Minglanilla Science High School

21st Literature

The Mats

(Social-Cultural Criticism)

By Oscar Jay G. Sagales

To Ms. Gladis G. Uy

23/9/22
 Analysis Discussion
The story depicts a lot about beliefs and values that people currently hold In the story, we see 3 left
in modern society. Beliefs that cultivated through time. The belief of the mats. These mats were
nonexistence and how people hold value to them. People only truly value reserved for the deceased
things when they are gone. The story was well thought out and conveys children. It shows how Mr.
many views and experiences about Filipino culture. Culture that still lives Angeles, was emotional
on and developed to this day. Filipinos are joyful in general, as even as and expressive with his
simple as a mat interests them. Filipinos have inalienable values inside values. He never forgot
them, they hold on to it with their lives. They keep in touch with them. about them, and kept them
The story was written during a time where the Americans colonized the in his heart, and within his
Philippines, and it was still not an independent country. There were mats they will be
cultural influences brought to the nation. Society was dependent on the remembered. We can also
west at that time and through globalization, art and literature was see, Mr. Angeles, working
influenced. Art and literature in general, at that time, had a similar view to in a different and far place,
what we see as Western culture. Philippines was also a very religious or which can now be
country, and many Americans also influenced Christianism. The belief and known as OFWs. He used,
value of the nonexistent is a big factor in Christianism. Something long distance letters, which
someone can't feel, see, but connect through memories and values, this can be considered as an
belief is very much a big factor to its message. The story points out that influence of the West. Mr.
people should value the legacies of the deceased, and never be forgotten, Angeles, was also spiritual
and shall live on through symbolisms, like a mat. A reminder for them, for in nature, he believed
what those 3 children, had an impact in this world, no matter how big or about how important it is
small. It isn’t about their gone, it's about what they did during their time, to to remember the
live and to experience life, and cherish it wholeheartedly. Another specific nonexistent. In the story,
cultural reference at that time was “pasalubongs” or what we call we can see traditional
“balikbayan boxes”. How kids in the family were so excited for newly “pasalubongs” where the
brought gifts and toys that were from international sellers. This depicts father brought mat to the
how Filipinos at that time are in fact, already connected with the globe, children. In the story we
through the help of the westerners. They have made and helped developed can also see how women
more advanced technologies for us to use, like transportations or even were assigned in a more
knowledge. The Americans gave us decent education during that time and household type of work
influenced more Filipino writers to join the literature bandwagon. We can than men, where they
also see how we generally consider men as the workers in a household, mostly do chores and
while women, are more on assigned to the approach of caring and raising raising the children. The
their children. Family dinner and family gatherings was also a big part in story shows importance on
Filipino culture. It is an event where members in the family interact how we hold our values,
together and share experiences. It also shows how Filipinos in general, are and how we must be in
curious in nature. Filipinos like to explore and learn. They are eager to do. gratitude, for those who
How many Filipinos, especially writers, were inspired by foreigners and have served with their time
foreign culture, and in that, Filipinos hold value to them and cultivate it. and duty in this world.
Filipinos hold value to history, and how important it was to develop the Many parts of the story,
nations culture and individuals. Filipinos often have the tradition to keep even its overall language
in touch with their past connections and Filipinos often have the tradition and purpose was
to be spiritual in nature. influenced or partly
influenced by the West.