URDANETA CITY UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
“How My Brother Leon Brought
Home a Wife”

INSTRUCTOR: DONNA GRACE ALVAREZ

STUDENT: ATIAGAN JR. ROMEO A.
1. Give 5 facts about the author (For those with unli wifi, you may send
your classmates some of what you are able to research).
 Manuel Estabilla Arguilla (Nagrebcan, Bauang, June 17, 1911 – beheaded,
Manila Chinese Cemetery, August 30, 1944) was an Ilokano writer in English,
patriot, and martyr.
 He is known for his widely anthologized short story "How My Brother Leon
Brought Home a Wife," the main story in the collection How My Brother Leon
Brought Home a Wife and Other Short Stories, which won first prize in the
Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940.
 His stories "Midsummer" and "Heat" were published in Tondo, Manila by the
Prairie Schooner.
 Most of Arguilla's stories depict scenes in Barrio Nagrebcan, Bauang, La
Union, where he was born. His bond with his birthplace, forged by his
dealings with the peasant folk of Ilocos, remained strong even after he
moved to Manila, where he studied at the University of the Philippines,
finished his BS in Education in 1933, and became a member and later the
president of the U.P. Writer's Club and editor of the university's Literary
Apprentice.
 He married Lydia Villanueva, another talented writer in English, and they
lived in Ermita, Manila. Here, F. Sionil José, another seminal Filipino writer in
English, recalls often seeing him in the National Library, which was then in
the basement of what is now the National Museum. "You couldn't miss him",
José describes Arguilla, "because he had this black patch on his cheek, a
birthmark or an overgrown mole. He was writing then those famous short
stories and essays which I admired."

2. Give the story's summary.

Leon and his wife Maria are about to return to Leon’s village after getting
married. They had met in the city and Maria has never lived in a village. They
are greeted by Baldo, Leon’s younger sibling, as their horse carriage stops
outside the village.
Baldo welcomes the new member of the family. He is impressed by her
beauty and soft feature. He observes her nice fragrance and radiant smile. He
ties their bull, named Labang, to the cart and Leon hauls their trunk on it.
Baldo encourages Maria to touch Labang’s hair and horns. She is awestruck
at Labang’s strength and horns. Leon helps her on the cart and she sits on a
bale of husk. They start their journey and Leon has the reins.
After going a little further, Baldo takes the reins and takes a sudden route
change into the rocky road of Waig and surrounding fields. Leon enquiries about
the change of route and Baldo assure him that he is only following their father’s
orders.Baldo and Leon both question Maria about her views about their village,
fields and rocky roads. She is enthralled by the natural beauty and simple
lifestyle. She condemns the sheer number of vehicles and noise in the city.
She loves the starry and clear skies over the lush fields. She and Leon even
start to sing a song that Leon was taught by his father about the sowed fields
under clear skies. They meet a couple of people after coming out of the fields
but not many as most people avoid using the fields after dark.
They finally reach their house and are welcomed by Leon’s mother and
sister. They are smiling and excited. Leon enquiries about his father who is in his
room struggling with leg pain (injured in the revolution).
Baldo goes to tie Labang and when he returns he finds Maria talking and crying
with his mother and sister. His hears his father’s call and goes to meet him.
His father questions about Maria’s conduct and her behaviour throughout
their journey to the house. It was test designed to see if she can adjust and
accept the life of the village and make it her home. Baldo reassures him about
her live for Leon and commitment to their marriage. He confirms his observation
that Maria was ready to embrace their house as her home. Their conversation is
disturbed as the new couple enters to meet with the father. Baldo leaves the
room giving them some space with the head of the family.
3. What could be the story's ending?
Its obvious, the story ending will be, they will live happily ever after. Why?
The central more of the story is the ability to sacrifice things for people you love.
Maria was brought up in a life of comforts in the city. However, she loved Leon
truly and was committed to adapt to his lifestyle.
She was willing to uproot her entire life and give up her privileges to settle in
a village. She was also loving and caring towards his family, becoming a part of
the family seamlessly.

4. How does society picture women who are from the city versus
women who live in the province?
the city woman was not good at housework, and most were lazy. while the
provincial women are industrious, helpful, good at housework, especially when it
comes to cooking dishes. and loving and caring.

5. Explain how Filipino family culture accept 'difference and

acceptance'.
The story highlights the value of togetherness and family. It speaks about
loving and caring for each other. This entails and necessitates the ability and
willingness to sacrifice selfish desires or even comforts to make your loved ones
happy.
The story praises the ability to adapt to new circumstances and being
positive to change and growth. It talks about overcoming hardships and fears
and ultimately in finding peace and happiness in each other’s betterment and
well being.
Another message of the story is not judging people based on appearances
and giving them space to express themselves and accept them for their
differences. It also celebrates a conservative and simple lifestyle over luxurious
and ostentatious ways.