21ST CENTURY LITERATURE

ASIAN LITERATURE
2ND QUARTER - WEEK 1

ACTIVITY 3
1. Who are the characters presented in the story? Describe them.

Taxi man: He’s a taxi driver and the father of Lay Choo. He’s a hardworking father.
Teacher: The passenger of the taxi man whom he tells his story.
Lay Choo: daughter of the taxi man.

2. Which among the statements of the taxi driver appealed to you the most? Why?

“Today, young people not like us when we are young. We obey. Our parents say don‘t do
this, we never do. Otherwise, he came. My father came, I was big enough to be married,
and still got caning. My father he was very strict, and that is good thing for parents to be
strict. If not, young boys and girls become very useless. Do not want to study, but run
away, and go tonight clubs and take drugs and make love.”

This statement appealed to me the most because people nowadays, especially teenagers
like me, are lying about their whereabouts. My mother is a strict parent. She always text or
call me every hour and ask me about my whereabouts. Actually, when I was in
elementary, I was annoyed because I felt like I was a prisoner because my mother
controlled me. She never allowed me to go out alone with my friends and I was not
allowed to go outside our house alone. However, as time passed by, I realized that I am
lucky because my mom is strict. Because of my mom’s strictness, I love to stay at our
house instead of going out with my friends and I love to drink juices instead of drinking
alcoholic drinks.

It’s sad to witness that teenager nowadays are drinking alcoholic drinks and smoking
instead of studying and spending their time with their family. I am lucky and blessed
because I am not like them.

3. What themes are discussed in the story?

“The Taximan’s Story” is a story that tells about how Singaporean youth in the present
times have grown careless compares to the earlier generations. The theme of “The
Taximan’s Story” is all about how teenagers nowadays are different compared to the older
generations. Genuine love, trust and modernization are also the themes that discussed in
the story.

4. Do you think the characteristics and personality of the taxi driver is true for all taxi
drivers? Explain your answer.

I don’t think that the characteristics and personality of the taxi driver is true for all taxi
drivers. Taxi drivers have their own unique personality and characteristics. They (taxi
drivers) are different from each other.
ACTIVITY 4
CATHERINE LIM’S LIFE AND TIMES
With her divorce later on in life, she
gradually became a free thinker, or a
secular humanist, as she preferred to be
called.
Catherine like her stories to convey respect
and regard for human values.
She was the eight child among her 13
siblings.
She began as a teacher.
DETAILS FROM THE TEXT
“You know or not that young
schoolgirls, fifteen, sixteen year old,they go
to school in the morning in their uniforms
and then afterschool, they don‘t go home,
they have clothes in their schoolbag, and
they go to public lavatory or hotel and
change into these clothes, and they put
make-up on their face. Their parents never
know. They tell their Mom go school
meeting, got sports and games, this, that,
but they really come out and play the fool.”
“Very good, Madam. Sure, I will take
you there in plenty good time for your
meeting, Madam. This way better, less
traffic, fewer cars jams. Half hour should
make it, Madam, so not to worry.”
“Do you have a big family? Yes, Madam,
quite big family—eight children, six sons,
and two daughters. Big family! Haha!”
“Madam, you are a teacher, you say? Yes”
 ACTIVITY 5

CLIMAX

One day, while he was driving, he saw a girl that looks

familiar to him with other girls and some Europeans
outside a coffeehouse. He didn’t think that it was his
daughter, Lay Choo, because she was in her school
and that girl was dressed-up with make-up on and she
was bold in her behavior.

He decided to lock his

daughter at her room for three
The Taximan suddenly told his
days. EVENT
EVENT passenger about his daughter.

He shared about and He lied to his daughter’s

described her daughter, Lay teacher that she is sick that’s
Choo, as a good, obedient why she can’t attend to her
and striving hard for her classes and to excuse her. EVENT
EVENT studies.

She was his favorite

daughter. None of his
children could go to a
university unlike Lay
Choo who is intelligent
and helpful on her Lay Choo cannot leave
mother even though the house except going
she is lazy, sometimes. to school. He told his
EVENT
wife that she must
check her whereabouts. EVENT
CONFLICT

He suspects that it was his daughter and the next day he

saw her again, he confirmed that it was really Lay Choo.
Long time ago, Singapore is The taximan was so mad and he rushed to his daughter.
not crowded, not so busy, He slapped then dragged her to his taxi and went home.
was more peaceful, don’t When they arrived at their house, he beat Lay Choo so
much have taxi men, much bad that his wife and his neighbors are pulling him away
cars and buses. Most of from her daughter.
them that time were afraid
of their parents compare
today as what the taximan
had observed every day.
B.

EXPOSITION Compare the plight of the Filipino youth with that of Singaporean teenagers.

We, Filipino students, know that Education is important. We all want to graduate
and find a stable job to support our family someday. However, some students
never finish their studies because of financial or family problem. For those
students who did not finish their studies can still work but its not a stable job.
Some Filipino teenagers I think, most Singaporean teenagers believe that getting
through high school and into a good university is the way to achieve their dreams.