Footnote to Youth

Jose Garcia Villa's Footnote to Youth presents the responsibilities and realities of marriage
and family life. It narrates the story of Dodong a seventeen year old lad seeking to marry his love
Teang. Reluctant over how he intends to talk to his father about marrying Teang, going over the
possible responses his father would give, and at the same time convincing himself that he is old
enough to handle the responsibility.
On his way home, he makes a stop to relieve himself. The ground was broken up into many fresh
wounds and fragrant with a sweetish, earthy smell. Many slender soft worms emerged from the
furrows and then burrowed again deeper into the soil. The appearance of the worms and the
occurrence of one worm crawling over Dodong's foot is of great importance to the story, as it
serves as a revealing of Dodong's character and future. A short colorless worm marched blindly
towards Dodong's foot and crawled clammily over it. Dodong got tickled and jerked his foot,
flinging the worm into the air. Several characteristics attributed to the worm can also be reflected
back onto Dodong's story, particularly the fact that the short worm was crawling blindly.
It would be interesting to note, as well, the connection this worm crawling over Dodong's foot
has with the title. A footnote is a note at the foot of a page. It is often used to give additional
information to the reader regarding certain words or phrases in the text. As such, Jose Garcia
Villa is obviously trying to put forth certain themes and messages regarding youth and life
through the use of a short story. The message that comes forth to the reader through the reading
of the story, then, is what we may refer to as his footnote.
However, an interesting alternative suggestion may lie within the story itself, particularly with
the worm depicted in the story. The worm is described as blindly marching towards Dodong's
foot, which is exactly how we could also describe Dodong and his choices in this story. Dodong
blindly marched into marriage, expecting his life to become better. However, that is not what
happened. Instead, after nine months Teang was pregnant with his child, and he felt incredibly
unprepared:
In a few moments he would be a father. 'Father, Father,' he whispered the word with awe, with
strangeness. He was young, he realized now, contradicting himself nine months ago. He was very
young... He felt queer, troubled, uncomfortable....
In addition to that, for six successive years, Dodong and Teang kept having children. At this
point, Teang began to feel unhappy in their marriage. She cried sometimes, wishing she had not
married. She did not tell Dodong this, not wishing him to dislike her. Yet she wished she had not
married. Not even Dodong whom she loved. It is interesting to note here that Teang still claims
to love Dodong despite the hardships they have gone through. It should also be noted that Yet
she wished she had not married, is a sentence that is separated from Not even Dodong whom she
loved, meaning it is the act of marrying at a young age that she regrets, not the fact that it is
Dodong whom she married. Not marrying Dodong was only an after-thought.

The story goes on, however, to describe another suitor Teang had, Lucio, who was older than
Dodong by nine years. Lucio had married another after her marriage to Dodong, but he and his
wife were childless until now. If she had married Lucion, she wondered, would she
have borne him children? Maybe not, either. That was a better lot. But she loved Dodong.... Here
we are given a clearer picture about her unhappiness and disappointment.
It is particularly regarding child-bearing at a young age that Teang is unhappy with. ...would she
have borne him children? Maybe not, either. That was a better lot. The regret she feels about the
marriage, then, is regarding the fact that they had children very early on in their lives. Just as
Dodong's thoughts raced when his first child was born: He was young, he realized now... He was
very young. The responsibility of having children was something they could not bear at such a
young age, and yet it was a responsibility that they were left with and had to deal with.
This, particularly, is why Dodong's father was reluctant to give Dodong his blessing to
marry. Must you marry, Dodong? his father asked. You are very young, Dodong. Despite his
father's effort to dissuade him into marrying, Dodong persisted and went through with it, much to
his father's dismay.
In this, we can safely conclude, then, that Dodong is just like the worm that blindly crawled onto
his foot. The worm is a note that is intended for Dodong, and for readers as well, not to go
charging blindly into the fray. For what happened to the worm? Dodong got tickled and jerked
his foot, flinging the worm into the air. To stress this blindness even further we can look at
Dodong's reaction right after flinging the worm: Dodong did not bother to look where it fell, but
thought of his age, seventeen, and he said to himself he was not young anymore. From the very
beginning Dodong's character is revealed as someone self-obsessed to the point that he doesn't
bother to look at the consequences of his actions. This is the footnote to youth: not to charge
blindly into adulthood.
And so, just like his father before him, Dodong was suddenly faced with the dilemma when his
eighteen-year-old son comes up to him and asks to marry. 'You want to marry Tona,' Dodong
said. He did not want Blas to marry yet. Blas was very young. The life that would follow
marriage would be hard.... And yet, like his father before him, Dodong did not prevent his son
from experiencing those hardships as well. In this, the story's theme becomes more universal in
the sense that it is a footnote not only to the youth, but to parents as well. The theme, then, is
clear in the sense that the quality of one's life is likened to that of a worm when marriage and
adulthood is rushed into at a very young age.
Review
Dodong stepped out one night wondered and reflected on the life he was living. He asked
himself why life did not fulfill all of youth's dreams. Why it must be so. Why one was
forsaken...after love... Dodong wanted answers. Maybe the question was not to be answered.
Youth must be dreamfully sweet. Dodong returned to the house humiliated by his self. He had
wanted to know a little wisdom but was denied it.

After the stage of love or marriage to Teang, it expressed one's dreams would have to be
forsaken. It is expressed that only the youth get to dream about how grand life could be, and that
come a certain age, life becomes difficult, full of hardships, impossible even. To that thought,
however, I would have to disagree. As is said in the narration, Dodong was denied a little
wisdom, therefore suggesting that this train of thought is something that should be changed.
Jose Garcia Villa's story implies , as the title itself suggests. A footnote is usually found at the
bottom of the page, somewhat suggesting that it is of little importance as compared to the body
itself, or the text. A footnote, in that sense, becomes more of an after-thought, than a primary
concern. However, the fact that the title itself is proclaimed a footnote is purposefully putting
forth that the subtext is what is vitally important in this story. The title being Footnote to Youth
immediately suggests that the whole of the story may be the actual footnote. What most readers
often miss or take for granted (the footnote) becomes the main object.
Footnotes also often suggest additional readings, references, and suggest that the word or phrase
is of vital importance as compared to the rest of the text. In this sense alone, we have to
acknowledge the urgency of the themes being put forth in this story.
First would be the fact that the parents in this story, Dodong's father and Dodong himself, did
little to shape and mold the lives of their sons. Rather than offering guidance and wisdom based
on their own personal experiences, they both decided to give in to their son's desires. The role of
the parent is crucial in the molding of a child's future, and these parents neglected that
responsibility by deciding to hold their tongues. As a result, their children suffer, and go through
a terrible experience of marriage life.
And because they married early, they lack the experience and the know-how with regards to
raising children: hence the fact that they were unable to fulfill their responsibility as parents in
guiding their kids down a wiser path. In turn, it becomes an endless cycle of mishandling. Even
Dodong, in his attempt to gain a little wisdom when he steps outside to reflect, is denied that
wisdom. This is particularly due to the fact that his father never had that wisdom either. Such
wisdom can only be passed on by those people who greatly influence our lives - which in most
cases are our parents. So when dealing with his son Blas, Dodong could only do what he knew
(what his father did with him) allow Blas to marry early, when he should have, instead,
discouraged it.

The Day the Dancers Came

The Day The Dancers Came is a 1995 short-story written by award-winning writer
Bienvenido N. Santos. The story is a portrayal of a Filipino immigrant where Fil Acayan, the
protagonist, longs for his native land and by feeding his desire becomes excited when
Filipino dancers is performing in Hamliton. The mere thought that they are Filipino satisfies
him.The common desire of longing for ones hometown among Filipino immigrants no
matter how desperate it may seem (like Fils desperation to be friends with Filipino dancers
who perform in their nearby place) reflects the typical Filipino immigrants value for his
native land. Themes in the story are migration, alienation, and homesickness.

The story presents a binary opposition between Fil Acayan and Tony Batallers
character. Fil portrays a very Filipino character while Tony portrays a Westernized one.
Throughout the story, these two major characters play the extreme opposite with each
other. It seems that Tonys character forgets his being a Filipino when he declares Im
becoming a white man (he has a skin disease and a gradual peeling is taking place that
results to the whiteness spreading on Tonys skin). He has a young face, much younger
than Fils. On the other hand, Fil envies Tony because he feels that Tony has everything
which Fil knew he himself lack). There is an obvious age in his face although he is much
older than Tony and he has horny hands which he feels insecure about. He isnt as white
as Fil reflecting his Filipino skin. Tony was the better speaker of the two in English, but in
dialect, Fil showed greater mastery.
Tension in the story begins when Fil tells Tony about his excitement for the arrival
of the Filipino dancers. When he looks outside for the falling snows, he gets excited with the
idea that Filipino dancers will surely walk in the snow and love it. But Tony replies saying Fil
is crazy..[e]ver since you heard of those dancers from the Philippines, youve been acting
nuts, Loco. As if theyre coming here just for you. This scene begins the portrayal of Tonys
pessimism. As their conversation goes, when they talks about death, Fil breaks the tension
by saying [l]ets talk about something nice. Fil is a character with great optimism. He is
hopeful with the thought of becoming friends with the Filipino dancers no matter how Tony
discourages the thought:
Fil argued, thinking how wonderful it would be if he could join the
company of dancers from the Philippines, show them around, walk with
them in the snow...answer their questionsabout the changing seasons
in this strange land.

He would go ahead with his plans, introduce himself to the dancers and
volunteer to take them sight-seeing. His car was clean and ready
for his guests. He had soaped the ashtrays, dusted off the floor boards
and thrown away the old mats, replacing them with new plastic
throw rugs. He had gotten himself soaking wet while spraying the car,
humming, as he worked, faintly remembered tunes from the
old country.
Tony continues to discourage him when saying What for you to invite them?
Here? Arent you shamed of this hole? But Fil provides enthusiasm in his hope [i]ts not a
palace, I knowbut who wants a palace when they can have the most delicious adobo here
and the best stuffed chicken Tony despises his idea because of Fil being an imaginative
fellow when he say still you want to spend for these dancing kids who dont know you
and wont even send you a card afterwards. Tony opposes Fils imaginative nature
because he focuses to the real thing. He believes that Fil is really hysterical about his hope
of being friend with the Filipino dancers. He also portrays pessimism about his sickness:
I want to, but Im sick, Fil. I tell you. Im not feeling goog. My doctor will
know today. Hell tell me, Tony said.
What will he tell you?

How do I know?
I mean, whats he trying to find out?
If its cancer, Tony said. Without saying another word, he went straight
back to his room.
In Fils remembrance, when he asks Tony whats the matter hearing him
screamed, deadening his cries one night, Tony says he was dying. This statement gives
light to his pessimism character because there is no longer hope or dreams with him unlike
Fil who is very hopeful and cheerful about everything. This optimism and pessimism
opposition is also apparent when Fil again remembers their old times together when they
got drunk and became loudFil recited poems in the dialect and praised himself [love for
Filipino language and thinks good things]. Tony fell to giggling and cursed all the railroad
companies of America [negativity].
Fil, being an imaginative fellow, dwells in sentimentality. He has a magic sound
mirror where he had experimented on recording sounds...[h]eplayed all the sounds back
and tried to recall how it was on that day or night the sounds had been recorded. He dwells
in the past time and memory but later on concludes that time was the villain for he
has grown useless for a lot of things and too late for all the dreams you [he] had wrapped
up well against a day in need. But he continues to use his magic sound mirror. Tony, on
the other hand, seems to be looking forward to the future: Never a pain like this. One day,
Im just gonna die.
When the day comes for him to meet the Filipino dancers over the lobby in
mezzanine in Hamilton, he is overwhelmed by their laughterlike a breeze murmurous
with sounds native to his land. He realizes that the sight seemed too much for him who
had all but forgotten how beautiful Philippine girls were. It reflects his longing for his native
land. The mere thought that the dancers are Filipinos overwhelms him. He would smile at
everyone who happened to look his way. Most of them smiled back or rather, seemed to
smile, but it was quick, without a recognition Later he feels insecure about the age in his
face, his horny handshe wished Tony had been with himcharm these young people with
his smile and his learned words. He feels that he was not welcome. It reflects his
alienation to these Filipino people. When bumped against a slim, short girl he smells a
fragrance long forgotten, essence of camia, of ilang-ilangand dama de noche.
He begins in his invitation to their apartment to the people he sees but they are
always moving away. When he approaches a group to repeat his invitation he sees a girl
with a mole on her upper lip and rejects him. The description of the girl registers how his
consciousness focuses on the mouth that delivers the polite but firm rejection.
When Fill says Fall, snow, fall in the beginning to intensify his hope for the
Filipino dancers, it is gone when he feels the rejection: The snow had stopped falling; it was
melting fast in the sun and turning into slush. He has even put to shame when he realizes
that he was in the way between another boy with a camera and a group posing in front of
the hotel. He begins to think that he has no business messing up their schedule, forcing
my company on them. This realization is supported by its succeeding paragraph:
He watched the dancers till the last of them was on the bus. The voices

came to him, above the traffic sounds. They waved their hands
and smiled towards him as the bus started. Fil raised his hand to wave
back, but stopped quickly aborting the gesture. He turned to look
behind him at whomever the dancers were waving their hands to.
But even though he feels rejected, he is still hoping he would see the dancers
somewhere. He begins to dream while he lay down on the sofa in their house. In his quick
dream, he has a conversation with Tony where as he tell him about the happening with the
Filipino dancers, Tony displays apathy and insists in telling his discovered a new way of
keeping afloat. He feels alone and gasping for air. So he has an idea that if the dancers
wouldnt visit their apartment, [h]e would take the sound mirror to the theater, take his
seat close to the stage, and make tape recordings of the singing and the dances. Fil is a
sentimental when it comes to sounds and voices because it makes him recall the
events that happens in the moment of recording them which he plays the rhythm of a
familiar melody of the Filipino dancers. But he is disturbed when Tony says him to [t]urn
that thing off. Despite of this, Fil displays concern to Tony and by asking what the doctor
say, He confesses that the dancers didnt come. Tony says: I knew they wouldnt come.
But thats okay. The apartment is old anyhow. And it smells death. The setting of this story
supports the friends old age and it seems that they no longer have hope for their dreams.
When Fil is handling his sound mirror, he accidentally pushed the eraser and
screams. It symbolizes his waking up to the reality that even though he plays the recorded
sounds to reminisce moments, present time would always be the superior. Time and memory
are villains indeed.

In The Day the Dancers Came, Filemon Acayan or Fils experience epitomizes the FilipinoAmerican struggle with loneliness and alienation. He seeks comradeship and comfort from his
fellow countrymen and American friends. He is torn between his new life in America the land
of dreams, and the nostalgia for his old life in the Philippines. Having been in the US for quite
some time, he got so excited when he heard the news that a troupe of Filipino dancers is in town
for a show. In good faith, he wanted to show the troupe around his adopted home of Chicago but
his housemate Tony, another Filipino, scoffed at him saying that his act of kindness will be
wasted for, definitely, the young dancers will not go with an old man like him. Still, with his faith
intact, he approached the young dancers and invited them to his apartment. When the young
dancers ignored him, it was as if he had some communicable disease. In fact they avoided him as
if he had Tonys sickness. He was disheartened and felt disconnected from his roots.
However, like a saint, Fils faith that he would be re-united to his native land through the dancers
did not waver. Instead he watched the dance troupes show and recorded in his sound mirror the
sounds of the folk music and the sound of the stumping feet in Tinikling. He would let Tony
listen to these to at least tell him that he was successful in bridging his gap with his motherland.
But fate would play against his faith. The moment he was about to play his recorder to let Tony
listen, he instead accidentally pushed the record button erasing all the contents in his sound
mirror, a sheer mockery of his undaunted faith.

Finally, Fil felt the pangs of truth. His illusion of being reunited to his native land is broken. He
lost his game against fate.

Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez

Yes its sad to belong to someone else when the right one comes along. This
song was running in my head while I was reading the story Dead Stars. Reading
the story brought me mixed emotions: anger, sadness, excitement, confusion, etc.
etc. I was not sure if Ill feel sorry for Esperanza or Julia. However, in the end, I
felt sorry, for, none other than the main character of the story, Alfredo.
Alfredo, at his 30s had not yet married but engaged to Esperanza for 3 years.
However, Esperanza patiently waited for Alfredo to set the table.
Alfredo met Julia Salaz just before he and Esperanza would get marry. He felt as if
he would be much happier beside Julia. To make the long story short, he found
himself caught up in the middle of a rock and hard place. He found himself falling
in-love with Julia. However, Julia found out that he would be soon married to
Esperanza. On the other hand, Esperanza felt the coldness of Alfredo. She knew
why Alfredo was acting such way and told him that she is not blind to see what he
was up to lately. He ended up marrying Esperanza still, as Julia already said
goodbye to him and went back to her hometown.
Paz Marquez had shown the readers about how human can be so irrational and
irresponsible at times. He had a good picture of how we can be careless at
choosing relationships. We choose a person so quickly without analyzing if we
really love them and will be happy with them for the rest of our lives. Then we see
that time is running so fast and we are being left behind. Colors of the past will
fade and we could not do anything to repaint it. We will wish that we could bring
back our youth but we realize that we only have one life to spend.
I imagined myself as Esperanza, as I have been in a long relationship just like her. I

admire how Paz had described her character. Its as if I could see myself in her
shoes. I wonder if I were her Would I do the same? Probably yes, but if I could
see that the man Ill be marrying is not going to be happy with me, Ill set him
free.
Pazs short story showed some Filipino traits like marrying at a certain age. In the
first part of the story, his sister and father was talking about Alfredo who has not
married yet at his age of 30. Its as if he should be bothered a lot if hes not yet
marrying at his age. In the Philippines, as I could see, a lot of people marry at a
young age. A Filipino or Filipina should marry and have children before turning 30
years old. While in western countries, 30 is the start of their best years, just like
what the movie 13 going on 30 had shown. It does not matter if they still dont
have fianc at the age of 30. It doesnt bother them a lot if they have not married
yet. It also showed also some Filipino traditions like celebration of the Holy week.
Paz showed how families spend time together in the church.
Dead Stars was written in 1925, when broken engagement are less accepted in the
society, marriages and families. In my opinion, the reason why Alfredo did not
choose to go after Julia was because it was unacceptable at his time. In the 20th
century, Filipinos have already learned to accept broken marriages or engagements;
and I think if Paz had written this story in the 20th century, he would have written
a different ending, and perhaps with a different title.
I was wondering why the title is Dead Stars. In the end, I realized its significance.
It was entitled as such to symbolize memories of our youth.
Dead Stars means memories of the past flying in our heaven of thoughts. We
sometimes look at them for a while and realize that it has already passed away
already dead. We could not bring back the real shine to normal.