In this story we tackle how the people discriminate the people who live in

province and we also discover about their culture and in this story we see how
people belittle the other people,and can’t forget the culture and tradition you
have.

Based on the movie its important to love and never forget our culture.
Martinez symbolize the death. The movie and also the author Anna Felicia C.
Sanchez want to tell us that even you have an impairement you need to be
fair because Anna felicia have a daughter that has a language impairment like
in the story totoy have also a language impairement,Anna inspired to write this
story because his inspiration is her daughter.Anna Felicia study non fiction in
23 years and lije in the story of martinez her husband has also encountered
depression like the character of richard he encounter depression because he
lost a job so anna decided to go to the province to unwind the depression like
richard and anna discover that the speech impairment of her daughter came
from the genes of her mother side.

The author wrote martinez because she want to tell how the culture is
important for every people and Anna is inspired to write martinez because her
daughter also have a language impairment like totoy and the author wants to
tell us to remember the tradition of our family and we need to teach the
tradition you learn in the next generation of your family dont forget it and give
it importance.

Reference:

VIRTUAL CENTER
by Raissa Claire U. Rivera
Bejasa
De Leon
Ebalier
Manglapus
Sarosong
Guinto
GROUP 3
Vocabulary Words
Vocabulary W ords
Turnstile (NOUN)
- a mechanical gate consisting of revolvi...
Turnstile (NOUN)
- a mechanical gate consisting of revolving horizontal arms fixed to a vertical post, allowing only one
person at a time to pass through
Restitution (NOUN)
- the restoration ...
Restitution (NOUN)
- the restoration of something lost or stolen to its proper owner
Obsolete (OBJECTIVE)
- no longer produced ...
Obsolete (OBJECTIVE)
- no longer produced or used; out of date
Makeshift (ADJECTIVE)
- serving as a tempora...
Makeshift (ADJECTIVE)
- serving as a temporary substitute; sufficient for the time being
Murky (ADJECTIVE)
- (of liquid) dark and dirty; n...
Murky (ADJECTIVE)
- (of liquid) dark and dirty; not clear
Green house (NOUN)
- a glass building in whi...
Green house (NOUN)
- a glass building in which plants are grown that need protection from cold weather
Antics (NOUN)
- foolish, outrageous, or amusi...
Antics (NOUN)
- foolish, outrageous, or amusing behavior
Subside (VERB)
- become less intense, violent, or seve...
Subside (VERB)
- become less intense, violent, or severe
- lapse into silence or inactivity:
Exalted (ADJECTIVE)
- (of a person or their rank ...
Exalted (ADJECTIVE)
- (of a person or their rank or status) placed at a high or powerful level; held in high regard
Suburbs (NOUN)
- an outlying district of a city, especially...
Suburbs (NOUN)
- an outlying district of a city, especially a residential one
Landfill (NOUN)
- a place to dispose of refuse a...
Landfill (NOUN)
- a place to dispose of refuse and other waste material by burying it and covering it over with soil,
especially as a method of filling in or extending usable land
Whir (NOUN)
- a low, continuous, regular sound
Whir (NOUN)
- a low, continuous, regular sound
Foolhardy (ADJECTIVE)
- recklessly bold or rash
Foolhardy (ADJECTIVE)
- recklessly bold or rash
Unfurled (VERB)
- make or become spread out from...
Unfurled (VERB)
- make or become spread out from a rolled or folded state, especially in order to be open to the wind
Mast (NOUN)
- a tall upright post, spar, or other structu...
Mast (NOUN)
- a tall upright post, spar, or other structure on a ship or boat, in sailing vessels generally carrying a sail or
sails
Prying (VERB)
- excessively interested in a person's priva...
Prying (VERB)
- excessively interested in a person's private affairs; too inquisitive
Phased out (VERB)
- gradual decline ...
Phased out (VERB)
- gradual decline in utilization
New Society (NOUN)
- idealized count...
New Society (NOUN)
- idealized country
- goal of the Martial Law in the Philippines (by President Marcos)
CCP or Cultural Center of the Philippines (NO...
CCP or Cultural Center of the Philippines (NOUN)
- the pet project of First Lady Imelda Marcos
Created to preserve the arts and culture of the country
Escape to the Mountains (IDIOM)
- ...
Escape to the Mountains (IDIOM)
- go underground / join the New People’s Army to rebel against the government
Virtual Living
Virtual Living
Virtual living gave the people a chance to live the lives that they dreamt of. It served as an escape from
the harsh and bitter truths of reality. The pleasures of living by having someone pamper you, and give you
everything you wanted was the goal of entering “virtuality”. The world was centered on the utilization of
technology that gives life comfort and efficiency.
Background of Characters
Characters
Art
Bert
Reggie
Nick
2017
Delia
Mariel
• Works at the Center
• Brother: Nick
• Mother: was a valedictorian but got pregnant early
• Father: a truck driver who lost his work after robots replaced him (also got very ill)
• Cares for Art’s body
Delia
• Works at the Center
• A friend of Delia
• Cares for Roberto Paez (but calls him DOM)
• Wishes to take care of a girl’s body instead of DOM
Mariel
• Works at the Center
• Rebellious against the government
• Sister: Delia
Nick
• First love of Delia
• Rebellious against the government
• Dreamt of a New Society
• Invited Delia to come with him to escape to the mountains but was refused
• Was found dead a few weeks after escaping, along with his makeshift vehicle
• Real reason of death was never known (suspected to be attacked by robotic patrol helicopters)
Reggie
• A veteran at the Center
• The one who taught the substitute apprentice for Nick’s Body
Bert
• A former singer from Delia’s generation
• A long-time crush of Delia
• Delia’s Body
Art
STORY SUMMARY
Story
Guide Questions
Guide Questions
The story is set many years into the future particularly on futuristic Manila. In their timeline, robots took
over the work of humans. It is the era of technological advancement.
How would you describe the setting of the story?
The class division that Nick was talking about in the story is the division between the rich and the poor –
and in between the rich and the poor, there is the middle class composed of the supervisors and the
teachers. Yes it is similar to the class divisions that we see in the Philippine society today. It’s a mirror of
our societal problems when it comes to the division between people – rich and poor, obligors and rebels
of the government. But it is a lot more severe. We already know that the rich are like puppet masters who
control the lives of the middle and low class, just so they can get their demands and needs. But in the
story, the class divisions were so terrible, that people who are in the middle class like Nick and Delia can’t
even get a chance to study or learn the things they want because the higher ups are too scared that they
might sabotage everything they built.
Describe the “class division” that Nick was talking about. Is it si milar to the class divisions we
see in the Philippine Society today? Why or why not?
Describe the “class division” that Nick was talking about. ...
Each character symbolized the different people during the time of the Martial Law. Nick represented the
revolutionists during the time of Marcos’ regime who were determined to destroy the government and its
laws and system. He was ready to risk his life so that they can achieve the freedom they deserve. The
chance of living their lives the way that they want was stolen by the government so that they were the
only ones who can experience the luxury of life; which is pretty much what happened with the Marcos
Government. Delia represented those obligors who just opted to comply with how the system goes.
Although they knew something was wrong with the administration, they chose to subside. The story
represented not just the past, but also the future of the Philippine government. As long as society is
divided and the authorities are corrupted, the people who are unfortunate will forever be stuck in working
for the rich until our country becomes devastated.
How does the story allude to martial law? Why is this done?
How does the story allude to martial law? Why is th...
We understood Nick the most. Just like every other concerned citizen, he wanted change. He wanted to
get rid of the manipulative and controlling government, so that the people, who are chained to the endless
cycle of hardship, would get a chance to live for themselves. As impossible as it may seem, he wanted
balance. So that there will be no rich, no poor, no control – but freedom.
Which character in the story do you identify the most? Why?
Which character in the story do you identify t...
As art said, it is best to experience things in real life – to feel the thrill, the adventure, the challenge, and
the surprise. If I lived in a virtual world, I think that I would be bored to death, and I won’t grow as a
person (just like Art). Living in a virtual world would be too scripted and I want to live my life
spontaneously.
Would you like to live in a virtual world? Why or why not?
Would you like to live in a virtual world? Why or w...
- "That's just like looking through a guidebook. You don't really get to experience a place. Nothing
happens to you. No adventure."
- Yes, I agree, because you will feel that something is missing. The joy of living in the real world is nothing
like living in a virtual reality where you don’t age, grow nor die. You won’t experience the real feeling of
the treasures of reality. Above all – you won’t grow as a person, because the challenges you face in a
virtual world is far off from the challenges given by the real world.
What does Art say about reality, and why is it better than virtual reality? Do you agree or
disagree?
W hat does Art say about reality, and why is it better th...
- I think that the robots in the story are like the machineries we have on factories. It’s like, the machineries
are the ones doing the work instead of men, and this is because so that production and labor will just be
easy and efficient. Although robots working on the agricultural ground (in the story) for me is
unnecessary. We have people, - farmers, to do the job. So, I think that there is no need for robots to do
that type of work.
- I think that the story alludes to the rising “need” for smartphones. These devices are slowly becoming a
necessity rather than a luxury. We are slowly becoming too reliant on our smartphone. We don’t really
think much for ourselves anymore. This is because comfort is now just a click or touch away.
The virtual reality in the story alludes to today’s technology. What particular products or
services do you think this alludes to?
The virtual reality in the story alludes to today...
The story showed how dangerous it would be if we weren’t able to balance out technology, nature, and
society. Yes it is true, because it is evident. Technology is so advanced that we are starting to destroy our
natural environment. As Art said, “progress comes with a price”, which means that in order for our country
to develop, it will cost us a lot of our natural resources. It is also starting to take over the minds of people.
The idea that one day, we might turn out to be like the “bodies” in the story is very appalling. It may have
promised us a simpler and more comfortable life, but it only complicated what once was pure. We ought
to best keep technology as a useful servant that a dangerous master.
What does the story have to say about technology? Do you think this is true in today’s society ?
What does the story have to say about technology? ...
The symbolism of the character Art is the need to be free. On the years that the martial law is still on
going, people used art to convey their views (more specifically music). Back then, people would use art
as a discrete protest of their feelings towards the government. Just like Delia, Art became the expression
and the sanctuary of the Filipino soul.
Explain the name symbolism in the character of Art. What is the story trying to say about art?
Explain the name symbolism in the character of Art. What ...
Delia is the type of person who grew up in a world full of advanced technology. So naturally, she will still
miss her life in the polluted cities of Manila. Though she very much loved the comfort of nature, it won’t
live up to the comfort that technology can give. Just like every other parent, she wants the best for her
children. When it comes to health, nature would be the best. But when it comes to the comfort of living,
she knew that the city was better. Both choices have its pros and cons. This is why she feels conflicted
with her thoughts.
Why does Delia long for Manila at the end of the story? What insight can you get from this?
Why does Delia long for Manila at the end of the story? Wh...
Values
Values Shown
Hide full transcript
CHOOSE A TEMPLATE

https://news.abs-cbn.com/list/tag/overseas-filipino-workers

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/news/658623/11-abused-ofws-in-riyadh-seek-help-
to-go-home/story/
11 abused OFWs in Riyadh seek
help to go home
Published June 29, 2018 8:48am

Eleven OFWs in Riyadh are asking for help to escape their employer whom
they accused of abusing them and locking them inside a room for their minor
mistakes, GMA News' reported on State of the Nation with Jessica Soho on
Thursday night.

The OFWs also said their employer failed to honor their contracts and has
confiscated their documents, including their iqama or work permit.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Hans Leo

Cacdac said their welfare officers have contacted the OFWs and will reach out
to their employer.

"Kung talagang nais na ng mga workers na umuwi ay ia-arrange na rin na

bibigyan sila ng exit visa," Cacdac said

Families of the OFWs will meet with Philippine Overseas Employment

Administration officials on Friday to contact the Philippine counterpart of the
Filipinos' employment agency.

More cases of abuse sprung up in Kuwait, including that of household service

workers who were hit with a baseball bat and whose employer took their
passport away from them.

The recently-signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Kuwait

and the Philippines reinforced the rules against physical abuse and
withholding of documents from foreign service workers.
As such, Cacdac said the Philippines will keep coordinating with police and
Kuwait's Ministry of Labor to serve justice to these OFWs.

"Kakausapin yung employer, 'yung Kuwaiti agency, tayo naman yung

Philippine agency at 'yung worker, para maisagawa ang pagsagip," he said.

The MOU with Kuwait will be used as template for future labor agreements
with other Gulf states. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News
OWWA to lend aid to OFWs in
hurricane-hit Bahamas this week
Published October 29, 2019 4:12pm
Updated October 29, 2019 4:56pm
By JOAHNA LEI CASILAO

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) on Tuesday assured

the public that they will be giving financial assistance this week to the
overseas Filipino workers in the Bahamas affected by Hurricane Dorian.

"[W]e have been working on a package of financial assistance to be given to

OFWs in Bahamas [...] We would encourage affected OFWs to await
distribution of the financial assistance in Bahamas within this week," OWWA
Administrator Hans Cacdac told GMA News Online in a message through
OWWA Deputy Administrator Mocha Uson.

A Filipino nurse in the Bahamas called for government aid last week
concerning the damage brought by the hurricane, claiming that earlier
requests made by fellow OFWs to OWWA had been ignored.

Imelda Factor Glori said that workers who returned to Manila to ask for help
were told by OWWA employees that they did not know anything about the
hurricane.

For his part, Cacdac said they will be investigating the situation and will
"reprimand" the involved employees if the allegations are proven to be true.

"Please send our assurances of support to OWWA members who were

victims of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. Also, our apologies for the
misunderstanding," Cacdac earlier said in a text message.

OWWA will be coordinating with POLO-WDC to provide financial assistance

to the affected workers, he added.
Glori, nurse in-charge at Hope Town Clinic, also commended the Filipino
Association Bahamas for "quickly" assisting the residents.

"Each of us victims were given $250 without hesitation [and] documents or ID

presented. Most of our passports and IDs were destroyed because our roofs
[were] flown away," Glori said in an email.

At least 13,000 houses were damaged or destroyed in the area, head of the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies'
Emergency Operation Center in Geneva, Sune Bulow, earlier said.

The Philippine consul general in Washington, D.C. held a meeting in the

Bahamas to distribute $100 to the OFWs in the area. However, workers
lamented that this wasn't enough. — RSJ, GMA News
Issues
Foreigners in Japan generally suffer from problems regarding the family, school, workplace,
and relationships with fellow foreigners and the Japanese.

The Association for Toyonaka Multicultural Symbiosis (ATOMS), which has been providing
services to foreign residents in Toyonaka and other cities for the past several decades, lists
the major problems sought for consultation by Filipinos in Table 1:3

SINAPIS (Social Action Center of the Catholic Archdiocese of Osaka) recorded similar
problems of foreigners in general: residence status, welfare assistance, child -support
allowance, application for Japanese nationality, unpaid wages, school/ education problems,
legal support and domestic violence.4

In general, the number of domestic violence cases in Japan rose when the economy was not
in good condition;5 and poverty rate among single parent families reached 55 percent in
recent years.6

Family-related and economic problems (such as irregular in come or unstable employment of

the Japanese spouses/ partners) are likely to cause domestic violence against the Filipino
wives/partners and children.

Domestic problems in turn lead to divorce. Some divorced Filipinos suffer from lack of
financial support for the children from their former husbands/partners. In case they have no
children, or do not have custody of the children, they may lose the permission to continue to
stay in Japan.

Those who are able to change their residence status and continue to stay in Japan may be
deprived of contact with their children if they (children) are in the custody of the Japanese
parents.

Some Filipinos suffer from the lax “divorce by agreement” system 7 in Japan that allows
divorce applications to the local government despite the absence of one spouse. This results
in the so-called “unwanted divorce,” divorce without proper consent by one of the spouses.
A spouse can file a fraudulent divorce application by using the hanko (personal seal) of one
spouse without permission, or by faking the signature of the spouse. A foreigner spouse may
also be tricked into signing a Japanese language document without knowing that it is a
divorce appli cation. The local government approves the fraudulent divorce application as a
matter of course without giving the absent spouse the opportunity to confirm the hanko or
signature on the document. The fraudulent divorce application can include a provision on
the custody of the children, which can unfairly deprive foreign spouses of the right to have
the custody of the children or even contact them.

The approval of the fraudulent divorce application remains valid despite complaint of
unauthorized use of hanko or fake signature.8 Affected foreign spouses/partners have to
resort to a complicated judicial process to remedy the situation. 9

There are reports of rising number of “unwanted divorce.” ATOMS, for example, received 69
“unwanted divorce” complaints of foreigners by end of March 2015 and another 69 similar
complaints at the end of the year.10

Before 2008, Japanese-Filipino children born outside of wedlock whose Japanese fathers
failed to acknowledge them before they were born were not qualified to become Japanese
citizens under Japanese law. However, a Supreme Court decision in 2008 declared the
relevant legal provision unconstitutional and violative of the international human rights
standards.11 The Japanese parliament (Diet) passed a law in the same year revising that
particular provision of the Nationality Law based on the decision of the Supreme Court. 12

The 2008 Supreme Court ruling and the subsequent amendment of the Nationality Law
opened the door for Filipino parents of Japanese-Filipino children (who either have Japanese
citizenship or qualified to apply for it) in the Philippines to come and r eside in Japan to take
care of the children. So-called “foundations” in the Philippines offered to facilitate their visa
application as parents accompanying their Japanese Filipino children to live in Japan. They
were also promised jobs to support themselves. Some of these parents were given work in
caregiving institutions in Kansai, where they stayed with their JapaneseFilipino children.

Two problems have arisen from this situation: labor exploitation and welfare of the children.
A case in Osaka involved long hours of work and numerous deductions from the salary of
the parents (mothers). They were even asked to sign a document that exempted the
company from any liability in case of death.13 Some of the parents sued the company in
court for damages, which ended with a settlement agreement. 14

The other problem was on the adjustment of the Japanese Filipino children to a totally new
environment. Research on difficulties faced by Japanese Filipino and Filipino children
studying in Japanese schools reveals the following:15

(1) Lack of Japanese language proficiency that affects communication with others an d
learning capacity;
(2) Maintaining relationships with schoolmates who have “unfriendly attitude” to them, keep
distance from them after knowing each other, have different ways of getting along as friends,
and in some cases bully them or express prejudice against them;
(3) Due to inadequate Japanese language ability, uncertainty about academic future after
lower secondary school (junior high school), or worry about capacity to enroll in preferred
university course even if they can enter upper secondary sch ool;
(4) Confusion on the different school cultures and rules in the Philippines and Japan leading
to actions that are allowed in the Philippines being considered violations of Japanese school
rules; some also feel pressured by the strict rules in Japanese schools;
(5) New family environment such as living with parents they had not grown up with and the
need to work parttime to help support the family (or themselves) affect their studies;
(6) Use of Filipino and Japanese languages has not led to mastery of any language while
learning the Japanese make them lose their proficiency in Filipino and English languages
that eventually lead to communication gap with their parents;
(7) Negative view of the Philippines may cause them to hide their Filipino identity, w hile
those who see their Filipino ancestry positively have less worry being so identified. Some of
them have trouble following two value systems - Filipino and Japanese.

Older long-time resident Filipino women in Kansai recognize the limitation brought by their
inability to read and write in Japanese. Though the jobs (low -paid, part-time work) available
to them do not match their academic credentials, they still consider them important. Some
have to work to support themselves and/or their family (in Japan a nd also in the Philippines).
Some Filipino spouses/mothers work as the sole income earner in the family because of
sick, irregularly employed or deceased Japanese husbands/partners. These women also
have to contend with the often negative stereotypes about Filipino women that circulate in
Japanese society.16

Other Issues
Filipinos who come to Kansai under the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) are
deployed in companies in the different prefectures of the region. Many of these Filipino
trainees (officially called technical intern trainees) seem to be working in small - and medium-
sized companies. There are reports of abuses by the companies in terms of salary
deductions, overtime pay, and working conditions (including long working hours and lack of
safety in the workplace). In addition, they have to pay the high cost of accommodation and
other needs (electricity and water costs).17

Filipinos who come to Japan to study Japanese language (and caregiving for eventual work
in the caregiving industry) can be abused by the “shool” administrators by requiring them to
work in order to pay for their supposed expenses. In one case in Kyoto, several Filipinos
who paid for their travel to Japan to study were deployed to work beyond the allowed number
of hours of part-time work for foreign students. They were also charged high fees for
accommodation (15 people in one house) and other costs.

source: https://www.hurights.or.jp/archives/focus/section3/2017/12/filipinos-in-kansai-living-within-
japanese-society.html