lit

MAY DAY EVE By Nick Joaquin

Summary

• The setting is in the late 1840s during May Eve celebrations where the dancing was supposed to stop by 10 PM.

• Guests begin to leave, but the boys stay drinking while the girls head to their bedrooms.

• A woman named Anastasia tells stories about witches, frightening the girls, and instructs Agueda on a ritual involving a mirror.

• Agueda performs the ritual, expecting to see her future husband but is horrified to see a devil instead, revealing her attraction to Don Badoy, who eventually marries her.

• After marriage, Agueda warns her daughter against the mirror ritual, fearing it brings bad luck.

• Don Badoy's grandson, Voltaire, also tries the ritual, fearing he might see a witch, reflecting familial patterns.

• Despite the elders insisting that festivities end by a certain time, young men, filled with bravado, distract themselves by reveling in the night, highlighting the allure of youth.

• The climax involves Agueda’s experience with the devil in the mirror leading to a complex narrative about strength, beauty, and enchantment contrasted with the grim realities of life and aging.

Character Relationships

• Agueda: A beautiful young woman torn between attraction and fear of the supernatural.

• Don Badoy: Agueda's eventual husband, associated with youthful desires and the burdens of adult life.

• Voltaire: Badoy's grandson, representing the continuation of family legacies and the cycle of youthful arrogance.

FOOTNOTE TO YOUTH By Jose Garcia Villa

Summary

• Dudong, a 17-year-old, yearns to marry Teang, believing he is mature enough for the responsibility.

• Dudong shares his desire with his father, who hesitantly gives his consent after a long silence.

• Nine months later, Dudong feels overwhelmed adjusting to fatherhood with Teang, who bears many children and grows weary despite her love for Dudong.

• The narrative explores Dudong’s regrets and the hardships of adult life as his youthful dreams clash with reality.

• Dudong's son Blas, now 18, expresses a desire to marry Tena, mirroring Dudong's previous decisions, emphasizing the cyclical nature of youth and familial relationships.

Themes

• The burdens of early marriage and parenthood

• The passage of time and lost youth

• Reflection on personal choices and societal expectations.

ALE-ALENG NAMAMAYONG By Julian Cruz Balmaceda

Summary

• A poem describing a young woman walking in the rain, approached by a narrator who offers protection under his umbrella.

• It highlights the beauty and fragility of youth, along with themes of love and the consequences of being caught in the rain.

KUNG MAMILI ANG DALAGA By Julian Cruz Balmaceda

Summary

• A poem exploring the changing values and desires of a young woman as she ages, addressing her shifting priorities in love and marriage.

• It reflects on the societal pressures and personal aspirations while contemplating love at different life stages.

THE TRUE DECALOGUE By Apolinario Mabini

Summary

• A philosophical text presenting ten principles focusing on love for God, country, and self, intertwining ethics with civic responsibilities.

• Each commandment emphasizes personal integrity, community, and social justice, advocating for a society based on reason and collective wellbeing.