21st

Century
Literature
Philippine Realities

START!
At the end of the lesson, the learners are expected to:

● Analyze the Philippine reality: The Justice

System
● Identify the Formalism and Symbols of the
poem entitled “Justice” by Ralph Semino
Galan
● Value the importance of fairness and Justice
 Motivational Questions

Number 1 Number 2
What do you know about Why is it important
the impeachment of
for the government
Chief Justice Renato
Corona? officials to declare
Number 3 their SALN
Do you think that the process
of impeachment is
S
important for a nation CREDIT
The Philippine
Justice System

NEXT!
0 1.
Impeachm
ent of Ch
Renato C ief Justice
START!
orona
 In December 2011, former Chief Justice Renato
Corona was impeached by the Philippine
Senate, with 16 senators voting to impeach him
and three senators voting for acquittal. He was
impeach because he did not declare 183 million
pesos in his SALN, a public document required
for all government officials. The declaration of
assets and liabilities in the SALN ensures that
public officials do not accept bribes or are not
prone to corruption; the former Chief Justice’s
non-declaration of assets close to 200 million
pesos hinted suspicion regarding the source of
these funds and that these may be considered ill-
gotten wealth
● In a prior case, a court interpreter,
Delsa Flores was fired after she had failed
to declare a market stall in her SALN. The
senators who impeached Corona stated
that the law should apply to all. One can
interpret the event as a victory over
corruption, but in the Philippines, this is
not as simple as it looks. Others interpret
the event as political move by the Aquino
administration to take away the
obstruction by blocking them from
persecuting former President Gloria
Arroyo.
● Be that as it may, it was a political
exercise that showed that the checks and
balances in the Philippine government are
alive and well, and that no one is above
the law.
● The following poem explores the
concept of justice and how it is applied in
Philippine society. Although it is about the
Supreme Court, in particular, it also
reflects other problems of the Philippine
government.
 Formalism
and Symbols
Formalism and Symbols

One of the literary theories used in

analyzing texts is formalism, which is
the mastery of the formal elements of
literature and advocates the close
reading of a text when studying
literature. Under formalism, when it
comes to symbols, there are two types.
These are the following:
 
Public Symbols- are the symbols that are
traditionally established, such as the
symbol of the rose for love.

Private Symbols- are the symbols that are

used by the author, which can signify
whatever he would want it to mean, based
on how it is portrayed in the text.
“JUSTICE” By: Ralph Semino Galan

● 1. These are the accoutrements of

her office
● 2. The blindfold symbolizing
impartiality
● 3. a golden pair of scales measuring
validity
● 4. of evidence given pro and con;
● 5. The double edged sword that
pierces through
● 6. The thick fabric of lies, Thoth's
feather
“JUSTICE” By: Ralph Semino Galan

● 7. of truth which ultimately

determines whether
● 8. The defendant’s life is worth saving
● 9. In I. Elizalde Navarro's oil painting
titled
● 10. Is this Philippine justice? the figure
of roman?
● 11. Of the Roman goddess Justicia
slowly fades
● 12. into thin air swallowed by
pigments
“JUSTICE” By: Ralph Semino Galan

● 13. Cloudly as doubts, in my certain

country
● 14. Where right and wrong are cards
● 15. That can be shuffled like a pile of
money bills
● 16. Even the land chief Magistrate
● 17. is not immune from culpability,
found guilty
● 18. He has to face the music of
derision
 Group Activity:
1. You will be divided into 5
members in a group.
2. In your group, make a
conversation through chat
(messenger, gmail or text)
3. Analyze the poem entitled
“Justice”.
4. Present your group
analizations in class through
google meet NEXT!