DISCOVER THROUGH

PHILIPPINE LITERATURE
THE NEED TO WORK
COOPERATIVELY AND
RESPONSIBLY IN TODAY’S
GLOBAL VILLAGE
• Reading Selection: My Father Goes to Court

Nikky Preciosa A. Cacanindin

MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING
COMPETENCY:
EN7LT-IV-a-6: Discover through Philippine
literature the need to work cooperatively and
responsibly in today’s global village.
ACTIVITY
 Study the pictures and arrange the jumbled letters in order
to come up with a word that describes the illustration
given. Write your answers in the boxes provided.
1. O O P E O N C R A I T
 1. O O P E O N C R A I T

C O O P E R A T I O N
2. E B L O C A S I
 2. E B L O C A S I

S O C I A B L E
3. C E N A T I A U Q C A N
 3. C E N A T I A U Q C A N

A C Q U I A N T A N C E
4. E T C N A S S S A I
 4. E T C N A S S S A I

A S S I S T A N C E
ANALYSIS
The following literature you are about to discover is
a plot summary of the text “My Father Goes to
Court” authored by Carlos S. Bulosan. Let us get to
know who the author first then read and reflect from
each paragraph of the story by answering the
questions that follow.
 Carlos Sampayan Bulosan is an English language
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Filipino novelist and poet who spent most of his life in the
United States. He was born on November 2, 1911 in the
province of Pangasinan. His family struggled to survive
during times of economic hardship. He decided to go to
America with the dream to help his family. In America, he
endured bad conditions as a laborer. These encouraged him
to participate in union organizing with other Filipinos and
various works. He became a self-educated and prolific writer
determined to voice the struggles he had experienced.
His best-known work is the semi-autobiographical
America is in the Heart including The Laughter of My
Father, The Cry and the Dedication, My Father's Tragedy
and The Romance of Magno Rubio.
MY FATHER GOES TO
COURT
BY CARLOS S. BULOSAN
Read the story silently for 5 minutes, then
teacher will read orally. Learners will reflect
from each paragraph of the story by answering
the questions that follow.
QUESTION # 1

How does the family of

the farmer differ from the
family of the rich man?
QUESTION # 2

What happened to the rich

man’s family as the
narrator’s family become
healthy?
QUESTION # 3

What was the rich man’s

accusation against the
father?
QUESTION # 4

What do you think the

father was thinking upon
seeing the rich man’s
children?
QUESTION # 5

What could be the

reason why the father filled
the straw hat with centavo
pieces?
ABSTRACT
What is the message of the story?
ABSTRACT
What is the message of the story?
The story tells us that we have a responsibility
to respect others regardless of status.
ABSTRACT
What is the message of the story?
The story tells us that we have a responsibility
to respect others regardless of status.
 Be courteous and helpful with your neighbors
ABSTRACT
What is the message of the story?
The story tells us that we have a responsibility
to respect others regardless of status.
 Be courteous and helpful with your neighbors.

 Money can’t buy happiness.

APPLICATION
From Reel to Real
The story you’ve just read clearly portrays the society’s call for action. By answering the following questions, you can
show your personal stand and make a point relating it to your social responsibility.

1. If you were the judge, what would be your judgment?

2. If you were the Father, would you do the same? Why?
3. Why did the judge dismiss the case? What is your take on
this?
4. What do you think is the lesson the rich man had learned
from the experience?
5. What is author’s message to his readers? Relate it to this
day’s scenario.
I. Assessment
Directions: Read and understand the questions carefully. Write your answers on the space
provided.

_____1. What is the most recognizable work of Carlos S. Bulosan?

A. America is in the Heart C. My Father's Tragedy
B. Where’s the Patis D. The Happiest Boy in theWorld
_____2. Which of the following literary works does not belong to Carlos S.
Bulosan?
A. America is in the Heart C. My Father's Tragedy
B. The Cry and the Dedication D. The Happiest Boy in the World
_____3. Who is the narrator in the story “My Father Goes to Court?
A. lawyer B. young narrator C. rich man D. father of Carlos
_____4. What kind of man is the young narrator’s neighbor as described in
the story?
A. poor man B. rich man C. young man D. fat man
_____5. What was the complaint filed against the father of the young narrator?
The poor family was accused for stealing ____________________________.
A. stealing the spirit of their food C. being poor
B. stealing the chickens D. trespassing
_____6. What is the difference between the poor and the rich man’s family?
A. The poor man’s family became healthy and the other grew weak
B. The poor man’s family became rich and the other became poor
C. Both families died due to risky illness
D. Both families were very happy.
_____7. What was the judge’s decision?
A. The case was dismissed. C. The rich man wins.
B. The poor man was imprisoned. D. He took the rich man’s side.
_____8. How did the narrator’s father pay the crime his family is accused to?
A. The father took a loan from the bank.
B. The spirit of the food was paid with the spirit of the money.
C. The food was paid with delicious food.
D. The father gave his land.
_____9. What Filipino setup does the story represent and which the author
calls for action?
A. unending poverty C. maltreatment of those in power
B. visibility of justice D. economic gap between the rich and the poor
_____10. The following statements are lessons that can be gleaned from the
story, which one is NOT?
A. We have a responsibility to respect others regardless of status.
B. Be courteous and helpful with your neighbors.
C. Money can’t buy happiness.
D. Everyone can file a suit whatever the reasons are.
ASSIGNMENT
 Compose a short essay about the
significance of cooperation and being
responsible. Take note of your margin,
indention, capitalization and punctuation.
Please write legibly in a whole sheet of
paper.
Thank you for listening. 