Footnote to Youth Essay

A. PLOT Dodong wanted to marry Teang and asked his father’s permission. Thinking that since they are young, their love would be short, he allowed them to get married. After nine months, Teang gave birth to a child named Blas. For six consecutive years, a new child came along. Teang did not complain even thought she secretly regretted being married at an early age. Sometimes she even wondered if she would have the same life if Lucio, her other suitor who was nine years older than Dodong, was the one she married. Lucio has had no children since the time he married. When Teang and Dodong were twenty they looked like they were fifty. When Blas was 18, he told his father that he would marry Tona. Dodong did not object, but tried to make Blas think twice before rushing to marriage – because Dodong doesn’t want Blas to end up like him. It simply tells the story of an older person who made a mistake in the past who ended up with a not so pleasurable life. Then he had a son who is like him when he was young. His son is hasty in making the decision to get married, just like he was when he was 17. Despite this, Dodong did not – and could not – stop Blas from marrying Tona. Therefore, he didn’t object. Instead, he just reminded him that Blas is still very young and might as well think twice before rushing to marriage. But, as the ending goes: â€Å"Youth must triumph†¦ now. Love must triumph†¦ now. As long ago did youth and love triumphed for Dodong. And then†¦ life. B. Lessons I Learned: 1. It is always easy to get married but is never easy having a big responsibility. So, one must always think, not only twice but more times, to really understand what he/she will be encountering or simply, to think it over and consider the future before making up your mind. 2. Marriage is something that is taken seriously. Because marriage aside from being a sacrament is something that is full of responsibilities, when you decide to get married and you do marry someone, there is no turning back. To the youth, there is lots of things that should be taken into consideration before marrying of course including their readiness to take the responsibilities of raising a family and being able to respond to their needs. Because marriage is not a move that they can cancel when they feel like doing so. 3. Parents must guide their children. As they are still a child teach them the right things to do. Parents must not let their child to do the same bad things that they have done in their past. 4. Do not let things pass so fast. Everything we wanted most will come right on time, thus, creating greater fulfilment and contentment in life. Meaning, what life may offer is too different from what we want in a rush. C. Questions: 1. In what way does the title suitable to the story? 2. What the carabao represent dodong life in the story of footnote to youth? 3. How does Jose Garcia Villa describe the youth in the story of footnote to youth?