The Art of Blogging: A Story Blog Filled with Amusement, Love, Adventure, & Lessons

  The “Nanking Store” is a short story written by Macario Tiu in 1999. The story goes deep into the complicated relationship between Peter and Linda, especially their struggles to have a child, specifically a son, to carry on the family name. Despite starting happily, their marriage gets worse due to societal and family pressures because they can't have kids. Linda faces mistreatment and isolation, even violence from her mother-in-law, making her a target in the community. Peter cheats with a Bisaya woman, leading to the birth of two sons. This causes trouble but restores Peter's reputation. After Peter dies, Linda stands up to her mother-in-law and stays in Nanking Store, going against expectations. She unexpectedly becomes pregnant, possibly by the family driver, challenging social norms. She leaves abruptly, leaving the closed store as a symbol of family issues and speculation about her child's gender.   The story's serious mood highlights the difficulties in the Chi...

  The "Fruit Stall” is a short story written by Melinda Bobis in 1993. It is about a woman that faces the challenge of hiding her Filipino background while managing a fruit stall to avoid discrimination and stereotypes. To fit in with societal norms and combat racism, she pretends to be Spanish or Mexican. The story also touches on the difficulties in her marriage to an Australian man and her family's strong connection to their Filipino heritage, especially her father's dedication to sending fruits back home. Throughout the narrative, she reflects on her ability to adapt to societal expectations. However, a significant encounter with a couple forces her to confront the hidden parts of her identity. This story explores themes of cultural identity, societal expectations, and the ongoing struggle to stay true to oneself while dealing with bias and unfair treatment.               This story adeptly narrates the tale of a Filipina woman contending...

  https://buklat.blogspot.com/2017/12/ang-unggoy-at-paru-paro-maikling-kuwento.html The short story "Ang Unggoy at Paru-Paro" or “A Monkey and the Butterfly” written by Jim Lloyd, is published in 2017. This story is about a monkey named Unggoy who throws his food waste around without thinking about how it affects nature. Even though a butterfly named Paru-paro warns him, Unggoy ignores the advice and doesn't take the problem seriously. Paru-paro tries to tell Unggoy how to properly throw away trash, but Unggoy gets mad and tells Paru-paro to go away. One night, a lot of garbage piles up, causing a landslide. Unggoy has to face the bad results of what he did. He realizes that his actions not only hurt him but also other animals and the environment. After that, he promises to be more careful and throw away his garbage properly.   The story shows how being good at something is important in different ways. First, it tells the story of Unggoy doing things without thinking, whi...

  The poem entitled "Air Castles" written by Juan F. Salazar is published in 1909. It   talks about the poet's dreams and determination to face the unknown future. It mentions looking forward to what's coming next, comparing life's journey to faraway mountains and a vast sea. The person in the poem feels really ambitious and motivated, inspired by great writers like Shakespeare. Although the poem recognizes not having the same skill as Shakespeare, it shares a similar love for writing and a strong dedication. The poem highlights the goal of achieving personal success, valuing the process of finishing tasks and working hard for success. It also talks about being strong in tough times, promising to keep going even if faced with failure, showing a commitment to keep trying and not giving up. In the end, the poem is a statement about the poet's decision to tackle life's challenges with strong determination, learning from setbacks, and moving forward despite di...

  The short story entitled “A Night in the Hills” is written by Paz Marquez-Benitez and published in 1925. It is about a man named Gerardo Luna, who works and owns a jewelry store in Manila and secretly wishes to explore the forest, even though he faces health issues and societal expectations. He's attracted to the beauty and calmness of the forest. When he meets Ambo, who gathers orchids, Gerardo feels hopeful about making his dream come true. However, family expectations and social pressures push him to follow what society thinks is normal. Despite wanting to break free, the journey to the forest reveals a conflict between his dreams and his duties. While in the forest, he thinks deeply about life, wanting something more meaningful than his current routine. The story suggests a struggle inside him, torn between what he personally wants and what society expects. It ends with a sense of tension and a crucial moment when he thinks about a question from Peregrina, hinting at a possib...

  https://www.amazon.com/Mats-Francisco-Arcellana/dp/0916291863 The short story entitled “The Mats” is written by Francisco Arcellana and published in 1938. In this sad story, Mr. Angeles comes back from a trip with a special surprise for his family: colorful sleeping mats with each family member's birthstone. The kids are excited, looking forward to seeing these unique mats. But when Mr. Angeles shows the mats, the happy mood changes a lot. The mats not only have the names of the living kids but also the names of their brothers and sisters who passed away. This makes the occasion sad and heavy, very different from the happy start. The family feels a strong and quiet sadness, as the mats meant for the ones who are no longer here bring back memories of loss and remembering them. Mr. Angeles tried to honor the memories of the ones who passed away with these mats, but it turns into a moment where everyone thinks deeply about the sad times in the family's past, creating a sad feeli...

  The short story entitled “Servant Girl” is written by Estrella D. Alfon and published in 1937. The story is about Rosa, a maid dealing with problems like the way society sees her and figuring out who she is. She's kept away from being friends with others because her boss won't let her. Even though she's treated badly, Rosa has to deal with a guy named Sancho who bothers her and another guy named Angel who unexpectedly helps her. Rosa starts thinking Angel is a good person and dreams of having a better life with him. But she feels let down when she sees that he doesn't really care about her. The story shows Rosa feeling different things, like hope and then disappointment, as she wishes for someone to genuinely care about her. In the end, Rosa goes back to her boss's house, realizing that her dreams of a better life might not come true. This shows the struggle between what she wants and the tough reality she faces in trying to have dignity and connect with other pe...

  https://www.metroscenemag.com/2022/07/local-animator-mark-canega.html The short story entitled "Midsummer" written by Manuel Arguilla is published in 1933 in the Philippine Magazine. The story   takes place in a very hot and empty place, with a man traveling with a tired bull in a cart. The landscape is harsh and beautiful, but there are no other people around. Suddenly, a young woman appears, looking fresh and lively against the dry background, catching the man's attention. They accidentally bump into each other near a well, and the man's food gets broken. But this accident helps them become friends easily, even though the man was unsure at first. They share a meal and water, and a quiet liking and interest grow between them. The woman kindly invites the man to stay at her simple home, showing a new connection between them as they start this unexpected journey together. This journey is like a symbol of the man feeling stronger and having a clear purpose.   The stor...

  The short story entitled “Footnote to Youth” is written by Jose Garcia Villa and published in 1933. This story is about Dodong, a young man deeply in love and wanting to marry Teang even though he's still quite young. When Dodong tries to tell his father about it, his father doesn't say anything, seeming disapproving. But Dodong doesn't let that stop him. They get married, and they have several kids. As Dodong gets older, he starts feeling weighed down by dreams he didn't achieve and the responsibilities of being a dad. His son, Blas, wants to marry young too, and this causes a conflict for Dodong. He understands Blas's feelings but also knows the difficulties of getting married early. The story shows Dodong struggling with decisions he made when he was young and the tough realities of being an adult. Dodong's journey is a sad look at how desires change over time and how the intense love and dreams of youth can fade away when faced with life's hard challen...

      The short story entitled “The Fence” is written by Jose Garcia Villa and published in 1927. In this story, two women, Aling Biang and Aling Sebia, have a big fight that causes them to build a fence between their houses. This fence shows how much they dislike each other. It's not just a physical barrier; it also represents the hurt feelings from a betrayal between them. Because of this fight, their kids, Iking and a girl from the other side, are not allowed to be friends. This makes Iking very curious about the girl he sees on the other side of the fence. Even though he's warned not to, Iking secretly listens to her music. Sadly, he dies on Christmas Eve. His mom, who is very sad about losing him, blames the girl's music for his death, thinking it's a cruel reminder of their sad story. This tale teaches us that the fence isn't just a thing; it shows how far apart the two families are emotionally. It keeps them isolated, even when they share the same sadness. Th...