Ocassional Paper (Afro-Asian Lit)

1. Philippine Normal University
National Center for Teacher Education
Faculty of Arts and Languages
Taft Avenue, Manila
Novel Analysis:
Filipinos’ Different Ways of Facing the Challenges of Life as Shown in Galang’s Child of
Sorrow
Submitted by:
Angelie T. Magdasoc
II – 17 BSE English
Submitted to:
Prof. Maria Sarah Palma

2. “Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life
meaningful.” - Joshua J. Marine
People have diverse ways of confronting trials. Some may choose to be with
someone, but some may choose to be alone. Some are real patient, while some always
complains. Some may bear it strenuously while some may find ways to escape. Some
takes challenges in life as a complete burden, while some take it as their motivation to
succeed.
The Child of Sorrow was the first Philippine novel written in English. It was so
evident because the characterization, setting, and the plot of the story were very simple
but what is admirable about this novel is that you’ll really be able to learn something
about life from selected characters of the story namely, Lucio Soliman, Benito Soliman
Camilo David, Juan de la Cruz, and Rosa Garcia. At this point, let us get to know more
about these people and let us see how they influence each other’s life.
Lucio was defined as a simple yet a very attractive and intelligent man. He
always wanted privacy whenever he reads. His love for literature and music inspires him
to work and serve for himself and for others. Lucio suffered so much when it comes to
love. He lost the one and only woman he loved because of some people who keep on
destructing their happy relationship. He gave her up but he persists in his life. He went
to Manila where he studied in a college. He took commercial subjects to enable him to
make a decent living and he took literature and reading to enable him to write for that
was his passion. The following lines from the story will further prove Lucio’s
determination in life:

3. “If I fail, I shall not be sorry, for I have done my best. Man cannot do more. But
the effort put forth will make me stronger. Man is by nature imperfect, but even so
I shall strive to be good, and to avoid mistakes. For our success and happiness
lie in not repeating the same mistakes but in profiting by our errors and by the
experience of others. Experience is a mighty teacher and it makes the difference
between a small man and a great one. For that is our wisdom – to be strong, he
should succeed, if not in the eyes of the world, then in the eyes of God.”
Throughout Lucio’s endeavors, there was this person who has been there to
support and comfort him – his father, Benito Soliman. By his thoughts, he was able to
thrust his son to success. Some of the wisdoms he bestowed to Lucio say that he
should not forget to look up to God Almighty. Here are some:
“My son… Do that which your aptitudes and abilities are best suited to… And I
know positively that there are a thousand misfits in the world, bright young men
who become useless – yes, for not following their natural bent where nature
meant them to excel. If only a man can find himself in the world where he truly
belongs, and doing his best, then the Millennium will no longer be an illusion. It
will be at hand. Therefore, do what you think is best – and call on God.”
“… To honor your parents is in the Commandments. To give up passion and
happiness for the sake of your parents is the truest gratitude of a son. It will make
you healthy in heart – and you’ll gain a blessing from our Great Father.”
“Yes son, he is happy who values honor and his name, above all; who can brave
misfortune with cheerfulness and courage; who appreciates all the beauties of

4. life; who has a mind contented and filled with beautiful thoughts; whose real
riches are his wisdom, his high thinking and his love for humanity; who is
conscious of his relations with God, and who is happy, calm, and has learned to
suffer like a man.”
On the other hand, Camilo David was Lucio’s long time friend. He is one of those
who encourage him to explore life and find some other hobbies besides books; he’s
pertaining to women perhaps. He was the one who invited Lucio to take a vacation in
Merry Town where he met the woman of his dreams. Two of the remarkable lines of
Camilo which convinces Lucio are: “A sleeping dog catches no bone” and “Early bird
catches the early worm”.
In the province of Merry Town, Lucio met different people. One of those is Juan
de la Cruz, a law abiding citizen of the town. He was everyones’s friend for he could
keep secrets. He has no permanent residence, and always roamed around the
countryside, talking with the young people to convince them take more interest in their
government and other affairs. You could not imagine that this person with a very simple
living could actually influence some other people’s life. He always gives Lucio unraveled
thoughts especially when it comes to Lucio’s one and only love – Rosa Garcia.
Yes. Rosa was Lucio’s one and only love. She was a woman of fairness and
purity which makes Lucio fall in love with her easily. Lucio’s persistence and innate
eloquence made Rosa feel the same way as he is, and they’ve been very happy with
each other’s company. They even made a promise that even death will not take them
apart. But the time comes when Lucio’s vacation in Merry Town comes to an end. He

5. needed to go back in Fertile Valley to continue his work, but he promised to come back
then they will marry. Sadly, problems really occur when you least expected it. The
rumors about Rosa’s engagement with Oscar, a well-to-do man who secretly admires
her, spread out all over the province, and her true identity as a the long hidden daughter
of Governor Pancho Ismael, the corrupt politician, was revealed. She has no enough
power to fight against his father’s will so she still marries Oscar. These happenings
made her lose Lucio.
Among the characters, Rosa was the one with a weak personality. Those
unexpected revelations really broke her into pieces and she can’t prevent her emotions
from coming out. Her lines when she had confronted Lucio will prove this statement.
“But your coldness, it conceals your heart and makes me cry… I have suffered all
these days, yes, for you – for you alone. To live any longer, I cannot. I simply
cannot live and lead this life. I am not born to it.”
“Oh. Lucio, what a miserable fate! Look into my heart and you will see how
lonely I am. Open the book of my life, you are there, and if not, the pages will be
black, utterly black…” She paused as feelings deep and sad filled her whole
being with dark forebedings. She could not hide her sorrows…
Both Rosa and Lucio suffered so much from their separation, but it is really
evident that Rosa was the one who got severely affected. She got ill which lead her to
death. Lucio got really miserable because of what happened but he had no choice but
and he felt was so much guilt and regrets. Only several days after Rosa’s death, Oscar
died in his own hands.

6. We really can’t say what life could give us, so we should keep ourselves
equipped to whatever problem may arise. But one thing is for sure, God will not give us
trials which we can never overcome. Just like what Lucio did. Those trials encourage
him to pursue his dreams. Rosa, on the other hand, tried to fight but she was defeated
by her own feelings that cause her illness. Thus, she was proclaimed as the ‘child of
sorrow’. At the end of the story, even Oscar became a victim of these challenges
causing him to suicide. See how we deal differently to our problems? But of course the
right thing to do is to face it with all your strength and make it as your motivation to
succeed.