Story Analysis

I. Title: Sandosenang Sapatos (A Dozen Pair of Shoes)

II. Name of Author: Luis P. Gatmaitan, M.D.

III. Characters: Father – shoe maker

Mother –

Susie – younger sister of the narrator

Narrator – older sister of Susie

IV. Introduction:

The story talks about how a Father’s love for his

children encompasses all boundaries of love. Many
say that parents’ love towards their children are
selfless.
The story evolves how a child of a shoemaker
describes how she see her parents accept the trials of
their life as a family. The way how her parents
resiliently assent the condition of her younger sister.
Being known in their village as the best
shoemaker in town, the Father, dreams to make her
two children shoes in every occasion. But regrettably,
the younger sister was born without legs due to
sickness during pregnancy of her Mother. The Father’s
dream to make beautiful shoes and make Susie, the
youngest child, a ballet dancer crushed as easy as
that. Selfless and unconditional enough love that her
parents and her sister gave and showed her, Susie
didn’t mind what other people say about her condition.
V. Plot:

The story started in how the Father was

renowned in their town as the best shoemaker. And
even their neighbors were envious on her because the
shoes that her Father made for her were very lovely.
She even has new shoes for every occasion from the
start of the school up to Christmas, during her birthday
and even on her Recognition Day at school.

Her Mother got pregnant when she was in

second grade. They’ve waited so long to have another
baby in their family. The Father and her Mother were
so excited and she even heard that it would be a baby
girl and her Father even wished that she would become
a ballet dancer.
But all their hopes were departed when her little
sister was born without feet. Her little sister was named
Susie. All the neighbors said horrible and offensive
things on their family. They even said that her Mother
tried to get rid of her sister during pregnancy that
caused her sister’s born with no feet. But her Mother
said that it’s because that she had a German Measles
during pregnancy which effect Susie’s condition.
Because of the condition of Susie, the dream of
becoming a ballet dancer, she took the duty for her to
ease out the sorrows of their Father. She convinced
her Mother to enroll her to ballet school.
But dancing was not really for her. She felt sad
that she can never gave her parents to have a child
who’s a ballet dancer.
She witnessed on how her parents love
unconditionally her sister Susie. Father always
protected Susie on how other people saw her
incapacities. There’s one instance when they were on
a park and one person commented that Susie should
be in a carnival. The Father got annoyed and even
irritated and even closed to punch the said person. The
selfless love of her parents towards her sister and even
reassured her that in spite of her incapacities, she was
loved fully from all their members of their family.
The sisters grew up together close and even
discovered their strengths. She was good on painting
and Susie was good on making novels.
 One day, Susie dreamed that she has a feet and
that she even has a beautiful shoes made of yellow
leather with a design of sunflower on upfront. She
wondered on the dreams of her sister and she
dreamed on that whenever her birthday was coming
near.
After few years, her Father retired on making
shoes except for his loyal customers. And shortly years
after, Father got weaken and left them when Susie was
twelve years old.
One day, she went to the garage and found
something, it was a box full of shoes that looked new
and never been used. She even pondered who’s the
real owner of the box of shoes. But when she opened
the box it was full of shoes with the best designs of her
Father. It includes a baby shoes for baptismal and a
shoes for all the birthdays of her sister Susie. Meaning,
her Father made a shoe every year for Susie for twelve
years but because of the condition of Susie, her Father
can’t give his gift to Susie because she cannot even
use it.
Her Mother including her were startled and even
cried when they saw the box full of shoes and that all
of Susie’s dream regarding the design of the shoes
matched with what her Father’s creation.

VI. Theme:
The story is about how parents show their
unconditional and selfless love towards their children.
The main theme of the story is about love. A love that’s
never ending. A love that transpires naturally from
parents to his/her children.

VII. Conclusion:
This story inspires the readers of how great the
love of parents can give to their children. As the story
displays, it can emerge through the Father’s creation of
the shoes as a gift to her children. The story also
narrates how a family hurdles trials that they face in
their lifetime. Their resiliency is commendable.
VIII. Rating:

My rating for this story is not just for kids thus it

can be also for adults. The lesson that this story can
give to its reader is not just about family but also it can
encourage and move the reader’s feelings.

IX. Justification of the Rating:

Although that this story was made for children’s

audience, it can really fit also for adults. The author
intelligently injected lessons that an adult should show
towards their children. It also showcased how a family
should be flexible and resilient on their difficulties with
regards to their family members. One commendable
part of the story is the last part when the manifestation
of the love of the Father to Susie, that even though she
can’t wear the shoes because of her condition, it didn’t
stop him to create beautiful shoes for her.
Guided Questions:
1. What did you learn from the story?

The lesson I learned and admired in the story is how parent’s love can
encompass boundaries of love. And also, we should accept flaws of others
and we must show empathy towards them.

2. What part of the story distract you most?

The part of the story that is disturbing is how other people judged the
family and especially the Mother because of what happened to Susie. They
express their opinion without knowing what truly happened.

3. Who was your favorite character in the story?

My favorite character in the story is Susie. I love how she dealt with
her disabilities. in spite of it, she bravely faced it with a positive attitude. The
way she diverts her disabilities into capabilities is commendable.

4. What were you thinking after reading the story?

After reading the story, I feel motivated on how to deal with problems
on our day to day life with the help and support of people behind you which
is your family. You can do all things with the support of them.

5. If you have a chance to ask one of the character in the story, who would it be and
why?

I would like to ask how the Father courageously and fearlessly deal
the condition of Susie and how he insistently holds his dream of making
lovely shoes to Susie even though she cannot wear that.
6. If you are given a chance to change some part of the story what would it be and
why?

I want to change the part the story when Susie was born without feet.
I want to know how she can be a great ballerina in their town. Through that
the creation of their Father will become known through Susie.

7. Would you recommend this story to others?

Yes, definitely. The story was beautifully created and intelligently

crafted not just to give lessons to readers but also inspire them to do good.

8. Who among the characters in the story feel angry and why?

There is only one part of the story that make other character feel angry
that is when the man in the park commented on the condition of Susie that
it can be shown in the amusement park as one of the attraction. The Father
furiously confronted the man. As a reader, my comment is that the man
should show empathy towards Susie.
 Luis P. Gatmaitan

Luis P. Gatmaitan, also known as Tito Dok, is a Filipino medical doctor and an award-
winning children's literature author. He is also a medical columnist and radio host. He is
most recognized for his Mga Kwento ni Tito Dok, a children's book series on health and
hygiene, and Sandosenang Sapatos, a Palanca Award-winning short story.

Book Author
Gatmaitan has authored more than 30 children's stories which tackle relevant issues,
most of which pertain to children's health and how they cope with it. His children's book
series Mga Kuwento ni Tito Dok was cited by the Manila Critics Circle "for its
popularization of the science of medicine in language and illustrations that young
children can understand, for its indigenizing of universal scientific principles, and for its
imaginative reconstruction of what happens in the human body."
His contributions to children literature have garnered him numerous prestigious awards,
including "Outstanding Book for Young People with Disabilities (2005)" for
Sandosenang Sapatos, which is now listed in the International Board on Books for
Young People (IBBY) catalogue for the Bologna International Children's Book Fair 2005
where it was named the Outstanding Book for Young People with Disabilities by the
IBBY.
Other recognitions
His numerous Palanca Award-winning essays and stories made him an inductee in the
Palanca Hall of Fame in 2005. He has also received recognition from the Catholic Mass
Media Awards, Manila Critics Circle and Philippine Board on Books for Young People
Salanga Prize. He has also been cited as one of Health Today Philippines Magazine 's
Ten Pillars of the Philippine Health Care Industry, 2003 Ten Outstanding Young Men
(TOYM) of the Philippines for his contribution in the field of Literature, and as finalist in
the 2004 Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) search. Published by
several local publishing houses and international agencies like the UNICEF and
WORLD VISION INTERNATIONAL, Gatmaitan has also chaired the PBBY and
Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (KUTING).
He is heard every Monday morning over DZAS a medical consultant for the award-
winning program Doctors On Line. He also hosts a weekly radio program "Wan Dey
Isang Araw" at 702 DZAS AM and serves as a resource person for the nationwide
"Batang-Sining/Art Therapy workshops" of CCP and UNICEF-Manila.
 PHILIPPINE
LITERATURE
Submitted By: Lyzel Dan D. Neneng
(Student)
Submitted To: Mrs. Brenda B. Napalan
(Teacher)