THE WEDDING DANCE (SHORT STORY)

Amador Daguio (1912 - 1966)

➔ Born in Ilocos province in 1912
➔ Began writing poetry in high school
➔ Taught at a number of schools in the Philippines
➔ A lawyer, editor, reporter, and public relations officer
➔ He seeks to establish a pure Filipino voice, distinct from its colonizers to his works.

*Filipino Voice - it does not only focus on the language but also the cultural beliefs, rituals,
traditions, etc.. to show/present a literary work.

ELEMENTS OF A SHORT STORY (FORMALISTIC APPROACH)

1) Characters and Setting

+Characters = person or animal who takes part in the action of a literary work or story, many
ways we can analyze/identify characters!

5 WAYS TO KNOW OUR CHARACTERS!

-physical description of the author = details so that we can imagine the character

-through their actions = man or woman, like a child ba, slow or fast, etc., to also know
their skills

-through their words/dialogue = how do they talk? Ancient words, modern slang

-through their inner thoughts = how they process the events/twists of the story, a glimpse
of what they think of others. If we breakup, we don’t know why but because of inner thoughts,
we can understand why that event happened.

-through what other characters say or think about them = insights of others about our
main character, mas makikilala yung main character, to know how the MC related with others.

+Setting = time and place that the story occurs, to PRESENT strong sense of setting!
landscapes, scenery, buildings, seasons, weather, and avoiding adjectives!

2) Theme and Tone/Mood

+Theme = can be expressed as a general idea of people and their life, the central purpose/idea
of a short story, this is the concept where events and actions circulate, can be presented
indirectly/directly.

= reflects the opinion of the author = idea, insight, opinion on the issues regarding their
events in real life.

Plot Summary = the main idea

Theme = the central idea/message, purpose

+Tone/Mood = overall feeling while reading the poem, like sad theme = sad moments, happy
theme means happy moments.

3) Plot

+Plot = pattern/series of events, interactions of characters with others and settings, how the
story progresses based on the interactions, presents conflicts, events, happenings.

5 ELEMENTS OF PLOT

- Exposition = introduction of the story, characters, establishing the setting, beginning to

show conflict, do not overshare though! Avoid writing too many details about the overall story,
but enough for readers’ guidance.

-Rising Action = begin with an inciting moment, it takes the big chunk of your story, the
focus of information and details, and begins showing citations in preparation for your climax.

-Climax = peak of your story, start to provide twists and changes in the story, results to
unsure readers on what will happen next. It should be interesting and exciting!

-Falling action = move towards a satisfying conclusion. Solving questions in the

exposition, resolving conflicts and showing solutions during the climax.

-Denouement = end of the story and where you will tie up loose ends, answering all
questions raised during all the other elements. Make sure it leaves a mark on the readers, but if
series, you can write cliffhangers.

4) Symbols

= used by the author to convey a meaning! Like animals, things, objects, people, etc.
= one objective in writing is for us to become creative, so we should use this.

5) Conflict and POV

+Conflict = problem that the character will encounter in the story, struggle between two
characters, struggle between character and object, etc.

2 TYPES OF CONFLICT

-External = conflict with others (society, rival, relationship, power, etc.) and or nature
itself (disaster).

- CHARACTER VS ANOTHER IMPORTANT CHARACTER (nagaagawan ng korona

char fighting for mana/inheritance, etc.)

- CHARACTER VS FORCES OF NATURE (earthquake, typhoons, etc.)

- CHARACTER VS SOCIETY (cultural norms, traditions, violation of rights, etc.)

-Internal = conflict within themselves (issues like illness, disease, emotions, feelings)

- CHARACTER VS SOMETHING INSIDE THEMSELVES (feelings, illness, disease, etc.)

+Point of View = telling what they see/encounter.

3 TYPES OF POV

-First person = “I”

-Second person = “You”

-Third person = “He/She, They, Them, Their, It”

6) Moral or Lesson

= the values we can learn from the story.

ELEMENTS OF A STORY – WEDDING DANCE

Characters:

Lumnay – former wife of Awiyao, still in love with Awiyao, cannot bear a child, best dancer of
their tribe, represents RESISTANCE (tried to put a stop to their traditions).

Awiyao – lead male who loved Lumnay but left her because she could not produce children,
represents CONFORMITY (followed and conformed traditions and norms despite his love).

Madulimay – new wife of Awiyao with whom he hopes to have children, represents PRESSURE
(she needs to be pregnant to show that she’s deserving, if not, Awiyao will leave her).

Summary:

Awiyao and Lumnay, husband and wife for 7 years. Awiyao needed to remarry a new woman,
Madulimay, because her current wife could not bear a child. Awiyao had no choice but to leave
because of their traditions and norms. Awiyao invited Lumnay to dance in the wedding dance
since she was the best dancer. Lumnay refused to go and showed that both of them still loved
each other. No choice because of their culture and tradition to separate. Awiyao was fetched by
his friends, and Lumnay wanted to follow to stop the tribe’s tradition. Resisted and went to the
mountains.

Plot:

Exposition = when Awiyao went to his and Lumnay’s house to invite her to dance

Rising Action = when they started talking and Lumnay cannot let go of Awiyao

Climax = when Awiyao did not want to marry another woman, wondering what to do, what
resolution to solve this problem, stop the tradition or pursue it.

Falling Action = when Lumnay and Awiyao needed to follow their tribe’s custom and traditions.

Denouement = Awiyao decided to go back to the wedding and Lumnay left towards the
mountains.

Conflict:

Man VS Society

POV:
Third Person Omniscient Limited – “he, she, it”

Symbols:

Gangsas (bells) = represents men

Beads = promise of Awiyao to Lumnay

Dancing = celebration of happiness, show of sexuality by the women

Fire = love and hate and sacrifice of Lumnay

Floor = marriage of Awiyao and Lumnay

Night = darkness and isolation of Lumnay, our feelings because it blinded us with what
happened after

Mood:

Sad and Intense

Theme:

True love never dies

Moral:

- If you truly love a person, you must let them take the route to happiness no matter how
painful it is.
- We should now allow traditions and judgements to interfere with our decisions in life.
- You are not less of a man/woman if you don’t have a child/could not bear a child.
CULTURE
We cannot be defined by only one thing. We have a lot of qualities, characteristics, etc.
Self-reflection can help you see your identity; we can show our real self more. We realize na if
we’re like this, that other people should be like this too. We recognize our differences, that we
have our own self-identities, and this is not learned, not dictated. We find this by ourselves
undergoing different processes and events to come up with our identity. Our world is just not
shades of black and white, it's not cut and dry. We must always be open with our differences
and use these differences for us to resolve conflicts, issues, and problems. Instead of looking at
these differences, let’s look at our similarities and how we can improve so that we can have the
best quality of life.

CULTURE

Dictionary definition = a shared set of values, beliefs, ideologies, a group of people share in
common.

Our definition = is a shared set of beliefs, values, customs, traditions, and way of living for a
group of people.

2 CLASSIFICATIONS OF CULTURE

+Material Culture = objects, products, things, tangible

+Non-material Culture = beliefs, religion, language, ideas, political ideologies, thoughts

WE CAN SEE CULTURE THROUGH:

1) Food or Things

- Ex: Way of pagtipid para makakain ang tao.

- Ex: Retail like yung sachet para makatipid.

2) Dances

- Ex: Aeta people have their own dances for war, love, etc.

- Ex: Tribes and Ethnic groups according to their purpose.

3) Art

- There’s always a reason and inspiration why we do art.

4) Religion
- Important feature of a society, same as well in society because those who believe in
something, it helps answer basic questions about the meaning and purpose of their lives.

- Guides them with their path in life. How to practice their beliefs. How to live their life.

- Shows values to show and practice every day.

- Vary in different places. Some believe in animals, in nature, in supreme heroes, in multiple
gods, in one God, etc.

5) Clothing

- Form of presenting ourselves to other people.

- Like a statement in our lives.

- Based din sa weather.

6) Language

- The cornerstone of the world.

- Through this we can converse and communicate with other people.

- We could not pass on our ideas and traditions to the next generation if there was no
language. Preservation is important, so use it every day.

- Reflects the identity of our culture.

- The mirror of our culture.

Summary:

CULTURE DEFINES WHO WE ARE!

WE RELY ON CULTURE FOR OUR DECISIONS AND HELP US UNDERSTAND THE

COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY!

WITHOUT CULTURE, WE CANNOT DEFINE OUR COMMUNITY!

CULTURE PROGRESSES AMD DEVELOPS THE SOCIETY!

LANGUAGE BIG INVENTION SA HUMAN HISTORY, THIS BRING FORTH THE PROGRESS
OF SOCIETY AS WELL!
WE MAY NOT SHARE THE SAME CULTURE WITH OTHER PEOPLE, IT’S IMPORTANT THAT
WE KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEIR CULTURE TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DO IT.
LEARN AND APPRECIATE OTHERS’ CULTURE TO SHOW OUR RESPECT!

HOW DOES CULTURE INFLUENCE?

VALUES

- These are the beliefs we hold dear that are in our minds and hearts, where we believe are
morally right and correct.

- Whether social, cultural, political, they are shaped by these!

- Our decisions are shaped by our values and are deeply rooted by them.

Ex: if you are a supporter of corruption then it mirrors your values in life (we can still change our
values because change is constant)

PERCEPTIONS

- Shaped by our values, previous experiences, culture, and expectations.

- In each situation, we always have our own perception/opinion in every event. We almost
always say that we are not neutral and have a side to choose.

- maaaring parehas tayo dinadanas pero people have different perceptions in different
things

- Ex: cooking an egg, some have a hard time while some see it as basic. We have the same
situation, but different perceptions.

- Ex: online learning, some have fast wifi and have an easy experience, some have a hard
time when they’re lagging and they are uncomfortable.

ASSUMPTIONS

- Statement/judgement that is accepted without proof or example.

- Stereotype = assumption shared by many, drawing conclusions and interpretations by a

single characteristic. We lock them in a single characteristic or norm. (Boys = like blue daw,
Girls = housewives daw)
- Suspicion = assumption that involves doubt or mistrust. You question the motivation of an
act because you have a preconceived judgement. (Muslim = terrorist daw)

COMMUNICATION STYLE

- Our proximity to the other person as well as our tone and loudness of our voice and the
words we use in our communication.

- All words have meaning.

- Ex: K = you’re mad

- Ex: Okie = neutral or happy

- Ex: Okay pooo = we add more letters

DECONSTRUCTING AFRICA’S PLEA USING CULTURAL APPROACH

(by Roland Tombekai Dempster)

Comprehensive Idea of Culture:

Karl Marx said that “Culture is a superstructure that rests upon a material basis.”
+This explains that there is a reason or objective behind people’s behavior.
+A material basis why a person’s ideology and beliefs of a person are the way that they
are.

Karl Marx said that “The ideas, institutions and all cultural patterns are dependent on the
material mode of existence of a society.”
+Economy shapes our culture, and vice versa.
+How we think and behave can be influenced by your social standing or social level.
Ex: in Food → people have different traditions to it, like kapag rich pips they can
accumulate food a lot of food and waste too much of it while normi (normal) we cannot
accumulate a lot of food

1960 – Roland Tombekai Dempster wrote Africa's Plea.

Before 1960s condition of Africa

- Racism
- Segregation
- Discrimination
- White supremacy
South Africa is rich with their natural resources
= natural resources, fertile farmlands, full of raw materials, agricultural country, world leader in
diamonds, gold, and platinum.

South Africa was colonized by the English and Dutch in the 17th Century.
= these foreign countries tried to implement “God, Gold, Glory”.

White-owned mining companies then employed and exploited black workers, to start mining
gold and diamonds.
= Low salary was given to them. Unfair pay for the natives, the white settlers made them like
slaves.

CONNECT IT TO THE POEM!

“
I am not you –
but you will not
give me a chance
will not let me be me
“
- Forcing African natives to join with the white’s beliefs
- Not letting them use their own resources and riches
- Their identity is slowly fading as time passes
- Reflection of not allowing African natives to maximize their own resources.

Example in the Philippines: Supreme Court’s Final Ruling: Filipino and Panitikan, Not Required
in College.
= They did not allow us to study our own language, and our own literature.

CULTURAL EFFECT OF THESE WHITE SETTLERS TO AFRICAN NATIVES

- They used intimidation and discrimination to rule over their black workers.
- They told them that black workers are not allowed in some places.
- This marks the start of segregation.
- They were told to believe that they were lesser beings just because of their color.
- This narrative or mindset was used as a reason for white people to make black
people slaves.
- If native or non-white, you were considered a terrorist.
- The blacks were considered lesser beings!

Example in the Philippines: The Spanish people led Filipinos to believe that you will be saved if
you listen to the Prayle.
 “
If I were you’ –
but you know
I am not you,
yet you will not
let me be me.
“
- We have our own unique qualities and characteristics.
- What worked for one may not work for others.
- You cannot change their identity.

“
You meddle, interfere
in my affairs
as if they were yours
and you were me.
“
- White settlers used laws to control black workers. They excluded the blacks in the
making of these laws, and they were obviously anti to them.
- Blacks were to carry identification papers at all times (called interior passport)
- Restricted their movement in certain areas
- Outside working hours, they cannot go to the city part of the province.

“
You are unfair, unwise,
foolish to think
that I can be you,
talk, act
and think like you.
“
- We can relate this part with South Africa’s state in 1948
- Afrikaner nationalists took control of South Africa.
- The whites made the country’s laws more draconian.
- These laws led them to extreme poverty, they were working yet there was no salary.
- They lived in the slums because they were not allowed in the city.
- The natives were also expelled from their lands. These white settlers stole the lands and
gave it to white farmers.

OBSERVATION TODAY
= There are much more unemployed black people.
= Racial wealth also had a distinct separation, solid konti ng sa black.
= Women of color are particularly hard hit by poverty. More people of color are oppressed rather
than whites.

“
God made me
He made you you
For God’s sake
Let me be me
“
- This time the blacks showed resistance.
- They wanted to have freedom from all the unjust actions of the white.
- This manifested that darkness is not forever in a society.
- People can unite and people can address their social issues and problems, and it’s
possible to give them solutions.