One of the best stories of my life…

It sucks to have to write this again. I had this reaction typed a couple of days ago, the one about Estrella D. Alfon’s “Magnificence” and Edith L. Tiempo’s “The Corral.” And then my flash drive suddenly wont work. Aaach. Sometimes, as with most things, technology can be a pain in the @*s. I didn’t feel like writing it all over again, but I realize that I have to do that in order to get to the next assignment: “Games” by Noelle de Jesus and “Document” by Luis Katigbak.

So, here it goes again.

I wrote down that the female characters in the last two stories are more privileged (especially in Magnificence) the earlier ones. The Corral might have ended (still) tragically, but at least Pilar had a choice, or a semblance of a choice. She had the convenience to let go of her job to support her father in a business venture (a fish corral), she had the upperhand there for a moment when she turned the persistent Mr. Perfecto down (eligible as he might be for women in her situation), and she had it in her to attract and play around with men like Gregorio if she pleased. But, of course, Pilar was not as hard-pressed as perhaps Tinang and Ms. Mijares were. Pilar had the luxury of choosing “love” over practicality. She wanted more than a Mr. Perfecto or a Gregorio could offer. She wanted the kind of romance that “ideals” can give (i.e., “the dress,” the sensuality, the thrill). In the end she realizes she cant have her cake and eat it, too—eat it still. I think she will end up with Mr. Perfecto after all.

On the other hand, Magnificence is in a league entirely of its own. I think that the story is so well-written that it goes beyond one’s sensibilities to go one talking aloud about it. The best part in our class discussion of Magnificence seemed like those parts when we were just sitting there in moments of silence and contemplation. Sitting there and marveling at how human beings can actually be capable of such magnificent strength in the face of adversary. Sitting there and wondering if we ourselves could ever demonstrate that kind of self-control and dignity and composure under such terrible conditions.

I enjoyed sharing Magnificence to my students, and enjoyed even more their reactions and insights. Literature is best understood collectively, in the light of a multitude of individual personal experiences. I know I might not know everything there is about literature, or know it in this lifetime, but its stories like this that make me want to be a lit student (and teacher) for life.