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Visitation of the Gods

Title: Visitation of the Gods
Author: Gilda Cordero-Fernando
Author’s Background:
Gilda Cordero-Fernando is a multiawarded 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.
She started off as a writer and was awarded the Palanca Award for Literature several times. She has also written and illustrated children’s books.Her short stories are collected in The Butcher, The Baker and The Candlestick Maker (1962) and A Wilderness of Sweets (1973).
She has had a very rich life as a publisher. In 1978 she launched GCF Books, which published landmark books on Philippine cultural history: 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), & The Soul Book (1991).
Cordero-Fernando has also worn numerous other hats as a visual artist, fashion designer, playwright, art curator and producer. In February 2000, she produced Luna: An Aswang Romance. In 2001 she produced Pinoy Pop Culture, the book and the show, for Bench.
In 1994, she received a Cultural Center of the Philippines (Gawad CCP) for her lifetime achievements in literature and publishing.

Source: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3370901.Gilda_Cordero_Fernando

Vocabulary:
assiduous - showing great care and perseverance.
nymphs -
a mythological spirit of nature imagined as a beautiful maiden inhabiting rivers, woods, or other locations.
dishabille -  
the state of being only partly or scantily clothed.
bougainvillea - an ornamental climbing plant that is widely cultivated in the tropics. The insignificant flowers are surrounded by brightly colored papery bracts that persist on the plant for a long time.
grandeur
splendor and impressiveness, especially of appearance or style.
tangible - perceptible by touch.
bureaucratic
relating to the business of running an organization, or government.
rowdy - noisy and disorderly.
appellation -
a name or title.
efface - make oneself appear insignificant or inconspicuous.
shawl - a piece of fabric worn by women over the shoulders or head or wrapped around a baby.
placket - an opening or slit in a garment, covering fastenings or giving access to a pocket, or the flap of fabric under such an opening.
amicable - (of relations between people) having a spirit of friendliness; without serious disagreement or rancor.
grime - dirt ingrained on the surface of something, especially clothing, a building, or the skin.
corset- a woman's tightly fitting undergarment extending from below the chest to the hips, worn to shape the figure.
belch - emit gas noisily from the stomach through the mouth.
compañero – (in English) comrade.
squawking (of a bird) make a loud, harsh noise.
dilemma - a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially equally undesirable ones.
vain - producing no result; useless.
gallant - (of a person or their behavior) brave; heroic.
pettiness - undue concern with trivial matters, especially of a small-minded or spiteful nature.
rigmarole - producing no result; useless.
flattery - excessive and insincere praise, especially that given to further one's own interests.
elucidate - make (something) clear; explain.
gyrated - move or cause to move in a circle or spiral, especially quickly:
draft - select (a person or group of people) for a certain purpose.
headstrong - self-willed and obstinate.
comportment - behavior; bearing.
sweepstakes - a form of gambling, especially on horse races, in which all the stakes are divided among the winners.
conformist - a person who conforms to accepted behavior or established practices.
mellow - (of a person's character) softened or matured by age or experience.
syllogism - an instance of a form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn (whether validly or not) from two given or assumed propositions (premises), each of which shares a term with the conclusion, and shares a common or middle term not present in the conclusion.
spinster - an unmarried woman, typically an older woman beyond the usual age for marriage.
idealistic - characterized by idealism; unrealistically aiming for perfection.
pandemonium - wild and noisy disorder or confusion; uproar.
ode - a lyric poem in the form of an address to a particular subject, often elevated in style or manner and written in varied or irregular meter.
perceptive - having or showing sensitive insight.
rung - a horizontal support on a ladder for a person's foot.

Source: Oxford Dictionaries © Oxford University Press

Characters:
Miss Noel – An English teacher that believes that her work is to give proper education to students and not to impress her superiors.
Mr. Olbes – Principal
Mrs. Olbes – Principal’s wife
Mr. Buenaflor – Teacher in Industrial Arts and leader of group 2
Mr. de Dios – Teacher in Physics
Mr. Baz – Teacher in National Language
Mr. del Rosario – Teacher in Military Tactics
Mr. Alava – Superintendent
Mr. Ampil – Former Supervisor in Language Arts
Mr. Sawit – Supervisor in English
Mrs. Divinagracia – Instructor in Home Economics and part of Group 1         
  
Setting:
Geographic Location: Philippines
Setting 1:
Location: Pugad Lawin School

Exposition:
The Pugad Lawin School received a letter announcing the visitation of the superintendent, the district supervisiors and the division supervisors for “purposes of inspection and evaluation”

Rising Action:
Classes were dismissed to prepare for the visitation of the superiors. Nearly everything was repaired, floors became “mirrors”, and the capiz of the windows are as white as eggshells. The flagpole has finally been cemented and the old gate was given a new paint. Beautiful pots were brought to the school for decoration that came from their neighbors. The teachers also prepared a bougainvillea.
The teaching and the students were divided into four groups, each with their assigned tasks. First group was composed of Mrs. Divinagracia, the harassed Home Economics instructor and some other less attractive teachers were assigned to cook in the kitchen and prepare the menu where all expenses would be deducted from their paychecks. The second group was assigned to prepare the building where the superintendent and his companions would stay and the dishes to be used for supper. The teachers in the group used their position in power to give all their assignments to the students such as the things needed for the preparation of beds which they got from their neighbors. The only bed in the Home Economics building was to be only used by the superintendent once he arrives therefore it was prepared with the best sleeping mats and pillows both hard and soft. The third group was assigned to decorate the rooms. The once empty walls are now filled with visual aids and placed unfinished books inside a broom closet to keep them from being seen. The fourth group was composed of the rowdiest boys and Miss Noel. They were assigned in the removal of everything unsightly from bubble gums or whatever that are sticking on the walls to boogers found below the tables. Miss Noel was not surprised by this, as she was on the bad side of the principal and his wife. But accidentally they met in the lavatory where she finds Mrs. Olbes struggling with her zipper. To avoid further complications with their relationship she accepted Mrs. Olbes’ appeal for help and helped her when she just cam fresh from the trash pits.
At 1:30, the Superintendent and his companions arrived and the Principal was unprepared for this as he was still in his undershirt. He rushed and placed all his mess inside his desk drawer. Finally, the teachers gave them a grand welcome. Meanwhile Miss Noel searched for Mr. Ampil, an old Language Arts supervisor. She was someone whom she really respected because Mr. Ampil dedicated himself to the service of education. Sadly, she found out from Mr. Sawit, a new English supervisor, that Mr. Ampil died and he was given a burial unjust for service to education. Miss Noel also found out the Mr. Sawit noticed the obviously rehearsed demonstration class held by a grammar teacher.
Soon after the feast full of elaborate dishes began. The superintendent was given the honor to seat at the head of the table with the principal at his right. During the course of the meal, Miss Rosales and Mrs. Olbes took care of the superintendent, fanning him and boning the lapu-lapu on his plate. While the rest of the teachers that ate hopia and drank coke a while ago acted as waitresses. During the feast never was any of guests in discomfort. Nothing they want would not be available from them.
After the meal they had everyone watched the performance of the high school boys. Then they had dancing for the next event. The principal pulled Miss Noel towards the superintendent to open the dance. The superintendent knew little about dancing but Miss Noel smiled thinly. All the other supervisors were to dance with a pretty instructor while the others that aren’t too attractive were left to do whatever they like. At ten o’clock, the district supervisor suggested they all go to a nearby town where a fiesta was being celebrated with a big dance in the plaza. All the pretty teachers left for the fiesta, and Miss Noel left with Mrs. Divinagracia and the Home Economics staff, pleading a headache. Mr. Sawit also left behind.

Climax:
As Miss Noel went to the kitchen, Mr. Sawit followed her. He knew more about Miss Noel from the principal. He asked what Miss Noel how she felt about the visitation. Miss Noel honestly answered what she felt about the visitation. Mr. Sawit realized Miss Noel’s dedication to education. Mr. Sawit believes that Miss Noel is too young which is why she thinks that way. But he offers her a job in Manila if she adapts how her fellow teachers would act. Miss Noel was put into deep thought, was this the fruit of everything she worked hard for? To adapt a system that was corrupt and one that doesn’t put the education of the students its’ topmost priority? Mr. Sawit continued to talk. One does not simply get a position as his if you continue to work diligently.
Falling Action:
Miss Noel feel like it isn’t right. Getting favors and what ever just for a position. She believes she is stubborn but seeing all the kids in the school with these big dreams of theirs. She can’t just let it slip away

Ending:
The next morning after breakfast, the supervisors started packing as they were about to leave. Finally, they take one last picture the superintendent and Mr. and Mrs. Olbes on either side of him and his fellow supervisors in descending order on the Home Economics stairs. Miss Noel was late but she ran with pride and humility by going on the lowest stair.

Symbolisms:
The supervisors – As seen in the story. The supervisors, especially the superintendent was treated as gods. When the school heard of their visitation. A school that was not in orderly fashion suddenly had everything set up, tidy, neat, and new. The impression of these people was important to the school especially because they will be evaluated like how a god would judge a mortal of its actions.
“the lowest rung of the school’s hierarchy” – When Miss Noel went for the lowest stair with “pride” and “humility” this implies that she is not going for position that Mr. Savit offered to her. She is planning to do her job with utmost honesty and dedication for her students and not be like her colleagues who would go and make errands for the supervisors to get their favor and obtain a recommendation from them.

Theme:
The story takes place in the Philippines, a rural area, in I would say a pretty generic school. The situation in story is pretty much true to life. Like how a school would only give its’ best when an inspection is scheduled. The teachers here too resemble what our system is right now. It’s horrible. We can see that the moment when they postponed the classes to prepare for the visitation. Education was not their topmost priority. Rehearsed demonstration? Such is a thing in school when you want to gain good evaluation marks and avoid bad impressions. I believe the author wrote this story to show the corruption of the system we have imposed today and its effect to the students.

Lesson:
When such occasions come like this I believe that such preparation to impress people is not necessary. When you are truly diligent and honest of your work, and that you are really trying your best in giving the students the proper education they need and paid for. That would get full check in evaluation marks to anyone with a real devotion to uphold proper education.



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