(Critique paper)

Footnote to Youth
By: Jose Garcia Villa

If you love someone, you should wait for the right time, don’t rush things, and make a decision
first so you don’t regret it later. Think of the possibilities in every decision we make, like this
story of “footnote to youth”. Being married at a young age is something that many people
consider because, with everything that has been happening in our society, we might just regret it.

Summary of the story

It simply tells the story of an older person who made a mistake in the past and ended up with a
not-so-pleasurable life. Then he had a son who is like him when he was young. His son is hasty
in making the decision to get married, just like he was when he was 17. Despite this, Dodong did
not and could not stop Blas from marrying Tona. Therefore, he didn’t object. Instead, he just
reminded him that Blas is still very young and might as well think twice before rushing to
marriage.

When Dodong, 17, is impatiently waiting for his father to return home so that he can tell him of
his love for Teang and his desire to marry her. He feels that at 17 he is a grown man and is ready
for the next important step in his life. When he tells his father that he has asked Teang to marry
him and wants his blessing, there is a long and cruel silence. His father asks if he must marry her
because Dodong is very young. Dodong resents his father’s question, and finally, his father gives
his consent. He thinks that he is a grown man and can bear the responsibilities of life.

Dodong did not consider the pessimistic possibilities when he gets married at an early age. He
just thought everything would be fine, that he could handle stuff, but the consequences made
their way to brag Dodong’s life. The same happens to Blas an older son of Dodong. When Blas
was 18, he told his father that he would marry Tona. Dodong did not object but tried to make
Blas think twice before rushing to marriage because Dodong doesn’t want Blas to end up like
him.