THE REVOLUTION ACCORDING T RAYMUNDO MATA
Excerpt
by Gina Apostol
It was a bolt – a thunder bolt. A rain of bricks, a lightning zap. A pummeling of mountains, a
heaving violent storm at sea – a whiplash. A typhoon. An earthquake. The end of the world.
And I was in ruins. It struck me dumb. It changed my life and the world was new when I was
done. And when I raised myself from bed two days later, I thought: It’s only a novel. If I ever
met him, what would my life be? I lay back in bed. But what a novel! And I cursed him, the
writer – what was his name – for doing what I hadn’t done, for putting my worlds into
words before I even had the sense to know what the world was. That was his triumph – he’d
laid out a trail, and all we had to do is follow his wake. Even then, I already felt the bitter
envy, the acid retch of a latecomer artist, the one who will always be under the influence, by
mere chronology always slightly suspect, a borrower, never lender be. After him, all
Filipinos are tardy ingrates. What is the definition of art? Art is reproach to those who
receive it. That was his curse upon all of us. I was weak, as if drugged. I realized: I hadn’t
eaten in two days. Then I got out of bed and boiled barako for me.
Later it was all the rage in the coffee shops, in the bazaars of Binondo. People did not even
hide it – crowds of men, and not just students, not just boys, some women even, with their
violent fans – gesticulating in public, throwing up their hands, putting up fists in debate. Put
your knuckle where your mouth is. We were loud, obstreperous, heedless. We were literary
critics. We were cantankerous: rude raving. And no matter which side you were, with the
crown or with the infidels, Spain or Spolarium, all of us, each one, seemed revitalized by
spleen, hatched by the woods of long, venomous silence. And yes, suddenly the world
opened up to me, after the novel, to which before I had been blind.
***
Still I rushed into other debates, for instance with Benigno and Agapito, who had now
moved into my rooms. Remembering Father Gaspar’s cryptic injunction - “throw it away to
someone else,” so that in this manner the book traveled rapidly in those dark days of its
printing, now so nostalgically glorious, though then I had no clue that these were historic
acts, the act of reading, or that the book would be such a collector’s item, or otherwise I
would have wrapped it in parchment and sealed it for the highest bidder, what the hell, I
only knew holding the book could very likely constitute a glorious crime – in short, I lent it
to Benigno.
THE REVOLUTION ACCORDING T RAYMUNDO MATA
Excerpt
by Gina Apostol
It was a bolt – a thunder bolt. A rain of bricks, a lightning zap. A pummeling of mountains, a
heaving violent storm at sea – a whiplash. A typhoon. An earthquake. The end of the world.
And I was in ruins. It struck me dumb. It changed my life and the world was new when I was
done. And when I raised myself from bed two days later, I thought: It’s only a novel. If I ever
met him, what would my life be? I lay back in bed. But what a novel! And I cursed him, the
writer – what was his name – for doing what I hadn’t done, for putting my worlds into
words before I even had the sense to know what the world was. That was his triumph – he’d
laid out a trail, and all we had to do is follow his wake. Even then, I already felt the bitter
envy, the acid retch of a latecomer artist, the one who will always be under the influence, by
mere chronology always slightly suspect, a borrower, never lender be. After him, all
Filipinos are tardy ingrates. What is the definition of art? Art is reproach to those who
receive it. That was his curse upon all of us. I was weak, as if drugged. I realized: I hadn’t
eaten in two days. Then I got out of bed and boiled barako for me.
Later it was all the rage in the coffee shops, in the bazaars of Binondo. People did not even
hide it – crowds of men, and not just students, not just boys, some women even, with their
violent fans – gesticulating in public, throwing up their hands, putting up fists in debate. Put
your knuckle where your mouth is. We were loud, obstreperous, heedless. We were literary
critics. We were cantankerous: rude raving. And no matter which side you were, with the
crown or with the infidels, Spain or Spolarium, all of us, each one, seemed revitalized by
spleen, hatched by the woods of long, venomous silence. And yes, suddenly the world
opened up to me, after the novel, to which before I had been blind.
***
Still I rushed into other debates, for instance with Benigno and Agapito, who had now
moved into my rooms. Remembering Father Gaspar’s cryptic injunction - “throw it away to
someone else,” so that in this manner the book traveled rapidly in those dark days of its
printing, now so nostalgically glorious, though then I had no clue that these were historic
acts, the act of reading, or that the book would be such a collector’s item, or otherwise I
would have wrapped it in parchment and sealed it for the highest bidder, what the hell, I
only knew holding the book could very likely constitute a glorious crime – in short, I lent it
to Benigno.
 GUIDE QUESTIONS: PADRE FAURA WITNESSES THE EXECUTION OF RIZAL
Uychoco, M. T. (2016). 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore Inc. by Danton Remoto

I stand on the roof

1. Why did Noli Me Tangere have such a big impression on the Narrator? Could you relate to the feelings of Of the Ateneo Municipal,
the Narrator’s experience of reading? Why or why not? Shivering
On this December morning.
Noli Me Tangere has a big contribution to the Philippines' acquisition of freedom. Just imagine a book
-- A SINGLE BOOK! made such big turmoil in the society, leading for the Filipinos to be what they are Months ago,
today. The feeling is like as if having the exact cross where Jesus Christ was crucified. Just imagine how
Pepe came to me
intensifying that can be.
In the Observatory
I thought we would talk
2. What does the line, “Art is reproach to those who receive it” mean?
About the stars
Art is composed of different kinds of genre. It includes music, visual arts, literature, and so on. We can say
That do not collide
that the "Art" that is being pointed out in this excerpt is the Noli Me Tangere. Art can become a reproach to
In the sky:
those who receive it when its content becomes contradictory to what the people do and makes them reflect
Instead, he asked me about purgatory.
on what they failed to do. With the Spaniards, upon reading Noli Me Tangere felt the books attempt to
contradict the government that they have established in the country. With the Filipinos it became a
(His cheeks still ruddy
reproach to them realizing what they failed to do to free their country, thus it leads to revolution.
From the sudden sun
3. When the narrator says the act of reading is a historic act, what did he mean?
After the bitter winters
In Europe.)
Specifically in the Philippines, reading became a historic act. with the act of reading Noli Me Tangere,
it inspired them to fight and free the country. And on this day
Even with hundreds of copies of Noli Me Tangere were produced and if it was just left sitting With the year beginning to turn,
around the corner, nothing will happen. By reading, people created history. Salt stings my eyes.
I see Pepe,
4. Why is the Noli Me Tangere, a book that was banned in the past, now a required reading in Philippine
schools? Why did the Catholic Church go against making Noli a requirement.
A blur
Noli Me Tangere was banned because of its portrayal of corruption and abuses by the Spanish Between the soldiers
government and the Catholic Church in the Philippines before. With their Mausers raised
when Noli became a requirement in the Philippines' educational system, the Catholic feared that students And the early morning's
may have the wrong impression of the church, but this taboo has been overthrown because of the Rizal
Law. Star:
Still shimmering
2. 5. Do you think there should ever be a time when certain books should be banned? Why or why not?
Even if millions of miles away,
The star itself
With bans there is always a way out. Even with many restrictions if an individual seeks to get something,
they will come and get it. A lot of books has been banned but people still have their hands acquired it. If
people wants to read, let them. If you're afraid that it may overthrow beliefs, ask about their opinions. If Is already dead.
you feel like you have to speak, then speak. Now it will all just fall on guided interpretations.

PADRE FAURA WITNESSES THE EXECUTION OF RIZAL

by Danton Remoto
 Pepe.
I stand on the roof
Of the Ateneo Municipal, 2. Why does Pepe ask the persona about purgatory?
Rizal has been in battle against the Spaniards through his writings. Being consciously aware that his
Shivering
name is under fire, there is an immense knowing that his execution might be coming.
On this December morning. When we speak about purgatory in Roman Catholic Doctrine, it is where the souls enter after death for
cleansing and purifying of sins before transcending to heaven.
Months ago, Rizal might have been thinking about his forthcoming death and is mentally preparing himself if he is
Pepe came to me about to go to purgatory. What is it like? or maybe, does it even exist.
In the Observatory
I thought we would talk 3. The poem talks about the nature of the stars. Can you explain what he means, in terms of science.
There is the statement that says, "when we look at the stars, you're actually looking at the past." The
light that we see from the stars is actually a light that travelled years- thousand of light years before it
About the stars reaches Earth. So, the stars that we see today are actually dead in present, what we're seeing is how they
That do not collide shimmered thousand years ago.
In the sky:
Instead, he asked me about purgatory. 4. This discussion of a star is also a metaphor. What is the metaphor for?
The star is a metaphor of Jose Rizal. Like the star that's already died years ago, we can still see its light
(His cheeks still ruddy shimmering before us. Like Jose Rizal, he might be dead, but his legacy will forever remain in the hearts of
the Filipinos.
From the sudden sun
After the bitter winters 5. What do you think the persona felt for Rizal? Give textual evidence.
In Europe.) Sadness-- regrets (panghihinayang)
"Salt stings my eyes.
And on this day
I see Pepe,"
With the year beginning to turn,
Salt stings my eyes. Seeing Rizal in the midst of execution, the persona can't help but held tears in his eyes. Also, knowing
I see Pepe, that months ago, he knows that Rizal has been preparing for this.

A blur
Between the soldiers
With their Mausers raised
And the early morning's

Star:
Still shimmering
Even if millions of miles away,
The star itself

Is already dead.

1. Who is Pepe? Explain.

Pepe is the Philippine National Hero, Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal y Alonso Realonda or commonly
known as Jose Rizal. During the Spanish era in the Philippines, children named Jose is given a nickname