It's all about the man in the house - the king, head, and authority. The man in the story "Divide by Two" might have been indifferent to whatever Belle was complaining about but towards the end understood the real matter and dealt with it like a man: "This is man's work. I have met the enemy and he is mine". I can just imagine the man's anger towards the neighbor. whatever the reason for the anger (could it be because of a secret affair or something else more personal or because of pride), i think he knew what he wanted to fight for. On the other hand, Mr. Angeles of "The Mats", was still grieving over the death of his children and the thought that the remaining mats could not be given to them. WE are so used to the thought that men are supposed to be strong and emotionless, that men don't cry because it's a sign of weakness...i have to strongly disagree with that. I think that their manliness comes out when they become emotional because that's the only time that you can really see through their hearts. I know men that are quiet and seem reserved in nature but when things become touchy, they give in to their emotions because somehow they have been moved.
i am reminded of the time i saw emotions from my "very recent ex-boyfriend". i have always considered him insensitive and sobrang "manhid" but when i saw him cried for the first time after admitting his faults, i realized that he has feelings too and marunong din pala siya umiyak despite of his pagiging macho.. Sure they don't become emotional all the time, but when they do, it's usually with sense and you can't help but be moved by it. (maybe that's also the reason why it's so hard to move on..huhu).
Mr. Angeles is who I call the typical Filipino tatay. He works hard to earn a living and provides for the whole family. Whenever he goes home, he brings pasalubong. Just like my own papito...If there's anything i am so thankful for, it would have to be that we have been blessed with a great father. I always get excited whenever he comes home from Indo (who doesn't?), just like Mr. Angeles who works away from his family. Everytime my dad comes home, we all have to be present at the airport and just like in the story, we couldn't wait for the pasalubongs. It's what we always anticipate about. And one by one, he takes it out of the maleta and hands them to us. It has become a tradition in our family (and i think also in all Filipino families). For some reason, we always have to have something for our loved ones even if it's just a pack of fish crackers from the bus station.
another thing I have realized is how our parents, when they give us something that is costly (say a brand new car or laptop), they would always put conditions before you can use them. but as for my parents, they only ask for one thing and that is to treat my studies seriously and excel at it. that's not too bad...atleast i don't get grounded whenever i make mistakes...
i must confess that lately i have been buying Filipino literary books...maybe i am overwhelmed by how Filipino writers can be as good as the foreigners...maybe even better.
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4 comments:
Here's a tissue, Eryl. :sniff sniff:
eryl, im so glad you're reading local literature. i'm actually willing to lend what i have in my collection (as long as you dont forget to return it).
i agree with your observations about concepts of "macho" reflected in filipino literature. be it deliberately included or not, it's definitely an aspect of our culture. hanggang ngayon. sa katunayan, mas malakas yung parang..how shall i call it? "backlash" of macho these days because of the LGBT movement...its the dominant ideology's way of resisting these changes.
example: DLSC. go figure. hehe.
'di pa kasi nakakapagpost yung mga groupmates ko so kayo muna commentan ko :) ayaw lumabas nung comments ko so you can comment sa chatbox na lang kung gusto mo haha
halos ganiyan din yung nasabi ko sa blog ko.. men and their need to live up to the macho image :)
"Sure they don't become emotional all the time, but when they do, it's usually with sense and you can't help but be moved by it. (maybe that's also the reason why it's so hard to move on..huhu)."
aww Eryl :(
"another thing I have realized is how our parents, when they give us something that is costly (say a brand new car or laptop), they would always put conditions before you can use them."
I think we are fortunate that we have parents that provide our needs and "not-so-needs" without asking for anything EXTREME in return so we must do our best to make them happy, I guess
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