GROUP ACTIVITY - TOPIC 3

Identity, Revolution, and

the Regions
 FOR ALL GROUPS
Home of the Ashfall
• Discuss what the author means by the line, “But not the poor; they
are like fungi. They don’t die. They morph after a catastrophe.”
• What effect does Wigley’s humorous tone have on the essay?
Imagine yourself in the situations being described. Would you be
able to see the humor there?
• Would a more serious tone have added more meaning to the story?
Why or why not? Elaborate.
• Does the Kapampangan dialogue confuse or enrich the story?
Explain.
 GROUP 1
THE REVOLUTION ACCORDING TO RAYMUNDO MATA

• What do you know about the publication of Noli Me Tangere and

how it affected the Philippines?
• Do you think that novels in the Philippines are as important as
they used to be when the Noli was published in 1887? Are people
still inspired by novels?
• What is it about reading long texts, such as short stories or novels
that makes it different from reading tweets and Facebook status
posts? What is the importance of literature for the Facebook
Generation?
 GROUP 2

The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata

• Why did the Noli Me Tangere have such a big impression on the
narrator? Could you relate to the narrator’s experience of reading?
Why or why not?
• Have you ever felt the same about a book that you had read? What
book was it? Why did it leave such a huge impression on you?
• What does the line, “Art is reproach to those who receive it”
mean? Should art be a reproach? Should we relate art to society?
Explain your views.
 GROUP 3

The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata

• When you read about how so many people were affected by the
novel Noli Me Tangere, what was your reaction? Do you think a
book can ever elicit such a strong response in the Philippines?
• When the narrator says that the act of reading was a historic act,
what did he mean? Do you think this is true even today?
• During those times, do you think you would have been moved to
fight against the government after reading the novel?
 GROUP 4
The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata
• They say that the act of reading gives people more empathy and
makes the more critical and reflective. Do you think this is true?
• Given this excerpt, what do you think is the importance of
literature to society? Is this still applicable today?
• Why is the Noli Me Tangere, a book that was banned in the past,
now a required reading in the Philippine schools? Why did the
Catholic Church go against making the Noli a requirement?
GROUP 5

Death of a Hero
• What do you know about Jose Rizal? What do you feel
about Jose Rizal?
• Why do people often compare and contrast Rizal and
Bonifacio?
• Do you consider Jose Rizal a revolutionary? Why or why
not?
 GROUP 6
Death of a Hero
• Who is Pepe? Why does Pepe ask the persona about purgatory?
• The poem talks about the nature of stars. Can you explain what he
means, in terms of science?
• This discussion of stars is also a metaphor. What is it a metaphor
for? explain.
• Why was Rizal executed? How is this similar to the idea of a star?
Relate this to Philippine History.
• What would you say was Rizal’s greatest contribution to
Philippine society?