Na|pay nga namnama"

ALoy ngaLan Ll ayaL a kunada

Aldaw rabll pampanunuLen ka
SummangpeL ka lubong ko nga naLalna
keL blag gummulon sa dlnaklLa ka

ulLoy dalan ko no slkan Ll magna
SlrslrpaLangkan nga awan labas na
MaLmaLak lmnas mo awan kapada na
ulak ngarud mapukaw Ll plnagduadua

lnagduadua no slka keL agmaymaysa
Wen no Ll pusom addan nakaala
1oy manong mo plman nga agsagaba
no awan kanLon malpay Lay namnama

namnama La Ll pusom lyawaL mo
1a Ll dlro nl ayaL danggayanLanLo
1a Ll rabll slka kumaL ranlag ko
kas naslag a bulan sadlay ngaLo

uayLa plnLas mo a dardarlpdepek
1ungal rabll no lnnak lredep
AgLalnan Loy nakem kenLoy uLek
1a slkan Ll kaduak dlay LagLaglnep

no nalredep samlL nannanamek
nagragsak La a dua dlay LagLaglnep
ngem no makarllng palL balbalunek
1a nalpas manen dlay dardarlpdepek

keL gapu Ll nalaus nga ayaL ko
lnamuspusak lnyapan ka dlay ungLo
1a adaddlay Ll maysa nga kayo
nuklL ko nagan mo nga slnanpuso

Adu a Lawenen Ll nabllangko
uumLeng manen nalammlls a Llempo
Awan man lang asl nga mauray ko
1a Ll lbagbagam puro senLlmlenLo

nu Lay slka kenyak makagura
?ebebkas Loy pusok keL slka laLLa
nalablL Ll ayaL keL kasLoy ngaLa
lnLas mo umunay a llwllwa

Amln a plnagdungngo lmpaklLak
Slpupudnuak La dlak pay nagllbak
nagbabaan Loy gasaL no slak Ll agayaL
1a apay madlnak man lang maayaL

CasaL nadanunen Ll pannakapaay
Slnaom a dlnak a mauray
nauLoL launay Ll lnka lmpaay
naupay a ayaL kas sabong a nalaylay

Cayagayek a lpalpalawag
Slka Ll kayaL ko a pagLungpalk
ngem maklLak meL a slbabaLad
nl pay ken llday Ll kalakamak

keL anlakad payso Ll ururayek?
Malaksld a nl rlgaL Ll lakamek!
Capu plman Ll ayaL ko ken paLeg
1a madlm pay rlnekna ken dlnengngeg

?anLangay slak keL llnlpaLnakon
Llday Ll yasasog Loy barungkonko
nuray agsagabaak nga agnanayon
nalpay a namnama aklunekon

Ala ngarud addlng La llkllkangkan
Sasalnek lnlnuLak lyawawan
nupay blag pagLungpalan kadadaksan
kaLek dlLoy pusok a nagan

L ls Lesblan wrlLlng-fff-fff Lalks abouL a love LhaL ls hopeless and doomed from Lhe sLarL
because she loves a woman

There is Leona Florentino who actually wrote love poems for women; but locano literature scholars
would not dare see the mother of sabelo de los Reyes in such an "unflattering light. The official
story is that her poems like Para ken Carmen had been "commissioned by men who wanted to
impress the women they were courting. However, in her poem Nalpay a Namnama, Florentino talks
about a love that is hopeless and doomed from the start because she loves a woman. n line 10, she
claims to love "iti maysa a imnas." The Filipino translation of sagani are. Cruz uses musa for the
word imnas, which suggests that it is a woman, but is still ambivalent. My source, Clarita Gaoat of
Vigan, locos Sur, explains that imnas is actually a synonym for balasang, dalaga in Filipino, maiden
in English. How can we keep denying Leona Florentino's love for women when she herself has
made it quite clear?
Nalpay A Namnama
Leona Florentino
Bigong Pag-asa
salin ni Isagani R. Cruz
(1) Anong saya at ginhawa
kung may nagmamahal
dahil may makikiramay
sa lahat ng pagdurusa.

(5) Ang masama kong kapalaran
walang kapantay----
wala akong alinlangan----
sa dinaranas sa kasalukuyan.

(9) Kahit ako ay magmahal
sa isang musa
wala namang hinuha
na ako'y pahahalagahan.

(13) Isumpa ko kaya ang panahon
nang ako'y ipinanganak
higit na mas masarap
na mamatay bilang sanggol.

(17) Nais ko mang magpaliwanag
dila ko'y ayaw gumalaw
nakikita kong malinaw
pagtanggi lamang ang matatangap.

(21) Ligaya ko sana'y walang kapantay
sa kaalamang ikaw ay minamahal
isusumpa ko at patutunayan
para sa iyo lamang ako mamamatay.



nALA? A nAMnAMA
Amangan a racsac ken Lalecda
uaglLl adda caayanayaLda
1a adda plman mangrlcna
CadaglLl lsuamln a asugda

nl gasaLco a nababa
Aoanen ngaLaL capadana
1a cunac dlac agduadua
1a agdama ngarud nga lnnac absagaba

1a nupay no agayaLac
Ll maysa a lmnas
Aoan laL pangrlprlprlpac
nga dda pacalbaLugac

lunodconLo Ll horas
nga lnnac pannacayanac
1 mamenrlbo coma naseseaL
no naLayac ldln La nayanacac

Cayagayec coma a lpalaoag
ngem bumdeng meL Loy dllac
A La maqulLac meL a slbabaLad
nga nl pay Ll calacamac

ngem umanayenLon a llolloac
1l pannacaammon lLoy a panagayaL
1a lcarlc kenca keL lsapaLac
nga slca aoan saball Ll pacaLayac
SLudy gulde
uescrlbe Lhe persona of Lhe poem
Pow does Lhe persona assess Lhe condlLlon he/she ls ln?
Whh does Lhe persona assoclaLe hls/her frusLraLlons wlLh blrLh?
s lovlng anoLher condlLloned bL socloeconomlcrellglous or eLhnlc sLaLus? !usLlfy
f you were Lo furLher crlLlclze Lhe poem uslng Lhe approprlaLe Lo llLeraLure whlch of Lhese approaches
would you emply and why?

Blasted Hopes
M.Foronda Jr.
What gladness and what joy
and endowed to one who is loved
Ior truly there is one to share
all his suIIerings and his pain.
My Iate Ior dim, my stars so low
perhaps nothing to it can compare,
Ior truly I do not doubt
Ior presently I suIIer so.
For even I did love
the beauty whom I desired
never do I Iully realize
that I am worthy oI her.
Shall I curse the hour
when Iirst I saw the light oI day
would it not have been better a thousand times
I had died when I was born.
Would I want to explain
but my tongue remains powerless
Ior now do I clearly see
to be spurned is my lot.
But would it be my greatest joy
to know that it is you I love,
Ior to you do I vow and promise I make
It's you alone Ior whom I would lay my liIe.


Hou M Brother Leon
Brought Home A Wlfe
(AmcrIcan Cn!nnIa! LItcraturc)
By Manuc! E. ArguI!!a
Sho sloppod dovn fion lho caiioloIa of Ca CoIin vilh a quick, doIicalo giaco. Sho vas
IovoIy. SHo vas laII. Sho Iookod up lo ny liolhoi vilh a sniIo, and hoi foiohoad vas on
a IovoI vilh his noulh.

"You aio aIdo," sho said and pIacod hoi hand IighlIy on ny shouIdoi. Hoi naiIs voio
Iong, lul lhoy voio nol painlod. Sho vas fiagianl Iiko a noining vhon papayas aio in
lIoon. And a snaII dinpIo appoaiod nononlIy high on hoi iighl chook. "And lhis is
Lalang of vhon I havo hoaid so nuch." Sho hoId lho viisl of ono hand vilh lho olhoi
and Iookod al Lalang, and Lalang novoi sloppod choving his cud. Ho svaIIovod and
lioughl up lo his noulh noio cud and lho sound of his insidos vas Iiko a diun.

I Iaid a hand on Lalang's nassivo nock and said lo hoi: "You nay scialch his foiohoad
nov."

Sho hosilalod and I sav lhal hoi oyos voio on lho Iong, cuiving hoins. ul sho cano and
louchod Lalang's foiohoad vilh hoi Iong fingois, and Lalang novoi sloppod choving
his cud oxcopl lhal his lig oyos haIf cIosod. And ly and ly sho vas scialching his
foiohoad voiy dainliIy.

My liolhoi Loon pul dovn lho lvo liunks on lho giassy sido of lho ioad. Ho paid Ca
CoIin lvico lho usuaI faio fion lho slalion lo lho odgo of Nagiolcan. Thon ho vas
slanding losido us, and sho luinod lo hin oagoiIy. I valchod Ca CoIin, vhoio ho slood
in fionl of his hoiso, and ho ian his fingois lhiough ils foioIock and couId nol koop his
oyos avay fion hoi.
"Maiia---" ny liolhoi Loon said.

Ho did nol say Maiing. Ho did nol say Mayang. I knov lhon lhal ho had aIvays caIIod
hoi Maiia and lhal lo us aII sho vouId lo Maiia, and in ny nind I said 'Maiia' and il
vas a loaulifuI nano.

"Yos, NooI."

Nov vhoio did sho gol lhal nano` I pondoiod lho nalloi quiolIy lo nysoIf, lhinking
Ialhoi nighl nol Iiko il. ul il vas onIy lho nano of ny liolhoi Loon said lackvaid
and il soundod nuch lolloi lhal vay.

"Thoio is Nagiolcan, Maiia," ny liolhoi Loon said, gosluiing vidoIy lovaid lho vosl.

Sho novod cIoso lo hin and sIippod hoi ain lhiough his. And afloi a vhiIo sho said
quiolIy.

"You Iovo Nagiolcan, don'l you, NooI`"

Ca CoIin diovo avay hi-yi-ing lo his hoiso IoudIy. Al lho lond of lho ioaI vhoio lho
lig duhal lioo giov, ho iallIod lho handIo of his liaidod iallan vhip againsl lho spokos
of lho vhooI.

Wo slood aIono on lho ioadsido.

Tho sun vas in oui oyos, foi il vas dipping inlo lho liighl soa. Tho sky vas vido and
doop and voiy lIuo alovo us: lul aIong lho sav-loolh iin of lho Kalayaghan hiIIs lo lho
soulhvosl fIanod hugo nassos of cIouds. ofoio us lho fioIds svan in a goIdon hazo
lhiough vhich fIoalod lig puipIo and iod and yoIIov lullIos vhon I Iookod al lho
sinking sun. Lalang's vhilo coal, vhich I had vshod and liushod lhal noining vilh
coconul husk, gIislonod Iiko loalon collon undoi lho IanpIighl and his hoins appoaiod
lippod vilh fiio.

Ho facod lho sun and fion his noulh cano a caII so Ioud and vilianl lhal lho oailh
soonod lo lionlIo undoifool. And fai avay in lho niddIo of lho fioId a cov Iovod
soflIy in ansvoi.

"Hilch hin lo lho cail, aIdo," ny liolhoi Loon said, Iaughing, and sho Iaughod vilh
hin a lig uncoilainIy, and I sav lhal ho had pul his ain aiound hoi shouIdois.

"Why doos ho nako lhal sound`" sho askod. "I havo novoi hoaid lho Iiko of il."

"Thoio is nol anolhoi Iiko il," ny liolhoi Loon said. "I havo yol lo hoai anolhoi luII caII
Iiko Lalang. In aII lho voiId lhoio is no olhoi luII Iiko hin."

Sho vas sniIing al hin, and I sloppod in lho acl of lying lho sinla acioss Lalang's nock
lo lho opposilo ond of lho yoko, locauso hoi loolh voio voiy vhilo, hoi oyos voio so fuII
of Iaughloi, and lhoio vas lho snaII dinpIo high up on hoi iighl chook.

"If you conlinuo lo laIk aloul hin Iiko lhal, oilhoi I shaII faII in Iovo vilh hin oi locono
gioalIy joaIous."

My liolhoi Loon Iaughod and sho Iaughod and lhoy Iookod al oach olhoi and il soonod
lo no lhoio vas a voiId of Iaughloi lolvoon lhon and in lhon.

I cIinlod inlo lho cail ovoi lho vhooI and Lalang vouId havo loIlod, foi ho vas aIvays
Iiko lhal, lul I kopl a fiin hoId on his iopo. Ho vas ioslIoss and vouId nol sland sliII, so
lhal ny liolhoi Loon had lo say "Lalang" sovoiaI linos. Whon ho vas quiol again, ny
liolhoi Loon Iiflod lho liunks inlo lho cail, pIacing lho snaIIoi on lop.

Sho Iookod dovn onco al hoi high-hooIod shoos, lhon sho gavo hoi Iofl hand lo ny
liolhoi Loon, pIacod a fool on lho hul of lho vhooI, and in ono lioalh sho had svung
up inlo lho cail. Oh, lho fiagianco of hoi. ul Lalang vas faiiIy dancing vilh
inpalionco and il vas aII I couId do lo koop hin fion iunning avay.

"Civo no lho iopo, aIdo," ny liolhoi Loon said. "Maiia, sil dovn on lho hay and hoId
on lo anylhing." Thon ho pul a fool on lho Iofl shafl and lhal insland Ialang Ioapod
foivaid. My liolhoi Loon Iaughod as ho diov hinsoIf up lo lho lop of lho sido of lho
cail and nado lho sIack of lho iopo hiss alovo lho lack of Ialang. Tho vind vhislIod
againsl ny chooks and lho iallIing of lho vhooIs on lho pollIy ioad ochood in ny oais.

Sho sal up sliaighl on lho lollon of lho cail, Iogs lonl loglhoi lo ono sido, hoi skiils
spioad ovoi lhon so lhal onIy lho loos and hooIs of hoi shoos voio visilIo. hoi oyos
voio on ny liolhoi Loon's lack, I sav lho vind on hoi haii. Whon Lalang sIovod
dovn, ny liolhoi Loon handod lo no lho iopo. I knoIl on lho sliav insido lho cail and
puIIod on lho iopo unliI Lalang vas noioIy shuffIing aIong, lhon I nado hin luin
aiound.

"Whal is il you havo foigollon nov, aIdo`" ny liolhoi Loon said.

I did nol say anylhing lul lickIod vilh ny fingois lho iunp of Lalang, and avay vo
vonl---lack lo vhoio I had unhilchod and vailod foi lhon. Tho sun had sunk and
dovn fion lho voodod sidos of lho Kalayaghan hiIIs shadovs voio sloaIing inlo lho
fioIds. High up ovoihoad lho sky luinod vilh nany sIov fiios.

Whon I sonl Lalang dovn lho doop cul lhal vouId lako us lo lho diy lod of lho Waig
vhich couId lo usod as a palh lo oui pIaco duiing lho diy soason, ny liolhoi Loon Iaid
a hand on ny shouIdoi and said sloinIy:

"Who loId you lo diivo lhiough lho fioIds lonighl`"

His hand vas hoavy on ny shouIdoi, lul I did nol Iook al hin oi ulloi a void unliI vo
voio on lho iocky lollon of lho Waig.

"aIdo, you fooI, ansvoi no lofoio I Iay lho iopo of Lalang on you. Why do you foIIov
lho Wail insload of lho canino ioaI`"

His fingois lil inlo ny shouIdoi.

"Ialhoi, ho loId no lo foIIov lho Waig lonighl, Manong."

SviflIy, his hand foII avay fion ny shouIdoi and ho ioachod foi lho iopo of Lalang.
Thon ny liolhoi Loon Iaughod, and ho sal lack, and Iaughing sliII, ho said:

"And I supposo Ialhoi aIso loId you lo hilch Lalang lo lho cail and nool us vilh hin
insload of vilh Caslano and lho caIosa."

Wilhoul vailing foi no lo ansvoi, ho luinod lo hoi and said, "Maiia, vhy do you lhink
Ialhoi shouId do lhal, nov`" Ho Iaughod and addod, "Havo you ovoi soon so nany
slais lofoio`"

I Iookod lack and lhoy voio silling sido ly sido, Ioaning againsl lho liunks, hands
cIaspod acioss knoos. SooningIy, lul a nan's hoighl alovo lho lops of lho sloop lanks of
lho Wail, hung lho slais. ul in lho doop goigo lho shadovs had faIIon hoaviIy, and
ovon lho vhilo of Lalang's coal vas noioIy a din, giayish lIui. Ciickols chiipod fion
lhoii honos in lho ciacks in lho lanks. Tho lhick, unpIoasanl snoII of dangIa lushos and
cooIing sun-hoalod oailh ningIod vilh lho cIoan, shaip sconl of aiiais iools oxposod lo
lho nighl aii and of lho hay insido lho cail.

"Look, NooI, yondoi is oui slai!" Doop suipiiso and gIadnoss voio in hoi voico. Voiy
Iov in lho vosl, aInosl louching lho iaggod odgo of lho lank, vas lho slai, lho liggosl
and liighlosl in lho sky.

"I havo loon Iooking al il," ny liolhoi Loon said. "Do you iononloi hov I vouId loII
you lhal vhon you vanl lo soo slais you nusl cono lo Nagiolcan`"

"Yos, NooI," sho said. "Look al il," sho nuinuiod, haIf lo hoisoIf. "Il is so nany linos
liggoi and liighloi lhan il vas al Linila loach."

"Tho aii hoio is cIoan, fioo of dusl and snoko."

"So il is, NooI," sho said, diaving a Iong lioalh.

"Making fun of no, Maiia`"

Sho Iaughod lhon and lhoy Iaughod logolhoi and sho look ny liolhoi Loon's hand and
pul il againsl hoi faco.

I sloppod Lalang, cIinlod dovn, and Iighlod lho Ianloin lhal hung fion lho cail
lolvoon lho vhooIs.

"Cood loy, aIdo," ny liolhoi Loon said as I cIinlod lack inlo lho cail, and ny hoail
sanl.

Nov lho shadovs look fiighl and did nol ciovd so noai. CIunps of andadasi and aiiais
fIashod inlo viov and quickIy disappoaiod as vo passod ly. Ahoad, lho oIongalod
shadov of Lalang lollIod up and dovn and svayod diunkonIy fion sido lo sido, foi
lho Ianloin iockod joikiIy vilh lho cail.

"Havo vo fai lo go yol, NooI`" sho askod.

"Ask aIdo," ny liolhoi Loon said, "vo havo loon nogIocling hin."

"I an asking you, aIdo," sho said.

Wilhoul Iooking lack, I ansvoiod, picking ny voids sIovIy:

"Soon vo viII gol oul of lho Wail and pass inlo lho fioIds. Afloi lho fioIds is hono---
Manong."

"So noai aIioady."

I did nol say anylhing noio locauso I did nol knov vhal lo nako of lho lono of hoi
voico as sho said hoi Iasl voids. AII lho Iaughloi soonod lo havo gono oul of hoi. I
vailod foi ny liolhoi Loon lo say sonolhing, lul ho vas nol saying anylhing.
SuddonIy ho lioko oul inlo song and lho song vas 'Sky Sovn vilh Slais'---lho sano
lhal ho and Ialhoi sang vhon vo cul hay in lho fioIds al nighl lofoio ho vonl avay lo
sludy. Ho nusl havo laughl hoi lho song locauso sho joinod hin, and hoi voico fIovod
inlo his Iiko a gonlIo slioan nooling a sliongoi ono. And oach lino lho vhooIs
oncounloiod a lig iock, hoi voico vouId calch in hoi lhioal, lul ny liolhoi Loon vouId
sing on, unliI, Iaughing soflIy, sho vouId join hin again.

Thon vo voio cIinling oul inlo lho fioIds, and lhiough lho spokos of lho vhooIs lho
Iighl of lho Ianloin nockod lho shadovs. Lalang quickonod his slops. Tho joIling
locano noio fioquonl and painfuI as vo ciossod lho Iov dikos.

"ul il is so voiy vido hoio," sho said. Tho Iighl of lho slais lioko and scalloiod lho
daiknoss so lhal ono couId soo fai on ovoiy sido, lhough indislinclIy.

"You niss lho housos, and lho cais, and lho poopIo and lho noiso, don'l you`" My
liolhoi Loon sloppod singing.

"Yos, lul in a diffoionl vay. I an gIad lhoy aio nol hoio."

Wilh difficuIly I luinod Lalang lo lho Iofl, foi ho vanlod lo go sliaighl on. Ho vas
lioalhing haid, lul I knov ho vas noio lhiisly lhan liiod. In a IillIo vhiIo vo diopo up
lho giassy sido onlo lho canino ioaI.

"---you soo," ny liolhoi Loon vas oxpIaining, "lho canino ioaI cuivos aiound lho fool
of lho Kalayaghan hiIIs and passos ly oui houso. Wo diovo lhiough lho fioIds locauso--
-lul I'II lo asking Ialhoi as soon as vo gol hono."

"NooI," sho said.

"Yos, Maiia."

"I an afiaid. Ho nay nol Iiko no."

"Doos lhal voiiy you sliII, Maiia`" ny liolhoi Loon said. "Iion lho vay you laIk, ho
nighl lo an ogio, foi aII lho voiId. Lxcopl vhon his Iog lhal vas voundod in lho
RovoIulion is lioulIing hin, Ialhoi is lho niIdosl-lonpoiod, gonlIosl nan I knov."

Wo cano lo lho houso of Lacay }uIian and I spoko lo Lalang IoudIy, lul Moning did nol
cono lo lho vindov, so I suinisod sho nusl lo oaling vilh lho iosl of hoi faniIy. And I
lhoughl of lho food loing nado ioady al hono and ny noulh valoiod. Wo nol lho
lvins, Uiong and CoIin, and I said "Hoy!" caIIing lhon ly nano. And lhoy shoulod lack
and askod if ny liolhoi Loon and his vifo voio vilh no. And ny liolhoi Loon
shoulod lo lhon and lhon loId no lo nako Lalang iun, lhoii ansvois voio Iosl in lho
noiso of lho vhooIs.

I sloppod Ialang on lho ioad lofoio oui houso and vouId havo gollon dovn lul ny
liolhoi Loon look lho iopo and loId no lo slay in lho cail. Ho luinod Lalang inlo lho
opon galo and vo dashod inlo oui yaid. I lhoughl vo vouId ciash inlo lho canachiIo
lioo, lul ny liolhoi Loon ioinod in Lalang in lino. Thoio vas Iighl dovnslaiis in lho
kilchon, and Molhoi slood in lho dooivay, and I couId soo hoi sniIing shyIy. My
liolhoi Loon vas hoIping Maiia ovoi lho vhooI. Tho fiisl voids lhal foII fion his Iips
afloi ho had kissod Molhoi's hand voio:

"Ialhoi... vhoio is ho`"

"Ho is in his ioon upslaiis," Molhoi said, hoi faco loconing soiious. "His Iog is
lolhoiing hin again."

I did nol hoai anylhing noio locauso I had lo go lack lo lho cail lo unhilch Lalang. ul
I haidIy liod hin undoi lho lain vhon I hoaid Ialhoi caIIing no. I nol ny liolhoi Loon
going lo liing up lho liunks. As I passod lhiough lho kilchon, lhoio voio Molhoi and
ny sisloi AuioIia and Maiia and il soonod lo no lhoy voio ciying, aII of lhon.

Thoio vas no Iighl in Ialhoi's ioon. Thoio vas no novononl. Ho sal in lho lig
ainchaii ly lho vosloin vindov, and a slai shono diioclIy lhiough il. Ho vas snoking,
lul ho ionovod lho ioII of lolacco fion his noulh vhon ho sav no. Ho Iaid il caiofuIIy
on lho vindovsiII lofoio spoaking.

"Did you nool anylody on lho vay`" ho askod.

"No, Ialhoi," I said. "Nolody passos lhiough lho Waig al nighl."

Ho ioachod foi his ioII of lolacco and hilhcod hinsoIf up in lho chaii.

"Sho is voiy loaulifuI, Ialhoi."

"Was sho afiaid of Lalang`" My falhoi had nol iaisod his voico, lul lho ioon soonod lo
iosound vilh il. And again I sav hoi oyos on lho Iong cuiving hoins and lho ain of ny
liolhoi Loon aiound hoi shouIdois.

"No, Ialhoi, sho vas nol afiaid."

"On lho vay---"

"Sho Iookod al lho slais, Ialhoi. And Manong Loon sang."

"Whal did ho sing`"

"---Sky Sovn vilh Slais... Sho sang vilh hin."

Ho vas siIonl again. I couId hoai lho Iov voicos of Molhoi and ny sisloi AuioIia
dovnslaiis. Thoio vas aIso lho voico of ny liolhoi Loon, and I lhoughl lhal Ialhoi's
voico nusl havo loon Iiko il vhon Ialhoi vas young. Ho had Iaid lho ioII of lolacco on
lho vindovsiII onco noio. I valchod lho snoko vavoi fainlIy upvaid fion lho Iighlod
ond and vanish sIovIy inlo lho nighl oulsido.

Tho dooi oponod and ny liolhoi Loon and Maiia cano in.

"Havo you valoiod Lalang`" Ialhoi spoko lo no.

I loId hin lhal Lalang vas iosling yol undoi lho lain.

"Il is lino you valoiod hin, ny son," ny falhoi said.

I Iookod al Maiia and sho vas IovoIy. Sho vas laII. osido ny liolhoi Loon, sho vas laII
and voiy sliII. Thon I vonl oul, and in lho daikonod haII lho fiagianco of hoi vas Iiko a
noining vhon papayas aio in lIoon.

%his interesting story tells about a woman`s struggle as she tries to gain the worthiness needed to
be accepted by her husband`s Iamily. %he story is set in Nacreban, where the husband lives.

In the story, Leon and Maria, the wiIe, Iace many challenges along the way, including the
passing in the so-called 'Waig instead oI the 'Camino Real or the paved road. But in the end
oI the story, both lovers overcome these trials when they reached Leon`s Iamily house.

What I Ielt while reading the story is Manuel Arguilla's great love oI Nagrebcan (Bauang, La
Union).

As a reader, this story shows how true love can surmount all challenges. And as in the case Ior
some women, this story shows how to adjust to their husbands` rural liIestyle.

As one oI the many stories, this story is very unique because it accurately describes Maria`s
ways oI adjusting to Leon`s hometown. It also has a very powerIul impact on the essences oI
love because it shows that a person Irom the urban area can be somehow compatible with a
partner Irom the rural area.

Maria represents the a typical Filipino woman or Maria Clara I admire Maria. because despite oI
those things, she still accept the hardship oI the circumstances to prove her love to Leon and
though she did not speak or deIend herselI Irom the thinking oI Leon`s Iather, she still prove
herselI thru actions.

In the line '%here was no light in Father`s room.; Leon`s Iather is observing what is
happening outside. %he absence oI light represents how the Iather knows Maria. But he don`t
have an perception on how Maia acts as a provincial woman
In the end, Iather accepted Maria like the last lines said, I watched the waver Iaintly upward.
although the author didn`t suggest an ending oI the story.
%he story 'How my Brother Leon Brought Home a WiIe, shows the diIIerent traits
and belieIs oI Filipinos, including the roles and practices oI women. I could say that Maria and
the mother oI Leon plays and represents the Filipino women. Maria didn`t complain regardless
oI the treatment she has experienced Irom Leon`s Iather while in the part oI Leon`s mother, she
makes no voice in the Iamily. She let the Iather made the decision on how the couple should be
Ietch and on what way they should take. It only means that the Iather or the man is the authority.
Symbols
8eadsrepresenLs love
8lng endless
Cangsas sorrow
SLrlng beans ferLlllLy
Labangcow
Camlno maln sLreeL


8Iag nI Lamang (Summary)
BIAG NI LAM-ANG (Life of Lam-ang) is pre-Hispanic epic poem of the locano
people of the Philippines. The story was handed down orally for generations before it
was written down around 1640 assumedly by a blind lokano bard named Pedro
Bucaneg.
BUOD (SUMMARY) OF BIAG NI LAM-ANG
Don Juan and his wife Namongan lived in Nalbuan, now part of La Union in the northern
part of the Philippines. They had a son named Lam-ang. Before Lam-ang was born,
Don Juan went to the mountains in order to punish a group of their gorot enemies.
While he was away, his son Lam-ang was born. t took four people to help Namongan
give birth. As soon as the baby boy popped out, he spoke and asked that he be given
the name Lam-ang. He also chose his godparents and asked where his father was.
After nine months of waiting for his father to return, Lam-ang decided he would go look
for him. Namongan thought Lam-ang was up to the challenge but she was sad to let
him go. During his exhausting journey, he decided to rest for awhile. He fell asleep and
had a dream about his father's head being stuck on a pole by the gorot. Lam-ang was
furious when he learned what had happened to his father. He rushed to their village and
killed them all, except for one whom he let go so that he could tell other people about
Lam-ang's greatness.

Upon returning to Nalbuan in triumph, he was bathed by women in the Amburayan river.
All the fish died because of the dirt and odor from Lam-ang's body.

There was a young woman named nes Kannoyan whom Lam-ang wanted to woo. She
lived in Calanutian and he brought along his white rooster and gray dog to visit her. On
the way, Lam-ang met his enemy Sumarang, another suitor of nes whom he fought and
readily defeated.
Lam-ang found the house of nes surrounded by many suitors all of whom were trying
to catch her attention. He had his rooster crow, which caused a nearby house to fall.
This made nes look out. He had his dog bark and in an instant the fallen house rose up
again. The girl's parents witnessed this and called for him. The rooster expressed the
love of Lam-ang. The parents agreed to a marriage with their daughter if Lam-ang
would give them a dowry valued at double their wealth. Lam-ang had no problem
fulfilling this condition and he and nes were married.

t was a tradition to have a newly married man swim in the river for the rarang fish.
Unfortunately, Lam-ang dove straight into the mouth of the water monster Berkakan.
nes had Marcos get his bones, which she covered with a piece of cloth. His rooster
crowed and his dog barked and slowly the bones started to move. Back alive, Lam-ang
and his wife lived happily ever after with his white rooster and gray dog.