Creative Writing

SPECIALIZED SUBJECT

CREATIVE WRITING
_____ Semester, SY _____________
QUARTER 2, MODULE 6
DIFFERENT LITERARY AND/OR
SOCIO - POLITICAL CONTEXT
OF CREATIVE WRITING
Self-Learning Modules ____ Semester, SY _____ Quarter 2 – Module 6: Different
Literary and/or SocioPolitical Context of Creative Writing First Edition, 2021

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Writing a Craft Essay

LESSON
 Demonstrating Awareness and
Sensitivity to Different Literary
and/or Socio-Political Contexts

Welcome to the SHS CREATIVE WRITING MODULE!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities for
guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled to process
the contents of the learning material while being an active learner.

After completing this module, you will be able to:

1. Write a craft essay demonstrating awareness of and sensitivity to the
different literary and/or socio-political contexts of creative writing

Literature is the mirror that reflects the society. It reflects how the society influences
the morals, beliefs, and norms of a nation. Literary works are firmly connected with human
experiences and on how one situates themselves in the society and politics. If you will be
given a chance to write a poem, a song, a story, or a play, what social issues are you
interested to use? Is about poverty? education? politics? Look around and observe. There are
lots of sociopolitical issues that can be used as your context if you are going to write creatively

your own masterpiece.

In our previous modules, you have learned about the elements, devices, and
techniques in writing a drama. Can you recall the themes that was given to you that became
the central idea of your drama story? The basis of those themes given to are the
sociopolitical issues in the society. Sociopolitical issues are the context, background, and
framework of the story themes that you have applied in your script writing. Without this
context, your drama story will not have a guide and direction. So, in this module your will
know that sociopolitical context is very essential in creative writing.
Discussion of the Lesson

Social and political context are the frameworks of a literature; this what makes
the message of a literary text make sense. Literature does not exist without deep social
relation and political context which shaped its content and form.

Definition of Context
Context is the background, environment, setting, framework, or surroundings of events
or occurrences. Simply, context means circumstances forming a background of an event,
idea, or statement, in such a way as to enable readers to understand the narrative or a literary
piece. It is necessary in writing to provide information, new concepts, and words to develop
thoughts.
Whenever writers use a quote or a fact from some source, it becomes necessary to
provide their readers some information about the source, to give context to its use. This
piece of information is called context. Context illuminates the meaning and relevance of the
text,
and may be something cultural, historical, social, or political.

Sociopolitical Context
Sociopolitical context involves both social and political issues. It has four kinds:
social, political, religion and historical. An example of something that is sociopolitical is the
issue of environmental conservation, which is influenced by both social attitudes towards
"going green" and by political policies.
1. Social. These are issues concerning the national aspect of human life and have
long been the heart of innumerable works of literature.
2. Political. This concerns with the administration of government policy or the
conduct of government.
3. Religion. It is a deeply- rooted concept and belief on humanity. It stems from
the fact that humans are naturally helpless, the greatness of nature whose creation might
have been done by a far greater entity.
4. Historical. It is the social, political, cultural, economic, and environmental
situations that influence the events or trends we see happen during that time.

Function of a Context
Context is all about providing a background or picture of the situation, and of who is
involved. Context is an essential part of a literary text, which helps to engage the audience. If
writers ignore context, they may overlook a critical aspect of the story’s intent. Without
context, readers may not see the true picture of a literary work. Context helps readers
 understand the cultural, social, philosophical, and political ideas and movements prevalent in

society at the time of the writing.

Here are the most common sociopolitical issues that becomes the context of
creative writing:
1. Poverty and Homelessness
2. Climate Change
3. Overpopulation
4. Civil Rights and Racial Discrimination
5. Gender Inequality
6. Health Care Availability
7. Poor Leadership
8. Unending “Drug War”
9. COVID-19 Pandemic
10. Political Killings, Threats, Harassment

Sociological Criticism
Sociological Criticism approach understands literature in its larger cultural,
economic and political context in which it is written or received. It also analyses how
literature works in society because literature is the reflection of society.

Most famous types of sociological criticism

1. Marxist criticism – focuses on the economic and political elements of arts often

emphasizing the ideological content of literature.

Sample Essay Analysis in the Context of the Story “Cinderella” using Marxist
Criticism: Cinderella
Cinderella, a movie released in 1950 and produced by Walt Disney was based on
European folk tale about a young woman who suffered from cruelty of her stepmother and
stepsisters, later on she tried to change her fate in one night. Cinderella had many versions
when it comes to folk tale, the most popular version was written in French by Charles
Perrault in 1697, under the name Cendrillon. The popularity of his tale was due to his
additions to the story, including the pumpkin, the fairy-godmother and the introduction of
glass slippers which was adapted by Walt Disney in animation film.

The story revolved around a girl named Cinderella who lived with her father,
stepmother, and stepsisters. At first everything was alright until her father passed away, since
then her stepmother made Cinderella did all the housekeeping jobs. Meanwhile in the castle,
the King wanted his son to immediately get married to a woman, so he held a ball and invited
all of the young women across the kingdom to find a suitable bride for the Prince. Cinderella
had no suitable party dress for a ball, but her friends the mice and the birds helped her. The
evil stepsisters immediately tear apart the dress on the evening night right before the ball, then
come the Fairy Godmother to help her out of misery. Finally, Cinderella was able to make it to
the ball, the Prince noticed her and immediately fell in love, but Cinderella had to go back
before midnight, because the magic would be gone. The Prince tried to look for Cinderella
after that ball, only by the glass slipper that Cinderella dropped before she left him at the ball.
The Prince then searched the entire kingdom for Cinderella by fitting the slipper to every
maiden in the kingdom. If it fits, then she would be Cinderella. Cinderella’s foot was able to fit
on that slipper, and Prince married her after knowing that she was the Cinderella and they

lived happily ever after.

The critical theory of Marxism is evident in the timeless fairy tale, Cinderella. The
concept of class conflict done by Karl Marx is conveyed through this childhood story. The
theory of the rich get to stay rich if the poor remain poor, as expressed by Marc Smith's
interpretation of Marxism is symbolic to the tale (Marc Smith, “A Brief Introduction to
Marxism”, Youtube). The conflict focus of this fairy tale is apparent between higher economic
class and lower economic class. Capitalism is prominent in the relationship between
Cinderella and her stepmother, as Cinderella is living in poverty. However, her stepmother is
living in luxury. This is expressed through descriptions of their clothes, possessions, and the
way they present themselves. As she has enslaved her stepdaughter, the stepmother can be
perceived as a devil figure character archetype (Mmaurno, "Archetypes to Help with Literary
Analysis", Scribd). The abuse she receives is a constant reminder of the unhealable wound
she possesses due to her father’s death, as she is now left to an evil woman. The young girl
is a victim of oppression as she is forced to work countless hours under harsh conditions.
Meanwhile, her family is going to fancy events with clothes that she has to hand make. In
addition, Cinderella must take care of their belongings, such as their cat. This shows how
much wealthy people rely on the lower class to take care of their responsibilities. The
mistreatment Cinderella receives along with the dependence of her family on her satisfies
the statement of rich people stay rich as long as the poor remain poor. On the other hand,
the fairy tale is also affiliated with the revolutionary aspect of Marxism. According to Karl
Marx, ideology represents “production of ideas, of conceptions, of consciousness,”
(“Introduction to Karl Marx, Module on Ideology”, cla.purdue). Ultimately meaning concept of
what humans know is consciously right. Significantly, in Cinderella, the ideal of communism,
the poor becoming equal to the wealthy, is represented when the fairy godmother transforms
Cinderella to fit in with high class people. This supernatural intervention is what creates the
revolutionary aspect of the fairy tale. As a result, Cinderella is accepted by society and their
ideals of a proper woman. Nevertheless, this symbolizes revolution because Cinderella
 advances from a lower state of poverty, to a state of nobility. In conclusion, Cinderella goes
from poverty-stricken to a capitalist in society, ultimately being an advocate of revolution and
communism.

2. Feminist literary criticism – is a literary criticism informed by the feminist

theory, or more broadly, by the politics of feminism.

Sample Essay Analysis in the Context of the Story “Moana” using Feminist Criticism:
Moana
Written by Jared Bush, Disney’s Moana is about Moana (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho), a
16-year-old teenage girl born into a long lineage of Polynesian leaders, who is constantly
told that her destiny is to be the chief of her tribe which is known as Motunui’s tribe. Trouble
arises when the ocean calls upon her to save the environment and her tribe. Her tribe’s
crops and surrounding fish are dying off due to an ancient curse caused by the demigod
Maui (voiced by Dwayne The Rock Johnson). Her mission is to save the island by
convincing and persuading Maui to restore the heart of Te Fiti and break the curse. She
reaches this goal with the help of her small-brained pet chicken sidekick Hei Hei The
Rooster (played by Alan Tudyk), the spirit of her grandmother Gramma Tala (voiced by
Rachel House), the strength of her own courage, and a little help from Maui. She proves
through her own coming of age story that “if you believe in yourself you can do anything”.
She learns to never accept limits in how far she can go.

Disney princess movies have been around for such a long time that they have
become such an important staple in our society. The classic Disney Princess movies show
that the Princesses are rather hopeless and sad without the handsome Prince to appear and
rescue them. Movies such as Cinderella and Snow White are the classic Disney movies that
show the helpless princesses who long for their prince to save them from their miseries and
change their lives. However, Moana is the modern Disney movie that has a strong female
lead and such an inspiring film for the generation today.
Disney’s Moana incorporates feminism in its story. Moana is a movie that tells about
a girl who is being counted on by of her tribe to rescue them. Her character is independent,
strong, and able to deal with things when they get tough and rough. It can be seen that
Moana is up for any change and will not let anything get in her way in rescuing herself, island
and her tribe.
The most extraordinary about the film that can be found was that it makes absolutely
no mention of romance or marriage. In fact, besides Moana’s parents, there is no recurrent
love story theme that we often see with Disney shows. It is about finding purpose, not finding
love. There is no cliché element of wistful princess in Moana, dreaming wistfully about a
Prince Charming who will come and save her. Instead, she dreams about exploring, going
out into the sea by herself and proving herself. What makes Moana different in so many
ways are that there is not a prince and princess love story booming throughout the movie, it
is simply just her trying to save her island. There is no love story, there is no prince waiting to
rescue her from distress. For once, it is just her and her will to continue on. The Criterion
described it perfectly in their article: “The movie also discards the idea of male as the only
savior of a woman in distress as it was Maui who left Moana in between the sea when she
was trying to fix Te Fiti’s heart only to come back later when he realizes his mistake. Another
thing added by Disney is how man (the Man has destroyed) destroyed mother earth for his
own selfish motives.”(Joshi, 2017).
Romance was often what came across in mind when audiences thought of Disney
films. The idea of a fairytale was equivalent to the idea of finding the perfect relationship.
However, in the past few years, Disney films have tried to re-imagine the ‘Disney Princess’
and they have done a marvelous job portraying princesses as women who can save
themselves. But, even Brave and Frozen, which were praised for their strong female
characters, had storylines about marriage and happily ever after. Moana is about how a
successor can become an effective leader, and how a person can reach their full potential.
Moana is the chief’s daughter, and it goes without saying that she will take over from him.
Moana is the daughter of the chief and was shown to have a great amount of power
on the island. They never speak down on her because she is a woman, and never make her
seem less than capable. She knows she has a responsibility to her people, even though she
is constantly drawn to the ocean. She also respects her father and his wishes, and she did it
out of love of him. She is not the rebellious teenager, but she wants to be the best she can
be for her island and her tribe. Nevertheless, she knows she had to do what is right and fixes
the situation, and to do that, she would have to leave the island. That means going against
what her father wanted. He does not believe in her ability, so she has to go against his
wishes. Two different men who are supposed to help her try to discourage and shame her.
She remains true to her cause regardless, showing that it is her achieving this goal not these
men.
The ocean itself chooses Moana to save her island, but that is not the reason for her
self-conviction. In one of the most emotional scenes of the movie, Moana is about to give up.
She tells the ocean to choose someone else and picks up the oars of her boat in order to go
home. However, she cannot do it. At the end of the movie, she is responsible for turning the
whole tribe into voyagers, and even teaches her father navigation.
The magnificent difference between Moana and the older Disney Princess movies is the fact
that not only is about a strong female fighting for her land, but it also embraces her culture
and ethnicity. She is portrayed as a beautiful Polynesian girl who loves her island and
background. The Criterion publishes an essay which talks about the refreshing film and its
modern adaptation.
“With its latest creation ‘Moana’ Disney breaks all the stereotypes by not only
empowering women but also portraying the uniqueness of different culture. They shift from
the white centric beauty to a more normal girl with whom every girl can relate herself. The
protagonist of the film not only goes to voyage to save mother earth but also finds her
identity and true worth. In the beginning itself, she says, I am not a Princess thus breaking
the cliché projection of the women as a Princess. She is brave and ambitious and listens to
her heart despite of being stopped by her father.” (Joshi, 2017)
This shows that the fact Moana is not a typical Disney Princess movie. She takes
matters into her own hands and decides herself that it is her that must save the island and
her people. She works very hard and refuses to give up, which exemplifies the element of
feminism in so many ways throughout the storyline. It views that young teenager girls today
that they need to put their dreams and wants into their own hands, not into others. Thus, this
shows that this movie is different than what Disney has ever done before in its previous
movies. The character Moana’s personality and actions are stronger and more defined than
any character Disney has ever created, making her a successful role model of feminist ideals
for young and old audiences. Moana’s actions in Moana demonstrate Disney’s recent push
to uplift female audiences and spread a sense of equality and feminist ideals by rebranding
the figure of women where females can also be in positions of power and make their own
decisions.
Criticism is essentially related to creative works. A good example is creative writing
(literature). Creative writing is any form of writing which is written with the creativity of mind:
fiction writing, poetry writing, creative nonfiction writing and more.

Practice Exercise 1
Directions: Read and understand the literatures below. Afterwards, identify the kind of
sociopolitical context the following literatures have. Justify/explain your answer
for each literary piece.

SI MA’AM

Si Ma’am nakakatuwa dito sa aming school

Dahil pag pumasok may dala-dalang kahon
Pag kanyang binuksan may panutsa’t polboron.
At sa ami’y tinitinda sa buong maghapon.
 Kung minsa’y ice box naman ang kanyang dinadala
Na doo’y nakalagay ice drop na paninda
Mayroon ding ice candy na sadyang malasa
Na pinag-aagawan ng aking ka-eskwela.

Ngunit minsang si Ma’am ay nagbenta

Ng tosino’t hotdog at binalot na tinapa
Itong aming principal siya ay Nakita
Kung kayat pinatawag sa kanyang opisina.

Magmula noon di ko na Makita Sa

aming paaralan si Ma’am nagtitinda
Sa amin sinabi kung bakit ginawa
Mahirap ang buhay di sapat ang kita.

Source: Hutik ng Taguipusuon (Whisper of the Heart)

Hipolito Mallen Berano

1. Kind of Sociopolitical Context applied in the poem:

Justification:_

BALING...HOY!
(“Balingbing Ka Hoy!)

I.
Natural na sa tawo ang doble kara
Mayo sa atubangan pagtalikod iba
Kahuga basahon ang tunay nga hitsura
Indi masayuran ang tunay na maskara.
II.
Damu ang istorya sa nagligad nga eleksiyon
Pumili ang tawo ng inda botohon
Nagsunod sa kampanya nagsinggit sa microphone
“Imaw ining kandidato ang aton botohon!”
III.
In inga tawo nagpakita kolor
Kung sino nga kandidato sinda nagapabor
Diin man magkadto yadto nagasunod
Sa malayo nga bukid o malapit nga bakuyod.
IV.
Ang iban naman simple lang ang diskarte
Indi magpasayod kung kay nin-o sinda
kampi May pahutik-hutik, may papitik-
pitik Imaw ining style, naiiba nga paagi.
V.
Pero ng matapos na ining eleksiyon
Kag waya siniwerte ang pagabotohon
Iban na ang tono ng iya hambayanon
 Gulpi nga nagbaylo ang hitsura kag kolor
VI
Basta ako hambay niya isa lang ang binoto
Ang nagdaog nga kandidato nga yari niyan nakapwesto
Kinumpanya ko pa ngani sa malayo nga baryo Gani
kalaban niya, tama gid nilampaso
VII.
Ay ano ba ini kumambiyo sa nga daan
Ako natingaya, uyo ko nilipungan
Sayod ko gid baya ining iya sinuportahan
Basi niyan sumuhot sa iba nga pugayan
VIII.
Imaw ini ang baling…hoy ng aton eleksiyon
Balingbing, Ka Hoy! Kung akon tawagon
Madali kumambiyo sa mga desisyon
May pagka-traidor; kahadlok amigohon.
IX.
Gani mayo pa ang kamote nga bantikon
Kesa sa doble duyot kag agop-opon nga balinghoy
Pwede ka hiluan kag bun-on sa likod Mag
Andam gid kita sa tawo nga Baling….Hoy!

Source: Hutik ng Taguipusuon (Whisper of the Heart) Hipolito Mallen Berano

2. Kind of Sociopolitical Context applied in the poem:

Justification:

Practice Exercise 2
Upuan is a song composed by Aristotle Pollisco also known by his stage name Gloc-9.
He is an award-winning Filipino rapper with fast-flowing vocal style that has made him one of
the most successful hip-hop artists in the Philippines. The song features Jeazel Grutas,
vocalist of the band Zelle. “Upuan” is his first single from his fourth album “Matrikula.

A. Directions. Read or listen to the song “Upuan” and try to get more ideas on every
detail of the lyrics. You can also pay attention on the objects or people involved in the video
by watching the YouTube channel. (if accessible)

Upuan
Aristotle Pollisco

[Jeazell Grutas of Zelle:]

Kayo po na naka upo
Subukan nyo namang tumayo
At baka matanaw, at baka matanaw ninyo
 Ang tunay na kalagayan ko

[Gloc-9:]
Ganito kasi yan eh
Tao po, nandyan po ba kayo sa loob ng
Malaking bahay at malawak na bakuran
Mataas na pader pinapaligiran
At naka pilang mga mamahaling sasakyan
Mga bantay na laging bulong ng bulong
Wala namang kasal pero marami ang naka barong
Lumakas man ang ulan ay walang butas ang bubong
Mga plato't kutsara na hindi kilala ang tutong
At ang kanin ay simputi ng gatas na nasa kahon
At kahit na hindi pasko sa lamesa ay may hamon
Ang sarap sigurong manirahan sa bahay na ganyan
Sabi pa nila ay dito mo rin matatagpuan
Ang tao na nagmamay-ari ng isang upuan
Na pag may pagkakatao'y pinag-aagawan
Kaya naman hindi niya pinakakawalan
Kung makikita ko lamang siya ay aking sisigawan

[Jeazell Grutas of Zelle:]

Kayo po na naka upo
Subukan nyo namang tumayo
At baka matanaw, at baka matanaw na nyo
Ang tunay na kalagayan ko

[Gloc-9:]
Mawalang galang na po
Sa taong naka upo
Alam niyo bang pantakal ng bigas namin ay di puno
Ang ding-ding ng bahay namin ay pinagtagpi-tagping yero
Sa gabi ay sobrang init na tumutunaw ng yelo
Na di kayang bilhin upang ilagay sa inumin
Pinakulong tubig sa lumang takuring uling-uling
Gamit lang panggatong na inanod lamang sa istero
Na nagsisilbing kusina sa umaga'y aming banyo
Ang aking inay na may kayamanan isang kaldero
Na nagagamit lang pag ang aking ama ay sumweldo
Pero kulang na kulang parin
Ulam na tuyo't asin
Ang singkwenta pesos sa maghapo'y pagkakasyahin
Di ko alam kung talagang maraming harang
O mataas lang ang bakod
O nagbubulag-bulagan lamang po kayo
Kahit sa dami ng pera niyo
Walang doktor na makapagpapalinaw ng mata niyo
Kaya

[Jeazell Grutas of Zelle:]

Wag kang masyadong halata Bato-
bato sa langit
Ang matamaa'y wag magalit
O bato-bato bato sa langit
 Ang matamaan ay Wag masyadong halata
Wag kang masyadong halata
Hehey, (Wag kang masyadong halata)
(Wag kang masyadong halata)

Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvWVfYwpMD0&app=desktophttps://www.azlyrics.com/ly
rics/gloc9/upuan.html

B. Directions. Consider these guide questions below. Answer the following questions to test
yourself how far you understood the context and message of the song. After answering the
questions, write an essay showing your reflection about the impact of the song to you as a
person or as a human living in the society. The content of your essay are your answers to
these questions below.

1. How does the song make you feel?

2. What do you think are the ideas portrayed in the song?
3. How would you describe this song in one word?
4. What do you think are the images presented in this song?
5. Do these images represent or symbolize something? What do you think does it
symbolize?
6. Why do you think the writer choose “Upuan” as the title of the song?
7. What socio-political context is presented in this song?
8. If you are going to critic this song using sociological criticism, what do you think is the
most suitable type of sociological criticism for critiquing the context of the song? Why?
(Justify your answer.)
9. How do you relate the song to the current socio-political issues in our country?

Thank you for answering the practice exercises. If you answered the practice
exercises correctly, you are now ready to proceed to do the written works. If not, please
try until you arrived on the correct answer.

Instruction: Please write your learning from the above discussion. Write your learning in
your notebook/answer sheet.
Upon reading the lesson above, I learned that…

and realized that…

TEST III. Directions: Appropriately match the terms in Column A to the definitions in
Column B. Write letter of your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Column A Column B
1. Sociopolitical context a. approach understands literature in
2. Social its larger cultural, economic, and political
context in which it is written or received.
3. Political b. These are issues concerning the
4. Religion national aspect of human life and have
5. Historical long been the heart of innumerable works
of literature.
6. Context
c. It is the social, political, cultural,
7. Sociological Criticism economic, and environmental situations
8. Marxist criticism that influence the events or trends we see
happen during that time.
9. Feminist literary criticism
d. focuses on the economic and
10. COVID-19 Pandemic political elements of arts often
emphasizing the ideological content of
literature.
e. It is a deeply- rooted concept and
belief on humanity. It stems from the fact
that humans are naturally helpless, the
greatness of nature whose creation might
have been done by a far greater entity.
f. This is concerned with the
administration of government policy or the
conduct of government.
g. involves both social and political
issues
h. is a literary criticism informed by the
feminist theory, or more broadly, by the
politics of feminism.
h. helps readers understand the
cultural, social, philosophical, and political
ideas and movements prevalent in
society at the time of the writing.
i. one of the most interesting issues
that vehemently created a big change in
the society.
TEST IV. Directions: Compose an essay about the current socio-political context of the
true narrative below. Please be guided by the following questions after the narrative so that
you may have an idea about the content of your essay.

“HAGIS ‘NONG”
(“Throw a coin, Manong!”)

(This story was written by the author when he asked for donation for the construction of a
learning center in Sitio Agbuyog. This is a story of a 15-year-old coin diver who lives in Sitio
Agbuyog and does not have the opportunity to go back to school when interviewed).

“He who dives, thrives”,

this what came out from the
lips of Manuel, one of the
hagis’nong boys, whom I
interviewed after diving coins
at Romblon port one Monday Photo credit: My Island Home – WordPress.com
afternoon.

Hagis ’nong boys are

as young as 6 years old and
as old as 18. Most of them live
in depressed communities like
Sitio Agbuyog (where the
proposed Learning Center is
about to be constructed) and
others at Brgy. Bagacay, areas
very near the port. Hagis’nong Photo credit: My Island Home – WordPress.com
boys depend their “income”
from passengers abroad the ship, throwing coins into the water where these young boys dive
and follow the wringgling coins underneath, until one of them reaches and catches the nickel.
The faster the diver and stronger he kicks his feet down the water is usually the good earner
of this “trade”.

The hagis’nong boys usually starts by shouting at

passenger- custormers boarding the ship, “hagis ‘nong,
hagis’nong!”, they would shout below the ship. Most of the
divers converge at the side of the ship an hour or two before its
departure. This is the time where most of the passengers have
boarded the ship and
waiting to leave the port. The passengers throw coins into
the water and see the spectacular skills of these divers,
penetrating the depths and holding breathe the longest… just to
get the most-sought prize- a one peso coin, a five peso, or if
luckier enough, a ten peso coin.
 The boys are tanned with black skin, sporting dyed rustic brown hair, the effect of 3-
time a week diving spree at the port which usually takes place in the midday, just before the
ship leaves at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon.

I asked Manuel if he still goes to school? “Ya’ na. Ya permanente nga trabaho si
Tatay gani ginahuman ko ini. Maayo ini kay nakakabulig ako sa inda” (Not anymore. My
father has no permanent job that’s why I do this. At least, I could help them in any way.) he
meekly answered.
“How much money do you earn in one diving session?”, I again asked. “Kung
swertihon, singkwenta, kung malason, diyes pesos lang” (if luck is in me, I get 50 pesos but
if Im not, I only get 10 pesos).
What’s your plan in the future?”, I again asked. “Kung may pagkakataon maeskwela
pa ako” (if there’s a chance, I still want to pursue my schooling).
I said, “that’s nice! Ayaw gipilaka ang imo kinabukasan sa dagat kapareho ng isa nga
piso kay kung waya makabuoy, kaunon lang ina ng tuktuk sa idayom.” (Don’t throw your
future into the sea just like a one-peso coin for if nobody catches it, it will just be eaten by
rust underneath).
Manuel just smiled at me and jumps once more into the water, and shouted… “hagis
nong… hagis nong…..!”
Source: Hutik ng Taguipusuon (Whisper of the Heart)
Hipolito Mallen Berano

1. What is the story all about?

2. What is/are the sociopolitical issue/s that is/are presented in the context of the true
narrative? Justify your answer after you identified the issue/s presented in the story.
3. Using the Marxist criticism, what is/are the economic or political element/s that is/are
presented in the context of the story?
4. For you, what does the “haggis nong!’ symbolize?
5. Why do you think this kind of social issue/s exist?
6. How do you feel about Manuel for being one of the ‘Hagis Boys’?
 Essay Writing Rubric:

Areas of 5 Excellent 4 Very 3 2 1

Assessment Good Average Needs Unacceptable
Improvement
Ideas The ideas in The ideas in The ideas in The ideas in The ideas in
the essay is the essay is the essay is the essay is the essay is
very clear and clear and somehow not too clear not clear and
very relevant relevant in clear and and not too irrelevant in
in identifying identifying the relevant in relevant in identifying the
the sociopolitical identifying the identifying the sociopolitical
sociopolitical issues in the sociopolitical sociopolitical issues in the
issues in the story. issues in the issues in the story.
story. story. story.
Organization Has an Has a very Has a good Order and Order and
excellent good order order and structure of structure of
order and and structure structure of ideas is not ideas is not
structure of of ideas ideas which really good. good.
ideas which which moves moves the
moves the the readers readers
readers through the through the
through the text. text.
text.
Analysis The essay The essay The essay The essay The essay
showcased showcased showcased a showcased showcased no
an excellent very good good analysis an acceptable analysis of the
analysis of analysis of of the analysis of sociopolitical
the the sociopolitical the context of the
sociopolitical sociopolitical context of the sociopolitical story.
context of the context of story. context of the Answers in
story. the story. Answers in story. the guide
Answers in Answers in the guide However, questions that
the guide the guide questions that answers in the were included
questions questions were included guide in the essay is
that were that were in questions that not exact with

included in included in the essay is were included unclear and

the essay is the essay is somehow in the essay inaccurate
very exact exact with exact with is not too justification.
with very clear clear and clear and exact with not
and accurate accurate accurate too clear and
justification. justification. justification. accurate
justification.
Presentation The . The The The The
presentation presentation presentation presentation presentation
of the text is of the text is of the text is of the text is of the text is
 excellent. very good. good. The needs poor. The
The essay is The essay is essay is improvement. essay is not
excellently crafted to acceptably The essay is crafted to
crafted to reflect the crafted to somehow reflect the
reflect the writer’s reflect the unacceptably writer’s
writer’s awareness writer’s crafted to awareness
awareness and awareness reflect the and sensitivity
and sensitivity to and writer’s to the
sensitivity to the sensitivity to awareness different
the different the and sensitivity literary and/or
different literary and/or different to the socio-political
literary and/or socio-political literary and/or different contexts of the
socio-political contexts of socio-political literary and/or story.
contexts of the story. contexts of socio-political
the story. the story. contexts of the
story.
Grammar The writer The writer The writer The writer The writer
and demonstrates demonstrates demonstrates demonstrates demonstrates
Conventions an excellent a very good a good grasp poor grasp of very poor
grasp of grasp of of writing writing grasp of
writing writing conventions conventions writing
conventions conventions such as such as conventions
such as such as spelling, spelling, such as
spelling, spelling, capitalization, capitalization, spelling,
capitalization, capitalization, grammar grammar capitalization,
grammar grammar usage, and usage, and grammar
usage, and usage, and paragraphing. paragraphing. usage, and
paragraphing. paragraphing. paragraphing.

ANSWER KEY

Practice Exercise 1
Answers vary

Practice Exercise 2 Answers

vary

Performance Task
Answers vary
Berano, Hipolito M. (2013). Hutik sa Taguipusuon (Whisper of the Heart).

“Canva.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, September 18, 2020.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canva.

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context+on+literatue&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.9027j1j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF8

Jose, L. S. & Larioque, R. R. (2017). Creative Writing for senior High School.

Manalo, Godfree. 2017. “Creative Writing”. quexbookapp@gmail.com http://quexbook.com/

pcd2. “Using PowerPoint.” University of Leicester, November 13,

2014. https://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/all-resources/presentations/using-ppt.

Pollisco , Aristotle. “Upuan”. https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/gloc9/upuan.html