Integral Comprehension

Story #1
Footnote to Youth (Summary)
By: Jose Garcia Villa

On a sunny afternoon after a hard day's work in the fields, Dodong decides to tell his father that
he wants to marry his sweetheart Teang. He's only seventeen years old. After a sumptous
dinner, he spills out his plans to his father. His proposition is met with hesitation and
discouragement. His father tells him that he's too young to get married. But in the end, his father
agrees to his wishes and grants him the permission to marry Teang.

Nine months after their marriage, Teang gave birth to her first son. Dodong experiences a
whirlwind of conflicting emotions during the bithing process- confusion, fear, discomfort,
embarrassment, and guilt. But when he hears the little baby whimper and cry, he swells with
happiness.

Blas is followed by six more children. Dodong didn't want any more children but they came
anyway. This makes him angry at himself sometimes. The parade of children is also taking its
toll on Teang. She often wishes that she's not married. She sometimes wonders if her life
would've been better had she married Lucio, a former suitor she rejected for the reason that he
was nine years older than Dodong.

Blas is eighteen years old. One night, he tells his father, Dodong, that he wants to marry his
girlfriend Tona. Like his father before him, Dodong doesn't want Blas to marry as he's too young.
He knows what's going to happen if Blas marries too early. He gives him permission to marry
anyway. But he does so with sadness in him.

Questions:
1. How does Dodong's emotional struggle as a new father relate to your own experiences with
unforeseen life changes?
a) It resonates with my own challenges in adapting to unexpected responsibilities.
b) Dodong's struggle doesn't align with my personal experiences.
c) I empathize with Dodong's emotions but haven't faced similar situations.
d) Dodong's journey mirrors my own journey of unexpected changes and adaptation.

2. Reflect on the values portrayed in the story. How can you incorporate these values into
your own daily life and interactions with your peers and family?
a) By prioritizing open communication and understanding in all relationships.
b) I don't find the values depicted in the story applicable to my life.
c) Embracing responsibility and making informed decisions.
d) Valuing family support and considering long-term consequences in decisions.

3. If you were Dodong, how would you advise your son about the possible consequences of
his choice?
a) Emphasize the significance of personal aspirations over family expectations.
b) Advocate for a balance between personal desires and familial responsibilities.
 c) Discourage early marriage due to potential impacts on personal growth.
d) Support the idea of early marriage to preserve cultural traditions.

4. Assuming the role of a community elder, how would you address the dilemma of early
marriages in the community, considering the cultural norms and the potential impact on
the youth's well-being and future prospects?
a) Advocate for educational programs promoting family planning and informed choices.
b) Preserve traditional practices, encouraging early marriages as societal norms.
c) Discuss the consequences of early marriages on education and career prospects.
d) Provide support systems for young couples while encouraging delayed marriages.

5. If you were given a chance, would you change the ending of the story? Why and how?
a) Yes, to explore alternative outcomes and emphasize different life lessons.
b) No, the ending portrays realistic challenges and life's unpredictability.
c) Maybe, if it meant a more hopeful resolution for the characters.
d) Not sure, as the story's ending aligns with the complexities of life and relationships.

Answer Key: 1. a) 2. c) 3. b) 4. a) 5. b)

Story #2
How My Brother Brought Home a Wife (Summary)
Manuel E. Aguilla

Leon and his wife Maria are about to return to Leon’s village after getting married. They had met
in the city and Maria has never lived in a village. They are greeted by Baldo, Leon’s younger
sibling, as their horse carriage stops outside the village.

Baldo welcomes the new member of the family. He is impressed by her beauty and soft feature.
He observes her nice fragrance and radiant smile. He ties their bull, named Labang, to the cart
and Leon hauls their trunk on it.

Baldo encourages Maria to touch Labang’s hair and horns. She is awestruck at Labang’s
strength and horns. Leon helps her on the cart and she sits on a bale of husk. They start their
journey and Leon has the reins.

After going a little further, Baldo takes the reins and takes a sudden route change into the rocky
road of Waig and surrounding fields. Leon enquiries about the change of route and Baldo
assure him that he is only following their father’s orders.

Baldo and Leon both question Maria about her views about their village, fields and rocky roads.
She is enthralled by the natural beauty and simple lifestyle. She condemns the sheer number of
vehicles and noise in the city.
She loves the starry and clear skies over the lush fields. She and Leon even start to sing a song
that Leon was taught by his father about the sowed fields under clear skies. They meet a couple
of people after coming out of the fields but not many as most people avoid using the fields after
dark.

They finally reach their house and are welcomed by Leon’s mother and sister. They are smiling
and excited. Leon enquiries about his father who is in his room struggling with leg pain (injured
in the revolution).

Baldo goes to tie Labang and when he returns, he finds Maria talking and crying with his mother
and sister. His hears his father’s call and goes to meet him.

His father questions about Maria’s conduct and her behavior throughout their journey to the
house. It was test designed to see if she can adjust and accept the life of the village and make it
her home.

Baldo reassures him about her live for Leon and commitment to their marriage. He confirms his
observation that Maria was ready to embrace their house as her home.

Their conversation is disturbed as the new couple enters to meet with the father. Baldo leaves
the room giving them some space with the head of the family.

Questions:
1. How does Baldo's decision to take a different route to the village symbolize a deeper
aspect of the story?
a) This reflects Baldo's desire for adventure and exploration.
b) This means Baldo's attempt to show Maria the beauty of the village.
c) It highlights Baldo's defiance against his father's authority.
d) This demonstrates Baldo's understanding of shortcuts to their home.

2. As you think about the values presented in the story, how can you incorporate similar
values into your life and relationships?
a) Appreciate the simplicity and beauty of nature.
b) Respect family traditions and follow parental guidance.
c) Prioritize adventure and spontaneity in life decisions.
d) dig (away) to challenge social norms regarding personal growth.

3. If you were Baldo, how would you advise Maria about the potential challenges of
adapting to life in the village?
a) Encourage her to embrace the peace and serenity of village life.
b) Warn him about the difficulties and limitations of rural life.
c) Suggest ways to adapt to the slower pace of village life.
 d) Ask village elders for advice for support.

4. Assuming your role as an elder in the community, how can you address concerns about
child marriage in the village, taking into account cultural norms and youth interest?
a) Advocate for comprehensive education and opportunities beyond early
marriage.
b) Emphasizes the importance of preserving cultural traditions rather than personal
desires.
c) Encourage young people to prioritize family expectations over personal
aspirations.
d) Provide a support system for young couples to address the challenges of early
marriage.

5. If given the chance, would you change the ending of the story? Why or why not, and how
might you qualify it to make it more consistent with contemporary values?
a) Yes, to emphasize the importance of personal choice over family expectations.
b) No, because the ending emphasizes the importance of welcoming new family
members.
c) Perhaps, to explore the complexities of cultural adaptation in new contexts.
d) Not sure, because the ending fits the story's theme of family acceptance.

Answer Key: 1. b) 2. a) 3. a) 4. a) 5. c)