ELIT 117 –

Survey of
Philippine
Literature in
 Urbana and Feliza
By Modesto de Castro
Epistolary Essay

Reporter: Jovy C. Guzman

About the Author

- Fr. Modesto De Castro ( 1819-

1864)
- Born in Binian Laguna
- Studied at Colegio de San Jose
- He was know as a Catholic Priest,
Writer, Moralist and an Orator.
 About the Author

Some years later, after completing

the course for tile priesthood, he
became a curate of the Manila
Cathedral. He was a good speaker
and because of his ample talents
in delivering political sermons.
About the Author

- He took a Theology and become a priest at Manila Cathedral, and

later assigned at Naik, Cavite.

- Some of his religious written works are Platicas Dicrinates, (1855);

Collection de Sermones, (1878); Esposicion de Siete Palabras,
(1887); and Novena a San Isidro, (1888).

- Pilipino critic in literature conferred upon him the title, “ King of

Prose”, or the “ Father of Classic Prose in tagalog”.
 About the Novel

- Full Tittle “ Pagsusulatan Ng

Dalawang Binibini na si Urbana
at ni Feliza”, ( The
Correspondence of the Two
ladies, Urbana and Feliza).
- Published during the Spanish
colonization (1864) in the
Philippines.
About the Novel

- The author used the “Epistolary style” in the Novel, with a

series of thirty-four letter. (Chapter)

- After its publication, it became the best seller “ Manual de

Urbanidad” ( Book of conduct ) of the 19th century.
Characters
Urbana
- The eldest sister of Feliza who studied in Manila.

Feliza
- Younger sister of Urbana who deeply cares about her.

Honesto
- Younger among the three.

Amadeo
- Lover or “ kasintahan” of Feliza who later became her husband
Other Elements
Setting
• Manila and Bulacan

Theme
• Family and Conduct of Etiquette

Conflict
• Man vs Self

Point of View
• First person point of view
 Symbolism
- The name of the eldest sister,
Urbana, Symbolize
”Urbanidad” or Good Manner
in English.
- Feliza’s name came from the
Spanish term “Feliz” or
translated as Happiness.
 Symbolism

- Honesto,the youngest, is a
Spanish term which
pertains to Clean
Conscience and Honor.
 Summary
Urbana and Feliza are sisters. Urbana as the
oldest, followed by Feliza and their brother
Honesto. They live in a humble home in
Bulacan. Feliza always admire her sister
when it comes to values and traits. One day,
she wake up with an empty bed. She then
realized that her sister Urbana left for
Manila. To keep in touch with each other,
they both exchange their stories through
letters.
 Summary

Feliza, who was left in their hometown in

Paombong Bulacan, asks for her older
sister’s advice who study in a exclusive
school for girls in Manila, knowing that
she knows what’s the right thing to do.
 Summary

The two sisters talks about

etiquettes, proper gestures,
and ways in different
situation.
Summary

Also she reprimands her

younger brother Honesto to
not engage in vices, fights, and
not to hang out with bad
people.
 Summary
The letter exchanged were both
normal from their day to day lives,
until to the point where Feliza asks
her sister on what she should do
about her suitor Amadeo. Feliza has
second thoughts about marrying
Amedeo, but she pushed through the
wedding after Urbana settled her
doubts and fears.
 Summary

The last part of Felizas letter is about

their father’s death, stating that their
father doesn’t want Urbana to know
that he died, unless he was finally
buried, so she won’t feel sad.
 Summary

Urbana respond to the letter

telling her deepest sympathy. She
also mentioned her desire to
pursue being a nun.
 The importance of the novel
“ According to Mohara’s ( 1976 ) Urbana and Feliza is one of the classic
book of morals, social etiquette, feminine conduct, emphasizing on the do’s
and don’t of christian behavior at home, in school, in church and the
community across ages, class gender and status.
 References
• http://geocitiessites.com/sinupan/CastroM.htm
•
https://www.slideshare.net/stephenestilo/urbana-at-fe
lisa-footnote-to-youth-and-the-nanking-store
•http://www.oocities.org/sinupan/
CastroM.htm#:~:text=Modesto%20de%20Castro%2C
%20a%20Catholic,native%20members%20of%20the
%20clergy.
Thanks
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