Bata, Bata… Pa’no Ka Ginawa?
Maya entered to the scene and
Chapter 1
It was the graduation march then of Maya, who was
still on her way to grade school. With her is her mother,
Lea, who was very tense on taking picture shots, Ding,
her father, Ojie, her brother, and Flor, Lea’s niece. It was
8:00 in the morning when the program started in the
school ground. After singing the national anthem, the
principal started to deliver her speech, then the mothers
of different children prepared their respective child in
participating to the Miss Kinder fashion show. Ding and
Flor helped Maya in her gown while Lea took pictures of
her daughter. Others put make-ups and lipsticks to their
daughters, but Lea insisted on maintaining the freshness
of Maya’s face. With the chaos around the program, Ojie
asks for a softdrink to her mom, but he was told to go to
her Dad Ding. Mentioning the name of Ding, differentiate
with his true father, Raffy, who is Maya’s father. It was
Maya’s decision on participating in the pageant, even it
requires a difficult task because of the hectic exercises
and on choosing the right gown, and before the
graduation, Maya got sick but this was not enough for her
to withdraw to the program. The talent portion begins,
and many of the contestants had performed very well.
Lea begin to doubt the talent of her daughter, while Ding
was nervous when it was her daughter’s turn. Maya
recited a poem on how she was made, then the audience
applauded. Before the announcement of the winner,
students first receive their diplomas. And the
announcement came, which was won by Maya because
of her simplicity and total personality, Ding shouted for joy
while saying to the crowd that it is his daughter who won.
Lea started taking pictures while her eyes started to tears.
Maya also got a honor but the excitement of Lea was not
that intense as Maya have won in the pageant.
Chapter 2
Lea prepared a party for Maya after she received a
honor and won as Miss Kinder. She wanted to express
her happiness and fulfillment for Maya during her
graduation day. Lea invited not only Maya’s classmates
but also their relatives, friends and even neighbors.
During the celebration, Pilar, Lea’s long time friend visited
her. Pilar wanted Maya to join in a beauty contest launch
by Johnson & Johnson so Lea think what is her plan for
her daughter. She imagined Maya if her daughter will
won, she will be signed by a producer and will be directed
by Lino Brocka, but Lea disagreed because for her joining
a contest is nothing, the totality of a person is still
important and not being beautiful or whatsoever. During
their discussion, the classmates of Ojie were talking about
the relationship of Lea and Maya’s father, if they were
married or just living-in.
said that her mother and father is just married on bed.
Ding heard what Maya said so he scolded her and told
not to talk too much because it was improper for a kid like
her to tell things like that.
Chapter 3
On that night, Lea felt that she wanted to have sex
to her live-in partner Ding. The latter was not comfortable
and went from place to place as if he wants to tell Lea.
Unlike Raffy, Ding does not tell Lea if he wanted to have a
sex with her. Lea misunderstood the action of Ding, so
she initiated by telling her partner to go to sleep. But it
was not the real reason of Ding, her mom told him to go
back to their house because the former will go to the
province before the sun rise the next day, the two had
confrontations about their relationship, and ended up on
Ding’s leaving the house. In contrast to her feeling, Lea
allowed Ding to go home. Then Ojie went to her not
knocking on the door, her son asks questions about what
is the real status of her mom with Ding and Raffy. Lea
tried to explain to her son that sometimes it is better for
the two persons to separate for the benefit of their
children because if they try to force working it out and still
end up on fight, the children will suffered most. Ojie did
not fully understood what his mother was talking about
but one thing his sure of, that her mother love both Maya
and him.
Chapter 4
It was Monday in the morning, Lea has not yet
pressed her dress because yesterday she played with her
two kids and went to CCP to enjoy the whole day. She
was confused on what she will cook for the kids to eat,
and she has not even went to the market to buy for their
food. Fortunately, there was still a corned beef, so she
decided to just cook it with potatoes. She told Ojie to go to
Aling Zeny, their neighbor, to borrow iron. She was
already late but no one will be left to attend to her
children’s needs, so she decided to call Ding at his house
when suddenly, Ding’s mother answered. Lea ask
politely for Ding but the mother told her that Ding is still
asleep, followed by cutting the line. Lea felt that she was
insulted so she called back again, but this time she is
angry telling Ding’s mom that the latter should tell his son
to go to her home at once. Lea asks her two children if
they can already handle the house and themselves if she
leave them alone, Ojie said that he did not want to take
care of Maya, then Maya said that she do not need Ojie to
care for her, the two argued when Lea finally interrupted
and told them to behave and be good while she is out.
She also told them on what to do if something bad
happens and precautions to be done. Lea’s job is not
only a simple secretary nor a saleslady, but a member of
a human rights organization who investigate and helps
people who were being abused. The group was assigned
to go to a certain province but Lea refused to because no
one will be left to take care of her children. Johnny, her
sparring partner, was not able to convince Lea to join.
Suddenly, the phone rang, so Lea answered, it was Raffy,
she was shocked and was not able to speak immediately.
She laughed and cried.
Chapter 5
Lea remembered the last time she and Raffy have
met and talked. It flashbacked on her mind when Raffy
has discovered her relationship to Ding, but Lea
explained that she too have needs and it is all the fault of
Raffy because of the long distance relationship they
had....he heard Raffy’s voice on the phone asking her to
meet him at a restaurant nearby her office. Immediately,
she called Ojie but was not able to tell her son that she
had a talk to her dad, instead she said that she will be late
coming at home. Before going to their meeting place, she
had a hard time fixing herself in the ladies’ room, forcing
her to be presentable. Lea came earlier than Raffy and as
expected they were both shocked and unable to speak
immediately. Raffy asked her on her new life now and
Ojie, now that his son is about to become a teenager. He
also asked on how Ding and Ojie treated each other. Lea
responded positively and told her former husband on the
way their life is. Then Raffy asked permission if he could
see his son, which was agreed immediately by Lea. Lea
thought that her husband still have at least a feeling of
love towards her until Raffy told her that he has already a
wife, Elinor.
Chapter 6
Raffy and Lea parted with each other. Lea returned
home to bring the news to Ojie that his father came and
wanted to see him. Maya insisted on coming with Ojie
and Lea on the next day. The following morning Lea
called Beng to tell her brother that Maya is coming.
Because Raffy’s family is liberated, they facilely accepted
the fact that Maya is coming.
Chapter 7
Lea, Maya and Ojie traveled to Cubao from
Malabon. During the trip Ojie felt uneasiness on his father
because it has been years before they have met. They
came to the place they have agreed upon, then,
exasperatedly, Ojie and his father embraced each other.
Then Ojie introduced Maya to his father and they went to
Fiesta Carnival. After the rides Lea and Raffy talked and
had a short discussion on what they have regretted and
later they embraced each other as well.
Chapter 8
At home Lea wondered about what Raffy would do
to his new child’s name on the birth certificate. Then she
had an argument with her kids and Ding about love and
respect among her nuclear family. After settling down Lea
and Ding made love while Raffy ironically being in Lea’s
mind instead of Ding.
Chapter 9
Ojie had undergone circumcision. Lea was worried
about Ojie because he is depressed and lone of a father.
After circumcision Lea told Ojie that after healing he’d go
to his father’s new home. What’s in Lea’s mind, though, is
what would happen to Ojie there because Raffy has a
live-in partner, Elinor. Then following that Ojie was
insistent on going to his father, Lea took him there.
Chapter 10
Lea called Raffy while Ojie was cleansing his
genital as the circumcision doctor had ordered. She told
him that Ojie might be shocked upon arrival there when
he sees Elinor. Then she had a discussion with Ojie about
what might happen if a girl sees his genital after
circumcision. Later that night she informed Ding that Ojie
would go to his father.
Chapter 11
Lea and Ojie reached the home of Elinor and
Rafael, but upon reaching it only Elinor was there. They
went in and were offered something to eat and drink, and
a little but quite heated chat prospered between the two
ladies. Since Ojie was still uncomfortable with Elinor, he
went out for some fresh air, and thereupon met his dad
outside. Lea said her goodbyes, letting them know that
she just had to bring Ojie there and nothing more, and so
went home.
Chapter 12
The day after, Ding was not home, so Lea was
forced to bring Maya to her office. The little girl was
entertained by Johnny Deogracias. She had a little talk
with him, and afterwards was offered to view some
videotapes. During this time, Lea showed to her daughter
all the things she was involved in with her job:
symposiums, events, issues, and reports related to social
activitism and human rights.
Chapter 13
Lea noticed that Maya was exhausted with all their
undertakings, so she went home and arrived upon a sour-
faced Ding. Ding was almost angry of Lea’s actions:
letting Ojie spend the summer in Raffy’s, exhausting
Maya along with her troubles in the workplace, etc., but
Lea did not mind him. During the deepest of the night,
Raffy called Lea, saying that they should meet the next
day for her to fetch Ojie and to hear what important thing
he has to say. Lea was restless during the night, excited
to hear what Raffy has to say the next day, thinking that
maybe Raffy wanted to make up with her.
Chapter 14
Lea went to the meeting place the next day, and
there was Raffy. They went to the carnival again to let
Ojie play and to have some privacy between them for the
thing that Raffy has to say. Lea was shocked by what he
asked: if he may let Ojie come with him to America.
Raffy did not mention any actual length of time when they
would be staying there, although about a year was given
for Ojie to think this through. Upon arriving home, Leah
advised the child what would be the advantages one
parent has to offer him if he would stay with him/her. Lea
made him think that day, but did not make him answer
yet.
Chapter 15
Tomorrow came. It was the first day of classes. To
avoid all the hassle of Monday, Lea already readied their
things for school. Afterwards she brought them to school,
although Ojie did not like her mother still clinging with him
when going to school. They reached the campus, and it
was time to pay the tuition and dues. Lea noticed that
she could make use of a deductible due, being that she
has two kids in the same school, needing only one
payment of a certain due for both kids. But having two,
even three including hers for that matter, last names were
a big problem, so she went through so many teachers
and offices until she reached the principal’s office. Mrs.
Zalamea, the principal, advised Lea to move one of her
children to another school, which she totally refused,
leaving another heated battle open for Lea. Lea shortly
afterwards walked out of the office to express her
disagreement; she finds out the day would be full of
hassles after all.
Chapter 16
Lea was invited to a PTA meeting at the children’s
school. She was very hesitant to go to that meeting and
Ojie, seeing this, got very irritated and said to his mom
that they don’t have a father and now they even don’t
have a mother. Lea often hears this kind of thing from
Ojie. Lea also thinks that Ojie is doing all these things to
provoke Lea to get mad at him, so that he would have a
reason to go with his father. Lea, sensing this, calmed
herself and advised herself to be more patient with his
son. She wanted to show Ojie that she is a good mother
and should not be left alone by him. The day of the
meeting came, they and all the other students with their
parents were at the school ground under the scorching
heat of the sun. The meeting started with the principal
addressing the parents and students. The parents one by
one stood up and introduced themselves to the other
parents. When it was Lea’s turn, she told that it doesn’t
matter what their name is, but what she wanted is that the
meeting to start and get over with.
Chapter 17
The teachers of Maya stood up and commended
what Mrs. Gascon has said. Suddenly, another teacher
corrected it saying that Lea was not Mrs. Gascon but Mrs.
De Lara. Both of them argued for a while when the school
principal told them that she is both. Many reactions arose
from what they have learned, and a guy in front of Lea
became interested in her. The voting for the officer of the
association followed. Again Lea took the attention of the
crowd because of her loud laugh. In the voting of officials,
Lea found herself nominated for presidential and vice-
presidential slot to which she both lost. She was starting
to feel irritated because she was getting humiliated. She
then was again nominated, now for a position in the board
of members. Upon hearing this she became very irritated
and burst out with a loud voice. She continued on with her
speech in front of the stage. After she spoke, to her
surprise many teachers and parents applauded her, and
requested her to stay. She was nominated as a board
member and surprisingly as a chairwoman.
Chapter 18
Lea began to notice some unusual things about
Ojie. He always goes home late, always ask for money,
and one night a man filled with tattoo on his body returned
his school ID. One night when she was on her way
home, she bumped into the teacher of Ojie and learned
that he was absent for class for two straight days. Upon
hearing this she immediately looked for his son. She
asked the street children but no one saw him except for
one. He told Lea that Ojie spends his time in Gerona; only
one thing popped out of Lea’s mind: drugs. When she
came into the place where his son stays during night she
was surprised to see her son playing billiards. At home
she started to question Ojie, but he started to answer
back. Lea became so angry that she slapped Ojie on the
face. His son then burst into tears and began to tell all his
sentiments of not having a father. Deep inside Lea felt
guilt and started to cry. On the other hand Ojie apologized
to his mom and said that he would never play billiards
again, Lea taught Ojie to learn to prioritize things.
Chapter 19
Next day, Lea was thinking of what she did to her
son. Maya came to ask for some money to give to her
classmate because her father died. Because pay day was
arriving, Lea decided to give the money to Maya and in
addition she bought a bike for Ojie. When she arrived,
Ding confronted him about the bike, because it would only
bring danger and harm to the kids. They argued for a
while but Lea got used to it a long time ago. On the other
hand, Lea thought of his friend, Johnny. She knew that
Johnny was the type of man that she could flirt with. She
then started to flirt with Johnny through phone and when
are together at work. They are to go to Baguio City for a
field work.
Chapter 20
Lea was so excited with the fact that she would be
spending some nights with Johnny. She’s been thinking
about the things that could happen between Johnny and
her. That night, she waited for Ding to come home so she
can leave her children behind, but Ding never came. The
next day she woke up early and started packing the
things of her children and went immediately to school to
fetch them. She then went to the house of Raffy hoping
that Elinor is not around, when they arrive at Raffy’s place
she was surprise to see Elinor. She wanted to back out
but she was desperate so she asked Elinor if her children
can stay until Sunday. Elinor was hesitant but she
agreed. She went to the office and looked for Johnny, she
went to find him and was surprised to know the he isn’t
coming with them anymore.
Chapter 21
Johnny won’t be able to go with Lea to Baguio. He
reasoned that he would be compiling reports about
nuclear arms. He sounded like he didn’t have any regrets
for not going. Lea just convinced herself that Johnny was
too dignified to let anything happen. But she was very
much irritated with what just happened.
Because of car trouble, they parked the car at the
side of the zigzag road. While the men were fixing the
vehicle, the women except Lea went sightseeing. Sister
Ann confronted Lea, who felt that Lea needed some help.
Lea asked the nun if she had ever experienced love, not
the love for God but the love between opposite sexes.
Sister Ann was surprised of the question but remained
calm about it and told Lea that she is a nun. She knew
Lea had a problem and Lea did have one. She wanted
someone to look after her, someone to care for her,
someone who will understand her and someone who will
stay beside her. But Lea knew that Sister Ann would not
understand her.
As they reached their destination, they immediately
went on to their business. They conducted interviews of
testimonies from those who were snitched off their land
by military men. They were abused, left to starve and
their families, killed.
Before heading back home, they stopped at the
cemetery where those killed were buried. But she didn’t
head back home with the group. Lea stayed and
enthralled herself with the many sights of Baguio. She
went home not Sunday, the day she promised Elinor to
get the kids, but Monday, August 21 when Benigno
Aquino was assassinated.
Chapter 22
Lea attempted to watch TV when she got home
past midnight but to no avail. All she had was the paper
with Aquino being murdered. She wanted to call Raffy’s
house but worried that she might be disturbing their sleep.
But she called anyway until several rings with nobody
answering.
When Lea was about to sleep the door opened. It
was Ding. He immediately asked Lea where the kids
were. And when he knew that they were at Raffy’s Ding
became furious. But Lea at once reasoned that she had
no one to depend on that may look after the kids when he
did not come home. Each of them was getting angrier
when the phone rang. It was Raffy.
Lea went to the hospital where Elinor gave birth.
The kids were there too. Raffy on the other hand, was
furious of Lea’s thoughtless act of leaving the kids with
them. He suggested to Lea to stop working and that he
will have to bear Ojie’s expenses or have his son under
his care. But Lea, being herself, argued about the idea.
She was not going to quit her job. If he wanted to have
Ojie, he would have to talk to the child. In the end, Lea
got her children and took off with the pain from the
argument with Raffy and the worry if her fight with Ding
will still continue when she gets home.
Chapter 23
In the office all papers, local and foreign,
contained a headline about the assassination of Benigno
Aquino. There were protests and vigils all over the world.
Every person even the little ones were asking who Aquino
was. Lea brought her children to Aquino’s wake. The
assassination awakened the minds of those who suffered
from the regime. Finally, they moved forward to be heard
and never to be shut off again.
Lea received the kids’ cards. Maya had better
grades than Ojie. She was not surprised because she
never saw Ojie study. After signing the cards, Maya
noticed that Lea signed the wrong name in her card. The
same happened with Ojie. They tried to erase it but it
only damaged the card. So Lea tried writing to both of the
kids’ teachers about what happened and both answered
that she better talk to the school principal.
Lea went to the principal’s office and was
prepared to have a heating conversation with Mrs.
Zalamea. But the principal was calm with her presence.
Mrs. Zalamea instructed that Lea may pay for the
replacement of the cards and since she looked like she
had spare money to spend, it would be appreciated if she
could give contribution as an act of paying condolence to
a person who committed suicide.
Lea laughed but later stopped upon hearing that
suicide was the cause of the death. It was brought to her
knowledge that it was the wife of the man who was killed
in the picket line. Lea’s laughter turned into tears and the
principal thought she understood Lea. But Lea explained
that she was in a human rights organization and part of
her job was to look after labor union strikes like of that
with Maya’s classmate’s parents. Mrs. Zalamea could not
imagine what she learned from Lea. She never expected
her to be in such an organization. In just a short while,
the two of them were, for the first time, agreeing with each
other and on the same side.
Chapter 24
Lea participated in a rally for justice. Along with
thousands of women, men, and children they all marched.
After taking part in the rally, Lea went to the office to pick
up some things. She received a call from Zeny, her
neighbor. The kids were in the hospital.
Lea hurriedly went to a hospital in Malabon. It
was not much of a big accident. Ojie suffered a little gash
on his head and Maya, a bruise on her arm. But the
physician who attended to the kids suggested that they be
confined over the night.
Raffy was there for Ojie and Ding for Maya. The
three of them were face to face in silence. Lea introduced
one to the other. Raffy left the room after a while. Then
Ding started blaming Lea for the incident. Lea knew it
was useless arguing with Ding because both of them
were not there when the incident happened to the
children. She went out of the room only to face another
useless conversation with Raffy. Both Ding and Raffy
took turns in telling her what she must and must not be
doing. Until Lea can not take it anymore, she ran outside
the hospital and went home.
Chapter 25
The phone was ringing when Lea reached home.
She bet that it’s either Ding or Raffy begging her to go
back to the hospital for the kids’ sake. She thought that
she’d swear whoever was on the other line. But when
she answered the phone and did the cursing, she later
realized that it was Johnny on the other line. Johnny was
surprised and confused what to say and how to react.
Lea simply asked Johnny to meet with her.
They went out and watched a movie. But Lea was
too noisy inside the moviehouse asking Johnny questions
about why Ding and Raffy were both against her, that
they went out and did not finish the movie. Lea’s
tactlessness made Johnny feel embarrassed when in the
escalator and in a transport vehicle.
Both of them were tired and hot. But there was
Johnny accompanying her in a time where she was
having problems. Then Lea blurted out something that
she had been wanting to say. She told Johnny that she
wanted to have sex with her. And that Johnny could tell
her if he wanted to do it also. Johnny was very shocked
with what Lea said and quickly said he didn’t want to do it.
But Lea insisted that she will only do it if Johnny was
willing to do it too. He knew Lea felt ashamed of what
she was saying that he got close to Lea and snuggled her
and kissed her. The only mistake was she asked if Lea
really wanted to do it so they ended up in a hotel that
night.
Chapter 26
Lea prepared food and many other things for her
children's return from the hospital. The two were
accompanied home by Ding who left quickly after a brief
argument with Lea. Lea then turned to her children and
talked to them about what they feel. Later that night, Lea
met Chona, Johnny's wife, who told her that the latter was
arrested. Lea then immediately called Sister Ann who in
turn promised to help Johnny's case. After Chona left, Lea
bumped into documents and tapes of activists who were
killed. This made her scared of what may happen to
Johnny.
Chapter 27
Lea participated in a protest in Plasa Roma which
aims to free political detainees. When she got home,
knowing that it was Christmas season, she took out the
christmas tree and placed it in the corner wherein posters
of what she believed in are displayed. The next morning,
Lea brought her children to the first political rally for
children. After several days, Christmas Eve came. Lea
was patiently waiting for the carolers to come. These
carolers collects signatures of various persons instead of
money for support of thier cause. Lea gladly gave hers.
 Chapter 28
Lea and her children celebrated the New Year
together. Sister Ann was with them who kept on asking
Lea about her relationship with Ding. Suddenly the phone
rang. It was for Maya who probably stayed there for about
twenty minutes. When Maya put the phone down her
mom asked her why she used it for so long. Lea was
surprised to hear that the brother of Maya's classmate
died who was celebrating his birthday that same day. The
reason of its death was his incapacity to adopt to bottled
milk. Lea then went to the child's wake and noticed that it
turned out to be more of a birthday party. Suddenly
people started to sing Happy Birthday but all are
obviously unhappy with the incident. Sister Ann then
found Lea at the back of the house crying. She was crying
because of what she feels and told the Sister that she
wants to fight back. Days passed by and Sister Ann
vanished without a trace. The news about her is that she
became a leader of an underground movement.
Chapter 29
Lea missed Ding so much that the only thing in her
mind was to reconcile and talk to the latter when it comes
home. Her long wait finally ended when Ding came home.
After taking a glimpse at the kids, Ding confronted Lea
and told her that the reason of his long absence is that he
got married. Cool heads prevailed for minutes until Lea
could no longer hide her feelings. She figured in a fight
with Ding and at the end the latter told her that he wants
Maya to come along with him. The next day Lea told
Maya what happened. The child was so confused that
she asked her mother for help. Lea though told her that
it's up to her to decide. Lea then went out and saw a
mother hitting her child. She said to herself that her
children would remember her as a caring mom who might
have hurt them unintentionally.
Chapter 30
The historical Lakbayan commenced. All people
from all walks of life gathered in one voice: To boycott the
1984 election. Lea participated in the event. When she
stopped for awhile to catch up with her breath she saw
Raffy beside her who finally understood the value of
fighting for people's rights.
Chapter 31
Lea patiently waited for Raffy in a restaurant. She
knows that it will be the last time she will ever see her
former husband for the latter will be going to the US. In
that instance she started to reminisce the good times she
shared with Raffy. Finally Raffy came and they started
talking. At the end they decided to spend the day
together.
Chapter 32
It was graduation day. Lea was the guest speaker
of that affair. Lea didn't prepare any speech but delivered
a very inspiring one. Her speech was about how people
mature so fast and how life works. In her last lines she
told the graduates that graduation is not the end but is
just the start of new things to come.
Direction: Chito Roño
Screenplay (from her novel): Lualhati Bautista
Cinematography: Charlie Peralta
Editing: Jaime Davila
Sound: Albert Michael Idioma
Production Design: Manny Morfe
Music: Jessie Lasaten
...Hanggang sa ang bata ay hindi na bata kung ama, o
ina. Ano ang ituturo niya ngayon sa kanyang mga anak?
Lahat ng dapat niyang matutuhan ngayon pa lang, hindi
pagkamasunurin at pagkakimi, kundi pagkibo pag may
sasabihin at paglaban pag kailangan. Lahat ng panahon
ay hindi panahon ng mga takot at pagtitimpi; lahat ng
panahon ay panahon ng pagpapasiya. (Nakalathala sa
likod ng aklat) May iba ring nakakuha sa aking pansin.
Nanatiling mahinahon si Lea habang nilalagyang ng
solusyon ang kanyang mga problema. Hindi kailanman
nagpadala sa kanyang emosyon si Lea, kahit na siya'y
ilang beses nabigo sa pag-ibig, ipinagpatuloy niya ang
pagiging responsableng ina at indibidwal.
Lualhati Torres Bautista was born in Tondo, Manila on
December 2, 1946. She became a fictionist and a movie
scriptwriter through the influence of her parents, Esteban
Bautista and Gloria Torres, who were into composing,
singing and poem-writing. She graduated from the Emilio
Jacinto Elementary School in 1958 and from Torres High
School in 1962. Although she completed only a year of
her journalism course, she already began her
professional writing after graduating from high school.
She even became at one time the vice-president of the
Screenwriters Guild of the Philippines and the chair of the
Kapisanan ng mga Manunulat ng Nobelang Popular.
She entitled her first screenplay Sakada in 1976 whose
theme was the plight of Filipino minorities. It was Martial
Law then and the military banned the film for its very
message, though it won awards in the Catholic Mass
Media Awards during the same year. Her second film
was Kung Mahawi Man ang Ulap in 1984, which was
nominated for awards in the Film Academy. One of her
best screenplays, also written during the same year was
Bulaklak ng City Jail based on her novel about imprisoned
women, has won almost all awards for that year from bring his son to the States. And her job required more of
various awards guilds including Star Awards and Metro her presence taking less of her vacant time for her
Manila Film Festival. children.

Being a good novelist as well, Lualhati garnered
several Palanca grand prizes of 1980, 1983 and 1984 for
her novels Gapo, Dekada ’70 and Bata, Bata… Pa’no Ka
Ginawa? exposing injustice and women activism during
the Marcos era.
She became a national fellow for fiction of the
University of the Philippines Creative Writing Center in
1986, and won for herself several awards for her short
stories such as "Tatlong Kuwento sa Buhay ni Juan
Candelabra" and "Buwan, Buwan, Hulugan Mo Ako ng
Sundang".
Lea’s presence was needed by many. She’s
needed by her children most of all. She felt confused and
scared of the thought that because of being busy with
work; their fathers might take her children away from her.
But the decision will not be hers to make because she let
her children decide for their own. In the end, all the
worries and fear she felt subsided because the children
she had loved all her life chose their mother. And Lea felt
happiness and contentment with the company of her
children.

THEME

The once mere role of women in the society has

diversified. This has been clearly exemplified by Lea’s
role in Lualhati Bautista’s novel, Bata Bata…Paano Ka
Ginawa?. Before, women were stereotyped as females
who are to stay in houses to do chores, take care of
children and their husbands. They were not allowed to
participate in manly conversations regarding work and
politics. They didn’t have equal rights like men did. And
they were not given the chance to speak up for
themselves to have their own stands.

Now women, instead of staying home doing chores,

can be seen in the men’s workplace. Instead of staying
back from conversations, they are now heard when
speaking. They are now given more space and freedom
to have their respective and distinctive roles in the
society. They are now seen fighting for their rights and
not minding consequences. They now fight against
abuses, injustices and equal their levels as to men.
Women are not seen holding back their thoughts and
getting scared of being heard. They are starting to prove
and earn their right to be treated as equals and worthy
counterparts of men.

PLOT

Lea thought all was going to be well with her

relationships with men, her children and her work for a
human rights organization when summer vacation started.
Her youngest child, Maya has just graduated from
Kindergarten and her oldest, Ojie is growing to be a fine
young man. But she started having more problems with
Maya’s being curious of things and Ojie’s adjustment to
adulthood. She even had problems with her live-in
partner and father of Maya, Ding who was basically never
home. Her husband and Ojie’s father whom she
separated with many years ago has now come back to