HMCS Vancouver Pre-Deployment Brief - May 2024 (Web Version).pptx
The Visitation of the Gods
1. The Visitation of the
Gods
by Gilda Cordero-Fernando
Reporter:
Eljay S. Pineda
2. Introduction
GILDA Cordero-Fernando wrote a famous literature
entitled "The Visitation of the Gods." It is in this literature
where one could see how man would prepare when he will
be visited by "gods." One could see how the Filipinos
would prepare for the coming of visitors, especially those
coming from the other parts of the world. This week, we
have seen a lot of visitors in our city.
3. About Gilda Cordero-Fernando
• Is a multi-awarded writer, publisher and cultural icon
from the Philippines.
• She was born in Manila, has a B.A. from St. Theresa’s
College-Manila, and an M.A. from the Ateneo de Manila
University
• Gilda Cordero-Fernando was born on June 4, 1932.
• Cordero-Fernando has two landmark collection 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 later as
Story Collection (1994). Another book, Philippine Food
and Life, was published on 1992.
4. • Including the following books: Streets of Manila (1977), Turn
of the Century (1978), Philippine Ancestral Houses (1980),
Being Filipino (1981), The History of the Burgis (1987), Folk
Architecture (1989) and the Soul Book (1991).
• Together with Alfredo Roces, Cordero-Fernando worked on
Filipino Heritage, 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.
• Cordero-Fernando has also worn numerous other hats as a
visual artist, fashion designer, playwright, art curator and
producer. In February 2000, she produced a hugely successful
extravaganza entitled Luna: An Aswang Romance.
5. Mrs.Noel English Instructor
Mr. Sawit New English Supervisor
Mr. Alava Superintendent
Mr. Olbes Pugad Lawin’s Principal
Mrs. Divinagracia HE Instructor
Mr. Buenaflor Industrial Arts Instructor
Mr. De Dios Physics Instructor
Mr. Baz Nat’l Language Instructor
Ms. Santos PE Instructor
Mr. Del Rosario Military Tactics
Leon Student
Characters
6. “…EDUCATION is not so
much a matter of brains as
getting along with one’s
fellowmen…”
Literary Expression
7. Pugad Lawin High School
Had made capital of its topography: rooted on the
firm ledge of a hill, the school house was
accessible by a series of stone steps carved on the
hard face of the rocks: its west windows looked
out on the misty grandeur of mountain chain like
a sleeping woman.
Setting
8. The letter announcing the visitation had been
delivered in the morning by a sleepy janitor
to the principal. The party was, the attached
circular revealed a hurried glance, now
volcanic eruptions and other acts of God,
would be upon Pugad Lawin by afternoon.
Plot
9. Conflict
The Visitation turns out well, everything was perfect. Then came
the conversation between the new English Supervisor which is
Mr. Sawit and Ms. Noel, the English Instructor. Their
conversation is about the evaluation. Mr. Sawit asked Ms. Noel
about her observation in the evaluation. Frankly, Ms. Noel told
Mr. Sawit that the evaluation was farce and funny because it was
like scripted. The visitation was announced a month before the
activity. And because of that, school administrators have the
opportunity to hide the school’s imperfections. Of course, the
results of the assessment were far from what’s happening in the
institution every day. The whole activity focus on making an
impression and satisfying a group of assessors, who are treated
like gods by flattery and gift giving.
10. The short story is about the reality of the process of death of
Filipino idealism in the administration of public schools. It
shows the difficulties of sustaining one’s interest and
motivation in improving the standards of education in the
country. The story also exposes the Filipino’s mentality towards
competition. Sometimes one’s pursuit for personal and
professional growth can be mistaken a threat to another man’s
job or authority. More likely, it would be interpreted as
“showing-off”. Unfortunately, the conflict between different
interests not only affects those involved but usually extends to
all the faculty, which in turn causes polarization in the
workplace.
Discuss
11. Rising Action
The teaching staff and the students were divided into four
groups. The first group composed of Mrs. Divinagracia, the
harassed Home Economics instructor. They were appointed
to create a menu for supper. The second group was assigned
to procure beddings, and the dishes to be used in the supper.
And also, the third group was to structure the room. And the
rowdiest freshman group composed the fourth and
discriminated group. Under the stewardship of Ms. Noel.
12. Climax
The visitation turns out well, but then when the night came, Mr.
Sawit the new English Supervisor asked Ms. Noel about the
evaluation. And as an answer, Ms. Noel frankly told Mr. Sawit
that the evaluation was farce and funny because it’s like
scripted. It was announced a month before the visitation date so
the administrators had a chance to prepare and hide infirmities
of respective schools. The results are usually far beyond the true
status or situation of schools because only good and best
qualities are highlighted and bad or worst things are hidden. For
Ms. Noel, the whole activity was to make an impression and
satisfying a group of assessors, who are treated like gods by
flattery and gift giving.
13. Falling Action
Ms. Noel realized that those who sacrifice and dedicated
their life for their responsibility or job and for the good of
the country usually end up getting nothing and having
nothing. It seems that all the years that she’s under Pugad
Lawin’s she have been a slave of the administration. And in
the end, it’s always the children who will suffer, as she
looks to the eyes of Leon who is very willing to become a
lawyer someday.
14. Resolution
At the end of the story, Ms. Noel’s determination to teach
students is still in her heart. And so after breakfast the next
morning, the supervisors packed their belongings and were
soon ready. Mr. Buenaflor fetched the camera and they all
posed on the sunny steps for a souvenir photo: the
superintendent with Mr. and Mrs. Olbes on either side of
him and the minor gods in descending order on the Home
Economics stairs. Miss Noel was late, but she ran to take
her place with pride and humility on the lowest rung of the
school’s hierarchy.
15. Theme
1. Equality is difficult to achieve.
2. Life can be full of pretentions.
3. Death of Filipino idealism.
4. Filipino’s mentality towards competition.
16. Cultures, Beliefs and Traditions
One of the cultures we have up until now is that every time
that someone with a higher position visit schools we tend to
exert much effort than usual just to please them. We even
try to tell our students to behave and not to loiter or even
sometimes not to go outside the room. So that we can
show to our visitors that we are disciplined when having
guest.
17. Different Lessons
The story shows how difficult in sustaining ones interest in
improving the standards of education in the country
especially in the public schools. Because in the end, it is
always the children who will suffer. It shows reality in
what is really happening when it comes to pretending.
18. Activity
Picture Frame
Instruction:
1. The class will be divided in three (3) groups.
2. The facilitator will give a 5 specific situation.
3. Each group must pose related to the situation like a stolen picture
in the scene.
