Gontiñas, Jennifer L.

BSED-English 3A
Phil Lit – Philippine Literature
Mrs. Bianca Mae Tan-Alaud

Week & Act no. Week 3 – Activity No. 6

Title of the Story:

The Bread of Salt

N.V.M. Gonzales or Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzales, a Filipino novelist,

short story writer, essayist and, poet. Conferred as the National Artist of the
Philippines for Literature in 1997. Born in the Philippines in 1915 in the
province of Oriental Mindoro. He was born into a family of educators, his
mother being a teacher and his father a school supervisor. When he was four
years old, Gonzalez moved with his family to the barrio of Wasig in Mindoro.
About the Author Gonzalez expressed passion for music at a young age. He learned to play the
violin and made his own guitars by hand. For college, he attended National
University at Manila, Philippines, but did not finish his degree. During his
time there, he wrote for the Philippine Graphic and later edited for both
Evening News Magazine and Manila Chronicle.

The Boy (Protagonist/Narrator) – A fourteen years old whose name was

not stated in the story. He lives in his grandmother’s house and was tasked to
buy pan de sal at the baker’s every morning. His dream is to become a
musician, a violinist specifically. He admired Aida, his classmate.

Grandmother & Grandfather – The boy lived with them through the years.
A. Characters His grandmother didn’t like how the boy spends time music, and always
counseled him to mind his work at school. His late grandfather was a coconut
plantation overseer and had spent the last thirty years of his life working.

Aida – The girl he adored, his classmate in high school and was the old
Spaniard’s niece who lives near the baker’s.

Pete Saez – A twenty-two years old, trombone player who invited the boy to
join their band who plays at several important events in their place. Their
band was called the Minviluz Orchestra.
Gontiñas, Jennifer L.
BSED-English 3A
Phil Lit – Philippine Literature
Mrs. Bianca Mae Tan-Alaud

The story was set on the 1930’s in the Philippines where there are Spaniards,
Americans, and Chinese present in the story. There were also several places
B. Setting mentioned where the story happened, the bakery which the boy called the
Baker’s, where he would buy pan de sal in the morning, the school where he
studies and the house where the party happened.

Exposition – It was his job to get up early in the morning and go to the
bakery to get rolls and pan de sal for the breakfast table. He was fourteen
years old at the time, and he was already accustomed to his responsibilities.
On his journey, he pondered the salt bread – pan de sal – and wondered how
it was cooked, as well as what gave it its flavor and shape.

Rising Action – He developed and perfected his violin skills in school. He

was relieved that Mr. Custodio, the orchestra director at the school, was
aware of his improvement. Pete Saez, a trombone player who was a member
C. Plot
of a private band, approached him and offered him to join them. He had
previously rejected, but this time was different. He considered the money he
could make and his desire to purchase a brooch and beautiful stationery for
his ardent love letters to Aida.

Climax – Then he was invited to the asalto for Don Esteban's daughters who
were arriving from Manila, together with Saez' band. He felt privileged to be
a part of such a luxurious gathering and to get a closer look at Aida's
breathtaking beauty. He was overcome with joy and pride, but this was soon
replaced by an equal measure of embarrassment at the buffet table after Aida
saw him sneaking some sweets from the table.

Falling Action – She did offer him a large bundle of food after the
celebration, but he lost his composure to reply, as well as the complete ardor
with which he used to shower the maiden. He threw the sweets he packed at
the veranda. With their music, they led the attendees home after the party.

Resolution – Then with Paez, they walked home and because it’s nearly five
in the morning, he went to the bakery to buy pan de sal with his own money.
But the bread wasn’t ready yet so they waited.
Gontiñas, Jennifer L.
BSED-English 3A
Phil Lit – Philippine Literature
Mrs. Bianca Mae Tan-Alaud

Pan de Sal or the story named as the Bread of Salt - The bread, which
represents the boy, is kept safe (salt). This indicates that there was no loss of
innocence, but rather a retention of maturity. The imagery in the story
demonstrates the preservation of maturity. He was still fourteen, too young
D. Symbol for both his dreams to be crushed, being a successful violinist and marrying
Aida. But just like at the end of the story where the bread wasn’t ready, the
boy wasn’t ready, too, for the challenges he might face being an adult and he
wasn’t ready for love.

Man vs. Society – This story shows the different social status of the
characters in the story. The boy was hesitant to confess his feelings for Aida
E. Conflict because he believes that they are different from each other, because that’s
what the society tells him.

Man vs. Circumstances – When his aunt discouraged him from pursuing
music because of being the least important in any social events or parties.
And also, how his grandmother wouldn’t let him play at first. These
circumstances brought conflict for the boy’s dream of becoming a violinist.

The story’s narrator was the boy, the protagonist himself, so the story was
F. Point of view told in first-person-point of view.

Just like any other stories, this story also shows how social status affects the
romance the story has. As a young boy, he was worried to let Aida know
about how he feels about her because Aida was for him, a star he will never
G. Reflection reach. This story taught me to not let anyone decide for me and how I want
my life to be. The opinion of others who only want to shaken your dreams
and goals should not matter in any way.
Gontiñas, Jennifer L.
BSED-English 3A
Phil Lit – Philippine Literature
Mrs. Bianca Mae Tan-Alaud