Project in 21st Literature

1. In the Garden
By: Jose Dalisay Jr.

2. Author
Name: Dr. Jose Y. Dalisay Jr. (Romblon Philippines)
A.K.A: Butch Dalisay
Birthdate: January 15, 1954
Educational Background
Primary: La Salle Green Hills
Secondary: Philippine Science High school
College: University of the Philippines
Achievements
Graduated as Cum Laude
Won 16 Palanca Awards in five genres
Vice President for Public Affairs of the UP System from May
2003 to February 2005.
Current director of the UP ICW

3. Characters of the Story
Mr. Pareja- a teacher who owns the
schoolhouse and the garden
Rosita- a fourteen year old girl
Bienvenido- the brightest boy in the
class
Baclagon- a sergeant in his forties

4. Setting
The story took place during
Martial Law time wherein the
native folks experienced
harassment from the soldiers.
The scene happened one
afternoon in the school garden
located at Kangmating .

5. Summary
It was almost dawn when a military group approached
the place of Mr. Pareja. It was Rosita who screamed
and got Mr. Pareja out of the classroom. The soldiers
started picking their vegetables and some of them
uprooted it. They just watched in silence. Bienvenido
was crying upon seeing the destroyed okra he planted.
The soldiers seem to mind their expressions. Their
teacher cannot do anything about it since the soldiers
have weapons. After their conversation, he asked
Baclagon if he can send the children home. The
sergeant agreed but he ordered that Rosita shouldstay
and serve them.

6. Mr. Pareja sent the children home
after asking permission from the
sergeant. Rosita stayed and serve the
soldiers by preparing their dinner
and washing the clothes.
Mr. Pareja asked the sergeant on
how lone they are going to stay.
Baclagon answered that they
might stay until tommorrow
morning.
Mr. Pareja is sitting inside the classroom while
reminiscing the past, watching his students
work hard for their garden. Outside the
classroom, Rosita was drawing more water from
the pump. The other children and Beinvenido
were pressing squash seeds into mounds.
The pail was nearly full when
Rosita saw the soldiers coming up
in the path. She screamed and Mr.
Pareja ran out to the garden.
The sergeant, Baclagon, told his
soldiers what to do. His soldiers
picked the vegetables and Mr.
Pareja and the children just
watched in silence.

7. Conflict (Man vs. Man)
The cruelty and the abusiveness of the
soldiers under Ferdinand Marcos regime.
Mr. Pareja portrays a man who is not
brave enough to fight for his rights. During
Martial Law in which there were lots of
authorities whom were making foolishness
as they want to do so. It is one of the
anomalies that the authorities done during
the hardship of the Philippines.

8. Theme
The story only states the life they have
when under the time of Martial Law where
every step and every word they will say
and do are watched by people assigned
by Ferdinand Marcos, the hardships
they've got and the struggle for freedom
they want to have.

9. Symbolisms
• Mr. Pareja- he symbolizes the weakness
of people during Martial Law wherein they
cannot fight for their rights.
• Rosita and Beinvenido- symbolizes the
innocence of children during this time
• Baclagon- the sergeant who symbolizes
the brutality and the greediness for power

10. Plot Type: Dramatic (Progressive Plot)
Plot Device: Symbolism

11. Point of View
Omniscient:
The author narrates the story. He knows
and reveals everything. It includes the
emotions and what’s on the mind of the
characters.

12. Submitted by:
Ramos, Mia Shane
Lauresta, Janessa
De Lara, Emman
Roxas, Kenjie
Alarcon, Joanne
Submitted to:
Mrs. Kaylin Paguio

13. “The sorrow of yesterday is a lesson to fight
today and an inspiration for tomorrow's
next generation.”
- Rachel Marie Galope