Filipino/a Literature - Essay Example

How is this narrative related/connected to Villanueva’s “Overseas,” and even Hagedorn’s “Tenement Lover”? This narrative is connected to Villanueva’s “Overseas” (Villanueva) and Hagedorn’s “Tenement Lover” (Hagedorn) in terms of the experiences, challenges, and realizations shared by Filipinos regarding relatives who went abroad (Sepa talking about her brother in Saudi Arabia) (Villanueva); and that of Bongbong, who seemed to be getting crazy living in North America in Hagedorn’s story, and confirmed that these Filipinos initially perceived regarding living in a foreign land turned out to be antithetical, or far from what they actually expected. 2. Discuss the dynamic/relationship between Filipinos and Fil Am’s in Tenorio’s “Felix Starro.

” What does each sell to the other? What are your thoughts on that mutual system? Who benefits and how? Who is screwed over, and how? And what are young Felix’s thoughts on his place and role in this system? In Tenorio’s “Felix Starro”(Tenorio), the Filipinos were actually selling hope, a way to relieve and ease Fil Am’s of whatever pain or discomfort they are experiencing in America. Felix Starro was clearly a faith healer, a bogus medical practitioner, who allegedly heals Fil Am’s of their various medical ailments through making them believe that he is taking out negativities in exchange for money.

Flora Ramirez, on the other hand, was an illegal fixer who provides citizenship documents to Filipinos, also in exchange for money; for a chance given to Filipinos to live freely in the United States. The system were allegedly illegal and spurious; but is resorted to, by Filipinos, as alternative means to improve the current condition they are in. The perpetuators benefit in terms of the monetary compensation accorded; but lives in fear since they could be legally charged and convicted. Those who resort to these systems are screwed; especially the people who thought that Felix Starro was a genuine healer; or that Flora Ramirez could indeed provide them with the credentials to enable them to live a better life.

The young Felix knew the illegality and bogusness of these situations. Although he wanted a way out from his grandfather’s scheme, he allegedly resorted to a similar scheme, which he thinks would give him a new chance and a new life apart from the spurious life that he currently is involved in. 3. What is your assessment of Rafael’s balikbayan? What is he saying about the balikbayan? Do you agree with this? Why/why not? Rafael’s balikbayan was described as an affirmation that living in a foreign land provides greater benefits in terms of the opportunities given to earn more, to consume higher quality goods and services, and to validate that life is better than living in the native land.

One actually agrees with the contention since apparently, having been given the chance to live and earn in another country; and experiencing greater benefits derived from developed economies have allegedly manifested similar perceptions and attitudes of balikbayans, in general. Likewise, as evidenced by the lack of progress and development in the native land, when balikbayans return to see the same socio-economic condition and plight of their counterparts, it is affirmed that they would rather go back to the foreign land to weather