On March 3, 1894, educator Paz Marquez-Benitez,

who authored the first Filipino modern English-

language short story "Dead Stars", was born in Lucena
City, Quezon.

Benitez was among the first generation of Filipinos

trained in the American education system which used
English as the medium of instruction.

She became an influential figure to many Filipino

writers in the English language , among them, Loreto
Paras Sulit, Paz Latorena, Bienvenido Santos, Manuel
Arguilla, S.P. Lopez and National Artist Francisco
Arcellana, who later emphatically declared, “She was
the mother of us all!”
In 1919, she founded "Woman's Home Journal", the
first women's magazine in the country. In 1928,
she compiled "Filipino Love Stories," reportedly the
first anthology of Philippine stories in English by
Filipinos, from the works of her students.

She married UP College of Education Dean

Francisco Benítez, with whom she had
four children.
She died on November 10, 1983.
The annually held Paz Marquez-Benitez Lectures
(Ateneo) honors her memory by focusing on the
contributions of Filipino women writers to
Philippine Literature in the English language.
•Dead stars symbolizes the unspoken present
things. The affection and love between Alfredo
and Julia seemed to be existing and real, however,
with the passage of time, it fades away like a dead
star.
 - son of Don Julian, a more than 30 year’s old
man and a bachelor. He is engaged to Esperanza
but he is in love with Julia Salas.

-wife of Alfredo Salazar. She is a homely woman,

literal minded and intensely acquisitive. She is one
of those fortunate women who have the gift of
uniformly beauty.

•Julia Salas - sister-in-law of Judge Del Valle. She is

the other girl of Alfredo Salazar thatremains single
in her entire life.
•Don Julian - He is the father of
Alfredo Salazar.
Judge Del Valle - brother-in-law of Julia Salas

Donna Adella -sister of Julia Salas. She is small

and plump, a pretty woman with acomplexion of a
baby with an expression of a likeable cow.
Calixta -note-carrier of Alfredo Salazar and
Esperanza.

Dionisio - husband of Donna Adella.

Vicente - husband of Carmen.
Brigida Samuy - She is the illusive
woman whose
Exposition:
At Don Julian’s house Carmen was asking Don Julian
about Alfredo and Esperanza. Alfredo reminiscence
how he met Julia Salas.

Rising action:
He had gone neighboring with Don Julian to Judge Del
Valle’s house. He met Julia Salas. All the time he was
calling her Mrs. Del Valle which led him to
embarrassment. Coming to the judge’s house became
often. Then he realized he was in love with Julia in
spite his engagement with Esperanza.
Man vs. Circumstances
In the story, Alfredo struggles against his fate and
the circumstances of life and love facing him. He
needs to face problems in choosing between
difficult choices of his life. The story is basically a
compilation of the complicated circumstances that
every man has to go through in life.
Man vs. Society
In the story, Alfredo struggles against the society
because he was afraid to the reaction of the people
around him especially during the time of the story.
People oftentimes give high regard to the society
in
which they belong. They try to adhere to the norms,
traditions and culture of their society, though sometimes
the conformity would require them to sacrifice a part of
themselves – an opinion, an emotion or a decision.
Man vs. Himself
In the story, Alfredo was uncertain and confused
by his decisions. He was torn between doing what
is right and what is in his heart.
The story is all about a dream that would wish
come true ,but in reality we must have to follow
our heart to choose the right person for us and
not just to depend in just a one symbol. Because
we are the one who made our destiny and not by
just a dream or guess. to follow our heart is a
great effort that we can give to the person we
love.