LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

st
21 Century Literature of the Philippines and the World

Name of Learner: Daniella Izabelle I. Saguin

Grade Level/ Section: 12-Leptons Date: September 23, 2021

Background Information for Learners:

Philippine literature is considered unique because of the diverse contemporary periods
happened after each generation. Every Filipino learner should commemorate this legacy
because it reflects our history, our people and our identity. The collected stories of Fay Cooper
Cole and Mabel Cook-Cole from the indigenous people were remembrance of our inspired
culture and life.

Learning Competency:
1. identify the geographic, linguistic and ethnic dimensions of Philippine literary history
from pre-colonial to the contemporary
2. identify representative texts and authors from each region in the Philippines

Directions/ Instructions: Read each directions below then answer what is being asked.
Plagiarism is not allowed. Write your answer on a short bond paper. Write clearly and legibly.
Exercises / Activities:
Read the story of “The White Horse of Alih” by Alvarez Enriques. After reading the story,
identify the geographical, linguistic and ethnic dimension of the story.

“The White Horse of Alih” by Alvarez Enriques

The story happened on July 4th in a city with a parade of people. It was a happy day for
everybody because they are celebrating the big American Holiday. Among the crowd was Alih, a
Moro who was then looking for his brother, Omar. That day was intended for them to 1ehavi
their plan. Their plan is to kill these people.
So Alih waited for his brother, he went out of the crown and sat under the Balete tree.
While he was sitting and looking at the parade, he remembered his past, his childhood and his
growing years where he met the women whom he wished and longed for and he remembered his
mission. That is—to kill the people. But people can’t notice them as Moros because they were in
disguise.
When he saw a man riding a horse and controlling the crowd, he remembered how much
he longed for a horse for himself. He recalled when his brother punished him because he spent
his earnings just to ride in a merry – go- round. He wanted to ride on a wooden horse because
he saw the girl whom he liked most and her name was Lucy. Lucy was the girl who lived in the
reservation area where the Americans live. Moros were not allowed to enter that vicinity. But
because he needs to go to school, he cross the river and reached the reservation area. There he
saw the first girl he liked. Though, they were not given the chance to see and talk to each other
since then.
When he grew up, Omar told him about how the American soldiers killed their father
without any reason. Their father was known and respected in their village. With these, Omar
taught him to be brave and be able to fight against these people because he believes that only by
killing could they wash away their shame. He taught him words to live by and beliefs to be
respected and attained.
As he grew into a mature individual, he met another woman named Fermina. Fermina
was a beautiful bar maid with a mole near her mouth. He likes her so much but the woman
doesn’t like him because of his impertinent manner towards her. He was put to jail for six months
because of what he did.
Remembering all of these from his past, he thought of what Omar said about the promise
of their prophet to those who are faithful to him. That is to have a white horse ride to heaven and
as many hours as the number of infidel heads he could lay before Allah. But when he thought of
what their Imam said that white horse, as a reward for killing is an reference conjured by
fanatics in their attempt to give reason to their 2ehaviour. The prophet never taught them about
that because he was man of peace.
So back to reality, he continued searching for Omar into the crowd. Soon he saw a float
with a girl whom he thought of as Fermina. He went near the float and assisted the girl to go
down to the ground. As he was about to hold her completely, Omar came but to his surprise, he
was drunk and tipsy! All along, he realized that Omar had been drinking tuba. He knew that
Omar was afraid to kill that is why he drink tuba first before he go to the town.
Omar shouted and leap to the street, and then he gets his fatal blade from his pants.
The crowd screamed. Fear and panic seized everyone. Everyone is running and escaping
from Omar, even Fermina jumped into the ground and run away but she got stocked from a
bamboo frame of the float because of her long flowing robe that hooked on the edge of the
bamboo frame. She tried to set her free but she saw Omar coming to her swinging his blade.
Fermina screamed and screamed because of fear.
The screams struck Alih because he saw that Fermina the girl he was love is in danger
and get his blade from his leg immediately and then he leaped to his brother Omar and hit its
back by his sharp blade repeatedly. Omar died.
The town spoke out about the strange tragedy for many days after. But nobody had known
Alih, and nobody could figure out why he turned against his brother.
 Geographic Linguistic Ethnic
(Where did the story (What are the new terms in ( What are the cultures and
happened) the passage you encountered traditions of an ethnic group
that represent the that were being portrayed in
community?) the story?

● In a city with a parade ● Alih - Moro name ● Celebrating the big

of people ● Moro- a member of
● Under the Balete tree any of several Muslim
● In the reservation area people of the southern
(where Philippines.
the ● Omar - a Moro name
American’s lived) ● Imam - one who leads
● In the street where Muslim worshippers
Omar leap and ● Tuba - Filipino
shouted alcohol beverage.
● Moros village ● Lucy and Fermina- a
name originated from
english and spanish
people
● White horse- term
used in the passage as
“ saviour”
American Holiday
● A white horse as a
reward for killing
● Belief that Allah has
the power to create
everything
● Their unreasonable
killing could take
away their shame.
● Belief that only by
killing could they
wash away their
shame
● Moros are not allowed
to enter the vicinity
where Americans
lived
● Drinking tuba before
going to a war
● Use of sharp blade in
fighting

Guide Question:
After reading the story, what are your thoughts about it? Make a four (4) stanza poem following
a traditional style or free style. Write your answer on a separated sheet.
 STOP KILLING!

Before you shoot him dead

Remember to use your
head
First look him in the eye
Before you make him fly

Rubrics:

References for learners:0

https://ischoolsericsonalieto.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/the-white-horse-of-alih/

Prepared by:
Jan Carol S. Salas
English 123 Teacher