Jourdanette G.

Tarucan and May Tigam MW 10:00-11:30

The poem Mahiganting Langit is from the literary work of Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar,
it was excerpt from Florante at Laura and this was considered as one of the masterpiece in
Philippine Literature. He wrote several poems but this piece makes him renowned and well-
known. The title itself, “Mahiganting Langit” could possibly make because Florante thought that
God from above is taking its revenge on him despite of his pleading.

Florante at Laura is a depiction of the unconditional love between two people despite of
all the hardship given by a certain situation. The selection Mahiganting Langit focuses on the
struggle of Florante in trying to explain the agony he experienced in pursuing his love to Laura.
It shows the detailed of his sufferings to the point that he started questioning God. This situation
could happen to anyone especially when we felt that there is no one listening to our agony and
sufferings, not even God. During our hard times, we tend to ask “why”.

Florante at Laura is more than just a typical love story between a man and woman.
Florante could be depicted as the country during the time of Spanish colonization, betrayed and
oppressed. Laura may be seen as the Philippines which may often described as beautiful and was
being fought by two opposing forces. Adolfo can be described as the Spaniards, the one who
oppressions. In short, Florante at Laura is a love story between the Philippines and its
countrymen.
Jourdanette G. Tarucan and May Tigam MW 10:00-11:30

Urbana at Feliza: Two letters is a novel written by Presbitero Modesto de Castro, who
was a catholic priest, a moralist, a writer and an orator who is then called the “Father of Classic
Prose in Tagalog”. This novel was tremendously popular from 19 th century to the first half of the
20th century. It has a theme of that can relate to family, perseverance, conduct etiquette and
justice. In writing, the author used the epistolary style wherein a series of thirty-four letters.

This story tackles about two sisters who always write to each other. These letters between
the two sisters greatly influenced the behavior of the people in the society because the letters
dealt with good behavior. It was written not only of the need to follow the values and norms
found in Christian teaching but importantly, to observe the proper mode of conduct as it dealt
with people in society. The series of correspondences and the duties and responsibilities of
married life founded on various facets of experience that a person underwent from birth to death
both in the secular and spirited realm.

In retrospect, Urbana at Feliza should be perceived as a text not only meant to regulate
conduct and behavior, but as a discourse to contain the moral excesses of the period and affirm
basic Christian tenets.