Name: Roschel O. Ricacho Grade & Section: 11-6 St.

Faustina

Student Number: ICP2019-1405 Date: January 13, 2020

Title of Book: Bata, Bata, Pa’no Ka Ginawa?

Author’s Background :

Lualhati Torres Bautista was born on December 2, 1945 in Tondo, Manila. She is one

of the foremost filipino Female Novelists in the history of the Philippine literature. She was a

journalism student at the Lyceum of the Philippines but dropped out because all she wanted to do

was writing Stories and poems, and started doing it at the age of 16. Eventually, she wrote novels

such as Dekada ’70, GAPO, And Bata, bata, Pa’no ka ginawa?. These 3 novels won an award in

Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. No doubt, she was a very good and

talented writer.That’s why, she became a television script writer.

Characters (with short description):

Lea- She was the Mother of Ojie and Maya. She was also a teacher and a member of Human

Rights Organization.

Ojie- Eldest child of Maya and Raffy.

Maya- Youngest child of Lea and Ding.

Raffy- First Husband of Lea. The father of Ojie.

Ding- Second Husbanh of Lea. The Father of Maya

Setting:

Most of the scene in the novel “ Bata, bata, pa’no ka ginawa?” occurred in Lea’s House.

Theme:

Women can also do what man can do. Like Lea did. There’s a time that she thought of

quitting to her job as a member of human rights organization because she realized that her

childrens need her the most. But, as a mother with a solid state affirmation, she was willing to

give her best to help people and to show that women can do what men can do.

Plot Summary:

Lea thought that her relationships with men, her childrens and her job as a member of

human rights organization will be fine as well, when the summer vacation started. Her daughter

maya became curious of things and her son Ojie have hardtime in his adjustment to adulthood.

She even had problems with her live-in partner, Ding who was always not on their house. Her

ex-husband whom separated with her many years ago, came back to ask if he can bring his son

Ojie in U.S. Her being confused, if she still feel love Raffy. And her jobs required more of her

time taking less for her children.

Eventually, she realized that maybe her presence needed by many but her children needed

it the most.She almost quit to her job because she was scared of her thoughts that maybe because

of being busy, their father might take her children away from her. But, in the end, she realized

that the decision will not be hers to make because she let her children decide for their own and

by doing it, she knew that her children loves her very much because they chose to stay on their

mother’s side.
 At the last part, in the graduation day, Lea was invited as a speaker guest of that affair. Lea

didn't prepare any speech but delivered a very inspiring one. Her speech was about how people

mature so fast and how life works. In her last lines she told the graduates that graduation is not

the end but is just the start of new things to come.

Analysis:

“Bata, bata, Pa’no Ka Ginawa?” was a very good novel.It has 32 chapters that was good
enough for a novel. Even though the Author, Laulhati Baustista used taglish as her language in
making the book, the mixture of tagalog and English was also good. one of the proof that this
Novel was good is, after 10 years the novel was launched as a movie and being Directed by
Chito S. Roño. The Casting (specially Vilma Santos as the strong-willed Leah Bustamante) is
perfect.

The Novel tackled the life of being a mother and a woman who has a big responsibility
in our country as a member of human rights organization. Lualhati was very good in choosing
this theme because many Filipinos are suffering from this type of situation and they didn’t know
what they’re going to do.

At first I can’t figure out where the Title comes out (“bata, bata, pa’no ka ginawa?”)
but by reading the whole novel, it came to my mind that the novel was all about child discipline
and for me, this is the most beautiful novel I read because as a mowan, maybe I will grow up and
face those struggle that lea encountered and now I know what I am going to do.

If I am going to rate the novel “Bata, Bata, Pa’no ka ginawa?” I will give 9/ 10 as a
score.