PLIGHTED WORD

BY: NARCISO G. REYES

WHO IS NARCISO G. REYES?

Narciso G. Reyes (2 February 1914 in Tondo – 7 May

1996) was a Filipino diplomat and author.
He initially worked as a teacher, journalist and newspaper
publisher.

He served as Chairman of UNICEF from 1972 to 1974

and as Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations from 1980 to 1982. Reyes also served as
Permanent Representative to the United Nations and
Ambassador to the United Kingdom, China and other
countries.
Elements of the Story
 MAJOR CHARACTERS
• Flora – the protagonist, is the daughter of Damian and Sima who has been engaged to marry
Marcos.
• Damian – the antagonist, father of Flora and husband of Sima.
• Sima – is the mother of Flora, wife of Damian.
• Marcos - is the nephew of Don Luis.
• Don Luis –a rich man who owned half the province and two or three towns in the next one.
• Tonio - is a guerrilla who fights with the Japanese troops. Flora’s true love.
• Guadalupe - is Flora's closest friend and is Tonio's cousin.
PLOT
 SUMMARY
Flora, the daughter of Damian and Sima has been engaged to be married to Marcos. Marcos
is the nephew of Don Luis, who owned half the province and two or three towns in the next one
which means that their family is rich. Damian really wants Flora to be married to Marcos because of
the wealth and nearly perfect life that they can experience but Flora loves someone else who is Tonio.
Flora wanted to tell Tonio about her engagement to Marcos which will be exactly a week from that
day. So when Sima asked Pastor to go to San Anton to buy a pina cloth, Flora asked him to give
Guadalupe a message. Guadalupe is Flora's closest friend and is Tonio's cousin. The message was to let
Tonio consider Flora as one who is dead and to forget her as if he had never known her. He arrived
at Flora's house wounded after almost 3 days of travelling and hiding from the Japanese troops. He
came too late. Don Luis and Damian already had an agreement about the marriage of Flora and
Marcos. Tonio called Flora's name three times but she is not replying so Tonio left Flora's house heart
broken.
 BEGINNING
Flora, the daughter of Damian and Sima has been engaged to be married to Marcos.
Marcos is the nephew of Don Luis, who owned half the province and two or three towns in the
next one which means that their family is rich.
Damian really wants Flora to be married to Marcos because of the wealth and nearly
perfect life that they can experience but Flora loves someone else who is Tonio. Tonio is a
guerrila who fights with the Japanese troops. Damian does not want a guerrila like Tonio for his
daughter.
 RISING ACTION
Flora wanted to tell Tonio about her engagement to Marcos which will be exactly a
week from that day. So when Sima asked Pastor to go to San Anton to buy a pina cloth,
Flora asked him to give Guadalupe a message. Guadalupe is Flora's closest friend and is
Tonio's cousin. The message was to let Tonio consider Flora as one who is dead and to
forget her as if he had never known her.
 INTERNAL CONFLICT
Flora is having conflicts within her because she really loves Tonio but she should
not disobey her father. This made her say to her mother, "I wish I were dead" and "Death
would be sweeter."
 EXTERNAL CONFLICT
Flora had conflict with her father. There was a part in the story where they were
eating supper and Damian asked Flora of her age.
Flora said she will be turning 19 then Damian said "A good age to get married.
Not too young, not too old." Flora replied, "Im not so desirous of getting married." Then
Damian pushed back his empty plate showing that he is irritated by Flora's reply.
 CLIMAX
When Tonio received the message, he went to Flora's house even though the
Japanese troops are in the way. He arrived at Flora's house wounded after almost 3 days of
travelling and hiding from the Japanese troops.
 FALLING ACTION

He came too late. Don Luis and Damian already had an agreement about the
marriage of Flora and Marcos.
 RESOLUTION

Tonio called Flora's name three times but she is not replying so Tonio left Flora's
house heart broken. Eventhough it hurts Flora, she still chose to obey her father than to
follow her heart