George Lucas has just recently thought of having prequels for his Star Wars saga, our very
own Francisco Sionil Jose has already done it in the past. With his widely-known Rosales saga,
this book, Po-on, came as the prequel to all the four initial books, having been written last among
the book of five yet actually chronicles the start of the journey through Pangasinan and its
connections to the revolution.

Po-on, for a commoner, might mean anything related to God or the Supreme Being. In the famous
novel, it means roots or beginnings, as commonly used in Pangasinan. The story revolved around
Eustaquio Salvador, or Istak for short. He was an acolyte who was cared for and taught by a kind
friar, Padre Jose de Leon, learning Latin and Spanish along the way. When the good friar retired,
his successor was not as kind and caring, Padre Zarraga, who was eventually killed by Istak’s own
father, Ba-ac which cost him an arm and to flee to other places to evade the Spaniards’ arrest.
Istak’s dream of priesthood is now six feet under. So, Istak’s journey towards Rosales town in
Pangasinan and other nearby towns started. They encountered all kinds of life’s hurdles as they
travelled, meeting tribes and soldiers alike. The family dodged arrows, spears and bullets as they
move towards sanctuary. It is in the process of fleeing that the Salvador family take on a new name
– Samson – which was thereafter used in the succeeding novels.

In the course of their new lives, the Samsons saw the arrival of liberation, or so they thought.
Banishment of Spanish conquistadors by the Americans were perceived to be a wonderful respite
only to find out in the end that the new conquerors are far from less than the old ones. Americans
enslaved Filipinos as well and actually brought the turn in the revolution. The end of the story
found Istak being mentored by the Sublime Paralytic, Apolinario Mabini. He was also seen as the
messenger who had the key to one of the revolts of his time.

Following Istak’s journey, it is easy to relate it to current situations, maybe not as harsh but with
the same undertones, not just here in the country but also elsewhere. Rural people, though living
probably a better life than those in the cities, were seen as inferiors. That these province folks are
slaves is ordinary in the course of our history, maybe because then, education and literacy was out
of reach. But the inferiority actually gave rise to a heated and hidden spirit of revolt, out of rebellion
against the normalcies of poverty and cruelty from conquerors.

F. Sionil Jose actually placed in the literary historical map the participation of Ilocano folk in the
revolution and probably liberty for the Filipinos. In the Rosales chronicles where the locality
established was Pangasinan, the only known revolutionaries were Diego Silang, followed suit by
his wife Gabriela, fighting for freedom and equality. This was a hard part because people then lack
the brave spirit of nationalism. Their poverty got over them like plague and illiteracy added insult
to injury as they understand so little.

Istak’s life is just like any other person’s – formed, lost then formed again relationships which
gave him different insights on freedom and bravery. His interactions and associations with real life
heroes such as Mabini, Jacinto and Del Pilar, even Aguinaldo, make him fictional at some point
immersed in the historical drama which awakened the nationalism among Filipinos.

Not much a history fan, the book Po-on is both a cultural and historical walk camouflaged in
fiction. The reader is allowed a taste of our past without the intense recollection of dates and names
and places. A good read for millennials who prefer movie versions of books, Po-on allows you to
wonder what it would be like to have a movie made out of it. Istak and his family give the reader
a chance to imagine what it was like for ordinary people to be caught in a web of conquests and
wars, vengeance and redemption. Sometimes, we think of our roots being deeply buried in a certain
place, that we are nourished by the earth underneath. Once we are uprooted, we dry up and try
hard to quench the thirst for life. Then, we are transferred to another base, where with hesitation,
our roots creep again to find the nourishment longed for. When it is found, the roots try to cling,
cling harder than before for fear of another nagging and tearing. We Filipinos were previously
apprehensive about change, most people are. But we cannot remain stagnant, we have to go with
the flow. Istak realized that his love for country entails a lot of sacrifices and a road to the discovery
of the meaning of his own existence. Truly, the book is a journey worth taking and spending time
on.
If I were a movie director, the following actors will be commissioned to take on the characters in
Po-on:

1. Rocco Nacino - Istak (Eustaquio Salvador/Samson – his portrayal before as St. Pedro Calungsod
makes him a good choice for the role of Istak, his acting skills are intense yet very light
2. Kris Bernal – Dalin – she has a good chemistry with Rocco Nacino as proven in some teleseryes
before
3. Mike Tan – An-no – a good resemblance to Rocco
4. Ken Chan – Bit-tik – same similarities with Mike and Rocco, all three good actors
5. Ba-ac – Nonie Buencamino – an intense actor
6. Mayang – Sylvia Sanchez - also a good actress with good chemistry with Nonie
7. Padre Jose – Neil Patrick Sese – another intense actor
8. Padre Zarraga – Chiqui Xeres Burgos – would look well as a stern friar, good actor as well
9. Apolinario Mabini – Jeffrey Quizon – for continuity with the Heneral Luna story
10. Emilio Aguinaldo – Mon Confiado – also for continuity
11. Gregorio del Pilar – Paulo Avelino – another for continuity
12. Don Jacinto – Mengie Cobbarubias – good character actor
13. Kapitan Berong – Joem Bascon
14. Kapitan Gualberto – Marc Abaya

These actors were chosen for the main characters for their trademark performances in their own
projects.