Andres Bonifacio’s

THE FINAL
THE FINAL CRY
CRY

OF FILIPINAS
OF FILIPINAS

VIVIEN BLAISE BAJARDO, DENISE MARIE KABRISTANTE, PEACH

EDGAR VALIENTE, KEANA NICHOLEA RONOLO, JAYEAN

BANAYBANAY, CHRISTOPHER DE JESUS, GINA MAE UMBAC

STEM
STEM 12.1
12.1
1.
1. What
What is
is the
the term
term “Mother”
“Mother” referring
referring to?
to? In
In what
what way
way has
has Spain
Spain

become
become a
a mother
mother to
to the
the Philippines?
Philippines?

The
The mother
mother in
in the
the story
story refers
refers to
to the
the Spain.
Spain. In
In the
the story,
story, the
the

mother
mother refers
refers to
to Spain.
Spain. She
She became
became a
a mother
mother (Spain)
(Spain) to
to her
her

child
child by
by being
being cruel,
cruel, mistreating,
mistreating, and
and controlling
controlling the
the child.
child.

Despite
Despite her
her cruelty
cruelty and
and unforgivable
unforgivable acts
acts against
against her
her child,
child, she
she

is
is still
still regarded
regarded as
as a
a mother
mother in
in her
her own
own right.
right.

2.
2. How
How is
is Mother
Mother Spain
Spain unique
unique among
among mothers?
mothers?

Mother
Mother spain
spain is
is unique
unique among
among mothers
mothers because
because of
of the
the way
way she
she

treats
treats her
her children.
children. We
We all
all know
know that
that a
a good
good mother
mother is
is caring,
caring,

loving
loving and
and supportive
supportive to
to her
her children,
children, but
but in
in Mother
Mother Spain's
Spain's

case,
case, it's
it's different.
different. She's
She's a
a type
type of
of mother
mother that
that is
is cruel
cruel to
to her
her

children
children and
and loves
loves their
their sufferings.
sufferings. For
For us,
us, that
that is
is the
the reason
reason

why
why Mother
Mother Spain
Spain is
is unique
unique among
among other
other mothers.
mothers.
3.
3. What
What are
are the
the characteristics
characteristics of
of the
the mother
mother in
in the
the poem?
poem? What
What

are
are the
the proofs
proofs of
of these
these characteristics,
characteristics, as
as mentioned
mentioned in
in the
the

poem
poem and
and was
was mentioned
mentioned in
in our
our history?
history?

In
In the
the poem
poem entitled
entitled “
“ The
The Final
Final Cry
Cry of
of Filipinas
Filipinas “
“ the
the

characteristics
characteristics of
of the
the mother
mother (Spain)
(Spain) shows
shows are
are abusive,
abusive,

mistreatments
mistreatments and
and controllability
controllability towards
towards the
the child
child

(Philippines).
(Philippines). Knowingly,
Knowingly, that
that this
this mother
mother makes
makes the
the child
child

suffers
suffers in
in pain
pain and
and violence
violence on
on its
its own
own colonialism.
colonialism. Right
Right from
from

the
the 3rd
3rd stanza
stanza to
to the
the 6th
6th was
was technically
technically shows
shows up
up a
a vivid
vivid image
image

on
on how
how the
the mother
mother (Spain)
(Spain) controlled
controlled and
and abuse
abuse the
the child
child

(Philippines).
(Philippines). Which
Which shows
shows that
that they
they always
always belittle
belittle the
the

strength
strength and
and ability
ability of
of one’s
one’s aspects.
aspects. Moreover,
Moreover, in
in our
our history
history

the
the Spaniards
Spaniards colonized
colonized our
our country.The
country.The Spaniards
Spaniards started
started to
to

over
over control
control the
the powers
powers of
of the
the Filipinos
Filipinos through
through the
the Catholicism.
Catholicism.

As
As they
they would
would continuously
continuously make
make the
the Filipinos
Filipinos felt
felt in
in danger
danger and
and

fear
fear they
they become
become aggressive
aggressive on
on any
any actions
actions they
they show
show towards
towards

them.
them. They
They most
most likely
likely torture,
torture, kill
kill and
and prisoned
prisoned those
those people
people

who
who would
would potentially
potentially oppose
oppose on
on the
the laws
laws of
of the
the Spaniards.
Spaniards.
4.
4. In
In stanza
stanza 5,
5, the
the speaker
speaker said
said “Mother
“Mother of
of mercy.”
mercy.” Do
Do you
you agree
agree

woth
woth that
that the
the mother
mother in
in the
the poem
poem is
is merciful?
merciful? Explain.
Explain. If
If the
the

mother
mother is
is not
not merciful,
merciful, why
why did
did the
the speaker
speaker call
call her
her “Mother
“Mother of
of

mercy?”
mercy?”

Considering
Considering all
all the
the threats,
threats, punishments,
punishments, and
and torture
torture the
the Spain
Spain

did
did to
to the
the Philippines,
Philippines, we
we don’t
don’t agree
agree and
and will
will never
never agree
agree that
that

the
the mother
mother which
which is
is the
the Spain
Spain is
is merciful.
merciful. Andres
Andres Bonifacio
Bonifacio

relates
relates Spain
Spain to
to a
a mother
mother of
of her
her children,
children, the
the Philippines.
Philippines. We
We all
all

know
know that
that a
a mother
mother should
should be
be taking
taking care
care of
of her
her children.
children.

Unfortunately,
Unfortunately, the
the mother
mother in
in this
this poem
poem was
was immensely
immensely cruel
cruel and
and

did
did some
some unforgivable
unforgivable and
and unhuman
unhuman things.
things.

In
In the
the last
last part
part of
of the
the stanza,
stanza, he
he called
called her
her “Mother
“Mother of
of Mercy”.
Mercy”. It
It

might
might be
be confusing
confusing calling
calling her
her a
a mother
mother of
of mercy
mercy when
when she
she is
is

completely
completely the
the opposite
opposite of
of it.
it. He
He was
was calling
calling her
her based
based on
on the
the

fact
fact that
that a
a mother
mother should
should be
be merciful.
merciful. Well,
Well, it
it appears
appears to
to us
us that
that

the
the phrase
phrase “Mother
“Mother of
of Mercy?”
Mercy?” is
is a
a sardonic
sardonic approach.
approach.
5.
5. According
According to
to the
the speaker,
speaker, what
what is
is the
the only
only way
way to
to cut
cut their
their

relationshipship
relationshipship with
with Mother
Mother Spain?
Spain? Do
Do you
you agree
agree to
to this
this course
course

of
of action?
action? Explain.
Explain.

According
According to
to the
the speaker
speaker the
the only
only way
way to
to cut
cut their
their relationship
relationship

with
with Mother
Mother Spain
Spain was
was by
by fighting
fighting for
for their
their rights
rights as
as humans
humans

and
and that
that they
they are
are not
not to
to be
be treated
treated as
as slaves
slaves forever.
forever. Realizing
Realizing

the
the facts
facts that
that the
the Filipinas
Filipinas dies
dies and
and suffered
suffered because
because of
of Mother
Mother

Spain.
Spain. II agree
agree to
to this
this course
course of
of action
action because
because we
we aren’t
aren’t only
only

“Filipinos”
“Filipinos” but
but we
we are
are Filipino.
Filipino. We
We have
have our
our own
own land
land and
and

properties.
properties. We
We have
have our
our own
own families
families and
and earnings.
earnings. We
We weren’t
weren’t

born
born to
to be
be treated
treated as
as slaves
slaves to
to other
other countries.
countries. We
We were
were born
born to
to

live
live what
what we
we ought
ought to
to live,
live, and
and that
that we
we have
have our
our own
own unique
unique way
way

of
of privilege
privilege life.
life.

6.
6. In
In stanza
stanza 13,
13, the
the speaker
speaker said,
said, “To
“To be
be killed
killed is
is paradise
paradise for
for

us.”
us.” What
What does
does this
this mean?
mean? How
How is
is this
this possible?
possible?

In
In the
the poem,
poem, the
the struggles
struggles of
of the
the Filipinos
Filipinos being
being neglected
neglected by
by

Mother
Mother Spain
Spain is
is depicted.
depicted. In
In the
the third
third stanza,
stanza, the
the phrase
phrase “to
“to be
be

killed
killed is
is paradise
paradise for
for us”
us” meant
meant that
that they
they desperately
desperately wanted
wanted an
an

escape
escape from
from the
the grip
grip of
of their
their Mother
Mother that
that death
death is
is a
a choice
choice they
they

would
would prefer.
prefer. For
For them,
them, to
to be
be killed
killed in
in attempt
attempt to
to get
get away
away from
from

the
the violence
violence and
and mistreatment
mistreatment of
of Spain
Spain is
is paradise.
paradise.
7.
7. On
On a
a scale
scale from
from 1
1 to
to 10,
10, how
how willing
willing would
would you
you ne
ne to
to die
die for
for your
your

country?
country? Why?
Why?

Vivien
Vivien Blaise
Blaise Bajardo:
Bajardo: Sacrificing
Sacrificing for
for your
your country
country is
is patriotic
patriotic and
and

it
it all
all depends
depends on
on whether
whether you
you believe
believe the
the motives
motives are
are valid
valid and
and

that
that they
they are
are for
for the
the truth,
truth, justice,
justice, and
and betterment
betterment of
of all.
all. In
In a
a

scale
scale of
of 1
1 to
to 10,
10, II will
will give
give an
an 8.
8. II can
can sacrifice
sacrifice my
my life
life for
for a
a country
country

who
who has
has done
done so
so much
much for
for me
me to
to have
have the
the freedom
freedom that
that II have
have

right
right now.
now.

Jayean
Jayean Banaybanay:
Banaybanay: II have
have an
an 8
8 out
out of
of 10
10 willingness
willingness to
to die
die for
for my
my

country.
country. Yes,
Yes, II love
love my
my country
country and
and II am
am willing
willing to
to sacrifice
sacrifice myife
myife

for
for it,
it, but
but it
it depends
depends on
on what
what means
means for
for sacrificing.
sacrificing. As
As long
long as
as it
it

is
is right
right and
and gives
gives my
my country
country a
a better
better outcome,
outcome, II will
will gladly
gladly offer
offer

my
my life.
life. Aside
Aside from
from it,
it, II also
also love
love myself
myself and
and my
my family.
family. II know
know how
how

stupid
stupid II am
am but
but II am
am willing
willing to
to fight
fight for
for what
what II love.
love. Thus,
Thus, fighting
fighting

for
for my
my country
country is
is fighting
fighting for
for myself
myself and
and my
my family.
family.

Denise
Denise Marie
Marie Kabristante:
Kabristante: II would
would give
give a
a 7
7 out
out of
of 10
10 rate.
rate. II am
am not
not

willing
willing to
to die
die for
for my
my country,
country, specially
specially if
if it
it isn't
isn't fot
fot the
the

betterment
betterment .. Honestly,
Honestly, II have
have lost
lost my
my hope
hope and
and loyalty
loyalty for
for my
my

country.
country. Power-hungry
Power-hungry politicians,
politicians, killings,
killings, robbery,
robbery, and
and so
so on.
on.

These
These happenings
happenings in
in the
the Philippines
Philippines makes
makes me
me rethink
rethink that
that it's
it's

not
not worth
worth it
it to
to die
die for
for my
my country.
country. Patriotism
Patriotism these
these days
days makes
makes no
no

sense
sense for
for me.
me.
Peach
Peach Edgar
Edgar Valiente:
Valiente: In
In a
a scale
scale of
of 1-10,
1-10, II would
would give
give a
a 7.
7. II love
love my
my

country
country and
and II would
would willingly
willingly give
give my
my life
life for
for it,
it, but
but not
not if
if my
my

country
country is
is doing
doing something
something wrong,
wrong, for
for example,
example, terrorism
terrorism attacks.
attacks.

However,
However, If
If II will
will fight
fight for
for my
my country,
country, II will
will do
do it
it with
with the
the hope
hope

that
that II will
will survive.
survive. In
In the
the end,
end, there
there are
are circumstances.
circumstances. You
You need
need

to
to judge
judge when
when to
to make
make decisions,
decisions, specially
specially when
when we
we are
are talking
talking

about
about something
something as
as precious
precious as
as life.
life.

Keana
Keana Nicholea
Nicholea Ronolo:
Ronolo: In
In a
a scale
scale of
of 1
1 to
to 10,
10, II would
would give
give 7.
7. II am
am

willing
willing to
to sacrifice
sacrifice anything,
anything, even
even my
my own
own life,
life, if
if it
it is
is for
for the
the sake
sake

and
and the
the good
good of
of the
the nation
nation that
that II love,
love, and
and II don't
don't think
think that's
that's a
a bad
bad

way
way to
to die.
die. Being
Being a
a patriotic
patriotic at
at heart
heart is
is good
good which
which it
it shows
shows that
that

we
we are
are more
more dedicated
dedicated on
on the
the society
society at
at all
all cost.
cost.

Christopher
Christopher De
De Jesus:
Jesus: On
On a
a scale
scale of
of 1-10,
1-10, I’d
I’d say
say 5.
5. It’s
It’s always
always 50
50 /
/

50.
50. Either
Either way
way II am
am not
not diffident
diffident of
of my
my own
own country
country but
but it’s
it’s always
always

either
either of
of the
the two
two whether
whether to
to die
die or
or to
to live
live a
a blissful
blissful life
life out
out of
of it.
it.

I’m
I’m personally
personally not
not the
the heroic
heroic type.
type. But
But rather
rather I’m
I’m that
that type
type of
of

person
person who
who stands
stands for
for what
what is
is right.
right. Again
Again either
either way
way II still
still stand
stand

tall
tall for
for Filipinas.
Filipinas.

Gina
Gina Mae
Mae Umbac:
Umbac: On
On a
a scale
scale of
of 1-10,
1-10, I'd
I'd rate
rate it
it a
a 7.
7. For
For my
my country,
country, II

am
am willing
willing to
to take
take the
the risk.
risk. If
If that
that would
would make
make our
our country
country a
a better
better

place
place to
to live.
live. For
For this
this is
is what
what II think
think is
is rightful,
rightful, ourselves
ourselves is
is just
just a
a

small
small thing
thing to
to offer.
offer. It
It is
is our
our responsibility
responsibility to
to defend
defend our
our country,
country,

and
and not
not the
the glory
glory of
of heroism
heroism that
that motivates
motivates us
us to
to fight
fight back.
back.

Sacrificing
Sacrificing my
my life
life for
for the
the sake
sake of
of my
my country
country would
would not
not be
be in
in vain.
vain.