Republic of the Philippines

UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM ANGONO

Angono, Rizal

EL 113: Survey of Philippine Literature in the Philippines

Name: Lorraine Marre C. Castro Date: February 23, 2024

Year and Course: BSE ENG 2A

In the prose “The Beautiful Horse” the story revolves around arrival of a stunning
white horse in a rural village, brought by the Narrator’s father, Mang Estong. This stirred
gossips among the villagers. Despite doubts from everyone, Mang Estong believes that
the horse is the reincarnation of their deceased relative which he was very close with,
Barang. He remained firm with his conviction and even invalidated his family’s feelings.
He focused on what he sees without considering what his wife would feel. Despite the
wife being doubtful about the origin of the horse, it was evident that she was hurt due to
the fact that Barang, her dead cousin still lingers in her husband’s mind. She quietly bears
the burden of her husband’s beliefs which shows her unconditional love to her husband.
The lesson of the story revolves around how a family should empathize with each member
of the family. The conviction being held upon by one should consider how it affects
everyone.

Meanwhile, "Lonely," a touching poem, discusses the feeling of being alone and
disconnected. The speaker describes feeling cold and isolated, like a rock in icy waters.
This vivid imagery makes us think deeply about the harsh reality of loneliness and how it
affects us. It reminds us of the universal longing for connection and companionship, and
the impact that isolation can have on our emotional well-being. The poem encourages us
to reach out to others and seek meaningful connections, recognizing the importance of
socializing with other people and strive against the feeling of emptiness. We should
remember that everyone feels lonely sometimes, and that it's a natural part of being
human. It shows us that feeling alone can make us think about who we are and where we
belong in the world.

"The Beautiful Horse" and "Lonely" teach us important lessons about life. The
story teaches us the importance of empathizing with our family's feelings and
understanding each other. Despite the father's firm belief about the horse being a
reincarnation, he fails to consider how his wife and children feel about the situation. This
lack of empathy causes hurt and misunderstanding within the family. Meanwhile, the
poem reminds us that feeling lonely is something everyone goes through, and that
reaching out to others is really important. Both stories encourage us to be caring and
understanding towards others, and to help those who might be feeling lonely. They
show us that being kind and connecting with others can make a big difference in our
lives.