BORROMEO, Nicole Anne T.

BS CHE 2

Children of the Ash-Covered Loam

by: N.V.M. Gonzales

The story, Children of the Ash-Covered Land, is a story about the people in
rough and rugged rural areas, and the horrible kaingin system which appears to be
hazardous to the people who reside on these places. But as the story unfolds, I think,
this story is not just all about that. It is a story about how the cycle of life goes on. It
symbolizes the cycle of life and death, how there is always life that springs from death.

The title itself can have many interpretations. Upon reading the title, I got curious
as to why the title was like that. And then I came to understand when I read the story.
The Ash-Covered Loam represents the land of the farmers which were destroyed
because of the Kaingin System done by people. The lands were left barren and dried
up, leaving nothing but ashes and burnt woods. However, the word “loam” in the title
wasn’t put there by accident. Loam means a type of soil that is good for growing plants.
Despite the barren and dried up land covered with ashes, within it is another source of
life waiting to be flourished.

The main character, Tarang, is a seven-year old boy who is a son of a farmer
whose family is having a difficult life because of the kaingin system. Having to live by
the rural areas, their only source of livelihood is farming; it had been difficult for them
since lands were burned up to ashes. Tarang is one curious boy who always wanders
off and questions things he observes. He is hungry for knowledge of the things around
him. In the story, as he moves around we can see a lot of things which can be put all
together to understand the whole meaning of the story. Because of his hunger for
knowledge, he was able to witness something great before his very eyes – how life
emerged from this ash-covered land of what was thought to be dead.

“Children” in the title may mean children like Tarang, who because of his
curiosity, witnessed life emerging from the ash covered land. The story revolved around
the scenarios he’s been witnessing because of his curiosity. “Children” may also mean
that since we are talking of “new Life” in the story, it would mean that the start of
another life, the beginning of their prosperous and bountiful life despite being left with an
ash-covered land because of the Kaingin system. It’s like it symbolizes hope, for a new
life. The light which will bring prosper to them.