Servant girl by Estrella Alfon

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The story "Servant Girl" by Estrella Alfon shows reality.It is the real or common experiences of servants here and abroad, being abuse by their mistress or employer.
In the story, Rosa didn't experience joining the laughter of other servants who was washing in the bathhouse, and she was always been beaten by her mistress for the reason that she works so slow.Then one day, she met a cochero who helped her. From that day, Rosa didn't stop thinking and waiting outside if he is going to pass, he named him "Angel".She try to rebel against her mistress, she made a vow that she won't came back there.She met again the Cochero but unfortunately it was also the only who brought her back to the place she wanted to escaped to.

I think it is only an infatuation or admiration that Rosa felt for "Angel" for the first time she had seen him because the cochero was so gentle compare to others. She was just longing for some care, affection and she thinks that she will have it if she will be with "Angel".It was her dream to escape in the mistreatment of her mistress.Rosa wanted to be free and to be loved but in the end she didn't achieve that, she just accepted to get back in the house.

I really felt pity to Rosa with what she had experience but in a way, I admire her for being strong and patient serving the mistress though she doesn't receive the right treatment .Based on this story, I realized that we should also respect, love and give freedom to our servants because they work hard and at the same time they share their life with us. so we must treat them as if they are also one of the family members.

Significant Writers:Nick Joaquin & Bienvenido Santos

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Nicomedes Marquez Joaquin also Known as Nick Joaquin, a writer, poet, biographer,fictionist,playwright, journalist of all time and a National Artist inspired us with his writings and works .Nick Joaquin was born in Paco, Manila, on May 4, 1917.He dropped-out of school during his high school and just taught himself by reading books in his father's library. At age of 17, he started writing short stories, poems, and essays.Some of his books and writings are The Woman Who Had Two Navels (1961) ,Tropical Gothic and The Summer Solstice.Some of his awards are first prize, Palance Memorial Award (1957-58), first prize, Philippines Free Press Short Story Contest (1949) and the National Artist Award (1976). He wrote journals using the pen name Quijano de Manila. In his works, he showed his genuine style in writing, present what we see and what is happening around us in a social and moral manner.He make us understand that we should first know the past to be able to understand the present and continue to the future.He had been a part and will always be a part of Philippine Literature.

Source: Biographical Reference: Filipino Writers in English by Florentino B. Valeros and Estrellita V. Gruenberg, New Day Publishers, Quezon City, 1987.<http://pinoylit.webmanila.com/filipinowriters/njoaquin.htm>

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Bienvenido N. Santos, a Asian-American writer,poet, novelist, autobiographer and essayist best known for his short stories and novels .He focused on the life of Filipinos who struggles to survive in other countries. Some of his works are The Day the Dancers Came, The Praying Man, and Villa Magdalena (1965).He also wrote his own autobiography, Memory's Fictions, his own experience as a Filipino immigrant and his difficulties in adjusting to life in United States. He shows their emotions such as loneliness, alienation and corruption of innocence.He is a very important Filipino American writer because he open our minds into the reality.

<http://www.enotes.com/twentieth-century-criticism/santos-bienvenido-n>

LITERATURE: what it is, and why is it important?

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For me, Literature is a piece of art that man had discovered out of their creativity.
It is a written material that convey messages with an overflowing feelings,emotions and it could be based on one's own experiences.Knowing something about Literature is like traveling on a long road.Along the road, we can see what is happening around the place,just like literature it shows reality.And us we go along our journey we learn so many things as well as in Literature. It teaches us different thing such as values and even as a guiding principles in our life.That is why Literature is important to us.