Magdasoc, Angelie T.

S-Eng 11 – Philippine Literature

Prof. Maria Palma

21 October 2013

Reflecting on Filipino Beliefs and Traditions as Shown in Selected Plays

Beliefs and traditions are part of every culture. For Filipinos like us, it also serves

as evidence that in some way or another, we still have similar point of views. This paper

aims to get to know Filipinos through their way of practicing the beliefs and traditions as

shown in selected plays. These may reflect what kind of citizen the Filipino is.

Among the playwrights I have read, I think “Sabrina” by Severino Montano is the

one which really portrayed many Filipino beliefs and traditions when one of our loved

ones died. First is that, according to the elders we should wear black clothes a sign of

our mourning. Another is that we celebrate the so called “pa-siyam” to offer prayers to

his soul. These were shown in these dialogues:

Cleta: Indeed she is! She’s throwing of her black dress and she’s slipping on a shameful one.

Ursula: Mother I don’t like my black dress.

Cleta: Close your sinful mouth!

Old woman: It’s a bad enough for her not to come to prayers these nine nights, and now for her to

cast off mourning so soon.

Furthermore, for an unknown reason, it was also believed that looking at the

mirror is a bad luck.

Ursula: She’s combing her hair before the looking glass!

Old woman: It’s a bad omen to look into the glass Cleta. This will be a night of evil! Tell her to

cover the glass.

Sabina, the lead character in the story, is a stubborn one. It is because she was

so in love with Mr. George and that all she wanted was to share happiness with him

after the death of her mother. Sadly, her family was against it. His Aunt and brother

even blame her and Mr. George for her mother’s death, but she doesn’t car. Sabina got

pregnant. When he told this to Mr. George, he seems to be unhappy about it. Then he

eventually confides that he’s already married with another woman. The truth lead

Sabina to a tremendous feeling of disgrace hence, she decided to shoot herself.

The story only reveals that somehow, it is important to follow what the elders are

saying, because they’re just doing what they think the best for us. It’s not right to

forsake them easily in exchange of our own happiness because above all, our family

should be our inspiration and source of joy. We should not be blinded by love.

Filipino beliefs and traditions don’t just show up through superstitious thinking.

Sometimes, it could also be seen through actions and way of living. Let us consider

other stage plays written by Filipino authors to prove this.

Filipinos by nature has a strong family bond. Whenever problems arise, the very

first people whom we will reach out are our family. This is why we value them so much.

The playwright, “The World is an Apple”, depicts a family who lacks financially, and the

character of Mario portrays a father who dreamt of giving his family, especially his

daughter, a good life that they deserve. He once traced a wrong path, but he changed.

He had a decent job but with just one glimpse, he lost it again.

Gloria: But how did you lose it?

Mario (Rises and turns away): What’s the use of talking about it? That won’t bring it back.

…

Gloria: Have your sinful fingers brought you trouble again?

Mario: Now, now, Gloria! Don’t try to accuse me, as they did!

Gloria: What did they accuse you of?

Mario: Just what you meant to say. Pilfering, they call it.

Gloria: What else would you call it? (Pause.) What, according to them, did you steal?

…

Mario: It was – an apple.

All he just wanted was to give that apple to his daughter, but those cruel people

didn’t give him a chance. This incident forced him to trace back the wrong path which he

has long promised not to walk through anymore. He met up again with Pablo – his

partner in crime. This scenario only shows Filipinos tend to do things that are not

accepted to the society just to earn an adequate living.

Filipinos are also very determined when it comes to pursuing their dreams. We

want to have bright future so as to acquire admiration and respect from others. In the

story “New Yorker in Tondo”, a girl named Kikay left the Philippines for New York. And

when she got back, she became a completely different person - the way she dresses,

the way she move, and the way she speak – all similar to a true New Yorker. She don’t

even want to be called as ‘Kikay’, she said it must ‘Francesca’. And the worst is, she

even forgot what responsibility she has before she has gone to New York, and that is

her engagement with Tony. It even came to the point that he degraded him by saying:

Kikay: … I’m a woman of the world, you are only a boy. I hate to hurt you Tony… but surely

you see that there can be no more talk of an engagement between us. And marriage between us

would be a stark of miscegenation! Imagine a New Yorker marrying a Tondo boy!

But luckily, after a short, sincere talk with him, Kikay realized what she has done.

So she apologized. In the end, she brought back the old Kikay and declared that

Francesca is dead. My realization in this story is that, you should not let material things

conquer your inner self, otherwise it’ll change you as a person.

Filipinos has exceptional beliefs and traditions which makes our culture richer.

These beliefs reflect our viewpoints as a person. It is not actually wrong to follow these

as long it still carries good results.

WORKS CITED

Del Castillo, T., Medina, B.S. (1972). Philippine literature from ancient times to the present. Sabina. Caloocan City. Philippine Graphic Arts Inc.

Maramba, A.D. (1990). Philippine contemporary literature in English and Filipino. New Yorker in Tondo. Makati. SSP.