Pre-Reading Tasks:

Share a personal experience about visiting a river and observing its flow. Formulate a short
discussion on the importance of rivers in Filipino culture and the role they play in the
community.

Reading Material:
THE WILL OF THE RIVER
Alfredo Gonzales Jr.
By my wife's ancestral home flows a river. For a dozen summers I have visited it, and almost
every year I make an effort to trace its course back to its source in the neighboring hills; I do not
consider my vacation there complete without doing this. In common with other streams of its kind,
our river suffers much from the summer drought. I have seen it so shrunken that fish lay lifeless on
the parched sand and gravel of its bed. But this past summer I saw something I had never seen
before, though I know that if I had been sufficiently observant in other abnormally dry years, I am
sure I could not have failed to notice the same thing earlier.
One morning last April, in company with a student friend and my elder son. I started out for
the hill to spend the day by the rapids and cascades at a place called Intongasan. We followed the
course of the river. After we had walked a kilometer or more, I saw that the river had disappeared,
and its bed was dry. I looked around in wonder because past our little country house below and out
toward the sea half a mile or so farther down, the river was flowing clear and steady in Its usual
summer volume and depth. But where we stood at the moment there was no water to be seen. All
about us the wide river bed was hot and dry.
We pursued our way on toward the hills, however, and walking another kilometer we saw
the stream again, though it had spread itself so thin that it was lost at the edge of the waterless
stretch of burning sand and stones. And yet, continuing our way into the hills, we found the river
growing deeper and stronger than it was as it passed by our cottage.
To most people, I suppose, there is nothing strange or significant in this. Perhaps they have
seen such a phenomenon more than once before. To me, however, it was a new experience and it
impressed me like all new experiences. To me, it was not merely strange, it suggested a spiritual
truth.
Flowing down from its cradle in the mountains just as it left the last foothills, the river had
been checked by the long, forbidding stretch of scorching sand. I had read of other streams that
upon encountering similar obstacles irretrievably lost themselves in sand or mud. But Bacong-
because that is the name of our river- determined to reach the sea, tunneled its way, so to speak,
under its sandy bed, of course choosing the harder and lower stratum beneath, until at last it
appeared again, limpid and steady in its march to sea.
And then I thought of human life. I was reminded of many a life that stopped short of its
great end just because it lacked the power of will to push through hindrances.
But I thought most of all of those who, like our river, met with almost insurmountable
obstacles but undismayed continued their march, buried in obscurity perhaps but resolutely
pushing their way to the sea, to their life’s goal. I thought of men like Galileo, who continued his
work long after his sight had failed; of Beethoven, who composed his noblest and sublimest
symphonies when he could no longer hear a single note; of Stevenson, who produced some of his
greatest work after he was doomed to die of tuberculosis; and of Cecil Rhodes, who was sent to
Africa to die of an incurable disease, but before he obeyed the summons carved out an Empire in
the Dark Continent. These resolute and sublime souls all reminded me of what our river taught me-
that if we cannot overcome obstacles, we can undercome them.
 Another lesson I learned from Bacong is found in the fact that the river was not merely
determined to flow just anywhere; it was determined to reach the sea, to reach the great end. Many
streams manage to surmount barriers they meet along the way, but they come out of obstacles
after much labor only to end in a foul and stagnant marsh or lake. How like so many human lives!
How like so many people who, in the springtime of their youth and in the summer of their early
manhood, showed splendid heroism against frowning odds, determined to overcome those hostile
barriers, only in the autumn of their lives to end in defeat, disgrace, and remorse.
On the other hand, think of other lives that, like our river, kept their way even to the end of
their course. I believe it was on our way back from the hills that the lesson of faithfulness in the
performance of one’s duty was forcefully suggested to me. The truth occurred to me that nature
often fulfills her duty more faithfully than man does his own.
And what is the duty of a river? It is to furnish safe running water for plants and fish and fowl
and man and beast. The river is not there just to flow on and enjoy itself. The river must play its
part in the processes of nature; to live, in other words, for the rest of creation.
And so, it should be with the life of man. It is not to be lived unto itself alone for its joy and
satisfaction but for others in glad and devoted ministry. How life and beauty and goodness, indeed,
would perish from the world if man and nature should fail in their duty! If our river had not remained
faithful to its duty, instead of a landscape picturesque with the varied green of the foliage of shrubs
and trees and gay with the voices of the birds singing and calling to one another in the branches
that April morning, there would have been spread before us a wide expanse of desolate and
lifeless land, fit only for the wanderings of Cain.
For part of the ministering duty of a river is to flow on and on, otherwise be foul and unfit for
use. There is music in running water. Bacong, by continuing its march to the sea, kept itself fit for
the service of nature and man; and not only it expanded its field of usefulness.
And does this not suggest that the river of man’s life should be likewise? For if in the face of
obstacles, it lacks the strength of will to continue keeping itself fit to serve and seeking new service
opportunities, it will ultimately become useless to others.
As I marveled at the power of Bacong to push its way through such a seemingly impassable
barrier, I discerned the secret that has a message for all of us. For Bacong was able to carry on, to
continue its watery pilgrimage and reach the immensity and sublimity of the sea, only because its
source is the vast and lofty mountains. Unless a stream draws its power from a source of sufficient
height and magnitude, it cannot do as our river did this summer. It will not have the strength to cut
its way through great obstacles and reach the sea at last. Here is one of the marvelous secrets of
life, and how many have missed it! Verily, if a man derives his strength and inspiration from a low
and feeble source, he will fail to “arrive.” Unless a man draws his power from some source of
heavenly altitude, unless the stream of his life issues from a never-failing source, unless, in other
words, his soul is fed from heights of infinite power, he may well fear that he will not reach the sea.
But if his spirit is impelled and nourished by an inexhaustible power he will despite all obstructions,
finish his course, if not in the glory of dazzling achievement, at least in the nobility of a completed
task faithfully done.

Post Reading Task:

Create a visual representation of a river as a symbol of change and transformation.
Students can choose to paint, draw, or create a collage. Then, have them write their
reflection expressing the themes and author's purpose behind the river's actions in the
story.
Vocabulary Activity:

Word Identification:

a. Identify and underline words in the text related to the river's journey, obstacles, and determination.

b. Find words that describe the condition of the river in different parts of its course.

Synonyms and Antonyms:

a. Find a synonym for "limpid" in paragraph 6.

b. Identify an antonym for "desolate" in paragraph 15.

Contextual Understanding:

a. Explain the metaphorical meaning of "tunneled its way" in paragraph 5.

b. Define the term "obstacle" as used in the context of the river's journey (paragraph 11).

Analogies:

a. Create an analogy for the river's determination and overcoming obstacles using a different natural phenomenon.

b. Form an analogy between the river's duty and the duty of a person in society.

Root Words:

a. Identify words with the root "sub-" and explain their meanings in the context of the text.

b. Find words with the suffix "-less" and discuss how they contribute to the meaning of the text.

Answers:

Word Identification:

a. Trace, source, parched, bed, shrunken.

b. Limpid, steady, resolute, sublime.

Synonyms and Antonyms:

a. Synonym for "limpid": clear.

b. Antonym for "desolate": vibrant.

Contextual Understanding:

a. Metaphorical meaning of "tunneled its way": persevered through challenges.

b. Definition of "obstacle" in the context: a barrier or hindrance.

Analogies:

a. Analogy for the river's determination: A seed pushing through soil to reach sunlight.

b. Analogy between the river's duty and a person's duty: A teacher contributing to the growth of students.

Root Words:
a. Words with the root "sub-": sublime, sublimest, sublimity.

b. Words with the suffix "-less": lifeless, fearless, powerless.

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate vocabulary words from the text.

By my wife's ancestral home ___________ a river.

Our river suffers much from the summer ___________.

I have seen it so shrunken that fish lay lifeless on the parched sand and gravel of its ___________.

One morning last April, in company with a student friend and my elder son, I started out for the hill to spend the day by
the rapids and ___________ at a place called Intongasan.

We followed the ___________ of the river.

After we had walked a kilometer or more, I saw that the river had ___________, and its bed was dry.

To most people, there is nothing ___________ or significant in this.

The river grew deeper and stronger than it was as it passed by our ___________.

I was reminded of many a life that stopped short of its great ___________ just because it lacked the power of will to push
through hindrances.

I thought most of all of those who, like our river, met with almost ___________ obstacles but undismayed continued their
march.

These resolute and sublime souls all reminded me of what our river taught me—that if we cannot ___________ obstacles,
we can undercome them.

Another lesson I learned from Bacong is found in the fact that the river was not merely determined to flow just
___________; it was determined to reach the sea, to reach the great end.

Many streams manage to surmount ___________ they meet along the way.

How life and beauty and goodness, indeed, would perish from the world if man and nature should ___________ in their
duty!

For part of the ministering duty of a river is to ___________ on and on, otherwise be foul and unfit for use.

And does this not suggest that the river of man’s life should be likewise? For if in the face of obstacles, it lacks the
___________ of will to continue keeping itself fit to serve and seeking new service opportunities, it will ultimately become
useless to others.
Unless a man draws his power from some ___________ of heavenly altitude, unless the stream of his life issues from a
never-failing ___________, he may well fear that he will not reach the sea.

Answers:

flows

drought

bed

cascades

course

disappeared

strange

cottage

end

insurmountable

overcome

anywhere

barriers

fail

flow

strength

source, power

Word Identification:

Identify and underline the meaning of the following words from the text:

Ancestral

Abnormally

Cascades

Limpid

Irretrievably

Obscurity

Incurable

Sublime

Foul

Remorse

Synonyms and Antonyms:

Find synonyms for the following words from the text:

Vacation

Trace

Shrunken
Phenomenon

Encounter

Find antonyms for the following words from the text:

Steady

Deep

Defeat

Desolate

Useless

Contextual Usage:

Provide sentences using the words "rapids" and "cascades" in a way that reflects their meaning in the context of the text.

Word Inference:

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words from the text to complete the sentences:

The river ____________ its way under the sandy bed to continue its journey.

The author was ____________ by the perseverance of the river in overcoming obstacles.

Bacong's determination to reach the sea ____________ a spiritual truth to the author.

Many human lives ____________ because they lack the will to push through hindrances.

Connections:

Connect the following terms or concepts to their related meanings or examples from the text:

Riverbed

Spiritual truth

Summer drought

Human will

Duty

Answers:

Word Identification:

Ancestral: relating to one's ancestors or forebears

Abnormally: deviating from what is normal or usual

Cascades: small waterfalls

Limpid: clear, transparent

Irretrievably: in a manner that cannot be recovered or restored

Obscurity: the state of being unknown or inconspicuous

Incurable: not able to be cured

Sublime: of high moral, aesthetic, or spiritual value

Foul: unpleasant or offensive

Remorse: deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed

Synonyms and Antonyms:

Synonyms:

Vacation: holiday, break

Trace: follow, track

Shrunken: diminished, reduced

Phenomenon: occurrence, event

Encounter: confront, face

Antonyms:

Steady: unstable, erratic

Deep: shallow, superficial

Defeat: victory, triumph

Desolate: inhabited, populated

Useless: effective, functional

Contextual Usage:

Sentences:

The adventurers faced the challenging rapids as they navigated down the river.

We sat by the cascades, mesmerized by the water's continuous flow and gentle splashes.

Word Inference:

The river tunneled its way under the sandy bed to continue its journey.

The author was impressed by the perseverance of the river in overcoming obstacles.

Bacong's determination to reach the sea suggested a spiritual truth to the author.

Many human lives stop short because they lack the will to push through hindrances.

Connections:

Riverbed: The dry riverbed in the summer highlights the challenges the river faces during drought.

Spiritual truth: The river's determination reflects a deeper spiritual truth about overcoming obstacles.

Summer drought: The river suffers during the summer drought, impacting its flow and the surrounding ecosystem.

Human will: The author draws parallels between the river's determination and the human will to overcome obstacles.

Duty: The river's duty is to provide safe running water for various forms of life, emphasizing the importance of fulfilling
responsibilities.

Comprehension Questions:

Why does the author consider his vacation near the river incomplete without tracing its course back to its source in the
neighboring hills?

Answer: The author considers his vacation incomplete without tracing the river's course back to its source in the hills
because it has become a tradition for him, and he finds it an essential part of his vacation experience.

What unusual phenomenon did the author observe during his visit to the river last April?

Answer: The author observed that the river disappeared and its bed was dry for a stretch, but later, as they continued into
the hills, they found the river growing deeper and stronger.
What spiritual truth does the author associate with the river's ability to overcome obstacles?

Answer: The author associates the river's ability to overcome obstacles with the spiritual truth that individuals, like the
river, should persist and push through hindrances to reach their life's goals.

According to the author, what lesson does the river teach about human life?

Answer: The river teaches the lesson that if individuals cannot overcome obstacles, they can "undercome" them, pushing
through difficulties to achieve their goals.

What duty does the author suggest a river has, and how does he connect it to the duty of human life?

Answer: The author suggests that a river's duty is to provide safe running water for plants, fish, fowl, and human and
animal life. He connects it to the duty of human life, emphasizing that life should not be lived solely for personal joy and
satisfaction but for the service and benefit of others.

What does the author mean by the river "keeping itself fit for the service of nature and man"?

Answer: The author means that, similar to a river, human life should remain faithful to its duty and continue seeking new
opportunities to serve others. If it fails to do so, it may become useless to others.

What secret of life does the author discern from the river's ability to push through seemingly impassable barriers?

Answer: The author discerns the secret that individuals, like the river, need to draw their strength and inspiration from a
source of sufficient height and magnitude to overcome obstacles and reach their goals. This source is described as a vast
and lofty mountain, representing an inexhaustible power.

How does the author emphasize the importance of the source of one's strength and inspiration in reaching life's goals?

Answer: The author emphasizes that unless a person draws their power from a source of heavenly altitude, their spirit may
lack the strength to overcome obstacles and reach their goals. If the source is low and feeble, the person may fail to
"arrive."

What is the significance of the river to the author, and why does he make an effort to trace its course every year?

Answer: The river holds significance to the author as it symbolizes life's journey and obstacles. He traces its course to draw
spiritual lessons and insights, considering it an essential part of his vacation.

Describe the unusual phenomenon the author observed during his visit to the river last April. What thoughts did it
provoke?

Answer: The river disappeared and its bed was dry at one point during the author's journey. This prompted the author to
reflect on the river's determination to overcome obstacles, comparing it to the human will to persist through difficulties in
life.

What does the author learn from the river Bacong's ability to overcome obstacles, and how does he connect it to human
life?

Answer: The author learns that obstacles can be overcome with determination. He draws parallels between Bacong's
perseverance to reach the sea and the resolute nature of individuals like Galileo, Beethoven, Stevenson, and Cecil Rhodes
who faced challenges but continued their pursuits.
How does the author connect the river's duty to that of human life? What does he emphasize regarding the purpose of a
river and the duty of man?

Answer: The author emphasizes that, like a river, human life should have a purpose beyond personal joy and satisfaction.
He states that the duty of a river is to serve the rest of creation, providing life and sustenance. Similarly, he suggests that
the duty of man is to live for others in devoted ministry.

According to the author, what is the lesson of faithfulness in the performance of one's duty, and how does nature serve as
an example?

Answer: The lesson of faithfulness in duty is highlighted by the river's commitment to providing safe running water for
plants, animals, and humans. Nature, according to the author, often fulfills its duty more faithfully than humans do,
emphasizing the importance of living for the benefit of others.

What is the secret the author discerns from Bacong's ability to overcome seemingly impassable barriers, and how does it
relate to human life?

Answer: The author discerns that Bacong's ability to overcome obstacles is rooted in its source, the vast and lofty
mountains. He connects this to human life, suggesting that individuals need to draw strength and inspiration from a source
of heavenly altitude to overcome obstacles and complete tasks faithfully.