A Report on The House in Zapote Street

“The house in Zapote Street” is a short story written by Nick Joaquin under the pen name
Quijano De Manila. He wrote about the house that witnessed a tyrannical patriarch resulting to
domestic violence.

A man named Dr. Leonardo Quitangon fell in love and married a mysterious woman, Lydia
Cabanding who lives on a new house on Zapote Street with her parents. The couple spent their
first month in the house on Zapote street. Pablo Cabanding, the father of Lydia was a
policeman and was very strict with his house rules. It came out to the point that the couple
cannot even stay on the same room anymore or even go out together. A month after their
wedding and days passed by, Leonardo couldn’t take his Father-in-law restriction for the
couple, so he decided to move out the house alone. Lydia’s parents wouldn’t let her go and she
was also afraid to leave. Leonardo tried to get his wife back, but Lydia was always accompanied
by her father whenever they went out the house. One day, Leonardo received a call from his
wife saying that she wants to be with Leonardo. Leonardo pick her up in a church and escaped
his wife from her father. They stayed together in Maragondon, Cavite where Quitangons have a
house. However, Lydia’s father started to threaten Leonardo if he didn’t bring his daughter
back, he also used Lydia’s mother as an excuse saying that she was sick. The couple made a
choice to go back in Zapote Street. On that night, the tragedy happened. The couple were
murdered inside the house by Pablo, then turned the gun on himself and ended up killing
himself too.

The story introduces the theme of love, freedom, and sacrifices. A soft-spoken, mild-mannered,
cool-tempered man who loves his wife and made sacrifices for their freedom. Even Pablo had
many serious disagreements with the marriage of Lydia and Leonardo. Leonardo still manage to
find out solutions for their problems. The first one is, Pablo asking for a big dowry. Leonardo did
his best to find money for the big dowry. Secondly, Pablo Cabading always requesting her
daughter to stay in their house or to live in their house. The couple granted their Father’s wish
and they live in the house with him. Third, Pablo is very strict on his house rules no one can be
against him. The couple decided to escape to avoid their father’s restriction and they want to
live their own life. Lastly, the married couple can’t live their own because their father always
meddles with them. They came back home when their father requested them to come back,
but they get all their things and plan to leave that house. It turns out that Lydia’s father was not
just a father but also her secret lover, that is why he couldn’t not let anyone to be with Lydia.
The story also revolves around the jealousy of Mr. Cabading.

I also commend the author for spreading a real event that happened decades ago. He made the
story brief and added some symbols that describes the characters. He mentioned a fierce dog
that describes a strict father, garage without a car that describes forbid freedom of Lydia,
Ferdinand Marcos and Governor that means powerful. There is also a Psychoanalytic Approach
based on the true story. The wife of Pablo Cabading was an underdog to his husband Pablo
Cabading. We can say that base on the story the attitude of Pablo Cabading has something to
do with his past experiences.

It’s the parent’s responsibility in taking care of their child. Giving a house rule will train them to
grow up what we want them to be. In the story Pablo made his own rule not a house rule that’s
why Lydia didn’t experience a true happiness in their house at all. We all want to be obeyed by
our child, so we must give our true loving care for them. By the time they grow up the learnings
you shared for them will be adopted. Good parenting will lead our child’s good future. A child
that grew to a dark place will seek for a light than can shine his/her life. The parents of Lydia
are not a good example for them. Because Lydia’s mother is underdog to Pablo. She doesn’t
even refuse on what Pablo’s doing and always do what Pablo’s instruction.
In Leonardo’s situation, it is hard to love a woman that is in controlled by her parents. But I
admire what Leonardo did. He fought for their love, made a way to be with his wife and proved
that if you really love someone no one can separates you.