Biography of the author

Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo was born on August 21, 1944 in Manila. The renowned
teacher, editor, writer, and pioneer of creative nonfiction obtained her Ph.D. in Comparative
Literature from the University of Philippines in 1993. Garnering honors since her colegiala days,
Dr. Hidalgo has also received such prestigious awards as Gawad Balagtas, Graphic, Free Press,
Focus, Manila Critics’ Circle, British Council Grant to Cambridge, and the U.P. President’s
Award for Outstanding Publication. She has been recognized as Outstanding Thomasian Writer,
Hall of Famer for the International Publication Award, and Grand Prize winner for the Novel in
the Palanca Awards.

Her husband’s fifteen-year relationship with UNICEF provided her with opportunities to
explore various countries. Out of her experiences were born seven autobiographical travel books,
including Sojourns (1984), Celadon and Kimchi: A Korean Notebook (1993), Coming Home
(1997), and Passages: Selected Travel Essays (2008). She also has five short story collections,
the most recent of which isSky Blue After the Rain (2005), and two novels, Recuerdo (1996),
which won the Palanca, and A Book of Dreams (2001). Her work in literary criticism has
produced four books that include studies of women’s literature, such as those published
inWoman Writing: Home and Exile in the Autobiographical Narratives of Filipino Women
(1994), A Gentle Subversion (1998), and Over a Cup of Ginger Tea (2006). Dr. Hidalgo has also
put together numerous anthologies such as The Likhaan Book of Poetry and Fiction (1995 and
2001), Sleepless in Manila(2003), My Fair Maladies (2005), and The Children’s Hour: Stories on
Childhood, Vol. II (2006).
She is currently Vice President for Public Affairs of the University of the Philippines and
an associate of the UP Institute of Creative Writing.
Summary of the Story

The book is made up of 12 stories. According to the author, the idea of the first story
came from her childhood diaries. “The entry set a chain of memories, and I thought it might be
amusing to write a few stories about a little girl”.The story was progressing into recurring events
wherein the protagonist, from grade 2 to her senior high school, eventually recounted her
experiences. The book was in structure storytelling in flashbacks for there are interjections which
shifts to the present. However, the stories were well woven that as a reader I wasn’t confused of
the past and the present. “But the idea of short,simple initiation stories appealed to me. I didn’t
think that I could use a child as the point-of-view character. Rather, I would use a memoir mode,
an adult woman recalling episodes in her childhood”. It seemed as if I wasn’t actually reading
the book rather I was listening to someone who is storytelling. The verses do not destroy its
persona. The stories are mouthed by with a precision of an adult yet with the innocence of a
child. I think the book is accessible to children readers.

“I began toying with the idea of a book that would be entirely about her,” writes Hidalgo,
“In each story, Patricia would be a little bit older. I wasn’t sure if I could sustain it”. Three
stories were based on the author’s own experiences, others were as she said invented. After
having published four stories, she discovered that they can be part of Patricia’s character. One
thing that I like about the book is that I can relate my childhood with the protagonist’s character.
The stories’ italicized terms add to the local coloration of her settings, all of which are in
Philippines. Starting from the first story entitled The Magic Glasses which shows the Patricia
with the same childishness as I was engrossed in games years ago until the last story The Woman
in the Apple-green Dress with a young woman persona, I believed that the author pulled through
sustaining her major character. Thus with her line saying, “By then, I had discovered that I knew
more about her”.
 There is always an available subject matter everywhere. Hidalgo had been inspired by
young girls she saw and without ado she wrote in succession for the completion of the book. She
argued that the book isn’t a novel, that the stories are but simple narration of the experiences of
Patricia from the stage in her life when she realized a lot of things.

With regard to her eleventh story in the collection entitled How I Spent My Summer
Vacation she wrote in Afterthoughts, “I think about the sort of experience and imagined Patricia
would have loved it. It was a romantic adventure-romantic in the sense of the exotic rather than
in the sense of having to do with love. Patricia was clearly an incurable romantic”(147). This
story is indeed one filled with various things such as divans, carpets etc. and there was a weird
gang of people. A significant character was her Tita Alicia, the sister of her mother who once
lived in Europe, thus explaining why she lived a different lifestyle. She had a gang of friends and
they’ve had relations which Patricia didn’t understand yet. This was the story, I felt an initiation
for Patricia to the last story The Woman in the Apple-green Dress.

I was quite happy that I could relate to things like tortuous siesta implementation and
even the young child’s esteem over classmates. I like how I could place myself in Patricia’s
shoes when I recall the nuns govern my former school in our hometown. I also empathized
Patricia’s childish infatuation over boys. I can say that there were those events that I, as a reader,
was familiar of. That Patricia’s life hadn’t completely alienated that of my own.
 The predominant point of view of the novel is 1st person, because the word "I" refers to a
person who's present in the series of the different stories. Cristina hidalgo continuously uses first
person identity to make the reader indulge from the real story of the novel. At first, the main
character --Patricia wasn't mentioned not just like a cliche novel, instead of displaying the whole
name of Patricia, the author uses " I" as the indicator of the character. This example proves that
the point of view of the novel is first person: " It was raining day they came-- the two thin
women and the boy called Francisco. I remember the rain because Carmela had asked me to
move a bit from where i was sitting, playing with my paper dolls on the floor of our sala, so she
could shut the windows. I liked the rain. I liked the sound of the raindrops on the roof, and the
funny trickle patterns on the glass panes, and the wet smell of the garden. I especially liked the
cozy feeling of the house, when its windows were closed and voices seemed closer somehow,
and footstep seemed louder and everything felt safe and sung".

The novel doesn't have any significant shift in focus because it entirely focuses on the life
experiences of a kid up to her senior high school life. The transition of the character was in a
smooth flow, wherein it is visibly determined how she overcome her fears and insecurities
throughout his journey towards adolescents. There's no such other happening indicated in the
novel, rather, it only pictures out the story of a young girl developing into a beautiful lady--
indicating the attached experiences and feeling she had been through.

The point of view of the novel contributed a lot in persuading the reader's attention. From
the usage of the pronoun "I" makes the novel more interesting to read because it allows the
reader to feel the different happenings in reality. There's a conviction while reading the whole
novel. As i read the novel it seems like i am in the real context of the story, picturing the things
that might happen next; guessing the actions that might flabbergasts the whole scene, and feel so
intimidated with the environment that has a toxic substance.

The ordering time of the novel starts from the childhood of the main character up to her
adolescent stage. On the first part of the novel, there are few grades were show in the novel--
Grades 2, 4 and 6 which she had a bountiful experience in love, friends, and deep connections to
her advisers. On the latter part of the novel, it focuses on the character's development from
thinking and dressing up. From the time she enters the secondary level up to her senior high
school years, which makes her a woman embellished with sophisticated personality. The author
only uses the "present" when she was narrating the experience in looking back her experiences
during her younger days.

There's a rapid change of time spotted in the novel, this is when the character instantly
transform from a kid to a resilient woman who can distinguish things from what is trivial to what
is fundamental. Changes were basically seen on the physical and emotional aspects of the main
character, from being thin, nerdy and shy turning to a confident and gorgeous woman. The
visible time that has been skipped was the time when she is a freshman to senior student. The
insecurities that she had when she was young were all vanished as she grow older- being able to
judge things in a logical and rational thinking.

The most significant happening in the novel is the time where Patriciang Payatot enters
the secondary level of education. This was the time when things get complicated and the starting
point of creating multiple questions in her mind for the unusual things happen in the mysterious
world. In her 7th grade, the main character began to terminate her insecurities from her
classmates- from being compared to the beautiful physical appearances. Trisha is unhesitant in
opening her heart for a new friendship, ready to make companions wholeheartedly. Through her
transformation- physically and critically, she became a woman who's vulnerable from
judgements which makes her glow as a woman

" It didn't help that Purita was exceedingly plain. She had a wide, flat face, a big mouth,
practically no eyebrows or eyelashes, stringy hair, and a sharp angular face. She grimaced when
she talked and waddled when she walked. She had a loud, grating voice and a coarse, neighing
laugh. She liked wearing wide red skirts with tight green blouses and fake gild bangles, which
made her look like walking Christmas tree. She stammered. She slouched. She stamped her feet".
This part of the novel has a special quality of diction, there are words which makes the story
heavy and realistic. I find the sentence structure as intricate because there are a lot of adjectives
being implied in describing the personality of a certain character. The author describes a
character despite of the role in a complete manner, in a sense that she enumerates the appropriate
adjectives that complete the whole package of a person involved in the novel. The presence of
the author can be easily felt through the usage of the pronoun “I”, which is continually stated
until the last chapter of the novel. The novel is basically written through a series of experiences
of the author’s life, which it makes it more interesting to read because it is timely and relevant
for a woman who has insecurities in herself.
One of the characters that I loved the most is Purita, she’s a woman that is vastly different
from other girls—a snitch, a gossip and a sore loser. But despite of these unpleasant
characteristics, she has a heart that is willing to accept friendship despite of the social status you
belong. Purita is a rich woman but she doesn’t want to brag it in a rude way. This scene made
jumped into a real context, “they’re fighting again”, Purita said. They do that all the time. She
tried to make it sound offhand, but I saw that she looked uncomfortable. The voices stopped for a
while, then started again, the woman shrill and strident, the man’s growling, sputtering”. This
scene felt so realistic to me, the delivery of the action makes me feel like I am watching the
scene in live. Imagining the happenings that might happen throughout the duration of the
couple’s argument. This scene is familiar as my parent’s situation sometimes, my dad starts
growling when he is drunk, while my mom is patiently controlling her emotion toward chaotic
actions. I felt a light sadness after reading this scene on the novel because I know how it feels
seeing your parents shouting each other and making arguments.

The extent of the idea through the use of generalizing devices are exaggerating,
assumptions and hiding. These three aspects complete the novel into an interesting book which
allows the reader feel the realistic scene of the different chapters. Exaggerating with the intent of
making the case being argued more powerful. The item in question is typically extended to the
limit. The author used the device of Exaggeration by one person often triggers the opposing side
of the argument into an opposite position, thus creating a polarized argument where either side
takes an extreme position in order to differentiate and then tries to defend their castle whilst
attacking the other side. This typically results in win-lose, competitive negotiation and
destructive tactics. Assumptions, there are series of stories which generalization when it is
supposed that something is more or less possible or likely than it actually is. Hiding, the novel
has a flabbergasting series which it attracts reader to be attentive in internalizing the message of
the piece. The "Notebook" is a manifestation that there's a certain thing that was hidden not to
unveil the truth about the true story of life of the main character.

In this novel, there are a lot of behavior being implied, these are: altruistic, caring,
family- oriented, open for a new friendship. The main character " trisha" possesses the ability of
being an altruistic person, to the extent of giving wholehearted love to humanity rather than
giving the love to herself. Caring is also spotted in the novel, the fact that she is unhesitant in
allocating incomparable care to her family and friends. Patricia is a family- oriented person who
has the sense of responsibility in giving up unnecessary things for the sake of her family; ready
to take any risks just to save her family, and willing to do everything for the abundant state of
human being. These aspects have an important role in humanity, it lead into a life with the
feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction.

The only social problem that I have seen in the novel is that the insecurity of the main
character to her friends and classmates. It deals with the idea of comparing herself to another and
not being contented of what she had. She always wanted to be the star of the night, the sword of
a knight and the queen of the village. This problem makes the main character socially aware of
what are the things happening in the real world. This problem was solved when she got older-
during her Senior High School. She became a woman who thinks critically and rejecting the
humiliation from the humanity. A woman who has a strong heart in accepting rejections coming
from the people surround her.

In the novel, the physical nature of the characters are visibly explained, the author was
able to describe the look of a character through the usage of adjectives. Physical characteristic
can include a variety of things. Hairstyles and facial features play a big role, but aren't the main
ones. Physical characteristics are what you see with the naked eye. They encompass anything
you can describe about a person or group of people, just on sight. The intimate relationship of
main character was seen within her friends, they often bond through giving their time in seeing
together. They were able to keep their friendship in a strong connection. One of the
manifestation of being in a situation with an intimate relationship is, when the time Purita invited
Patricia to visit their house and let her feel comfortable and feel at home.
 I have seen few admirable characters, one of them is Purita, despite that she has
unpleasant characteristics, I love how she conquer her family problems and can manage how to
stand resilient. She might be the antagonist of the class but she has a strong heart that inspires
everyone to be a woman who fights again prejudices coming from her environment. She serves
as a stranger from the class but for Patricia she's a wonderful friend possessing a blast of
surprises within. The role of Purita in the story began to produce a clangorous sound when she
was in the midst of argument between her parents. The scene enacted by Purita makes the reader
feel in the real context of the novel.

By the influence of Patricia, Purita became a responsible friend and daughter, from being
a gossip to a well-mannered lady. This transition makes the characters visibly noticeable.
In the second chapter of this novel "mangkukulam" was involved. This is a story that focuses on
the superstitious belief on bad elements. This mangkukulam had made a mistake in someone's
life, she cursed, she lied and blames someone to cover her fault. The focus of this scene was on
Patricia's yaya, Carmela. A maid who have become the closest friend of Patricia. Because of that
belief, unanswerable questions and happenings arises towards the accuse of that manananggal.
This is wake up call to humanity that they should accept their mistakes instead of blaming others.
Keeping in their minds the value of having a strong relationship with God, through this,
everything shall be done in a good way.

Trissy's life- changing journey from girlhood to young adulthood is set in a time that is in
many ways very different from today and yet very similar. Her experiences are just as shocking,
bewildering, incomprehensible, and funny as they would be today albeit with some jadedness. I
honestly see my old self from trissy's story of coping her insecurities. I am a person who is thin,
shy type, and never wanted to knot a couple of friendships. I often blame myself, why do i look
ugly? Why am i thin? Am i worthy to be a friend? Why is it that she's beautiful than me? These
are all my questions all throughout my darkest days that I am trying to figure out the answers. As
go beyond the true essence of life, i realized that everyone is beautiful despite of the race, color
and differences. As patricia tranformed into a responsible woman, I beautifully transform into an
alluring butterfly. I can spread my wings without the hideous rejections, I can fly freely from
humiliation, and I can explore the world with a sweet smile on my face. As i grow older, i
become mature enough in handling tough situations, i usually draw a line with my limitations as
a human being. Those insecurities that i had were all vanished because of the ability to think
rationally and logically. As continue my journey, i learned a lot on my past, which makes me a
better person in the future.
There's no such difference from the characters of the novel to my own story, evidently, i also
have circles of friends whom I treat them as my second family. In some manners, i have friends
who are naturally beautiful and I jealously ask them, why are you beautiful?

The experience in the novel that convinced me undoubtedly is, "in the process of
transforming into woman, everything will change- from the physical aspects, the way we think
and act".
There are a lot of emotions I reacted during and after reading this novel. First, I am so happy and
excited to read the first chapter of the novel because this is something new for me, this is the first
novel that i'll be reading in my entire life. As i jumped in to the another context of story, I got so
worried with the flow; got surprised with the twist, and delightfully contented with the ending. I
laughed so hard at the story " the afternoon of the horses". I got so flattered at the time when
Patricia received a gift from an unknown giver.
After reading the whole novel, I am very happy that I have red a story which i can relate my
own story too. I was amazed with the transition of the main character. I was surprised with some
of the twists and got the feeling of satisfaction.

The moment in the story that affected my feeling is, when Patricia's friend met an
accident. I felt the emotion of this scene, imagining the real of context of the story made my
knees trembling like an old man. Seeing a person in danger makes me feel so worried, uneasily
and unstable.
 The moment in the story that bothered me is, when the parents of Purita had a
clangorously arguments, I take as a serious matter because i am also experiencing this kind of
nightmare.
After reading the novel, hope for having a friend that will last forever, even in the times
of down and fall; fear of being vulnerable to discrimination and the desire to be the person of
what the society needs.
The novel that I have red is an example of anthology which it is a collection of literary
pieces. The novel, " Catch a falling Star" by Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo" has 14 chapters
showcasing the transformation of a kid into a firm woman. It is a wonderful writing that brings
the reader back to simpler times, reminding us of who we once were and who we still can be.
The protagonist of the novel is Patricia Soles, a student belonging into a middle class
family.
The single change that the main character had been through is her physical and emotional
aspects. He rapidly changed into a woman with dignity- straight forward for the beauty inside.
She thinks in a critical and rational way. The protagonist introduce herself in the story as kid-
sensitive to words well-meaning; confusion with her friends, and lack of knowledge of the true
meaning of the world. She ended the story with a strong independent woman who can obviate
judgments from others. The protagonist had a confusion on how baby was produced, there are a
lot of unanswerable questions in her mind, her friends solved her problem by simply showing her
horse mating, which it is the process of forming a baby.

In the event when Sister Augusta was not about to dignify Patricia's pettiness. " I know
she is a difficult person. But if you tell yourself that there are reasons for her behavior--reasons
which Jesus Christ Lord knows and understands --you too will begin to understand. And then,
like Him, you will not feel anger or impatience, but compassion and love". This part of the scene
makes the story artistically justified, because the author had the special skill in inserting the
presence of Jesus Christ in the midst of darkness.