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5ive Literary Theories from Philippine Authors

What Must Be Believed In by Jose F. Lacaba

Literary Theory: Formalism

Explanation: The author employs formal words such as "ghouls," "graffiti," "trolls," etc., to illustrate individuals who are evil in society.

Stanzas:

"Ghouls, and gratifies, and trolls, and ogres"

"A thousand and one nights or trembling and dread"

"To thwart the vampire fangs and pins of witches"

2. Force of Circumstance by Jose F. Lacaba

Literary Theory: Marxist Theory

Explanation: It is about the son of a congressman, who holds a higher status, and his associates kidnapped and raped Maritess.

Stanzas:

"When Maritess was kidnapped by the son of a congressman"

"Four members of his gang accompanied the son of a congressman"

"When Maritess was released by the son of a congressman"

3. NIght of a Construction Worker by Lamberto E. Antonio

Literal Theory: Marxist Theory

Explanation: In Antonio's background, most of his poems were about the poor and oppressed people he encountered in his youth. In the poem, despite the worker's hard work, they can barely earn enough to stave off hunger.

Stanzas:

"For dreaming up more construction jobs to come"

"For prayers made musty by sweat and magic spell"

"In return for wage that barely staves off hunger"

4. On the Death of a Newspaper Delivery Boy by Lamberto E. Antonio

Literal Theory: Cultural Studies

Explanation: Decades ago, delivering newspapers was a job that contributed to its cultural significance.

Stanzas:

"By those who have the habit of reading"

"News items hot as coffee and buns"

"Newspaper delivery boy, victim of reckless driver"

5. Mareng Mensiya by Fanny A. Garcia

Literal Theory: Practical Criticism

Explanation: The story is only about Mareng Mensiya's life. It doesn't mean anything else outside of the story.

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Miss Universe

*Exempted* Lately, the Miss Universe show reflects the changing views on beauty and equality. Including the people who are transgender, chubby, and even mothers is a good move away from usual beauty standards. It is a positive steps towards breaking from the old-fashioned of beauty. But what is Miss Universe? miss Universe is a global beauty contest that happens every year. Women from different countries join to compete not just to show how pretty they are but also smart and aware of the world they are. The pageant has changed over the years having the contestants make it more diverse and equal.

Acknowledging transgender in Miss Universe is a big step towards everyone. Beauty isn't only for one gender but letting transgenders to take part about accepting and appreciating beauty in all its forms. Furthermore, considering oversized is the idea of beauty; by including individuals with differently body shapes and sizes. Miss Universe supports about one's body and breaks down the strict standards for a long time. Additionally, mothers can participate in Miss Universe because it is not about being young. Being a mother doesn't make a woman less beautiful but can make her more beautiful in different ways. Allowing moms to join, it will show the different sides of the beauty, showing that it is not just about a certain age.

In conclusion, letting transgender people, chubby and moms participate in Miss Universe is a good forward step in changing how we see beauty. By welcoming all kinds of people, the pageant shows a more open and enlighten the view of beauty. This changes in Miss Universe sets a model for everyone to accept and value the beauty in each person, no matter their gender identity, body size, or age.

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"Equality" by Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou’s 1990 poem “Equality” is composed during the time when civil rights issues held a central place in American society. Angelou’s poem pursuit for equality, to clearly open the eyes and ears of the people and acknowledge equality to all. Angelou’s work, “Equality” represents her personal experiences as an African American woman living in a racially divided society. Maya Angelou addresses these issues to express her desire for a just and equitable society.

One of the central issues in the poem is racial inequality. Angelou, as an African American writer, speaks to the historical and ongoing struggle for racial equality. Her poem highlights the discrimination and injustice faced by African Americans during the civil rights period and emphasizes the need to correct these inequalities. It addresses the urgency of recognizing and protecting the rights and freedoms of all individuals, regardless of their race. The poem also conveys the idea that true justice can only be achieved when equality is upheld as a fundamental principle. Angelou asserts that every person, regardless of their race, should be treated with respect and have their basic human rights acknowledged and protected. This issue underscores the fundamental value of human dignity

Angelou's language and style are straightforward, she used concise words to ensure that her message is easily understood. This simplicity serves to make the poem accessible and relatable to a wide audience. The poem's structure relies on repetition, particularly the recurring use of the word "Equality." This repetition creates a rhythmic and emphatic effect, reinforcing the central theme of equality. It serves as the importance of the concept and to draw the reader's attention to its simplicity, making it memorable and impactful. Through her works, she received recognition from numerous organizations for her literary work and contributions. And in 2010, Angelou received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former president Barack Obama, which is the highest civilian honor in the country.

Discrimination and inequality can have profound emotional and psychological impact, particularly on individuals like me. Racial or gender discrimination can create an unwelcoming and unequal learning environment, and experiencing or witnessing discrimination and inequality can have a negative effect on mental and emotional well-being. This can lead to stress, anxiety, or depression, which may interfere with my ability to focus on my studies.

"Minsan May Isang P*ta" by Mike Portes

"Minsan may isang P*ta," written by Mike Portes in 2004, gained popularity as one of Definitely Filipino's "Most Read Articles." The impact of the allegory continues, as it is still widely circulated, being incorporated into high school and university curricula for Filipino, Political Science, and Theater subjects across the country. Another work included the indie film named "Ganap na Babae" which earned recognition as the opening film at Cinemalaya 2010 and received recognition both locally and internationally.

The plot of the story is about a woman who became a prostitute and experienced the hardships and pain of her life. She became a victim of abuse, faced judgment from her neighbors, and experienced mistreatment by the three foreigners, leaving her with traumatic experiences. But with the help of some of her children, they were able to get rid of the foreigner who their mother clung to. However, when problems come she still seeks the foreigner's assistance because without it, she is in danger of becoming impoverished. Later on, her children went abroad but sadly some of her children didn’t support her and left her.

To conclude the essay, I wish to relate the story to the lessons I have learned, and its real life historical counterparts, starting with the Philippines, which represents the woman in the story. The three foreigners symbolize the three countries (Spain, Japan, and America) that occupied the Philippines due to its beauty of the land . However, they failed to occupy the Philippines because of the revolution led by the Filipinos, this represents the children of the woman. Furthermore, in the South China Sea, as we struggle to defend our territory against China, we seek assistance from the United States, symbolizing the woman who continues to seek help from the foreigner. Finally, some children of the woman who left her represent Filipinos migrating and going abroad due to the situation in our country.

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An Overview of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has been in talks lately. This conflict has been going on for a long time and is complicated. The Israel-Hamas conflict is a deeply rooted and intricate issue, with its origins in the history of the British Mandate of Palestine, the partition of territories, and the divergent Jewish and Islamic discourses in the region. To understand the ongoing tensions, we must go deep into the historical background.

THE BRITISH MANDATE To better understand the Israel-Hamas conflict, we must first consider the historical context of the British Mandate of Palestine (1918-1948). After World War I, the League of Nations granted Britain control over Palestine, which encompassed modern-day Israel and Palestine. The British Mandate witnessed the migration of Jewish immigrants to the region and the gradual emergence of Zionist aspirations for a Jewish homeland. This era laid the foundation for subsequent tensions and territorial disputes.

PARTITION OF TERRITORIES The division of Palestine, in 1947 as suggested by the United Nations was a turning point in the conflict. The UNs choice to separate Palestine into Arab states with administration for Jerusalem received a variety of reactions. The creation of Israel in 1948 and the subsequent Arab Israeli War initiated a standing conflict that persists till today. This conflict led to the division of territories the Gaza Strip and West Bank, between Israel and Palestine.

JUDAISM AND ISLAM DISCOURSE Religion is an important part of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Both Islam and Judaism have holy places that are special to them. Some people in Israel who are deeply religious believe they need to protect their country and do not want to give any land to the Arabs. On the other hand, some groups in Palestine and other Islamic countries believe it is their religious duty to free the "holy" places and they support violence against Israel and Jewish people. These religious beliefs make it harder for both sides to agree on a peaceful solution.

SIX DAY WAR (1967) The Six-Day War in June 1967 saw Israel defeating neighboring Arab states, capturing territories like the Sinai Peninsula, West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip, and the Golan Heights. It led to ongoing regional conflicts and Israel's occupation of these territories, impacting the Middle East's geopolitics.

ROOTS OF HAMAS Hamas was formed in 1987 during the First Palestinian Intifada (Uprising). Hamas originated from more extremist members of the Muslim Brotherhood. From then on, Hamas regularly joins anti-Israel attacks and in 2006, Hamas was able to defeat the Secular Fatah party. Starting from here, violence and war has been commonplace due to the militant nature of Hamas.

NOVA MUSIC FESTIVAL Militants from Gaza have fired rockets towards the Nova Festival, a music event located near the Gaza Israel border. This incident is notable as it represents the coordinated attack ever conducted by Hamas militants within Israel. Tragically around 260 individuals were later discovered deceased at the festival grounds with some attendees being held hostage by individuals. The festival, initially intended to be an all-night dance party, in celebration of the holiday of Sukkot was abruptly disrupted by the sound of sirens and rockets during dawn.

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict has been going on for a little over a century. It is a brutal conflict with thousands dying on both sides. This conflict is no ordinary conflict, but a war. War knows no boundaries. In war, there are no rules and it doesn't care who gets hurt, it only cares about winning. But usually, in war, nobody really wins. The scars of war run deep. Hatred that could run for even hundreds of years. We don't know how to stop this cycle of killing and destroying each other. Some people have tried to make peace, and sometimes it works for a while, but it doesn't last forever. Only time will tell if there will ever be peace again.

REFERENCE:

1. British Mandate for Palestine | International Encyclopedia of the First World War (WW1). (n.d.). https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/british_mandate_for_palestine#:~:text=The%20British%20Mandate%20for%20Palestine,that%20emerged%20after%20the%20war. 2. Wikipedia contributors. (2023). United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Partition_Plan_for_Palestine 3. Religion and the Israel-Palestinian Conflict: Cause, consequence, and cure. (n.d.). The Washington Institute. https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/religion-and-israel-palestinian-conflict-cause-consequence-and-cure 4. Wikipedia contributors. (2023b). Six-Day War. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War 5. Nctc. (n.d.-b). National Counterterrorism Center | Groups. https://www.dni.gov/nctc/groups/hamas.html#:~:text=HAMAS%20formed%20in%20late%201987,structure%20inside%20the%20Palestinian%20territories. 6. https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/07/middleeast/israel-gaza-fighting-hamas-attack-music-festival-intl-hnk/index.html