Mind's Lil Diary

A Review of Fray Botod By: Graciano Lopez Jaena About the Author Graciano Lopez Jaena born in 1856 was a revolutionary, a Filipino writer, orator and a national hero. He was one of the propagandists who fought for the social and political reform of the country. Because of his awareness to the unfair ruling of the Spanish government and to the abusive use of religious power during the Spanish colonial era, he wrote a satirical work entitled "Fray Botod" at a very young age. Review of Fray Botod: Formalist Criticism The story Fray Botod described how selfish, lustful, abusive, and corrupt Spanish priests are during the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines. The term Fray Botod means "big- bellied friar", which symbolizes not just the traits of the main character in the story, but also the characteristics of religious leaders years ago. This satire was made to reveal the real happenings in the society under the unscrupulous reigning of Spanis...

A Review of Dead Stars by: Paz Marquez Benitez About the Author Paz Marquez Benítez was born in 1894 at Lucena, Tayabas (currently known as Quezon). She wrote the first Filipino modern English language short story entitled "Dead Stars", published in the year 1925. Being born in an eminent family of Quezon, she was given a privilege to learn English as a medium of instruction in the first Filipino generation of American education system training. Paz Benitez was a part of the first freshman class of the University of the Philippines, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912. She then became a professor at University of the Philippines, and taught short-story writing to her students. Moreover, Paz became an influential figure to many Filipino writers in the English language even up to this day. Plot The story revolves around Alfredo and the two women of his life-- Esperanza, his fiancè, and a young beautiful lady named Julia Salas. Alfredo was ha...

A Cryptic Dream  by: Janne Carol Villadelgado A milestone away From a dream unclear It seemed surreal But why do I feel so blue? In that world there was hue And a light that made me blind My eyes couldn't gaze at it But surprisingly I felt that bliss Utopia, am I really here? Sweet fragrance of roses, Warm touch of the wind I barely wanted to leave But suddenly came the mist That turned everything blur The light that once was there Disappeared into thin air Utopia? Am I still here? The roses wounded me with their thorns The warm wind turned very cold Hopelessly, I just turned away And achingly said goodbye.

Bugtong (Riddles) "Iyong mga gamit ay aking kinakain, minsan ay sinasama mo rin ako sa iyong mga lakarin." -Bag "Sobrang bango nung pumasok siya sa malaking kweba, nag-ibang anyo at bumaho pagkalabas sa maliit na pwerta." -Pagkain "Minsan diyos, minsan planeta, pero nasusukat ko din ang iyong temperatura." -Mercury "Sa pagtulog mo'y ako ang kayakap, palagi kong iniipon ang luha mong pumapatak." -Unan "Lingon dito, lingon doon, bigyan ka ng hangin ay aking layon." -Bentilador