Cactus
Tita Lacambra Ayala
Tita Lacambra Ayala was born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte and was married to Jose V. Ayala.Among her volumes of poetry were “Sun Flower Poems” (1960) and “Ordinary Poems” (1917). She was not only a writer of poems but was also a writer of essays and fiction. Her selection, “Everything”, won third price in 1966-67 Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.
Excuse the Cactus
Thirsting on the sill
Stuck out:
They’re only an attempt
At self-defense.
See how it bleeds
To fossils the old sand
Itself looking to be such
A fussy fossil
Not quite futile.
It should require
some sort of guile
some genius
to subsist on sun
some lake sand
(have both for free)
And come out looking
Freshly green,
(juicy even)
As if in spite of
As if in fun
Interpretation of the Poem
The poem want to emphasized of what are the environment of cactus compare to other plants and how it does survive despite of all the obstacles that the cactus encountering.
The Quarrel
Andres Cristobal Cruz
Andres Cristobal Cruz was born in Dagupan City, Pangasinan. He holds a degree in Bachelor of Arts major in English at the University of the Philippines. He joined the staff of Liwayway Publishing after his graduation. He was chosen one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYU) for his contributions to Philippine Literature. He received the Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1964 for his short stories. His selection “The Quarrel” won first prize in 1952-53 Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.
He portrayed the character of his wife, Nina as a good housewife and a fast housekeeper. However as good as she was, she often got into conflict with their landlady because of her inhuman attitude toward the couple.
It is a Short Story, which is a kind of Prose. Short Story is an artistic form of prose fiction which centered on a single main incident whose aim is to produce a single dominant impression. Its qualities are economy, compression, brevity and emphasis.
· Elements or Ingredients of Prose
1. Characters/Characterization
Nina- a good housewife and fast housekeeper
Ismael- a good husband
Missis Smith-cruel lady
2. Setting
Apartment
3. Plot
a. Beginning Action
Ismael had a nightmare and her wife comfort him and they did not sleep until morning came. On the second floor, Mrs. Smith, their landlady was up there and had her rheumatism, the couple talked about Mrs. Smith.
b. Rising Action
As usual Mrs. Smith was barking out order to the men who were to take out her jeeps for the routes. Imael had his breakfast and they talkd about of what they are facing. The mother of Nina decided to live her daughter with Ismael when she found out about the baby that Nina going to have, while listening to the music through the radiophono that they bought after their child died.
c. Conflict
Mrs. Smith came in by the backdoor, her care tapping against the polished rungs of the low stairs, and asking for the rent because it was due on that day, but Nina and Ismael apologized for they cannot pay for the rent and they are asking for an extension. But Mrs. Smith insisted that they should pay, and she did not listen to any reasons of the couple.
d. Climax
Until it came to physical hurting between Nina and Mrs. Smith, all the people around them appeared.
e. Denouement
Mrs. Smith realized what she did to the couple, in a violent way just only to pay the rent.
f. End
