1. Footnote to Youth
Author: Jose Garcia Villa
The sun was salmon and hazy in the west. Dodong thought to himself he would tell his father
about teang when he got home, after he had unhitched the carabao from the plow, and let it to its
shed and fed. He was hesitant about saying it, but he wanted his father to know.
What he had to say was of serious import as it would mark a climacteric in his life. Dodong
finally decided to tell it, at a thought came to him his father might refuse to consider it. His father
was silent hard-working farmer who chewed areca nut, which he had leardned to do from his
mother, Dodong’s grandmother.
I will tell it to him.Dodong unhitched the carabao leisurely ang gave it a healthy tap on the hip.
The beast turned its head to look at him with dumb faithful eyes. Dodong gave it a slight push
and the animal walked alongside him to its shed. He placed bundles of grass before it land the
carabao began to eat.
Dodong started homeward, thinking how he would break his news to his father. He wanted to
marry, Dodong did. He was seventeen, he had pimples on his face, the down on his upper lip
already was dark these meant he was no longer a boy. He was growing into a man he was a man.
He walked faster, prodded by the thought of his virility.In the cool sundown he thought wild you
dreams of himself and teang. Teang, his girl.
She had a small brown face and small black eyes and straightglossy hair. How desirable she was
to him. She made him dream even during the day.The petroleum lamp on the ceilling already
was lighted and the low unvarnished square table was set for supper.Dodong’s mother removed
the dishes when they were through and went out to the batalan to wash them.
His father remained in the room sucking a dioseased tooth.Dodong said while his mother was
out that he was going to marry Teang.” I am going to marry Teang,” Dodong made a quick
impassioned easy in his mind about selfishness, but later he got confused. “ Dodong, you tell
your inay.”You tell her.” All right Dodong,” “ You will let me Teang?

2. “Son if that is your wish.. of course..”He was still like a tree and his thoughts were confused.
Hos mother had told him not to leave the houde, but he had left. He had wanted to get out of it
without clear reasons at all. It had seem to cage him, to compare his thought with severe
tyranny.Teang was giving bith in the house;this time his father beside his mother. “ It is a boy, “
his father said.His father thrust his hand in his hand in his gripped it gently.
For six successive years a new child came along. Dodong did not want many more children, but
they came.It seemed the coming of children could not be helped. Dodong get angry with himself
sometimes. Teang did not complain. She cried sometimes, wishing she had not married. There
has been another suitor, Lucio, wqould she have borne him children. That was a better a lot. But
she loved Dodong..
Dodong roe and went out the house. He stood in the moonlight, tierd ang querulous. He wanted
to ask question and somebody to answer him. “ why life did not fulfill all of youth’s dreams.
Why one was forsaken.. after love. But the question was not to be answered. Dodong returned to
the house humiliated by himself. When blas aws eighteen he came home one night very
flustered and happy. Dodong call him name and asked why he did not sleep. Its late, “ dodong
said. Dodong said did not answer snd tried to sleep. “ Itay…” Blas called. Dodong strirred and
asked him what was it. “ I am going to marry Tena.”
She accepted me tonight.. Dodong lay on the red pillow without moving. “ Itay, you think it
over.” Dodong lay silinet. “ I love Tena and .. I want her. “ Dodong rose from his mat and told
blas to follow him. They descended to the yard, where everything was still quit.
The moonlight was a cold and white. “ You want to marry Tena,” Dodong said. Dodong kept
silent, hurt You have objections, Itay?”Blas asked acridly. “ Son.. n-none…” |(But truly God I
don’t want to marry yet… But he awsa helpless. He could do anything. Youth must triumph..
now. Afterwards.. it will be life. As long ago Youth and love did triumph for dodong.. and then
life. Dodong looked wistfully at his young son in the moonlight. He left extremely sad and sorry
for him.

3. REFLECTION:
Don’t be helter-skelter of one thing that you didn’t know that at end you will regret it.
Think first before you make a move.
Don’t be selfish.
Don’t be a self centered.
Take time to think just to make sure that you will be contented for the outcome.