Before you proceed to the next series of activities, try to think of an answer to the following questions based on

the title of the story.

1. What the story might be about?

2. How the characters might behave?
3. What problem is presented?
4. How will the story end?

Here are some of the difficult words you are expected to encounter as you read How My Brother Leon Brought Home
A Wife. Use contextual clues in identifying the meaning of the underlined word in each sentence. Please
make sure to copy the sentences in your notebook for checking next meeting.
Directions: Give the meaning of the underlined words using context clues.
1. Labang never stopped chewing his cud. The food has been sticking in his mouth.
2. Brother asked me to attach Labang to the cart. “Hitch him to the cart,” he said.
3. The jolting of caratela became frequent. This is the kind of shaking that is irritating.
4. From the way he talks, he seems like an ogre. A monster indeed as he approaches.
5. I surmise she must be eating with the family. However, I assume too that she will leave immediately after
dining.
These are the questions that we will answer as we discuss the story How My Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife.
You may also use these questions as your guide in getting a full grasp of the story.
1. Who is Leon? Describe him.
2. Describe Maria. Do you think she is a typical city girl? What is her physical description? Does Baldo like him?
3. Who is the person speaking/ narrating the story?
4. Where is the setting of the story?
5. What tests were given to Maria? Enumerate. If you were Maria, would you survive the challenge?
6. How did Maria deal with the test? Cite proof of Maria’s good sense.
7. What is the reason of the father why he tested Maria?
8. Characterize the father. How does he react to events unfolding before him?
9. Maria was city bred yet she triumphantly overcomes her trials. Could this be out of love? Could love change a
person’s character?
10. What Filipino tradition is shown in the story?
11. In today’s setting, if you are in a relationship, would you still introduce the person you love to your parents?
Manuel Arguilla is known as the most prominent author who uses LOCAL COLOR in his story. What is local
color?

The story started when Leon and his younger brother were both waiting for the arrival of Leon's wife,
Maria, riding in a carretela. As Baldo saw his older brother's wife, he described her as lovely, tall, and
beautiful. He narrated their journey to Nagrebcan, their hometown. Leon wondered why Baldo drove
them to the Waig instead on the Camino Real. Baldo answered that he drove them to the Waig because
their father told him to follow the Waig. The Waig route served as a test for the wife to see if she could
really live in a province which was very different in a life in a city where she lived. While travelling,
Maria described the place of Leon as clean, and free of dust and smoke. Maria admitted of having some
fears if the father of Leon would not accept her as to be his daughter-in-law because she may not able
to survive the life in the province. When they got home, Leon's family talked to Maria. Baldo and his
father had a conversation about what had happened while they were travelling. The father asked Baldo
if Maria was afraid in their place. Baldo answered that Maria was not afraid and instead she enjoyed the
journey.
I like the story because it taught me about respect and acceptance of one's life. In order to have a
harmonious and long-lasting relationship you must show respect to each other and the family. And if you
really love a person you should accept who he/she is, and what he/she is.
The writing style of the author was good because he used figurative languages which made the story
more interesting, convincing, and beautiful. The message of the story was easy to understand because it
was clear and concise. The characters of the story were presented well of what were their roles. The
flow or the plot or the scenes in the story were organized. The words used were appropriate. The story
also taught us many moral lessons in life like one may have to sacrifice small part of one’s life in order
to be happy.