Ateneo de Zamboanga University

The Jesuit University in Western Mindanao

Since 1912
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL UNIT
English Department

Final Performance-Based Assessment: Critical Paper

on

Miliminas 0069 by Nilo Par Pamonag

Presented by

Paner, Lauren Gracie A.

Laj, Nurdina Bei D.
Badron, Afifa A.
Aujero, Cyndy

Grade 12 STEM STEPLING

Presented to

Ms. Rizzle Reyes

HUM111 Instructor

December 08, 2021

 A story entitled "Miliminas: Taong 0069" that was written by Nilo Par Pamonag was created with
authentic insights. It is a clever depiction of the problems in our society today, as it unfolds the different
aspects of the rotten system that exists.  The part of an island in the middle of Dagat Pasipiko is called
"Miliminas", before the big flood happened. Through the people of Miliminas, Pamonag uses his
characters to symbolically show the upsetting reality of the country. As literary work in particular exhibits
the exact opposite of these events, it only expresses the real circumstances currently occurring today. The
key symbols in this literary work reinforce its main theme: It reveals the people’s greed for money,
power, and a social state that would go through great extent to achieve or obtain only what they desire by
inverting goodness for greater advantage. The use of irony is clearly evident in this literary work, lending
it to be easq1ily observed from a formalist approach. This paper will focus on examining the form piece
as whole and the development of the literary work itself.

The author gives an in-depth discussion of the story. Starting with the title of the literary work
which is the "Miliminas", it already sounds funny because it is simply just a disguised version of the word
“Pilipinas” which is the translated word of “Philippines”—that itself conveys a certain symbolism of the
literary work that has somehow a connection to the message that the piece tries to reveal. As you read
through the sentences of the said literary work, you can notice how reversed and oxymoronic the
situations are wherein it signifies the reality behind the curtains. The contradictions that were used are
basically an eye-opener to the events that are currently occurring in the status quo that has placed so many
lives in detriment which gives us the idea on the theme of the literary work. The events that are stated in
the story still happen in the present. In this very democratic country, it is inconceivable that people are
deprived of their individual rights which is basically paradoxical. In the literary work, it unveils how
desperate the higher-ups are on getting so much power and it is perceptible that the very main intent of
this piece is not just to disclose such inhumane imposition of the government but it also relays a particular
message which tells so much about the incompetence of the system itself. Given that, the plausible events
that were mentioned are apparent in the literary work and the author used pragmatic circumstances that
everyone has a sentiment on.  
The Story was long and precise, it was well written, clearly written, entertaining and it brought a
bit of a challenge to the reader. The way that it was written was very straightforward and direct to the
point. The description was very useful to analyze the effects of time and the nature of the past and the
future. The author stated exactly what happened during this time. The imagery that the story presents
gives off a setting in old times. The story is written from a third person point of view, however, it was
obvious that the story was written to express one point of view.  As if it was narrated and told in a form of
storytelling. The text and how it was written was informal as it was noticeable that the author’s emotions
emerged throughout. We can infer that the text is subjective because it aims to evoke the reader's
imagination.

To sum up, this paper only focused on the development of the literary work itself. In the case of
this short story entitled "Miliminas: Taong 0069" using formalist criticism transformed the true meaning
of what the story is trying to transcribe: The desire or how desperate the people with social status are for
money, power and social standing. All of these elements such as symbolism, imagery, and the overall
theme changed the way we look at something like how the government are used to having ignorance in
the current situation and how the government officials, who seem to neglect their platforms after the
elections. The literary work is not just to disclose such cruel imposition of the government but it also
imparts a particular message which tells so much about the incompetence of the system itself.