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[F2F Book Discussions] F2F47 (November 2015): Alternative Alamat edited by Paolo Chikiamco | Moderator: Tina
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F2F Discussion:Date: November 28, 2015, 1:30-2:30pm
Venue: Henry Sy Hall, DLSU
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If I am a bit late with posting, or if I take a bit of time to reply, it is because I am deep in ReaderCon stuff (Marketing, Registration, Logistics, what's up!). :) I apologize in advance.
To get the ball rolling: let's get to know what legends you know!We've all heard of different legends when we were kids. What is the first Filipino legend that you that you heard as a child? Where did you hear it? Do you remember what you thought about it then? What do you think about it now?
Si malakas at si maganda courtesy of batibot
I'll try to participate online~ (view spoiler)I cannot remember my batibot days. As far as my memories will take me, the first epic I encountered was Biag ni Lam-ang, a play I watch somewhere in my elementary days. Not sure if this is considered as a legend. But an epic is a legend of Lam-ang's life, right? Ok naguluhan nako hahaha
No travel time na yun dahil sa Apec, check mo Ella baka affected booking mo
Hello, I made some updates in the previous posts. Ella, hindi na sya tatapat sa travel mo. :)Also, because of the adjusted reading plan, the first set of questions on the stories will be posted next week. :)
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Ranee: yung Malakas at Maganda ba na ito ay yung may lumabas talaga sa kawayan? Parang may naalala ako na ganun.
Ella: Naguluhan din ako haha but counted naman ata yun. Lam-ang did have some supernatural abilities? Or he was just a very gifted person. Although maybe he's not a legend.
The first legend I learned of was...ang alamat ng pinya. That girl who her mom asked her to look for things and she didn't try hard enough to find them. Sa Batibot din ata to. :)
I think my first legend is either Ang Alamat ng Pinya or Ang Alamat ng Lansones. I learned it from Grade 1 Reading class. I thought then that all legends were based on names (Pina, Ines) so I was a little mystified that Ang Alamat ng Kasoy didn't have a name related to it (just an ungrateful little seed named uhm, Kasoy).What do I think of them now? I haven't given them much thought until this thread but I remember being fond of them and being annoyed that some things, like mangoes, have different legends.
Note: I can't make it to the F2F because like Ella, I have travel plans (21-28, not affected by APEC, hopefully).
Some of my first legends are about Bernardo Carpio, the cause of earthquakes, "Alamat ng Lansones" and "Alamat ng Pasig". (and more!) I read them from my cousin's Filipino/Panitikan school project, a soft-bound "book" of Filipino legends, which my cousin laboriously wrote using a typewriter. (Hindi pa uso ang computer noon.) I haven't thought much about Filipino legends until I read Tall Story by Candy Gourlay and Interim Goddess of Love by Mina Esguerra. And I just realized that my cousin had a great influence in my reading as a kid, pushing me to read her Panitikan projects and short stories (nagrereklamo pa ako noon na hindi naman sila short) from her textbooks.
I have heard quite a number of legends as a kid since my mom is a kindergarten teacher and I would listen intently whenever she goes Lola Basyang on us and the ones that I remembered well are Ang Alamat ng Pinya, ng Butiki, ng Chocolate Hills, ng Matsing, and Ang Kwento ng Unang Bahaghari. Back then, as a gullible kiddo, I thought those stories were real like whenever my mom would ask me to find something, I do my best to find it so I wouldn’t sprout out gazillion eyes like Pina (whoever made that alamat, the parents commend!). And like Angus and Meliza, I haven’t given them much thought until now.
Ah, these alamats, bale. All the while I thought of epic legends hahahaha. In this case, it is the first grade Filipino lesson of Alamat ng Pinya and also coincided with the GMRC of our days. Huwag maging maingay sa paghahanap. Bagkus, gamitin ang mata at hindi ang bibig.
^Na marami pa ring hindi sumusunod sa ganitong paalala hahahah.
(view spoiler)
Is the Alamat ng Pinya related to Juan Tamad?
I still need to find me a copy, a printed one preferably since I don't have an ebook reader gadget. :-PMy first exposure on legends is via the Adarna books in the school library (the one I remember the most the one about Maria Makiling), and the TV show, Ora Engkantada (did I just gave away my age? Ahahahahaha!).
Yes Tina, Si Malakas at Maganda, sabay na ginawa ni Bathala. (Unlike Adam and Eve)Kinidlatan ang isang kawayan, bumuka tapos lumabas silang dalawa at sila ang naging unang tao sa mundo. Kwento ni kuya Bodgie. Never really thought much about these Filipino legends back then except as stories that tickle ones imagination and teach you some lessons.
Alamat were stories told during brownouts when I was young. So yes, I've heard them waaayyy before Batibot and Legends of the Ring of Fire. Some of my favorites are Ang Alamat ng Ampalaya and Alamat ng Gumamela - stories about being inggitera and being bitter.
They are lessons in early life that kids then hold true and fast. Fear of karma was instilled in us at a very young age... kaya, mababait na mga bata talaga kami noon. bwahahaha
Ang alamat ni Maria Labo and Tenyente Gimo. I hear these stories during brownouts or during summer vacations at my grandparents'.
It took me a while before I could remember the first legend/s or "alamat" that I heard as a child. I recall that I also heard of the Alamat ng Pinya back then but can't remember anymore if it's the first one. The other one that I recall hearing about is the Alamat ng Makahiya, because our old backyard was grassy that time. I was probably around 5 or 6 (school age) when I first heard about it from an older cousin.
Miles wrote: "Ang Santilmo."This is Santelmo of the Binondo fire? I am not familiar. Nakilala ko lang siya nang mabasa ko ang mga Trese Komiks
Ola! Thank you for sharing the legends you remember. I remember being so enamored by these legends that I started writing some of my own, which didn't really make them the legends that they are supposed to be. (Example: Ang Alamat ng Ilog - a boy named Bilog who became a river. Haha)That said, there is no known comprehensive list of our legends and myths, because of the breadth of the stories from our islands. Most probably there will be several versions of one myth, and they were oral stories - meaning no one bothered to write it down.
That said, Ella - your understanding was right, because Biag ni Lam-ang is also a legend. Or really, the proper term is "myth." I started off with the simple legends because we all have a jumping point with the stories that we know - from the Batibot story we watched, to the stories that were shared by our parents and teachers, until we decide to explore them on our own. :)
Some relevant reading, if you have time, from the editor of Alternative Alamat himself:
* The Myth List - a list of myths in the Philippines (including the epics, romances - Florante at Laura! - and the legends that we just shared)
* Philippine Pantheons - the gods and goddesses in Philippine mythology and folklore
The lists are still incomplete, but it's pretty comprehensive if it's your first time to wander into our local mythology. :)
Discussion questions!Note: I'm gonna be a bit matipid with the questions because I want to reserve some for the F2F. :D
1. What did you think of what Maria Makiling has become in Ana's Little Pawnshop on Makiling St?
2. What's your opinion of Harinuo? Do you think he deserved his lot at the end of his story? (Bonus points: Does Harinuo's Love Song remind you of other books/stories?)
3. Last Full Show: If you were given the same chance as Alexandra Trese to watch a particular part of your life on a movie screen, what would you choose to watch?
My local fully booked's out of stock. Still waiting. lol
Discussion questions!1. What did you think of what Maria Makiling has become in Ana's Little Pawnshop on Makiling St?
>It was a bit shocking and a lot disappointing that our earthly Maria Makiling, known for her benevolence and justice, turned into a modish business woman.
2. What's your opinion of Harinuo? Do you think he deserved his lot at the end of his story? (Bonus points: Does Harinuo's Love Song remind you of other books/stories?)
>Well, he is a scumbag! An ambitious scumbag, aiming to be somebody important by misdeed and ill.
>It did remind me of Stardust and Rapunzel.
3. Last Full Show: If you were given the same chance as Alexandra Trese to watch a particular part of your life on a movie screen, what would you choose to watch?
> I'd probably choose the time when I was one and my dad was teaching me how to swim. We have photos, but I can't recall these events. I will probably cry, but still, it will be a treat.
Hello again!Please disregard Sunday update if you read it (deleted it), because this is the final F2F time update! (Also updated the post up there :D)
Thanks to DLSU orgs giving us dedicated
So final date/time for our Alternative Alamat F2F:
November 28, 2015
1:30-2:30pm*
Henry Sy Sr Hall, De La Salle University
* Our slot is earlier than the other discussions because of room availability. :)
Invite going out in a bit for the ReaderCon, and I'll indicate the discussion time there. And in case you haven't yet, please register for the ReaderCon here !
Answers:1. I thought that consumerism and money have eaten her up, making her a heartless bitch. I mean it's not bad per se to have progress and all, but in Maria Makiling's case, it was disgusting and disheartening at the same time.
2. Harinuo only wanted to better himself, that's understandable, but it was at the expense of someone else. When you step on or hurt other people on your way to the top, you don't deserve whatever success you may reap thereafter. Consequently, any punishment or pain that you may endure when you're no longer there is deserved, just like Harinuo's case.
I'm sure there are similar stories to this one, I just can't think of any at the moment. Ehe.
3. The part where my mother has just given birth to me - so that I can see my parents' faces when they first laid eyes on me.
Hi, I’m new at GR and I found this discussion. I would like to participate, if that is okay. I still have no idea how this works.We've all heard of different legends when we were kids. What is the first Filipino legend that you that you heard as a child?
>>The first Filipino legend I’ve heard would be about the Alamat ng Pinya. My mom keeps on repeating that story about how similar I was with Pina.
What did you think of what Maria Makiling has become in Ana's Little Pawnshop on Makiling St?
>> I think she wanted to keep up with modernization to prove how powerful she was. She used to be the one people looked up to, being a powerful being, but in this age, people marvel at the success of the rich and influential people. Maybe Maria wanted to redeem her lost glory so she chose to keep up with what people idolizes and sadly, it made her indifferent to what she once stood for.
2. What's your opinion of Harinuo? Do you think he deserved his lot at the end of his story? (Bonus points: Does Harinuo's Love Song remind you of other books/stories?)
>>Harinuo was too focused to be glorified that he did not even think twice if his actions would cause harm to others. Did he deserve it? Yes. He needed to learn that there are consequences for one’s actions. The story reminded me of Stardust and the way how he got what he wanted was similar to some Greek and Roman myths.
3. Last Full Show: If you were given the same chance as Alexandra Trese to watch a particular part of your life on a movie screen, what would you choose to watch?
>> I would probably watch the night I first went camping. I wanted to see what really went on that night. Hahaha
Hi Adrian! Link has been updated, you can register now! :)Hi Duchess - welcome! Jump in anytime. :D If you want to join the Face to Face discussion, we're having it at the 5th Filipino ReaderCon on NOvember 28. :)
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Questions are late because I had a Taranta Thursday morning and my boss was breathing down my neck. Will try to post it tonight!
(But if I don't, it means I'll have a lot of questions ready on Nov 28. :D)
Tina wrote: "Hi Adrian! Link has been updated, you can register now! :)Hi Duchess - welcome! Jump in anytime. :D If you want to join the Face to Face discussion, we're having it at the 5th Filipino ReaderCon ..."
Yay! Thank you for welcoming me. Actually, I found this group because of the Filipino ReaderCon. I loved the book and I wanted to see what book discussions are like. (I'm new to a lot of book-related things.)
Hi, It's my first time to join a group like this. My friend recommended it to me so here I am. I'd like to be able to participate too. We've all heard of different legends when we were kids. What is the first Filipino legend that you that you heard as a child?
- The first Filipino legend I read was the Alamat ng Lawa ng Sampaloc. It was in my older brother's Balarila book.
What did you think of what Maria Makiling has become in Ana's Little Pawnshop on Makiling St?
- It's sad to know that even a being as powerful as her can be corrupted and needed to change to go with the times. It makes one realize how progress can be really a deterrent and what is really important is being forgotten.
What's your opinion of Harinuo? Do you think he deserved his lot at the end of his story? (Bonus points: Does Harinuo's Love Song remind you of other books/stories?)
- I think Harinuo was a selfish creature driven by ambition, and he deserved the tragedy that happened to him. The story reminded me of Hades and Persephone, and Demeter's search for her daughter.
Last Full Show: If you were given the same chance as Alexandra Trese to watch a particular part of your life on a movie screen, what would you choose to watch?
- Erm, that day in high school when someone confessed in my barkada that he was smitten with me. I'd love to be able to witness that confession.
Better late than never! Hehe. I had a hard time looking for a print copy so I really have just started reading a few days ago. :)**We've all heard of different legends when we were kids. What is the first Filipino legend that you that you heard as a child? Where did you hear it? Do you remember what you thought about it then? What do you think about it now?
- I remember watching Alamat ng Pinya over and over again when I was younger. Yeah, Batibot days. At the time, I didn't really give much thought into it. I think I missed the point of the alamat. I was like, that's how a pinya came to be, never thought about the consequence of not using your eyes to look for stuff. Hehe.
1. What did you think of what Maria Makiling has become in Ana's Little Pawnshop on Makiling St?
- She became a modern woman. It was kind of disappointing to see her become a ruthless bitch eaten by money and consumerism. It totally wrecked her image.
2. What's your opinion of Harinuo? Do you think he deserved his lot at the end of his story? (Bonus points: Does Harinuo's Love Song remind you of other books/stories?)
- Harinuo is a douchebag and he rightfully deserved what happened to him. I can't think of stories similar to it at the moment. :)
3. Last Full Show: If you were given the same chance as Alexandra Trese to watch a particular part of your life on a movie screen, what would you choose to watch?
- If I were given a chance to watch a particular part of my life in a movie, I'd like to watch the part during infancy to toddler years. Those were the times I have no clear memory of and I'd like to see how the start of my life unfolded. :)
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
This month, we're going Filipiniana! We'll be talking about Alternative Alamat: Stories Inspired by Philippine Mythology, a collection of short stories by various Filipino authors, edited by Paolo Chikiamco. Here's the book info:
Alternative Alamat won the 2012 Filipino Readers' Choice Awards for short story anthology (and I believe some of you were judges of that category back then :D).
Reading Plan:
There are 11 stories in the collection, + 2 if you have the print, and also some appendices. We'll go for the 11 na lang, and if we have time, we shall discuss the bonus stories. :)
Hello, if you read this once, please read it again. :D I edited stuff. Thanks!
* Oct 26 to 31
- Appendix A-D (For some background info)
* Nov 1-6
- Ana's Little Pawnshop on Makiling St by Eliza Victoria
- Harinuo's Love Song by Rochita Leonen-Ruiz
- The Last Full Show by Budjette Tan
* Nov 7-13
- The Alipin's Tale by Raymond G. Falgui
- Keeper of My Sky by Timothy James Dimacali
- Conquering Makiling by Monique Francisco
* Nov 14-20
- The Sorceress Queen by Raissa Rivera Falgui
- Beneath the Acacia by Celestine Trinidad
- Offerings to Aman Sinaya by Andrei Tupaz
* Nov 21 to 27
- Balat, Buwan, Ngalan by David Hontiveros
- A Door Opens: The Beginning of the Fall of the Ispancialo-in-Hinirang by Dean Alfar
+ 2 bonus stories in the print edition
* You can read ahead of time, but questions will be posted per week based on which stories are covered.
Copies:
- Print: I believe Fully Booked still carries copies - last saw some in Eastwood. Will post here if needed
- Ebook: Here. Since this is a local book, I strongly advise to purchase to support local authors. But I will try to see if I can get review e-copies from Paolo - will update here. :)
One rule: No spoiler tags to hide your answers. I'm going to be mostly on mobile this month, and we know how terrible it is to try to read the thread with spoiler tags in the app. Also, I want us to start using the spoiler tags for the right reason - which is to hide actual spoilers to the story, and huge images. So use your spoiler tags wisely. I think there's not a lot to spoil in these short stories, anyway. :D
Points:
No deadlines for answers, plus all answers will have equal points regardless of when you post it (well, as long as it's before the F2F). I am, however, awarding bonus points to people who will keep the conversation going - by that, I mean, contributing something related to the conversation that people will learn from (i.e. fun facts about a specific legend, or more info about a specific deity, etc), or people who ask questions on top of mine. So read through everyone's answers and ask them questions, too. :) Just keep it related to the discussion.
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Got it? F2F details in next post. :)