Lulab, Jimz Aaron G. - Written Work 4

Agua de Viuda (Activity)

Jhoanna Lynn Cruz, a published author and a professor of literature and creative writing at the University of the Philippines Mindanao, wrote the poem "Agua De Viuda." This poetry was full of powerful and meaningful words written from the perspective of a widow who is looking for love and devotion. Underneath those words are her threads of hope, tainted by the bitterness of her past love life. 

The word ''viuda'' is defined by narrating the experiences of the narrator's grandmother, who is the only viuda she knew. Her husband died, and she never got married again. In this poem, we will learn the definition of viuda from the creative way of conceptualizing ideas by providing examples, meaning, and characteristics. Such that when we refer to women who have lost their spouse to death and have got remarried, we use the term viuda.

Simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, and understatement are five common examples of figures of speech. The author used several figures of speech in her poem "Agua De Viuda." I found a simile in the poem because it used the term "like" to compare two objects. However, not in the sense that it is often understood. In the poem, there are also metaphors that the author has discussed and compared several unrelated items. Personification was the last figure of speech I discovered. 

Things were described in such a way that they seem to be humans. Her grandma died on her grandfather's birthday, which some people find sweet because they believe she'll be happier with him and that they'll finally be together again and continue to love each other. Her grandmother's two-year loneliness will come to an end. This reunion made it sweeter because it was his birthday. 

At first, I mistook her for being a real viuda, but once I understood the poetry, I realized she wasn't. "I have not buried my husband, nor do I want to," she adds in the first stanza, hinting that if she has a husband, he did not die. I believe, and based on my understanding of the text, that her spouse left her. Her past love life, I assume, left her heartbroken. Overall, I believe "Agua De Viuda" is wonderful poetry.

"All These Fighting Cocks: My Critical Analysis of the Story"

The written story of Reneil Benedict Obinque, All These Fighting Cocks narrates the effects of gambling among family members. Filipino men were known for this famous culture of cockfighting where you could temporarily earn and even enjoy the experience of being attached to compatriots. But despite that enjoyable experience, most wives see and regard the activity as inappropriate or illegal. This analysis moreover addresses the noticeable effects of cockfighting gambling on the relation of people. 

Cockfighting victims and participators have primarily involved men that had a family as the story mentions a familied man who joined in this gambling activity. Without the story including his extra efforts, the man may be just involved in these practices to have temporary provision or support for his family. But it comes to the point of severe obsession wherein the man becomes so addicted to it that it slowly blocks his mind from being familied and having home responsibilities. At that time, his wife also became jacked out, accompanied by the relentless surrounding. Their partnership encountered mind conflicts, such as blaming each other and being exhausted with each other. And in conjunction with that frustrating scenario where their minds were blowing up. There follow their barbarous minds on each other, damaging both emotional and physical health. 

Consequently, as they have done inappropriate actions to one another, which are bad for their partnership, including disrespecting the family members around them and teaching their children to become cruel like them, we can alter the gender roles within the family. They continue making their ego higher, and the man and woman are fighting back and seeking vengeance, which I believe if you long for a healthy relationship, you do not do cruel things just like previously mentioned. Keep in mind that in every scenario, lowering their pride would help them achieve a better relationship. As the essay early stated, it is possible that the man's gambling addiction stemmed from his family's financial situation. In addition, consider the traits between the two genders. Knowing that it is illegal to enter gambling, and it is inappropriate in the eyes of the wife, there will be no conflicts among their family if and only if the husband stays away from that bad practices. However, being a man, physically harming a girl is considered impolite. But just because of his conflicted mind, considering it his biggest mistake, he has physically hurt his wife. However, they blundered, and the woman also missed the opportunity to excuse his man's errors. 

We have our own will, which either a man or a woman can do, such as choosing to be with our pride or not. In any of relation, we can able to do it. However, it needs to be in the right place. Partners, the man or the woman, be mindful that the legal ones are better than the illegal ones. Just trust the process, and we always have the wisest ones, the wisest ones to support our family, and the wisest ones to make it better. Don't take shortcuts since there are no shortcuts to success.