The Visitation of the Gods

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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 - perceptible by touch. 
• Bougainvillea - an ornamental shrubby climbing plant that is widely cultivated in the tropics. 
• Relegated - transfer to a lower division of a league. 
• Procure - obtain (something), especially with care or effort 
• Denuded - strip (something) of its covering, possessions, or assets.
• Precipitate - cause (an event or situation, typically one that is undesirable) to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely. 
• Jowls - the lower part of a person's or animal's cheek, especially when it is fleshy or drooping. 
• Rigmarole - a lengthy and complicated procedure. 
• Aplomb - self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation.
• Curb - a check or restraint on something.

Characters:

• Group 1 - in charge of preparing the menu.
• Group 2 - in charge of procuring the bedding's and the dishes to be used for supper.
• Group 3 - in charge of structuring the rooms.
• Group 4 - in charge of landscaping the premises.
• Mrs. Divinagracia - one of the harassed teacher that was banished to the kitchen to prepare the menu.
• Mr. Obles - the principal.
• Mrs. Noel - was given the dirty assignment. had long been at odds with the principal; the principal's wife. 
• Mr. Sawit - replaced the deceased english supervisor Mr. Ampil.
• Leon -  a student of Mrs. Noel that wants to be a lawyer.

Setting:

• Pugad Lawin High School

Exposition:

• The story starts when the Janitor of the school gives a letter to the Principal, announcing the visitation of the superintendent, district supervisors, and division supervisors for "purposes of inspection and evaluation" that happens every year.
• right after the first period, the following morning classes were dismissed. the teaching staff and the student body were divided into four groups with each group having a task, making sure that the school will be beautiful and the visitors will have a great time staying in the school.

Rising Action:

• Mr. Sawit asks for Miss Noel's opinion about The visitation.
• Miss Noel frankly says that everything is a farce because the Superintendent and the Supervisors announce their Visitation one month before, as a sign to prepare for their arrival, And as a result, the supervisors will give high ratings because everything is rehearsed and prepared as a part of the one month preparation.Therefore there is no use for the inspection and evaluation because everything is staged.

Climax:

• Miss Noel complains that "what matters is not how well one teaches but how well one has learned the art of pleasing the powers-that- be and it's the same all the way up".
• Mr. Sawit tells Miss Noel that being idealistic can't take her anywhere, he tells her that if she learns how to curb her tongue, then she will be recommended for a post in manila where her talents will not be wasted. and he leaves with kiss on her forehead.

Falling Action:

• Miss Noel's aunt tells her to stop teaching for the hundredth time and that there was a need for export, she'll have the time of her life and she won't have the need to work hard for her position.
• Leon, a student of Miss Noel comes in and she thought about the dreams of her students and worries that if she leaves her job, no one would be there to guide her students.

Ending:

• After breakfast the next morning, the superintendent and supervisors were ready to leave and posed in descending order of hierarchy for a souvenir photo before leaving, Ms. Noel was late, but decides to keep her job and runs with pride and humility on the lowest rung of the school's hierarchy.

Symbolisims:

• The letter of visitation was given one month before so that the school would have time to prepare and make sure the "gods(visitors)" would be pleased when they arrive.
• "Let sleeping dogs lie" is what Mr. Sawit said to Ms.Noel. meaning, she should not interfere with a situation that is not causing any trouble/problems.
• Mr. Sawit says that "education is not so much a matter of brains as getting along with one's fellowmen" meaning Miss Noel's hard work won't get her so high, unless she learns how to please her superiors.

Theme: This story shows that, Hardwork and Talent isn't valued and doesn't pay off in a staged world.
Lesson: Don't waste your time in a world that doesn't value and appreciate hardwork.