LITERATURES OF ASIA

THE PHILIPPINES’ THE GOD STEALER BY F. SIONIL JOSÉ

Fiction is a type of literature based on imaginative events. Fiction includes novels, short stories, novelette/novella, legends, myths, folktales, and fairytales. In order to be an entertaining work of art, fiction has
elements. The main elements of literature are setting, characters, plot, point-of-view, and theme.
Setting is the mood, atmosphere, place, and time of the story. Characters are those that play roles in the fiction. Plot is the arrangement or sequence of events. The traditional plot structure includes: conflict
description (illustrates the struggle the main character encounters), rising action (the escalation of the problem/conflict), climax (the most exciting or thrilling part), and resolution (the ending; tells how the character solves
the problem). The point-of-view answers “who narrates the story?”. The types of point-of-view (POV) are: first-person point-of-view (the narrator is part of the story); second-person point-of-view (the narrator
addresses/speaks to himself, using the pronoun, “You”); and thirdperson point-of-view (the narrator is a mere observer and is not part of the story. The theme is the central message of the story. This includes universal and
timeless principles about life.
God Stealer is an interesting story employing strong elements of characterization, setting, and cultural theme. Set in Ifugao, these two characters, Philip Latak and Sam Christie, show the difference of two nationalities
in their perspective of religion and filial piety.

PERFORMANCE:
INDIVIDUAL LEARNING TASK
Written Task
Name: GUDIA, FLORY MAE F. PROGRAM/Yr/Sec: BEED 3A – DAY
Date: 04/28/2022 Score: ________
Based from the story, answer the following questions. Write your answers on the black provided for.
1. Compare and contrast the two characters of the story.
Sam Christie Philip Latak

He is a native Ifugao
He is an
who has converted
American with
to Christianity and
a fondness for
who has spent the
collecting
last few years
souvenirs.
working alongside
Sam Christie.
2. Describe the settings of the story. How do the settings affect the characters’ culture?

• There were two main characters in the story, Philip Latak (from Ifugao and working in Manila) and Sam Cristie, (an American). They were working at the same company and became close
friends. Philip was once devoted to his culture but it started to change when he became a city dweller. He was not concern about his cultural identity. With this, his family was against the idea
of living away from their place. On the other hand, Sam wanted to know about Philip’s culture. He was interested to see the rice terraces and wanted to buy an Ifugao god (figurine) for his
collections. They went to Baguio City and explore the place. From then on, their journey started. The settings greatly affect the two main characters’ culture as it played an important role in the
main concept of the story, that we should not forget our culture and our origin. We are now in a modern age but it doesn’t mean that we should denounce the things we have, beliefs, values,
characters and etc.

3. Filial Relationship. Write the filial relationship based on the story, The God Stealer.

• According to the storyline, the Grandfather is a loving and caring individual toward his grandson. Despite Philip's determination to follow his love while abandoning his family, culture, and
tradition. His Grandfather even considered throwing him a party only to greet Phillip and his friend Sam. Phillip, on the other hand, Philip ignored his Grandfather's goodwill and even took
actions that he may regret sooner or later.

4. Identify similarities of the Filipinos, particularly, Ifugaos, in their thinking of God to other nationalities.

• The Filipinos, particularly the Ifugaos, think of god as a creator god who is responsible for everything in the universe. They also think of god as a being who is all-powerful and can do anything.
Additionally, they think of god as a being who is just and good, and who will help them if they pray to him. They think of god as a being that is all-powerful and controls everything. This is
similar to how many other nationalities think of god.

5. Based on the story, how different is the perspective between a Filipino and an American as to religion and tradition?

• The God Stealer is a story about a Filipino man who steals an American's God. The American is a missionary who is trying to convert the Filipino to Christianity. The Filipino is not interested
in Christianity, but he is interested in the American's God. He believes that if he can steal the American's God, he will be able to control him. The American is horrified by the idea of the
Filipino stealing his God, and he tries to stop him. The two men have very different perspectives on religion and tradition. The Filipino sees religion as something that can be used to control
others, while the American sees it as a way to connect with God.

6. Give three themes that can be found in the story, The God Stealer.

• The term "theme" refers to the story's underlying meaning. It's the message the story's author is attempting to communicate. A story's topic is frequently a broad message about life. The topic of
a narrative is significant since it is part of the author's motivation for writing the story. The story has three main themes. The first one is the clash of cultures between Sam (an American) and
Philip (a native Ifugao/Filipino). The second theme is the westernization of a native Ifugao. Philip was educated in a mission school, he was baptized and Christianized, and he turned his back
on the traditional beliefs of his people. The third theme is colonialism and its effects, both good and bad, to colonized peoples. It's often pointed out that Sam's name is a direct reference to Uncle
Sam, a name for the United States of America. Philip's name is also a reference to the Philippines. So, the interactions between Sam and Philip in the story are metaphors for the relations between
the United States and the Philippines. Or metaphors for interactions between the colonizer and the colonized. The moral of the story "God Stealer" is to constantly recognize and appreciate your
origins. As a result of living in the city, the main character, Phillip, has become less nostalgic about his former origins and cultural identity.
7. Plot Structuration

Climax
The God Stealer
• Philip’s chance to
steal the god
from his
grandfather. He
got the god and
gave it to Sam
Christie.
Falling Action
Rising Action • The
grandfather’s The falling action is when
In the story, the rising
death Philip’s brother, Sadek told
action is when Sam said
that he really wanted to Sam that Philip isn’t going
have the god. It sounded back to Manila. And he
like he badly need it. He should leave and return to
said “Phil, I must not Manila without waiting for
leave Ifugao without Philip. So, Sam went to
that god. It’s more than Philip to say that he should
just a souvenir.” So, for not forget that they are
Philip, he thinks that he leaving tomorrow because
needs to find a way on they have so many things to
how to get one for Sam. do, and he cannot mean
Conflict And when they have no what he said that he’s really
other way, he can even not coming back to manila.
Man vs. Himself And then Philip suddenly
steal. It’s how he’s
Exposition explode into words he’s Resolution
thankful for everything
Man vs. Society angry while saying that he’s
Sam Christie and Philip that Sam has done for The resolution in the
Latak, his Filipino him. not coming, he’s not going
back. He blamed Sam for story is when Sam saw
assistant, were best of Philip dressed in an
friends because they are wanting the god because if
not, then he will not steal it Ifugao attire. Philip
both young and they chose to stay than to go
work in the same office. and his grandfather who
loved him the most back to Manila with
They rode a bus on their Sam Christie. Philip
way to Ifugao. Philip (Ip- wouldn’t have died.
embraced his culture
pig) now lives in Manila and decided to live
which is against the there for good.
wishes of his family,
particularly his
grandfather who
intended to leave to
Philip his share of the
famous rice terraces.