St.

Paul University Dumaguete

Dumaguete City

KRISTELL C. LAGARDE

MAED-ELT

EDUC 220

Short Story: Summer Solstice

“Summer Solstice” is a short story that has received recognition both critical and

praising. Written by Nick Joaquin, the story takes place in 1850s Philippines during the festival

days of St. John. There is a pro-woman feel to the story, which has garnered a lot of debate and

attention considering the setting is in a time where women must be submissive.

CHARACTERS

Donya Lupeng Moreta – the married woman having three children and the senora and

master of the house which Amada and Entoy is working and serving for

Don Paeng – the highly honorable and moral husband of DonyaLupeng

The Three Boys – the sons of DonyaLupeng and Paeng

Amada – the housemaid/ cook of the Moretas family

Entoy – the carriage driver of the Moretas family

Guido – the cousin of Don Paeng who was gone from Europe
 St. Paul University Dumaguete
Dumaguete City

Plot

Summary

Dona Lupeng a married woman who desires to be adored by his husband. They are a

wealthy family, they have a carriage driver named Entoy and a maid named Amada. Dona

Lupeng saw Amada on Entoy’s room acting crazy. Amada was forbidden to attend the festival

known Tadtarin, a three days festival that women celebrate the ritual of fertility. While the

family is enjoying St. John festival Dona Lupeng didn’t noticed Paeng’s cousin Guido in the

crowd. Paeng’s young cousin Guido returns back to the Philippines after studying from Europe.
 St. Paul University Dumaguete
Dumaguete City

Dona Lupeng and Guido are talking about the festival, after Guido giving suggestive

comments to Dona Lupeng, she disagrees with Guido, as she is about to leave Guido grab her

foot and kissed her toes. Dona Lupeng look at him with disgust. Inside the carriage Dona Lupeng

and her husband Don Paeng are talking about how Guido annoyed Dona Lupeng, she disagrees

with his husband about Guido’s actions towards her, while they are talking Dona Lupeng found

herself intrigued by the attention of Guido; as she realise that he was correct in saying that

women should be enrapture and men should adore them. While Dona Lupeng is in the sofa Don

Paeng talks to her, Dona Lupeng who never experienced going to the Tadtarin ask his husband if

she can go, after arguing Don Paeng allowed her and accompany her. Dona Lupeng ignored his

husband as she watched the festival.

Once the dancing begun Don Paeng tries to claim his wife, but she runs from him to the

women. As Paeng tries to take her back the women in the crowds beat him out, leaving him

powerless. As the two return home, Paeng says he must whip his wife because he loves her and

feels that she needs to be put in her place. To this, Dona Lupeng and Don Paeng is arguing, Dona

Lupeng doesn’t want to be respected but wants to be adored. In the end Dona Lupeng won and

Don Paeng adores her wife, Dona Lupeng orders him to kiss her feet.

Values that the Story Impart

Why do people frown on taking pictures when there are three people in the photo? Why

some say that it isn’t okay to sing while cooking and why shouldn’t people change seats at the

table while eating? Why do they say that a single guy should not agree to become a godfather to

a wedding? Why do people knock on wood, make the sign of the cross, or cross their fingers to
 St. Paul University Dumaguete
Dumaguete City

ward off bad luck?

Why are Filipinos so superstitious? Being a Filipino whose family observe Catholic

practices, I objectively assess our fascinating and sometimes absurd society in terms of

superstitious practices. It is good for us to know the story of Nick Joaquin which is entitled

"THE SUMMER SOLSTICE". In the story, we will understand how people depend their life

towards rituals and its part of their culture. I have realized that mostly of the people may prefer

rituals as a means of solutions to their problems because in some ways rituals give good benefits

to them. For now, rituals are considered as superstitious belief because not everyone follows it

now. There are times rituals are the means of curing illness mostly accepted by people in the

boondocks but now these are ignored by people in this modern world.

In addition, according to bright hub education the themes in the summer solstice are St.

John’s and Tatarin Festivals – The St. John’s festival is about men and their fertility, which

seems quite vulgar to Lupeng and makes her start to realize how she wishes women could be

seen in the same way. The Tatarin festival is the exact opposite, showing women as leaders of

fertility since they carry children. This festival is the last trigger to make Lupeng feel as though

she is stronger than a man and deserves adoration.The theme is predominant because it definitely

calls attention to the empowerment of the woman over the man and also the dominance of the

women on that period.

The Summer Solstice main theme shows the unequal treatment between man and woman.

Man is the superior than woman, as what the middle of the story tried to emphasize. The

reflection and biographical study in this short story is empowering women as we see them in the
 St. Paul University Dumaguete
Dumaguete City

same way like men do. It shows that women rather than to be respected they want also to be

adored by men.

References

Joaquin, N. (1955). The Summer Solstice. The Hudson Review, 8(3), 373. doi:

10.2307/3847929

Joaquin, Nick. Summer Solstice. Manila: AlbiertoFlorentino: January 1st, 1962

Admin. (2019, April 29). The Feminist Approach of Nick Joaquin's TheSummer Solstice

I - College Papers Help Online. Retrieved February 25, 2020, from

https://youmademydayphotography.com/the- feminist-approach-of-nick-joaquins-

thesummer-solstice-i/
 St. Paul University Dumaguete
Dumaguete City

Poem: To My Dear and Loving Husband

BY ANNE BRADSTREET

"To My Dear and Loving Husband" is a poem by the Colonial American poet Anne

Bradstreet. The poem was first published in 1678, as part of Bradstreet's posthumous

collection Several Poems. Bradstreet was the first poet—and the first woman—in colonial

America to write and publish a book of poems. The poem is autobiographical and describes the

passionate love between the speaker and her husband. The speaker describes that love as pure

and redemptive. The poem thus implicitly argues against some religious poets who describe love

as a sinful or unholy act.”

If ever two were one, then surely we. Or all the riches that the East doth hold.

If ever man were loved by wife, then thee. My love is such that rivers cannot quench,

If ever wife was happy in a man,

Compare with me, ye women, if you can.

I prize thy love more than whole mines of Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.

gold,
Thy love is such I can no way repay;
 St. Paul University Dumaguete
Dumaguete City

The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray. happier than them for I am married with a

man like you.  Your love is worth far more

Then while we live, in love let’s so persever,

That when we live no more, we may live ever.

to me than any amount of money could ever

be worth. I may be the happiest of all

women, I do not count myself fully satisfied,

 Claiming that if any two hearts in the because the nature of my love for you is

history of marriages have ever been bonded such that I feel I can never get enough.

together as though they were one person, Beyond blessed for you loved me, the

then surely she and her husband are bonded blessing I could never recompense. With

together in this deep and intimate way. that, I hope God bless you with countless

Reassuring her own love and commitment, a rewards you deserve. So, while we're alive,

great claim and confidence that she loves her let's stay so true to each other so that when

husband as much as any woman has ever we die, we will live forever.

loved a man. If you to compare my life with

other women, you can attest that I am

 St. Paul University Dumaguete
Dumaguete City

“Broken Road”
By Kristell C. Lagarde
Gone are those times

Wrong directions That I’ve been holding

Reckless decisions. Unto bitter memories.

My choices, my heartbreaks. Everything.

My past seems so worth it, for God led me For you came

to you…
And you value my totality.

You came into my way

Gone are those days, hurting, silently

And avowed to stay.
shouting and

weeping into sleep,

Inestimable mem’ries we shared
When melancholy of life enclasped me.
And countless battles we faced.
 St. Paul University Dumaguete
Dumaguete City

Though we’re miles away

You never failed to make me feel loved

every day.

No buts, no what if’s, no regrets…

Blessed I’ve taken the broken road

‘coz if not, I might never find my home.