21st Century Literature From The Philippines And The World

  "I Got A Flowers Today" by Paulette Kelly     One of the things I took away from Paulette Kelley's short story "I got flowers today" was that if you love someone, you can put up with everything they make  and are willing to forgive them for what they do. Similar to what occurred to the main character in this story, she died as a result of love.     Everything must have a limit, as I've learnt. Let's learn to fight against what is wrong, especially when you are aware that it has already violated your character.

 "A Poppy" by Petter Howard      For me, I learned that war will never be the solution for everything; it will just give other people a bad experience that they will not forget, and many lives may be lost.    We should stop fighting or creating war with other people. It does not help us or even make us a better person. At some point, we should know that creating a war between others makes us worse as a person. War in all its aspects is not going to contribute to our own good.

  " A Letter To Pedro, U S Citizen, Also Called Pete" by Rene Estella Amper      I learned that you should not let the difficulties in life impact you, no matter how serious or difficult the situations are or the troubles you are going through, from the story "A Letter to Pedro, Also Known As Pete of Rene Estella Amper. We better laugh, as the Filipinos frequently do.      An example of how happy Filipinos really are. We still have smiles on our faces and can still tell jokes despite the events that are happening in our nation, such as corruption, the environmental issue, prostitution,, poverty and other social issues.      No matter how challenging life is, we will always believe that we can learn to find happiness in even the simplest of things. There isn't even a barrier to what is referred to as "pleasure."

 " Footnote To Youth" by Jose Garcia Villa      Jose Garcia Villa's short story "Footnote To Youth" illustrates one of the issues that our nation, the Philippines, is currently dealing with. the challenges faced, notably by youngsters who marry young and have kids, as well as the country's population growth. especially if you don't make enough money or have a job.     One of the things I've come to realize about this world is that you shouldn't rush through life, especially if you want to start a family in the future. We as young people ought to consider how good life will be in the future; learning, studying and working hard in life are essential.      We young people are the people's future, therefore work hard and take your time in life.

  "The Visitation Of The Gods" by Gilda Cordero-Fernando     Gilda Cordero-The Fernando's Visitation Of The Gods is a mirror of Philippine society. In political and other governmental offices, democracy is always present. There is always a ranking.  Some is in  higher and some is in lower.       You will remain at the bottom if you do not obey the orders of those who are higher than you, like Miss Noel who has a stand in life rather than those above her, which are pure evil and follow everything that is ordered by those who are higher than them.      So, one thing that I had learned is, d on't do everything just to cover up our mistakes. Instead of trying to hide imperfections, be true to ourselves and be yourself. Come out and speak for yourself. Show to the world the real you are. Be Miss Noel of this country

 "The Last Leaf" by O. Henry"      Never lose hope, no matter what, no matter how hard it is, and never give up too quickly without even giving it a fight. At least   the best things you can in this world  to get beyond all the difficulties you are facing. And we should stop depending our life  onto something, which affects our thoughts and having a negative mind.       Nothing will happen to you if you act like Johnsy in O.'s story "The Last Leaf", who did nothing more than try to give up. You are not the only one with the burden of that in the world but other people do too. However, let them serve as a source of inspiration so that we can persevere in the face of challenges.      Everything has a reason, so everything also has a purpose. and When there is a problem there is a solution. So let's not think about giving up because there is more good hope waiting for you. There are our loved ones who are ready to accompany us in any challenge of life.

 "Dead Star" by Paz Benitez Marquez        In the story of Paz Benitez's Dead Star, I learned that someone like me should be content with whatever I have in life. Don't seek for something else especially if there is no certainty, particularly in love.     T oday, most of our generation searches for and longs for others, especially when they encounter something new. We'll swap the person who is always there for us with the person you don't really know.  When the time comes, you'll become bored and return to the person you first fell in love with.     I'm hoping I can find someone who will love me unconditionally and honestly, unlike this story. That he will not look for anything else from me, because the love he has is only for someone like me.     

  "How My Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife" by Manuel Arguilla      The way of living in a barrio is completely different from how it is in a city. There is no “waig” and carabao are used for living. But even so, life in the barrio is more peaceful and quiet than in the city, fresh air, strange creatures and beautiful scenery are available here. Who wouldn't be happy and wouldn't want to stay in this kind of place? Who the hell can't be loved right? No matter how hard it is to live here.      Like Maria, who plays the role of Leon's wife in Manuel Arguilla's story "How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife." Despite how challenging it was since it was different from her usual existence, she gave up the life she had in the city for her beloved Leon. But because to her genuine passion, she is able to deal with the phrase "sacrifice" in the name of happiness.      His affection for the lion never changed as a result of this event. I believe

  "Sinigang" by Marie Aubrey Villaceran     Blood is thicker than water.  Being a family is even more important in any circumstance, including conflict, animosity, and even if you don't pay attention, it's still a family in the end. Like the "Sinigang" story that I had read of Marie Aubrey Villaceran, which actually takes place in our culture and is the most typical cause of split families.      Here, I learned one thing, in the family the words "forgiveness" and "forgetting" are attached to it, as Liza did to her father despite his relationship with Sylvia.      It's like this when you're a family member, you can't bear not to forgive and not to forget them despite the sins they've committed. Not because they deserve it, but for the ease of your heart and the peace of your life that you deserve from all the pain he caused to you.

  "Wedding Dance" by Amador Daguio      When you let your loved ones leave, it doesn't mean you don't still love them, just like Awiyao did with Lumnay, I learned from the story of Amador Daguio's "Wedding Dance". He wounds Lumnay even though he loves her dearly, but he is powerless to stop it because their tradition depends on it and their love trumps what they are used to.       Just goes to illustrate how truly patriotic Filipinos are. Even if it is replaced by one's own happiness, a Filipino custom is hard to get rid of and does not change. Because true love isn't just about sticking by your side, it's also about choosing to walk away for a better future.      Also, I realized that you can't just judge someone based on what he did. Just like what i did,  judging what Awiyao did to his wife Lumnay in the first, that he just let her marry another woman even though he still loved Awiyao. Don't look at one side only, but let's lea