ABSENT, MAAMby: FERDINAND BALINO

Prepared by: Madilyn Caresusa

CEBUANO SHORT STORY

CATEGORY

2ND PLACE ON 2007 DON CARLOS

PALANCA MEMORIAL AWARDS for

LITERATURE

Other Awards of FERDINAND

BALINO for 2009

• 1st place - Kanamit Gid Sang Arroz Valenciana, Short Story – Hiligaynon

• 3rd place - Mga Mananap sa Kagabhion,Regional Division Short Story, Cebuano

PLOT

CHARACTERS

1. MAAM FUENTES2. DAISY BUHAY3. ROSE BUHAY

4. LANI5. NOY JUNIOR

6. UNCLE YOYONG7. MANGHURNALAY

-• She implements strict regulations especially in wearing a complete uniform and in speaking English as a means of conversation in the classroom.

• Story of a public teacher who practices her profession in a far-flung area

PUBLIC CLASSROOMS

• The setting of the story reflects a simple life in a barrio.

Folks living there realize the importance of education.

Children go to school despite hindrances that come along because of poverty.

FACES OF POVERTY

• The two sisters,Rose Buhay and Daisy Buhay, had already got six-seven absences in school that’s why Ms. Fuentes, their Math teacher had already been bothered.She asked Lani about them.

“Buhay, Daisy…?”

“Absent, Ma’am.”

“Buhay, Daisy…?”

“Absent, Ma’am.”

Lani just said they were sick but the truth was they only had one pair of shoes so they alternately wore it .

Ms. Fuentes and Lani visited the house of Rose and Daisy to

follow them up. They were heading to a barrio where they

rode in a habal-habal.

Ms. Fuentes was being respected and valued by the people in the

barrio. • She met Noy Junior, the elder

brother of Rose and Daisy. He apologized for their absences. She told her that they were buying another pair of shoes.

Until an accident happened

.

• Rose was bumped by a truck of an illegal logging company.

Because of this, Rose died.

Ms. Fuentes blamed herself for the tragic event.

It could have not happened if she only let the students enter the class even if they’re not in complete uniform. Rose and Daisy were choosing a pair of shoes before the accident happened. Rose feared the shots of a gun she heard that’s why she ran unnoticing the truck coming.

AFTER HOW MANY DAYS,

•Ms. Fuentes checked the attendance.

•She remembered the tragedy that happened to Rose and she had said to her students:

“Ayaw gyod mog absent bisan wala moy sapatos, Class, ha?”

WORDS OF WISDOM

• Justice is a hope and not a certainty.

• Justice may be too good for some and not good enough for others.

• Conscience is its own punishment.• Patience is the only remedy for

poverty.