A Child of Sorrow
(A Romantic Novel)
By: Zoilo Galang
Introduction
Zoilo Galang was
born on June 27 1895 in Bacolor, Pampanga. An encyclopedist, and
the
very first English-language Filipino novelist.He spent his early life in
a Bucolic town
famed for its writers and artist. He lived with
influenced of Spanish culture but was raised
and gained consciousness
under American culture. He went to school at the Bacolor
Elementary
School and then went to Manila to study at the Escuela de Derecho,
the
country’s eminent law school where he graduated in 1919. A
self-starter, he learned typing
and stenography in English and Spanish
all by himself. Attracted to the English language,
he took special
courses at the University of the Philippines in 1925, then went to
Columbia
University for further studies in Literature.
After which, he began to write books of fiction, biography, and philosophy.His
early poems
saw print of the Kapampangan paper, “E Mangabiran”. He authored “ A
Child of Sorrow”, the
first English novel written by Filipino. This was later made into a movie in 1930. Other
notable works
include “ Nadia”, “ For Dreams Must Die”, “Springtime”, “ Leaders of the
Philippines”, “Glimpse of the worlds”, “ Life and Success”, Master of Destiny”,
“Unisophy”,
and “Barrio Life.”
"A
Child's Sorrow" is the very first Filipino novel written in English.
It was published in
1921 by Zoilo Galang, a Filipino Novelist. A Child of Sorrow, which is a romantic novel is
considered to be the first novel written in English by a Filipino, hence its full text is printed
for every Filipino to know it's contents.
The novel tells a
typical setting of a Filipino love story. It was set in a particular
province
or town in a time too far from the modern setting where
technology is abundant and
dominant, but it manifests certain
characteristics of a love story which can still watched in
televisions in the modern times.
The scenes in the
story are still seen in the present times, though it has been written in
the past. This makes the story eternal and timeless; from being in love
at a young age, to
the issues of fixed marriage, up to the societal
issues such as bribery.
Characters
Lucio Soliman |
Lucio Soliman- He is a protagonist. He is a slender and well-built
with brown hair, dark clear eyes and a gay and graceful demeanor.
His face was oval and handsome in a truly manly fashion. He is a
calm, pensive and poetic.
Plot
The story was set one summer when Lucio Soliman decided to accompany his friend
Camilo in the beautiful town of Merry Town, Camillo's hometown. Lucio
was a very poetic
man who'd prefer sitting all day just to read. But
because his friend was to eager to show his
friend reality, he insisted
that Lucio must take a vacation in their town.
Their she met a young, innocent, and delicate maiden that made Lucio's heart beat by
the name of Rosa Garcia. He
felt in love with her. And as Lucio describe the love he felt
towards
this girl, he said it will make Apollo's lyre play. He was madly in
love. Rosa felt the
same towards Lucio.
Until the end of summer vacation drew near and they knew they have to be temporarily
Until the end of summer vacation drew near and they knew they have to be temporarily
apart. Lucio has to pursue his dreams, he studied. Known
for his intelligence, he became a
popular person. He became very busy,
but still he misses the company of his dearest loved.
He became
sorrowful. Not until Rosa wrote a letter to make him bliss. Then he
regained his
strength. They have not forgotten the love that empowers
both of them. Until a celebration
in merry Town paved way for the
lovers to reunite. Lucio was invited to speak in the public.
But the
Governor ( Rosa's Father) was not please and her has this ill feeling
towards Lucio.
He instantly asked Oscar ( His most trusted man and
Rosa's persistent suitor) who is the
man speaking. When he found out
that it was her child's fiancee, he was not happy.
Days, week, and months
had passed they were surprise of the news that Rosa will be
married not
to his fiancee, but to Oscar. But because Lucio was to obedient to his
parent, he
permitted Rosa to marry Oscar which made both of them
sorrowful .It was hard for him
though. But he just wanted Rosa to follow
her mother. Though Rosa does not want to
marry Oscar, she was forced
to because he was raped. For the sake of her " delicadesa"
she was
betrothed to Oscar.
Later had passed Lucio's father died, and after several
weeks his love, Rosa died. This
made Lucio felt a lot more of sorrow.
Art and Delivery
The way the author writes the order of scenes, I can say that some of the scenes can be
a little bit predictable, which can also be manifested in teleseryes in the modern times. This
somehow set the standards or techniques of Filipino authors. To add to it, the author made
the sequence of scenes organized, and often uses flashbacks, which can still be seen in
modern Filipino Tele novelas.
Conclusion
The story tells us about the feeling of being in love. In loving a
person, you must be
prepared to face the ups and downs, and the twist
and turns of life. Couple with the feeling
of love and happiness, there
is always sorrow. You must learn to sacrifice and be hurt in the
thing
called LOVE.
It also tells us the fact that in the world of politics, politician use
there powers in order to
conceive what they wanted whatever it takes.
Which Don Ismael represents.
Another representation are of Rosa and Lucio. Rosa
represents the true nature of a
Filipina. A demure, moral and beautiful
inside and out. Lucio represents the author, who
addicted to books. This
made him experience life in a second hand way.
In totality, the story conveys the reality that
life is a series of challenges. Life is not all
about being happy. In
order to truly experience life, you must bravely encounter both the
happiness and sorrows. This serves as an inspiration to all.