Short Story Reviews =D

source Title: DEAD STARS Author: Paz Marquez Benitez Author's Background: Born in 1894 in Lucena, Tayabas (now Quezon). Marquez – Benítez authored the first Filipino modern English language short story, Dead Stars, published in the Philippine Herald in 1925. Born into the prominent Marquez family of Quezon province, she was among the first generation of Filipino people trained in the American education system which used English as the medium of instruction. She graduated high school in Tayabas High School now, Quezon National High School. She was a member of the first freshman class of the University of the Philippines, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912. source Vocabulary: Azotea - a flat roof or platform on the top of a house or other building. Perfervid - intense and impassioned. Insipid - lacking flavour; weak or tasteless. Tumultuous - making an uproar or loud, confused noise. Deluded - make (someone) believe something that is not true. Placidi...

source Title:  The Visitation of the Gods Author: Gilda Cordero-Fernando Author's Background:  Gilda Cordero-Fernando is a writer and publisher from the Philippines. She was born on June 4, 1932 in Manila, has a B.A. from St. Theresa's College-Manila, and an M.A. from the Ateneo de Manila University.  Cordero-Fernando has two collections of short stories: The Butcher, The Baker and The Candlestick Maker (1962) and A Wilderness of Sweets (1973). These books have been compiled and reissued as the Story Collection (1994). Another book, Philippine Food and Life, was published in 1992 with Alfredo Roces. Cordero-Fernando also worked on Filipino Heritage, a 10-volume study on Philippine history and culture published by Lahing Pilipino in 1978. Afterwards, she founded GCF Books which published a dozen titles that deal with various aspects of Philippine culture and society. source Vocabulary: Assiduous - showing great care and perseverance.  Tangible - percept...

source Title:   How my Brother Leon brought Home a Wife Author: Manuel Estabilla Arguilla Author's Background: Manuel Estabilla Arguilla (Nagrebcan, June 17, 1911 – beheaded, Manila Chinese Cemetery, August 30, 1944) was an Ilokano writer in English, patriot, and martyr. He is known for his widely anthologized short story "How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife," the main story in the collection How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife and Other Short Stories, which won first prize in the Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940. source Vocabulary: Carretela - a carriage pulled by a horse. Camino Real - a main highway. Waig - stream, a body of water (in ilocano). Yonder - the far distance. Bole - trunk of a tree. Rein - keep under control. Characters: Baldo - Narrator of the story, and Leon's brother. Leon - The brother of Baldo, who brought home a wife.  Maria - The wife of Leon, who grew in the City and not in the Province. Father - told Ba...