21st Century Literature

             "Fray Botod" Author: Graciano Lopez Jaena Graciano Lopez Jaena's "Fray Botod" portrays a bloated, hypocritical priest as a metaphor for the abuses of the Catholic Church as part of Spanish rule in the Philippines .  Jaena is, to this day, a beloved figure in the Philippines and considered a father of the revolution against Spanish rule. The priest in "Fray Botod" uses religion to exploit and oppress his subjects. A man of vast and morally questionable appetites, he takes advantage of his position to pursue everything from drunkenness and gluttony to exploitative relationships with young girls. The titular character neglects his parish duties, pursues gambling, threatens and punishes college students arbitrarily, treats workers barbarously, and generally conducts business in a wholly corrupt fashion. Written when Graciano Lopez Jaena was 18, "Fray Botod" can be loosely translated as pot-bellied friar. Jaena left the P...

"DEAD STARS" By: Paz Marquez Benitez Dead stars is a short story by Paz Marquez Benitez, written in 1925. The story is basically a compilation of the complicated circumstances that every man has to go through in life. Alfredo was torn between doing what is right and what is in his heart.  Alfredo Salazar is a lawyer and the main character in the story. He is the love of the life of Esperanza. They have been together for four years and meant to get married in May. Their relationship in the beginning was full of enthusiasm, full of love and happiness. But like other long term relationships, their feelings for each other changes as time goes by. Esperanza was beautiful, elegant, reserved, and distinctly not average type of a woman. She loves her Alfredo so much and trustedm with her whole heart. After their four years of engagement, Alfredo thought of finding his real wants. When Alfredo tried to do some neighboring with his dad Don Julian, he met Julia Salas, the...