The Bread of Salt NVM Gonzalez

Written in a first person point-of-view, The Bread of Salt is about a fourteen year-old boy who grows up,
realizing that not all dreams or loves in life can possibly come true. Perhaps the moral of the story, or an
insight that one can conclude from Gonzalezs story is this: while it is alright to dream, a person should
still at least weigh the circumstances and the possibilities set upon the foundation of that dream. In other
words, reality should be in constant check, whether a person is just fantasizing improbable future events
or not. Factors affecting the improbability of the dream are the circumstances itself set around the
environment of the dreamer. Okay, sounding like Freud here for a sec. () Getting back to the Bread
of Salt, the reader witnesses the main character relaying events of the past when he was fourteen years
old. During that time, he realized that his dream to be a well-renowned musician and his dream to be with
a girl named Aida were two things that had been dreamt up in fancy. First, his dream to be a musician a
violinist, to be particular were flushed down the drain when his aunt had asked him one day why he
wanted to be a musician when in fact, at parties, musicians always eat last. The main character knew
how harsh his aunt could be, and it showed when he admitted that he got a little hurt by her statement.
Next, his many fanciful imaginations of being with Aida shows how much infatuated he is with her. For
instance, the main character thought of buying her a brooch. In my own opinion, the symbol of both the
act of giving a beloved a piece of jewelry, and the jewelry itself is something done by those whose
relationships are strong and have had experiences to serve as its foundation the item, being a symbol of
appreciation or token of thanks. Hence, the main character thinking of giving Aida a brooch is a scenario
that proved that he thought of himself too much towards a person whom, as the details imply in the story,
is someone who he is not very close with.

The act of the main character eating the bread of salt, or the pan de sal, in the beginning of the story
signifies the importance of the image, though it can be read that it is not the focus of the whole context.
Rather, the pan de sal serves as the image that represents the main characters broken dreams his
realizations towards the impracticality of his future career as a violinist, as pointed out by his aunt; and
the absurdity of his many romantic assumptions with a girl he barely knows. At the end of the story,
through the act of again eating pan de sal, the main character accepts the things that may not be.
Magnificence Estrella D. Alfon Cebu, UP

The descriptions of the mother and Vicente are contrastive not only against each other but also against
stereotypes of their genders. The story opens with Vicente being described as so gentle, so kind, a
phrase usually used for women. Vicente is a dark little man whose voice [was] soft [and] manner
slow. On the other hand, the mother is a gloating mother whose eyes [held] pride. She is barely
described at the start, as absent as the father except for short delivered lines, which are also in a tone not
in sync with stereotype mothers. Only later is the mother completely revealed: a tall woman who spoke
in a voice very low, very heavy and with an awful timbre. The contrast emphasizes the darkness of
Vicente and the mothers magnificence.
This contrast is also displayed in the metaphor of light or illumination. At the start, Vicente was described
as slowly advancing into the circle of light. During the crucial moment, the mother is transfigured [by a]
glow (note the connotation of Jesus/God, images of magnificence). She had been in the shadow
literally, and figuratively, about Vicentes queerness that crouched inside him. In her anger, she
advance[s] into the glare of light and reveals her magnificent self. Vicente is then forced out of the
circle of light and into the shadows that ate him up.
The mothers sense of control with Vicente is set against her inner disposition once with her daughter.
Her touch is heavykneading, eyes with angered fire, her actions almost frantic.
The reversal of gender assignments is not only incidental. The story is not just about one magnificent
woman but of all women and mothers who have been in shadows but raise [their] hand[s] against male
abuse. This is shown in how throughout the story the mother is referred to as mother but at the moment
she was punishing Vicente, she is called woman.
When she gets back to her daughter, she is seen as mother again, but in exploring her disposition and
rage she is again woman. Finally, upon calming down, she becomes mother and tucks her child in.

The figurative language uses are personification: the cool air of the free night touched him Then
metaphor and hyperbole: they were both very tall for their age, and their legs were the long gangly legs
of fine spirited colts.


Family Reunion: Carlos A. Angeles Tacloban, Leyte, UP
Body
Diction is an important element of poetry. The way Carlos' poem speaks is in such a way that you will
need to read it again just to get the actual meaning of the poem. He speaks in a much formal yet much
complicated manner. The speaks in a way wherein you can understand the words but connecting them
together makes your mind sweat.
The speaker of the poem is a son/daughter . The poem didn't actually specify the gender of the speaker.
But I am sure that the speaker is a human and a son/daughter since he or she addressed his or her parents
as mama and papa.
Imagery is the detail of the senses that make a poem come alive for the reader. Imagery depends on who
the reader is. But for me, I picture them as adults with their own homes and families going back to their
roots. To their original family.
Plot of the poem is like how the story goes. The poem family reunion is about the sinful children that after
their sins are forgiven by their parents. The poem is somewhat similar to the bible story the prodigal son
that even he recognizes his foolishness and decided to return to his father and ask for forgiveness and
mercy. The father who had been watching and waiting, receives his son back with open arms of
compassion. He is overjoyed by the return of his lost son. Immediately the father turns to his servants and
asks them to prepare a giant feast in celebration of the return of his son. The poem also portrayed the filial
piety and forgiveness.
When you speak, you don't say everything in a steady tone like a hum, you'd sound funny. Instead, you
stress parts of words. That is Rhythm. The poem "family reunion " didn't actually have any rhythm it was
more like narrative or telling a story with first person point of view.
Figures of speech help enhance the poem.
Bringing the Dolls For Anya Merlie M. Alunan
The poem bringing the dolls of Merlie Alunan conveys the relationship of a mother-daughter. Which the
daughter has a doll. The doll represent as the past and present event to the characters. Doll is the
miniature of human figure which is usually associated with young girls. And Dolls can be considered as a
valuable item to children. As time goes by they become attached to it. However, the key idea in this poem
is the story revolved around the ragged and tattered doll, which somehow represents violence or hideous
events. I think the mother is miserable and wanted to move on. So as they decided to transfer to another
place, she wanted the doll be left behind. Perhaps she does not want to remember a dreadful event that
comes to their life.
However, it is somehow about the life of a broken family. Like the description of the dolls. The dolls
were missing an arm and a leg and blind in one eye. It maybe refers to a father. Meanwhile the speaker of
the story is the mother. She was speaking directly to the audience. But, she does not show compassion to
her daughter as she told her not to bring the dolls even though it is valuable to her child.
In the second stanza, is where the letting go happened. The line Each tight luggage I had packed Only
for the barest need: it means that she is going away and she will not bring with them the past. Because it
is not their need. And she has ready to go the miseries she experienced. And I think she wanted her
daughter to do the same with her to left the pains and misery. Furthermore, to teach her child how to
accept things or truths even though it really hurts.
At the third stanza, it conveys the concept of moving on. Boat turned steward as it symbolizes journey
of life and moving on. It may be hard to go to other place and adapt to the new environment but one
should continue on its way. In the next stanza, the tone of sadness is there. In a line The stealthy tears I
could not wipe. she was somehow fighting the sorrow inside her heart and could not wipe her tears
because she is having difficulties removing the grief inside her. The meaning of the last line in this stanza
is the past still remains in the mind of the mother just like the doll; it also difficult to leave behind.
In every action there is always an opposite reaction or consequences. The fourth stanza talks about the
results of the actions. The child is much more affected with the incident.
Meanwhile the theme of the poem is about moving on and letting go. It may be hard to do that but I think
it is worthy to let it be.
The memories that we dont want may be left behind but it cannot be forgotten. It serves as the motivation
to go on with the life and strength.
I. Life is a three ring circus
II. Jose Quirino
Jose A Quirino was born in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, on April 27, 1930. He finished his law
degree at Far Eastern University. At present his major occupation is writing. He has also taught English in
the PWU, PNU, and MLQU. He has won three Stanvac awards for journalism in feature writing. He was
also named Most Prolific and Most Valuable Contributor of the Philippine Free Press for nine consecutive
years. He hosts a popular weekly television program, J.Q. Specials. He has published in all the major
Philippine journals and his short stories are: Night Song and Other Tales, Loneliness Is a Volcano and
New Stories, Nocturne for Piano and Heartstrings and More New Stories, and Modern Love Stories.
NVM Gonzalez has well described Mr. Quirino as the writingest writer of the Philippines.
III. Characters
Reporter
Gorgio/Peppo a famous clown before but he became poor after he had an accident.
Audience
IV. Setting
Time - About a dozen years ago.
In Manila and Hongkong
V. Plot
A. Introduction
The writer began the his story by telling his job and experiences.
B. Conflict
When Gorgio got an accident
C. Climax
When the writer meets Peppo and found out that Peppo and Gorgio are the same clown that he met before
D. Denouement
When Gorgio said that all he want now is a one-ring circus after what happened to him.
E. Resolution
Gorgio chose to stay in circus however small it is.
VI. Theme
For me, the theme for this was Theres nothing permanent in life.
VII. Real life
This story are very common in real life. Many rich people are turning into an ordinary
people.

Life is a Three Ring Circus
The story is about the ups down of Gorgio, the famous clown. He met the journalist and had an
interview with him. Gorgio had a respectful family, successful career and a better individual. He met the
journalist and had an interview with him. He said that his life was a three ring circus. The one ring is for
Gorgio the famous clown, career. The second ring is for being a father of a highly respected family. And
the third one being himself alone. The other day, the journalist was taking Gorgios advice. He will set
his second ring in his circus, doing an article about provincial life. A weeks after, he read a news that
Gorgio got an accident. When the journalist was in Hongkong, a little circus arrived. He saw Peppo.
Peppo and Gorgio are one. He interviewed Gorgio to what happened to him. After Gorgios operation his
savings and properties was gone. His wife died and his children migrated to America. He has a new wife,
younger than him. He said that all he want now is a one ring circus, how small it is or how cheap it is.