SHORT STORY

WAKE

I was on our way home with my friends from our field trip. But then, a strange thing happened. That most of us knew that this would happen. Our driver told us the car had lost its brake. We panicked, of course. Many possibilities came into our minds. Is kamatayan already calling us? I pictured out many horrible things. I almost lost my consciousness because of fear. My friends were already crying, I could see they’re also afraid. But, I was not crying. I’m just afraid. Then I laughed at their faces. Do they really think we’re going to die? Of course not! I would not let it happen! It was the last thing I remembered then everything went black. I didn’t know what happened next.

            Pain woke me up. I was bleeding all over but I’m alive! Precious God! I’m alive! But where are my friends? Why am I alone here? Where on earth am I? Why it’s very dark here? It was just then that I realized I’m on a pit of a cliff. I almost died with pain and agony.

            I didn’t know how I got out from the cliff. I walked…ran…walked and ran. I’m not tired but blood kept on pouring down from my wounds. “Will I die because of blood loss?” “No! I still want to see my family… My mom.. My dad.. I want to be with them.”

            It’s already dark.. But a glimpse of light caught my attention. It looked so familiar. I ran toward the light source and I cried for gratitude. It’s our house! I knew it’s our house! I’m finally home. I got inside our house immediately. Many people were there. I knew few but others are unknown to me. They were mourning but they seemed not noticing me. “What on earth is going on?” Then suddenly, I saw my friends. They’re all alive! “Thank You God! You’ve saved us!” But why are they all in black? Who’s dead?! Then I saw my mom crying, beside her was my dad trying to console her. In front of them was a coffin. “Who’s really dead?!” “Why are they crying so hard?!” “Is there someone more important for them than their only child?!” “Mom, I’m here!” “Can’t you see me?!” “Why are they not taking to me?!” “Dad! What’s wrong?!” My sweat, blood and tears mixed up on my face. For heaven’s sake, what the hell is happening?!

            It was just then when I finally decided to take a look at the coffin. Then I saw someone very familiar. I don’t know why but I just  cried when I saw whose inside. Then I caught a glimpse of my reflection from a distant mirror on the wall. It was my last felt teardrop then a 3-word phrase came out from my thirsty mouth, “It was I”.

      Meaningful Work Today

Fallen into the trap of thinking

to the sole point of work

bring home enough money to live

if you are unsatisfied with what you do everyday

take a toll on physical and mental health

Finding a job don't last a thing

you might find it hard to get past thinking

about "what pays the most"

or "what is more secure"

but this can open doors 

to careers that you might get it on

Discover new possibilities

exploring your opportunities

overcoming obstacles to career happiness

steps to choose a fulfilling career

to uncover the activities

that get you excited and brings you joy

Story

The Monkey and The Turtle

Setting: It was morning in the forest where the monkey and the turtle decided to make a trap to catch a pig in which he want to have contest which trap will catch the pig first until they reach the river to catch fish and then they saw a banana tree.

Lesson: "Do not do unto others what you don't want others do unto you"

Characters:

• Turle
• Monkey
• Monkey group

Symbol: 

• Monkey- symbolizes the opportunist, self-serving people of the society, ready to get more for them, and be always on the top.
• Turtle- hospitality and genuine trust of the Filipinos.
• Banana Tree- symbolizes the wealth.

Summary: The turtle and the monkey were close friends. One morning they talked about their situation and then the monkey planned to have traps for pigs in which they two had also contest in which traps catches pig first. On their first game, the monkey tricked the turtle but the turtle forgive him. Next day, they planned to go to the river to catch fish until they saw a banana tree then the monkey tricked the turtle again and the turtle was just humble that he gave the upper half of the banana tree to the monkey knowing that all the banana's are in there. Only the body and roots was left for him. And then, the turtle had this bright idea that he will plant the body and it will grow again as a full banana tree. When the tree grew, the monkey again approach the turtle that they will be friends again and he will get the banana's at the top for the turtle. But then again, he was tricked. No banana's were left for him. When he was about to get down, he slipped and then he fell and impaled because of the bamboo sticks the turtle planted. He died. The turtle ate him and he like the taste that he could compare it to the other foods. On his way home he met monkeys in which they asked the turtle if what made him have a very full stomach. He gave the monkey meat and them some of them died and they realize it's monkey's meat. They're very mad.They want to kill the turtle until they the turtle tricked them so that they have to throw him to the river not knowing that the turtle can live in the water.

Reflection: The monkey here is very greedy that all that he want must be all with him and nothing left for the turtle. It is not good as we have known. Not all the time people are considerate. We must be good unto others specially to our friends. Like what the turtle did, he just showed the good side of him to the monkey despite of his situation. Because, even if you don't want to fight to your enemy the bad luck will really visit the other who did the wrong doings. That's why we this golden rule " Don't do unto others what you don't want others do unto you".

Comment: I like this story because of the humorous way of writing. It is entertaining and at the same time we are learning a lesson.

Comtemporary Literature

How My Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife

Plot: Chronological arrangement, the author start the story of the arrival of Maria and Baldo at Nagrebcan. Maria was afraid that Leon's father may not accept her to be his daughter-in-law, she may not be able to cope the life in province because she is used to live in the city which is very different from the province where Leon come from. Baldo is ignoring his brother's question why did they have to go to the Waig instead of the Camino Real. Baldo and his father had a conversation about what happened while they're traveling. Leon's whole family talked with Maria. Baldo said that his Father's voice became livelier as he talks to Maria.

Theme: Respect and accept one's life.

Setting: It was evening at which the sun starts to rise when Maria and Leon arrived at Nagrebcan, which is the hometown of Leon. Nagrebcan is located at La Union and it's also the place of the author.

Characters: 

• Leon/Noel- husband of Maria
• Maria- wife of Leon
• Baldo- the younger brother of Leon
• Father and Mother of Baldo and Leon
• Aurelia- the younger sister of Baldo and Leon
• Labang- the Bull

Symbol: Rocky road in which the rocks symbolizes difficulties, struggles and problems on an adventure towards reaching once destination.

Summary: Baldo and his brother Leon were both waiting for the arrival of their visitor riding the careetela. Seeing his brother's wife, Baldo was taken away by the beauty of the woman from the city as he narrates their journey to Nagrebcan. The idea of meeting with Leon's parents for the first time made Maria a bit anxious. But along their way, Maria discovered the peculiarities of the life in Nagrebcan as opposed to their life in the city where she met and fell in love with Leon. But she is looking forward in what's like to live in the province, which is very different from the city.

Reflection: Marriage is not a joke thing. As what people do before they got married, they've been planning what's the best for their marriage life. If you really love the person, you have to respect and accept him/her. Like what Maria did in the story. Despite the situation in the province, she did not complain about the place. In her case, it's very difficult to stay in the province because she is adjusting to get through it because it is very different from the city.

Comment: I like the story because there is something we can get not only the entertainment and aside from that it is not boring or lame to read it. You can widen your imagination because of the place and the characters which you have to visualize and compare the differences and that's the story about. The writer wrote the story as 'conversational style' in which he uses personal pronouns and contractions. The style fits the story well because the story is descriptive.