How My Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife I like this story because of its content, the way the

author gives
description to something or someone, like the way she describes Maria in the first part of the story. Another thing that
I like about this story is the values that we should have. We can also be able to relate it to our daily lives, especially
when we have to meet our special someone to our family. I only give you some details of the story and I hope you'll
love to read it. :)

Summary

Baldo and his older brother Leon were both waiting for their visitor riding a carratela. When Baldo sa his older
brother's wife, who is Maria, he was amazed by her beauty as he narrates their journey to their home in Nagrebcan.
Maria was felt a bit anxious because of meeting Leon and Baldo's parents for the first time, but along their way home,
she discovered the differences of the life of the people lived there and the life in the city where she met and fell in
love with Leon.

Characters

:  Leon/Noel - Maria's husband, older brother of Baldo

 Maria - Leon's wife  Baldo - Leon's younger brother, also the narrator of this story

 Mother and Father of Leon and Baldo

 Aurelia - Leon and Baldo's younger sister

 Labang - the carabao

Setting: Nagrebcan, Bauang La Union

Plot:  Leon and Baldo waited for the arrival of Maria at the barrio.

 Maria was afraid that she won't be accepted by Leon's father because she may not able to adapt their way of living
in the province.

 Baldo was ignoring to his older brother's question about why did they have to go to Waig instead of Camino Real.
(The reason is that their father wanted to test Maria if she is worthy to be Leon's wife.)

 Baldo discussed their travel to his father.

 Leon's entire family talked to Maria. his Father's voice became livelier than before when he talked to her (which
means he accepted her wholeheartedly.)

Moral Lesson:

 We should respect and accept one's life.

 Social status is not a hindrance if you truly love each other.

 Meeting your special someone to your family is the right thing to do.

 One may have to sacrifice small part of his/her life in order to have a happy life.
Analysis and Discussions
The story “How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife” was set during the 1930s in Nagrebcan, Bauang La Union.
The place is a province and we know that the people who are living there would most likely be the farmers. The story
is told in the 1stperson point of view and this narrator is Baldo, the younger brother of Leon. His older brother is Noel
but named by Maria as Leon. As what Baldo realized: “But it was only the name of my brother Leon said backward
and it sounded much better that way.” Another major character found in the story is Maria who is the wife of Leon.
For Baldo, her name is “sosyal” and it is obvious that she comes from a city.
The conflict shown in the story is centered between Maria and herself, as well as the society by which Baldo and Leon
lived in. We know that Maria is from a city while her husband Leon is from a province. Maria is concerned if she’s
going to be accepted or not by Leon’s family despite of her social status. She was even tested if she is worthy to be
the wife of Leon. This was seen when Baldo ignored his older brother’s question about why did they have to go to
Waig instead of Camino Real.
I think Maria is a good character in the story. I like Maria not because she’s kind and lovely, but because she is not
the typical “matapobre” as seen in the story. She is indeed a sympathetic woman. In fact, Maria was a bit anxious
because of meeting Leon and Baldo’s parents for the first time. Maria is worried that she will not be accepted by
Leon’s father because she may not able to adapt their way of living in the province. However, on their way home, she
discovered the differences of the life of the people lived there and the life in the city where she met and fell in love
with Leon. We can see Maria’s response when Leon asked her: “You miss the houses, and the cars, and the people
and the noise, don’t you?” My brother Leon stopped singing. “Yes, but in a different way. I am glad they are not
here.” I appreciate her the most simply because she accepted and respected Leon for what he really is. She didn’t care
what Leon’s life back in Nagrebcan. She was a supportive and a loving wife to Leon. She was so endearing and kind-
hearted lady. She was very keen to meet Leon’s family. It is somewhat discouraging that the rural is different from
the city but the closer they get to the house, Maria still managed to overcome any trials. She admits for having some
fear, but she also shows clearly it did not stop her. I believe that social status is not a hindrance if you truly love each
other.
The first theme of this story is that no matter what it takes to be with the one you love, you will do anything to be with
that person. I know that having a long and strong relationship with the person you love is seldom nowadays. People
tend to love one another at first but eventually end up being bitter. Well, that kind of relationship is not a true love
after all. If I’m going to apply this significant theme or message to the life of Filipinos then it can be said that as
Filipinos, we are very emotional when we think of true love. We also care about true love. There are Filipinos who
turn to sacrifice and endure things just to be happy. If you are sacrificing it truly means that you value and you truly
love this person (Adofina et al., 2013). In the story, we can see that Maria will sacrifice anything just to be happy with
Leon, her only love. I can say that this love is true and genuine. This kind of love then is truly authentic.
Another theme that is portrayed in the story is the saying that “Don’t judge the book by its cover.” Baldo, when he
first saw Maria, was surprised to see that his brother Leon accompanied a woman who is different from them because
of her name, as well as lovely and beautiful appearance. He said to himself that: “He did not say Maring. He did not
say Mayang. I knew then that he had always called her Maria and that to us all she would be Maria; and in my mind
I said ‘Maria’ and it was a beautiful name.” It is then obvious for Baldo that Maria came from a city. As a person
living in a province, he has already the belief that people like Maria doesn’t belong to them and is impossible to adapt
their way of living in the province. But despite of the test ordered by his father, Baldo somehow realized that Maria
is also a friend and should be treated like them knowing that she proved worthy of it.
We can also see Filipino values or traits that are revealed within the story. One trait is the goal to obtain one’s trust
most especially when you want your parents to have a permission to marry your chosen loved one. Filipino parents
are very hard to impress. It is hard to get their trust as well. But what Maria did in the test that the father of Baldo and
Leon gave to her proved that she really deserved and love Leon. She will sacrifice anything to be happy and be with
her only love. Another value that is revealed within the story is living a life of contentment. Filipinos who live in the
province are very well known to be simple yet they are contented for what they have. They are happy with small things
and appreciate what they have and how they live life.
The one-act play “Wanted: A Chaperon” was set in the living room which was simply furnished one Sunday morning,
at about eleven. It is a comedy. The story is told in the 3 rd person point of view. The characters involved in this play
were Don Francisco the father, Doña Petra the mother, Nena their daughter, Roberting their son, Doña Dolores, Fred
her son, Francisco a.k.a. “Francis” the servant, and Pablo the mayordomo. The play was written in a way that is simple,
usual, and humorous.
The play is all about the traditional way of courting and accompanying women on a party and in other occasions which
means that the portrayal of old customs are seen in that play. Don Francisco is so strict not just with Roberting during
the money conversation, but also with his daughter Nena because he doesn’t want Nena to go on a party or in any
occasions unchaperoned most especially she’s a lady. We can see this when Don Francisco had a conversation with
his son Roberting: “You young modern people. Do you realize that in my time when I was courting your mother, her
father, her mother, her three sisters, her young brother, her grandmother, five first cousins and two distant relatives
sat in the sala with us?” He also added the reason of what he said about courting: “Because in those days we were
more careful about a woman’s reputation.” One night, Nena goes out with Fred, her friend. Unfortunately, rumors
right after their date were spread. Many people think that something bad is happened to the two of them. And for the
townspeople, it’s inevitable. Until Doña Dolores, mother of Fred, goes to the house of Don Francisco insisting that
something happened between his son and Nena. It is Doña Dolores’ plan to insist his son Fred to Nena but nothing
really happened in fact. The same situation is happened to Don Francisco’s son Roberting at the end of the play. So
to avoid these issues Don Francisco and Doña Dolores look for chaperons for their children to guide them instead of
the muchacho (servant) (Casuyon, 2011).
The writer poked fun at middle-class characters grappling with the problem of Americanization (Lumbera B. and
Lumbera C., 2005). To use a Marxism approach for this play, we can see how Don Francisco wanted to call himself
as someone who is high than their servant Francisco. He even changed Francisco’s name into Francis to avoid
confusion. Francis often gets into trouble and that’s why he was being yelled by Don Francisco.
The message or the theme of the play is that our traditional culture, customs, and ways of living must always be alive
in our heart knowing that these are now fading most especially in the technological age by which we are living in. We
have been adopting other countries’ cultures or activities that we are not open to our own culture. Don Francisco said
that: “Outward things change, like the styles of women’s dresses and men’s ties, but the human heart remains the
same.” I think the play is a best example on how we should live our life with our own. That is why there is a saying
in Filipino that says: “Dapat nating mahalin ang sariling atin.” We should then live life in accordance to our original
beliefs that our ancestors wants these teachings to be a mark for us Filipinos.
Another theme in the play is the giving of importance to the reputation of women. As we all know, most young women
nowadays are getting too liberated. They are liberated in terms of their sexual behaviors or clothing ways that men
would easily tempted to them. As a result, they’ll end up being harassed or raped. They’ll also end up being pregnant
in an early age which can also lead to abortion. However, the play only reminds us that young women should behave
in their daily living. It’s important for them not to be influenced too much by the other cultures most especially some
Westerners and Americans who are sexually liberated. Filipino young women from the past used to be conservative
and modest. They were accompanied and courted by their parents or relatives whenever they have occasions. We all
know, for some reason, that women are treated equally. But they should also learn and strive to live life carefully and
wisely most especially in the present time.
Also, there are people who tend to be so judgmental nowadays. They easily give comments and opinions to other
people without certain evidences. They are gossipers who make the issues very complicated (Casuyon, 2011). I think,
we have to get rid of this unpleasant attitude as well because this would definitely causes a lot of trouble.
Now, we can see clearly the differences between the two works above. In terms of their similarity, Arguilla’s short
story and Guererro’s play portrayed the socio-economic problems in Philippine society. The characters think that
social status really defines them. We can see that Maria is from a city while her husband Leon is from a province.
Maria is concerned if she’s going to be accepted or not by Leon’s family despite of her social status. We can also see
that Don Francisco thinks himself as high than their servant Francisco by treating him immorally. He has a conflict
with that kind of situation.
Conclusions and Insights
The two works are very good pieces because of the elements of fiction used and the way these stories were
defamiliarized. These works are great because of the subject matters and styles of writing used by outstanding writers
and playwrights during the time of American Colonial period. I can say that we should learn to make a difference in
our lives because having a chance is the greatest gift we can receive. Don’t let things like social status defines us. We
should learn to be sympathetic and understanding persons to others, be able to adopt our old ways of living at least,
be happy, and be wise. In these ways, we can live life meaningfully.