Pocong, Kerstein Gil C.

(SP – 25) November 25, 2016

Solima, Patricia Mae P. (SP – 30) Grade 11 – Spitzer

Apo On The Wall

By: Bj Patino

Guide Questions:

1. How would you describe the persona and the persona’s father? How would you describe their
relationship? Would you say that your relationship with your father is similar or different? Explain.
The persona was a little child who is afraid of his father and of authority figures like his
father. However, he doesn’t always follow his father even though he is afraid of him. On the other
hand, the persona’s father was a military official who is strict both to his family and to the people
he rules. He also has a picture of his boss in his office which means that he has a great respect to
his boss. I can say that their relationship is similar to my relationship with my father. I, too, am
afraid of my father because of his strictness and to the fear that he might scold me if I do something
wrong. Moreover, just like the child, I do not always follow my father, however, if I do not follow
him, I do it in secret in order that he cannot scold me for doing something he does not want.

2. In lines 12 and 13 in the poem, there is the use of the words “snappy” and “snapped,”
respectively. What do these words mean? How do they add to the poem in terms of sound? How
do they add to your understanding of the relationship of father and son?

Snappy means to be able to move quickly while being marked by vigor. On the other hand,
snapped means to utter sharp biting words. These words add to the poems sound by providing
words that seem to be sounding similar. They aid me to understand that the father was rigorous
even to his son by being particular about following the rules.

3. Who is Apo in the poem? Cite evidences to support your answer.

It was stated in the poem that the father was wearing green uniform with colored
breastplates which means that he was a military official. Furthermore, one can think that the picture
on the wall was a powerful person for his picture to be hang in an office, then so, military officials
consider the president as their master. Consequently, Apo, in the poem, is no other than Ferdinand
Marcos which was the president when Martial Law was declared.
4. How would you describe the relationship between the persona’s father and Apo? What does this
tell you about the father’s perspective about martial law?

Apo has a great influence upon the persona’s father. Additionally, the persona’s father has
a great respect upon Apo. I can say that their connection was more of the master to servant
relationship because of how they are connected to one another. Their relationship tells me that the
father’s perspective about martial law is that if we work hard, we can achieve rewards. If we
still work hard for our whole life, and for our efforts like the persona's father of this
poem, he gained plaques, and medals for being loyal and hardworking. In my perspective, to
him, martial law was a time to follow orders in order to be rewarded.

5. What kind of values does the persona’s father want to teach his child, specifically, about what
it means to be a man? Do you agree with these values? Why or why not?

I think the persona’s father want to teach his child the importance of following orders or
rules. Additionally, the father tells the persona that in order to be a man one must be strong and
brave. Personally, I do not think that those characteristics are what it takes to be a real man. For
me, real men are those who respect other people, protect the women, elderly and the children, and
those who take responsibility for their actions. In my perspective, if a man follows orders, strong,
and brave, it does not really mean that they are already a man. Because to be a man, one must do
those three things. Again, to respect, to protect, and to take responsibility.

6. Why is Apo compared to the “scary” Jesus in the hallway? What do they seem to have in
common?

Apo and the “scary” Jesus seemed to watch the persona’s every move, following and
looking at him. Both of they seem to be watching all the moves of everyone and knowing what
everyone is up to.

7. What do the father, Apo, and the “scary” Jesus have in common?

The father, Apo, and the “scary” Jesus seem to know one’s every move. They are strict if
one is following the rules or not. Specifically, the persona was afraid to all three of them.

8. Read the last line of the poem. What does it mean? How does this regulate the persona’s
behavior?
In my opinion, the persona was the way he is because of the things that are in his
surroundings. He felt that someone is always watching him, knowing his every move, maybe that
is why he is afraid or that he often does things in a sneaky manner because he was always afraid
that he is being watched.

9. Do you think the persona’s perspective about martial law is the same as his father’s? Why or
why not?

I think the persona’s perspective about martial law is far different from his father’s. First
of all, his father follows regulations strictly, unlike his father, the persona doesn’t even always
follow the rules of his father. Secondly, his father was snappy like a soldier and hardworking,
whereas the persona in the poem was afraid of authority figures, including his father.

10. How does this poem provide the reader a glimpse of what martial law was like? How did the
poem make you feel?

The poem gave me the knowledge that during the Marcos government everyone was
alarmed and snappy because of their fear to the soldiers during Martial Law and the poem
has a line that says "There's no place for a boy, only men" that means during the Martial
Law there is no place for those weak and frightened people but only to strong and brave
men. The poem made me feel grateful that I am born during this time period. Additionally, it made
me realize that our current government is far better than what it was like during the Martial Law.
Nowadays, we are given the freewill to do whatever we want as long as we do not step on other
people and as long as we do not do something illegal and morally wrong.