Christian D.

Buela
11 – TVL(Stewardship)

Histo – Bigraphical Criticism: “Footnote to Youth” by Jose Garcia Villa

Mostly of the history and biograph of a famous authors is unquestionably corresponds

to their experienced events. One of the short stories written by Jose Garcia Villa which is the
“Footnote to Youth” interprets the realities in life especially to the youths. A student is
recommended to understand the short story of Jose Garcia Villa’s Footnote to Youth, because it
gives the reader a warning and values to a well-planned life. The biography of the author in the
story is accompanied with three different prompts which are to understand how the events’ in
the story correspond to events experienced by the author, do the characters in the story
corresponds to real people, and how important is it the historical context to interpreting the work.
Some of this prompts are based on Jose Garcia Villa’s relationship with his father Simeon Villa.

Identifying how the experienced events by the author correspond to the events of the
author’s story is the first prompt. Jose Garcia Villa’s relationship with his father is somehow
connected with his short story Footnote to Youth. The story is about the bond between Dodong
and his father which shows acceptance and love, but Jose Garcia Villa’s relationship with his
father Simeon Villa is quite different. Jose Garcia Villa refused to become a man his father
wants him to be which is to become a doctor, instead he choose to follow his passion and
studied law. He is determined to study in other country and to emerge through literacy.

The short story “Footnote to Youth” by Jose Garcia Villa enlightens the minds and
hearts of the young readers. The short story is about a 17-year old boy named Dodong wanted
to marry the girl he love named Teang. One of the important lines of the story is that when
Dodong said “Youth must triumph… now. Afterward… It will be life.” People these days do not
think ahead of what their life will become if they marry someone so early. Jose Garcia Villa
shows what life would be if you marry in such young age.

The message of the story is what the reader seeks and one can gain a much wider and
deeper understanding through looking at the moral values of the stories. Even if a person loves
someone, he or she has to think of the consequences that might happen if the person decides
to marry at the very young age. Marrying is not easy, because there are a lot of hardships in life.
Jose Garcia Villa’s “Footnote to Youth” is an outstanding masterpiece for our country and it will
never fade in our history. He stood out for the brilliance of his poetry and for his national origin.

The story gives some reminders to the youth that they should think thoroughly on what
they are about to do. They need to seek advices from their parents if they can really go to a
serious relationship. About Jose Garcia Villa’s relationship with his father, deep in his heart he
seeks of his father’s attention and to be proud of him. Jose Garcia Villa still proceeded on his
passion through making prose and short story. And he was awarded as the National Artist of the
Philippines title for literature.