Gabriel Diego And Apache Kid example essay topic

CHAPTER IA. INTRODUCTION Philippines, being an archipelago is a home to numerous folks and cultures, each different from the other, separated by bodies of water, language and beliefs. The fact that we, Filipinos have been under the -- -- of different countries, our ancestors have had their share of the stories. Today, during our modern times, such stories are now considered a mere folklore. In this book "The Firewalkers", the first chapter presents us with a character, Gabriel Diego, who is a relative of warlords and shamans, who "could will themselves into creatures of splendor, (they) could pass un singed through the flames". It was claimed that the shamans, Gabriel Diego's maternal uncles, 'in their young manhood, (they) knew the locations and usage of all ancient, plant and animal, and that from leaf and bark, from gristle and bone, they fashioned unguents, salves, brews and powders that caused death or healing, and made them masters over ordinary men, over horses and women.

In fighting, they seemed invulnerable, proof against blades and bullets, tempting hellfire and lightning by entering the pillaged churches in their gorgeous power shirts and amulets to impale the friar on their spears". (p. 5) Hence, this presents us with questions like "Did shamans really exist?" or "Are they what we call these days?"Can we associate them (shamans) to our modern way of living?" One quiet day, a dead boy was discovered by Lakambaga people and called upon the attention of Gabriel Diego, their sergeant of police, their only police in town. "His servants were holding back the dogs straining to get to the crowd outside. A dead boy, they were shouting. In the gorge below the town. Mauled.

Mangled. Cut into pieces". (p. 7). Upon examining the dead boy, Gabriel Diego came into conclusion that a big dog-like creature - a beast, killed the lad. .".. but when the sergeant moved the head to feel for wounds, the lifeless eyes caught sun, startled briefly, and caught him breathless by surprise... A dog, he thought.

A large, very large, hunting dog". p. 8 After a few days, as he was talking with the Augustinian priest, the priest told him about an experience he had with a beast. "I was there in the fight for Slang... I ran to flee, but the roots of the tree rose up and bound my feet. So I crawled under it... until it was evening and the moon rose, and the dogs, the pigs, the rats, the giant lizards came out of the woods to feed upon the corpses."He stood there, waist deep in the torrent of offal, nonchalant as a bather or a laundrywoman. I could hear his teeth tear flesh, crack bones, hear his mouth and tongue click-cluck, suckling for marrow, teasing for brain, bits of delicate meat...

". And in the night of the boy?"The teeth marks of the beast". The inauguration of the new school building is coming up soon, signifying the arrival of entertainment and goods. Gabriel Diego was in-charge of assigning and measuring the booth areas of the entertainment.

Actors, clowns, adventurers, and clowns came. The earliest entertainer who came was the El Boging Secundo, also from Cavite, followed by the Apache Kid Wild World. Then, another dead child turned up, a girl as seen by Gabriel Diego himself. The series of children killings created chaos among the townspeople. They reacted the same way we do when we hear about a serial killer on the loose.

The constabulary had set up a checkpoint. A boy wounded by the beast was among the family attempting to go to the priest. There a bloody encounter ended with people dead but the boy was able to be brought to the Augustinian priest by the soldiers. Next, they were ambush by a family living in a hut. Luckily, they came through unharmed.

They also came across Silongan, someone from the house of Solomon. They faced his twelve knights. They almost lost the battle, badly injured and wounded. Some are dead. Gabriel Diego badly wounded, fell into the woods where the mountain nymphs took care of him. "The mountain nymphs had laid him on a flat, white rock mattress of grass, and decorated his bed with flowers... they had painted his face with ash and ochre and left a jar of water, a basket of fruit, and dolls of red cloth riding on horses.

"The twist came when Gabriel Diego was instructed to arrest his uncle Apollo Olfato. He staged a situation where he let Apollo fly out of the window. He pretended to shoot and follow after general Apollo. "I have him. He is dressing. I'm watching him.

Just wait a while". , said Gabriel to the scouts. "I'll take care of it. I'll make a diversion and you run... ". , he told his uncle. When the civil process was suspended, the kinsmen arranged for a revolution. The living and the dead, together, marching.

"Amidst the vanishing procession, Gabriel Diego, though the darkness and the heedless tears, glimpsed his dear wife and his small, very brave son". The concluding part is to watch for. It will intensify the very first question you will come to think when you read the story. "Are fire walkers for real?" B. STATEMENT OF THE Problems What does the beast in the story depicts? o What does the character Littlefeather symbolizes at present time? o Name the moral, social, and political issues tackled in the story that is applicable today? o How did you perceived the character Gabriel Diego? Why? o What are the elements of the novel that touches the reader? C. OBJECTIVES OF THE Study To entertain the reader To relate the moral issues in the story to present time To relate the social issues and its continuity today To depict the present day problems in a subtle but effective way To excite the reader with the story's fast pace o To expose the readers to the Filipino culture and spirit To keep the reader thinking even after the ended. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The people who would benefit most from this study are students taking up a course connected to literature, those who have an inclination in the subject Philippine culture, sociologists, Filipino teachers of literature.

The rewards of reading this book sums up to better understanding of the Philippine culture, may they be myth or legend, there is always the possibility of them being true and supported by facts and people too few have been mentioned or dared talk. This book teaches us to respect people's beliefs, nature, and the powers that come from within us. We should be open and receptive to new things we come across in our life. Also, this study conveys us with awareness and full responsibility of everything that goes on around us. Being watchful even when we are with people we feel comfortable with. Being vigilant pays. E. SCOPE AND LIMITATION Parameters of Study The only novel included in the study is "The Firewalkers" written by Erwin Castillo.

This does not include "The Watch of La Diane" which also appeared on the same book, and all books written by him. CHAPTER IISYPNOSISApollo and Castor Olfato are brothers and both generals. They, during their young manhood were shamans. They can will themselves into creatures of splendor; they can walk through fire unharmed. They had sparked a conflagration but later on could not command. Long before they reached the home ground, their young nephew Gabriel Diego was in the hands of the Americans.

The enemy realized Gabriel Diego can speak English and knows the native language. They loosed his shackles and use him to translate the confessions of insurgents taken into custody by the Americans. Later he was enlisted as a private soldier in the scouts. The Americans then discharged him out of the scouts and installed him in a police station in Lakambaga manned by him and a hoax deputy named Buso. One day, the people of Lakambaga found a dead boy, around nine or ten years old. The sergeant's analysis - a beast, a big hunting dog maybe, killed that poor little lad.

After a few days, Gabriel Diego walked along with the priest. The priest told him of an encounter with such beast in his earlier priesthood, which reminded him of the dead boy. He said the teeth marks are quite the same. The festivities due to the upcoming inauguration of the new school kept everybody busy especially the sergeant. He was to measure and assign the tents and areas of the entertainers.

Gabriel Diego discovered a dead girl while urinating at the back of the new school building. This created turmoil among the townspeople. They gathered at noon, with their bolos and staves to search for the beast that feeds of the corpses of children. The soldiers joined in the search and clearing of the area. A checkpoint was put up from the outlands going to Lakambaga. A family wishes to go to the priest.

They have with them a boy wounded by the beast. The father of the boy, in a hurry, would like to pass through without the search to be able to save the boy's life. The soldiers insisted on searching them and their belongings. An argument came into a crazed father with a bolo at hand. They shot him, and everyone who came to his aid. Only two people, including the boy reached the priest.

Days after, a telegram came to major Edwards. It contained the order that the civil process in suspended. A martial law. The soldiers will prevail.

Militarism on its worst. Soon, Gabriel Diego was instructed to arrest his uncle Apollo Olfato. He was caught in confusion for he had to do his duty but cares for the welfare of his close relative. He came to his house with the scouts. He entered alone. There he convinced his uncle to escape.

He diverted the attention of the scouts above. He shot at the kitchen, to make it look like they fought before Apollo escaped. Apollo flew. Littlefeather, while sitting in a rock at the pool, her cheek bruised, was acquainted with a man who dressed her with his hat and made her a hibiscus scepter. He showed her magic - created fire by rubbing his fingers together. He cooked banana the two of them ate and shared.

He talked to her in a language she cannot understand. The hand signs helped in their communication. He told her that her hair is like the hair of a saint. He made her happy. He offered his house to her.

El Boging Secundo's given period for ransom ended. Since he was a good captive - he was allowed to walk around the camp freely, with every chance of escaping, but he never attempted to do so, the head of the motley soldier gave him a deal. For them to spare his life, he was told to arrange and produce a play that will rouse a certain feeling out of them. He started with the auditions right away. He still remembers the production designs in his father's letter. The motley soldiers were excited.

They helped in making the costumes, and the masks needed in the play. The play ended well. He was very grateful and bled. The kinsmen, arranged for a revolution upon hearing of the martial law.

They sent a messenger, the firewood gatherer to warn Gabriel Diego of their revolt. Gabriel Diego went house-to-house, warning everybody, telling them to lock up inside their houses. The group of Apollo marched. Gabriel Diego met them. Apollo blessed him and told him to take care of the town.

Gabriel Diego rode with Apache Kid. They came across the scouts headed by the corporal. The corporal, who can scent men from a distant, is a natural man hunter. He was extraordinary. He can stay underwater breathless forever. Gabriel Diego conversed with the corporal and the scouts.

Apache Kid was just watchful. The scouts were roasting the tiger shot by major Edwards. The tension tightened. The corporal threatened Gabriel Diego with a gun in his throat, saying he was arrested. A crossfire took place. Gabriel Diego and Apache Kid prevailed.

Together they rode towards the house of the major. Gabriel Diego caught the major by surprise for he did not feel his coming. He raised his horse pistol pointing at the major. The major panicked and run for his gun. Suddenly, someone shot Gabriel Diego... the servant boy of the major. Apache Kid showed up and shot the major in the eye.

The scouts chased them, firing at them. Apache kid was caught at the barbwire, but he was able to show his sharpshooting talent. Castor came with Littlefeather. He told Gabriel Diego to walk through the fire. Gabriel Diego uttered the words of his kinsmen and walked unharmed through the fire.

CHAPTER A. SETTING AND ATMOSPHERE The whole story evolved in Lakambaga, city of Cavite in the year 1913-1992. The Philippines is under the American regime. B. CHARACTERS GABRIEL DIEGO He was a sergeant of police in Lakambaga, Cavite during 19 hundred and 13. He was a widower and childless, because this town fairly over brimmed with blood relations and old acquaintances he was conspicuously apart. He patrols the streets in his Sevastopol cap, his faded khaki uniform with creases sharp as blades, hair and mustaches close-crop t. In his house, he kept a family of country relatives for servants. He played checkers with the Augustinian who was the priest for conversation.

He did not attend the church. His family of servants had converted into Protestants and attended - along with the women of the households of the generals - the unseemly outdoor devotions whenever the American missionaries and their effeminate native acolytes came to town. Perhaps he was a Mason or Aglipay, or both, like many who were officers in the revolution. He mustered with the routine cordon of the constabulary and the scouts, on mock red alert, watching from a distance. Idly, he would tap his trouser leg to the cadence of the marches and waltzes, tapping idly with the horsewhip he affected, though he owned no horse. His uncles, Castor and Apollo Olfato, both generals struggled and rode hard despite of their old age to reach their home ground, but was late because he (Gabriel Diego) had fallen into the hands of the Americans.

It was whispered that he had shamed the generals by surrendering his unit early to the enemy; that the patrol of archers the generals sent to his relief had walked into ambush and massacre; that delirious in his wounds, he had groveled outside the American officer's party tent, shaking his chains, scandalously drinking rain water and wolfing the rain-snogged bread cast contemptuously down on him by the Maca bebe. An even malicious rumor about him was that when he recovered, he had led the through a secret pathway straight into the lair of the generals. The enemy needed him for the burials, so they loosed his shackles. Later, because he knew some English and the native dialects, they used him to translate the confessions of the captive insurgents. When the American regiment transferred south, he went with them, no longer a prisoner, but an enlisted private soldier in the scouts. He vanished into the far-flung islands inhabited by painted savages and moors.

He returned many years later to find his uncles restored to a measure of prestige and influence, to be told that his wife and young son had perished in the plague. The Americans discharged him from the scouts and installed him a one-man police station in Lakambaga together with his deputy in jest, a half-wit named Buso, whom they armed with a trumpet and uniformed in the rags of surplus cavalry blue, and his job was to harry into order the horses and the carabaos, laden with country produce, that farmers led to the plaza of Lakambaga on Tuesdays, the market day. He writes reports with consent of the Major Edwards. He consults the major as what to write in the book, and how the crime happened. He also take personal commands from the major.

He had hidden feelings for Reinamaria Fenol, a schoolteacher. He even dreamt of her and felt her as if real. He was instructed by the major to capture his uncle Apollo. This brought him between two clashing rocks of philosophy. He staged a situation where it appeared that the general escaped him. The scouts never found the general.

His being drawn to Littlefeather started the night of celebration for the school. Their encounter was repeated when she saw him limping and they rode together to the pool. He was being teased. The woman bathed without her clothes. Tempted, he joined her and eased their longing.

One night, when he arrived at his house, she was waiting there for him, a cheek bruised. She had nowhere to go. He felt pity for the woman. He comforted her and let her stay for the night. They slept together. His friend, the drunken Apache kid was his sidekick for the troubles he conquered during the last part of the story.

The Apache Kid came to his aid when the corporal threatened to kill him. Apache kid also saved Gabriel Diego when the major was about to shoot him. He is a drunken, yes, but a reliable partner for Gabriel Diego. Apache has never been jealous of his wife's affair with the sergeant. Not al all. Being a descendant of shamans, and blood-related to those who launched revolution before, he was expected to be deadly and at some length magical in nature, though he never exhibited such power and knowledge.

He displayed his power on the concluding part of the story - he walked on fire. He was a fire walker. APACHE KID He is a performer at the inauguration celebration for the new school building. He came with his Indian wife named Littlefeather. He lets her sleep with other men.

He treats her like a whore. EL BOGING SECUNDO He, along with his staffs, was on their way to Lakambaga to have a stage play in the inauguration celebration of the new school building in town. Unfortunately, the careless wardrobe woman misplaced the expensive, irreplaceable masks for the shadow play. Then, one of their wagons displaced a wheel. It was already dark. Their escorts, the constabulary, rode ahead.

He was abducted by a motley group of soldiers while on the trail. He was held captive but later allowed to roam around their camp. He conducted a play for the motley soldiers for his freedom. APOLLO OLFATO He is Gabriel Diego's uncle. He is the younger brother of Apollo.

He was allowed to escape by Gabriel Diego when he was to be arrested. CASTOR OLFATO He is the elder brother of Apollo. He is one of the maternal uncles of Gabriel Diego. He later on became acquainted to Littlefeather whom he dressed and helped her realize what beauty she got. LITTLEFEATHER She was the wife of Apache Kid who came to Lakambaga to make some money by putting a show with the tiger they carried with them. She was considered a whore by her husband and of almost everyone.

She was fearless of men and even the beast. She knows how to shoot with a pistol. EL BOGING PRIMEIROHe is the late father of El Boging Secundo. He made his living as a sign painter and actor, was a poet and an announced, but unfinished, novelist. AUGUSTINIAN PRIEST He was the priest of the town Lakambaga.

He was the frequent playmate of Gabriel Diego in checkers. He attended to the boy wounded by the beast and later on succumbs to someone who uses leaves and other innate materials to heal and ease the pain of the dying boy. MAJOR DELON CUSTER EDWARDS He was of the U.S. Army Intelligence, special operations group. He was the one whom Gabriel Diego answers and reports to. He tells Gabriel Diego what to put on the book for the reports and accounts of crimes happening in Lakambaga. He was a selfish ruler who craves for power and authority.

He instigated the suspension of the civil rights, which he intrigued, conspired and set the stage. FIREWOOD GATHERER He is the father of the beast's first victim. He sold his neatly corded faggots in town. He sent off his son to cut tall grasses for the rabbits. They kept hooch for pets, but sold the rabbits also to the women of the households of the generals who made of them roasts and stews for the Protestants missionaries, famished for the food of home. He was the's messenger sent to warn Gabriel Diego of their coming in hundreds on a Thursday.

REINAMARIA FENOL She is a schoolteacher at Lakambaga. She is the love interest of Gabriel Diego. She was about to get married soon to the man who caused her stomach cramps on her younger years. Her cousins were Ursula and Corazon. Together, they were called the three mad Marys. They too were the best of friends.

BUSO jest deputy assigned with Gabriel Diego on the police station at Lakambaga. He was the frequent companion of the Apache Kid since the entertainers came to their town. ANTONIO CASPI He was a man held captive by the Americans. He ran form his guards while they were shooting at him. Thirty (30) bullets entered his body but still he was standing. He removed the bullets entering his body while running away from the scouts.

A shot in the head by Gabriel Diego killed him. DOCTOR SEVILLA A doctor from Manila. He attended to El Boging Primeiro's illnesses. He warned El Boging Secundo that the comfort he found in his many vices aggravated, not helped, his congenital nervousness, and contributed to his perennial tiredness, his thinness, and his malnourishment. The doctor was a passionate designer and illustrator, and had an abiding and cheerful infatuation with theater and literature. CORPORAL OF THE SCOUTS He is the leader of the scouts.

He discovered he could pick up scent of animals and of men at distances, his elders found remarkable. His elders told him that because someone who could scent men could only make a life of man hunting. He had other gifts, for he could stay forever breathless underwater. His conversation with carabaos and birds of all kinds was surprisingly "fluent", their relationship close but wary. There is animal in this boy, his mother beamed proudly. The first man he killed was the landowner's handsome son, who had caught his mother gathering firewood without permission, and caned her without mercy. C. ACTION AND PLOT Exposition The beginning of story started in the first chapter.

The beast ate his first victim in Chapter 1. The townsfolk discovered a dead boy. Gabriel Diego, their sergeant was called to inspect. This novel started at the first chapter of the story. I find this more straightforward in storytelling. There is no mystery but not confusing even for the first-time reader.

Conflict Social conflict was shown in the story when the Americans declared the social process was suspended for unknown period of time. The timing and portrayal of the characters made it realistic as the martial law declared in our country before. The character of the major depicts the attitude of soldiers during our times of pain and agony. This type of conflict is displayed through man vs. man pattern. Social conflict was also displayed during the crossfire between the scouts and Gabriel Diego with Apache Kid. Another example of man vs. man are, The scene at the checkpoint where the father challenged a soldier with a bolo, and the tension-filled situation between Gabriel Diego and the major.

Complications The tension-filled moments of the story was when Gabriel Diego and major Edwards confronted. When the major, already panicked, ran for his gun. The servant boy fired at Gabriel Diego. Gabriel Diego was wounded at the stomach, warm blood gushing at his belly... Climax The climax of the story is when the scouts, firing at them continuously, were chasing them.

When they were running and Gabriel Diego is already wounded from the servant boy's shot. Apache Kid was caught up in the barbwire, the wires piercing his chest. They were able to kill the scouts behind them. Apache Kid displayed his sharpshooting skills by firing at a hat in the air. It was Gabriel Diego's turn to display his skills.

He walked through the fire. Conclusion The story's ending was exciting and funny. The comment made by the Apache Kid made me laugh. When Gabriel Diego walked through the fire, I verified my suspicion that Gabriel Diego was also a fire walker considering his blood link to the generals. The ending still made me wonder whether the Apache Kid lived after that. D. POINT OF VIEW Someone omniscient, an all-knowing observer, in control of the story and characters, who can predict what will happen, told the story. The use of past tense indicated that the narrator knows what happened exactly.

The pacing of the story was told with control and elegance. E. THEME 1. MAJOR THEME 2. MINOR THEME. STYLE (OF WRITER / NOVELIST) The style the writer exhibited was of like that of a poet, since the writer is in fact a poet himself, he might have combined his talents and profession in one. The choice of words and the flow of sentences reminded me of a tune so eloquent and stylish. His style impresses me; I might read another book from him.

CHAPTER IVA. SUMMARY Once upon a time, in the year nineteen hundred and thirteen, there lived in the mountain town of Lakambaga in Cavite a man named Gabriel Diego, a widower and childless. They drunk wine and lemonade. The priest hardly expects him to.

The generals, who were his maternal uncles, dealt with Diego rarely, and with no familial cordiality. The generals were two brothers namely Castor and Apollo Olfato. Castor, the elder was the general. Apollo was elevated to the rank honorarily, much later, while they celebrated a feast of freedom, when their cousin Aguinaldo saluted them both as generals.

According to legend, the general's fathers were kings, guardians of the woods, priests to the volcano and consorts to the mountain nymphs. They were warlords and shamans. They walk through fire unscathed. The generals led an army of their mountain kinsmen following Aguinaldo form Tali say to the foothills of the Cordillera, where Aguinaldo told them for now it was over. The mountain kinsmen proclaimed vengeance of the revolution.

The army they had, they can no longer command. They rode homeward, just the two of them, but were late because Americans have taken hold of their young nephew Gabriel Diego. It was said that he shamed the generals for he surrendered early to the Americans. Soon, while being held captive, the loosened his shackles because they needed him for the burials. Later on, they found use of him for he knew some English and of the native dialects.

He translates the confessions of the captured insurgents. Soon after, he was riding together with the Americans, no longer a prisoner but an enlisted private soldier in the scouts. Many years after, he returned to his land and found his uncles restored in positions. He learned of his wife and child's tragic death due to plague. The Americans discharged him and installed him into a police station manned only by him and a jest deputy named Buso. One quiet day, a dead boy was discovered by Lakambaga people and called upon the attention of Gabriel Diego, their sergeant of police, their only police in town.

The Americans came first. Upon examining the dead boy, Gabriel Diego came into conclusion that a big dog-like creature - a beast, killed the lad. The boy's father, the firewood gatherer came. Apollo also came. So did the Augustinian who blessed the dead boy. The American officer instructed Gabriel Diego to make a report quickly.

The sergeant let a few days passed before coming to the priest. Reinamaria Fenol glanced at them. The church is being painted and repaired. They were in the church's yard, setting up the checkerboard, when the dead boy came as their subject. The priest opened up his past - when he was a servant of an old friar, the revolution broke out and the revolutionist took them, -spat at, beaten and paraded.

He carried the friar being old and weak on his back. They broke his fingers to pry him away. They dragged him and buried the old friar alive on a knoll, with his head protruding above the ground. They poured honey on his head. He followed the trail of the revolutionist, seeing more corpses along the way. There he witnessed the animals feeding on human remains.

Then he saw the beast. They gathered and searched the perimeter for the beast. They had with them their long kept weapons of death, rusting from their hiding places for those were considered illegal. They celebrated, and drank. Gabriel Diego and the woman Littlefeather drank and made love after putting Apache Kid in bed. Upon exit of the tent, Apache Kid was outside, drinking.

They chatted for a while. Apache kid then asked Gabriel Diego about the fire walkers but he told him it was only a story. El Boging Secundo worried all afternoon because the boy's death kept his audience at home. He remembered the doctor Sevilla of Manila, his warnings about his health.

He is now spitting black blood. He remember his father, his final days. For after his death, he discovered the letters mentioning war but not brutal at all. The letter indicates the forthcoming collaborative production of the Orlando Furioso, stage directions that were outlandish and fabulous, dream sequences, private jokes, and - in large folded sheets of oslo paper - exquisite, exultant water colors of stage sets and costumes. The main street was festooned with flags.

The visiting officials and guests in formal dress and white suits emerged from the general Apollo's house to be photographed. Major Edwards crossed over and praised the police sergeant's report. Reinamaria played the piano. Gabriel Diego fearing his eyes would tear, slipped behind the school building to urinate.

There he saw the dead girl in festival dress propped against the wall sitting in blood. The people of Lakambaga panicked upon hearing of the beast's second victim. By noon volunteers with bolos and staves begun gathering in the town plaza. The Augustinian whisked holy water over the volunteers. The general Apollo, who was to secure the town with the kinsmen, and do another house-to-house, backyard to vegetable patch search, saluted the volunteers with his ceremonial saber as they moved out.

Apache Kid came too early or too late, as how he explained himself. Too long in the middle age and still the kid. He was a horse wrangler and exhibition shooter with Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West show. He was the crown prince of sharpshooters. With time, exhibition in marksmanship became so difficult.

Sitting Bull, his boss urged him to heat a little with the use of cheater's dust, wire and blanks. He lost his job. Later he learned of his death and strangely, it saddened him. His wife, he won on a throw of dice from his father and married her on drunken impulse. He let other men use her. He was letting out his sentiments and self-pity.

When he heard of the fire walkers, he wanted to find one and make money out of it. El Boging Secundo was cursed the day when first, an irreplaceable mask was misplaced and gone. Then, one of the wagons displaced a wheel. When they saw riders on their tail, they thought it was the constabulary, but instead they encountered motley. The next morning, Diego was summoned to the Maj. Edwards house. He stated his fear of the panicked peasants having weapons.

The major issued a statement to Gabriel Diego to get rid of the people's weapons. The major told him that from that day on, he would take personal commands from Edwards. General Castor Olfato lay against a rock and turned himself into a rock. His kinsmen approached and consented him of how life was more difficult. He recalled the years when they and the mountain was a family, eating together, caring for every child equally. The cooked banana in the fire they built.

They asked about the children's death. While the woman Littlefeather was driving the mule, she came across the limping sergeant. They rode together to the pool of warm water. There they made love again. The constabulary had set up a checkpoint on the trail up from the outlands into Lakambaga. They stopped a party of country folk who claims that the boy with them was bitten by the beast but escaped.

Saying, they need to go to the priest. The soldiers insisted on searching their belongings. Arguments ripen and led to death of the family save for the two, including the wounded boy. Then they had an encounter with a family in a hut. Every member of it killed and burned on their own hut.

Major Edwards instructed Diego to write the report as what he told him. Diego used to fight for his rations, but now, he no longer pay. Almost everything is free. He then encountered Silongan in the pool along with his army.

Silongan invited them in a challenge, Americans versus the twelve knights of ancient lineage and splendor. The troops died, leaving Diego half alive, fell into the woods. He was taken care of the mountain nymphs and mountain spirits. The General showed him a thick file labeled TOP SECRET. Then he visited the priest and found out that the wounded boy is still alive but was not expected to go beyond dawn.

Reinamaria reminisced her younger days when she was with her cousins Ursula and Corazon. Those days when they were called the Three Mad Marys. They were cousins and best friends. The patterned and sewed their coronation gowns and festival dresses. They all went to Manila; making the sign of the cross in every tall building they see; wondering how many edifice in the city was a church. She grew up to be a beautiful young lady.

She has received endless compliments, which she laughingly denied. Slowly, she meta morphed into the queen of feasts, the muse of education She cheerfully thinks of her love. She remembers how they met, how she blushed to his touch, for they are about to get married. There were torches in the street corners and small fires. There were torches, too, in Diego's yard. Littlefeather was there, waiting, with a bruised cheek.

She had prepared for him rabbit stew bought from the firewood gatherer. She had nowhere to go. He felt sorry for her. They shared the night once again. The tiger was set free. The boy was pronounced dead.

The Apache Kid went to the church and huddled beneath a window where the dead boy lay. Then, he saw a furred, furtive shadow -- - larger even than a man -- - and dark, leap from the rooftop. Buso also saw the beast. He whinnied and pointed at it. Gabriel Diego took his breakfast on the bakeshop. He never pays.

News came with major Edwards - a garrison of constabulary in Batangas was attacked last night. The civil process was suspended - martial law. The priest hurried to him to pass a petition to Manila. He told the priest to direct his petition to God for it will not change.

The Apache Kid told him that the tiger's gone and ate his mock deputy, Buso. He rode with the scouts to general Apollo's house. Gabriel Diego volunteered to handle him single-handed ly. He went inside the house and urged Apollo to escape. He let Apollo escape by putting up a show that he came after him. Apollo flew out of the window.

Major Edwards' telegram arrived. He instigated the suspension of civil rights. He had intrigued and set the stage for it to come through. He shot the tiger and gave it to the scouts. Littlefeather was on the pool, sitting on a white rock. An old man came and showed her magic.

He dressed her with his hat and gave her a hibiscus for a scepter. The woman was happy. The old man rubbed his hands to produce fire. They cooked and ate banana together. The magician offered her his home. Walking, they saw the half-wit Buso hanging by his neck from the tree.

The deadline for El Boging Secundo's ransom was over. Since he became close to his enemy, they wanted him to produce a play that everyone will enjoy. Then he began the auditions. The motley made costumes and masks.

The motley loved the play he directed. The firewood gatherer was badly beaten by the constabulary. The kinsmen imparted him with a message. He told Gabriel Diego about the warning from the kinsmen. They were coming, in hundreds for the eve of the feast. They will come from all over.

Gabriel went to warn the townspeople to lock themselves at home. After, he saw the wave of the living and the dead headed by his uncle Apollo. Apollo blessed him to take care of the things in town. The beast showed up peeping through his window, teased him. He and the Apache Kid rode deep the forest. They came across the scouts.

The corporal of the scouts welcomed Gabriel Diego. The scouts were roasting the tiger. A cross fire took place between the scouts and Gabriel Diego. He was nearly killed. Apache kid came to his aid. They rode up to the house of major Edwards.

Gabriel Diego went inside the house and confronted the major, his horse pistol on his hand. The major ran for his gun. The servant kid of the major shot Gabriel Diego. Apache kid came and shot the major in the eye. Soon they were on foot with the scouts chasing them.

They were running from the bullets of their enemy. Apache Kid was caught in the barbed wires. Apache Kid showed his skills in shooting the line of scouts in front of them, even the tossed hat in the air. General Castor Olfato came riding a horse with Littlefeather. He urged Gabriel Diego to walk through the fire. And he did.

This left the Apache Kid mumbling that they could make a lot of money for that. B. CONCLUSION The beast in the story depicts our fear. The fear that everyone of us, cannot shoo away because of the feeling that it might come back to us. The children in us, the innocent part of our inner soul, our sanctity is being eaten away by that fear. Fear, like blood is all-common to every living person. The faith, represented by the church, is our fortress of conviction. Faith keeps us hoping, for the light, for miracles to come.

Faith, we, Filipinos call upon God in the most desperate times of the situation. Our final repose, to give us hope, convince us that these problems, as our faith dictates us are just trials waiting for us to overcome. People who do not have faith, the few, kept a tight hold on themselves. They are considered to be stronger. They say people who go to church all the time have more problems. But they are happy.

People who seldom or even never go to church, is stronger but sad and sometimes miserable. Take for example the character of Gabriel Diego, a person who never goes to church, yes, he is strong. But look at him when he's alone. Did the narrator tell us that he was happy? No. Never.

Yes, he has fears. Fears of what is yet to be known about him. The family secret. Littlefeather, the Indian fake, represents the people who let the innocence show with them. They were curious, excited about everything. Fearless for they are not afraid of giving away trust to anyone they meet.

Innocence when kept inside you is being beaten by your fear. Fear fears innocence. Trust is the key to beating fear, the beast that lurks within you. Every character in the story either demonstrates fear, or lacks fear. The townsfolk, for example, they, as an individual have fears of their own. Each one of them, when they come together, produces mayhem.

A giant beast. And where are the children in them? They, the innocent side of us are caught of guard. Fears attack at your most unexpected time. The Apache Kid demonstrates more self-pity than fear. He is careless, even of his wife.

He turns to drinking to ease his pain, his agony. His ego is battered so much. Fear loves egoistic people. He can readily plant tons of fear in that type of person's emotion and mindset. They fear being put to shame. They fear being refused and stepped on.

The praises and compliments are their source of strength. Once they get old, or their skill too difficult to handle for their body can no longer supply the accuracy that is a requisite of their skill. Ageing for sharpshooters like Apache Kid is a curse, an end to the crowds' cheer. The father of the wounded boy kindled his fear of losing his child.

The beast inside him stirred anger within him until it exploded. Fear, though little, can grow big. And sooner than you know it, they will eat you up. It will change you into someone you never knew before. Someone you never thought you could be. Fear has the power to put you into a situation you can never turn your back from.

There is no holding back once your fear moved against you. What can conquer fear then? Can love conquer fear? Actually, they go together. When you love, you fear the loss of it. You fear the being rejected.

You fear much more when you love more. There are a lot of risks involve, a lot of possible outcomes, meaning there are a lot of possible ways your love interest can leave you or be taken away from you. Only an unselfish love can overcome fear. How about pity? Can pity neutralize at the very least, the fear? Pity.

Remember the saying, you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day; but teach a man to fish, you feed him all his life. If you were to be given pity, would this lighten your burden? Would you be grateful? I think no. I, for myself would feel down. I do not want to be pitied.

I would rather be heard than pitied. Pity makes the receiver feel low. The person would feel he is incapacitated of handling himself. Compassion, I think is the answer. Compassion was what the magician, Castor Olfato, gave Littlefeather. Their encounter was remarkable.

He never presented desire towards her the way other men do. He gave her what she lacks instead. He gave her respect. He gave her the completeness that she has been lacking all her life.

Her completeness freed the beauty within her. It was only then that she realized she was beautiful, a person, someone who can be given attention and importance, of care, of love. Compassion is giving without taking. It is giving without taking note of what you have done. Not minding at all.

The beast we have inside can be tamed. We, ourselves only has the power to do so. We best of us will radiate if we can only afford to be unselfish. There will be no war if only we give freely, without thought. Littlefeather's character represents the women these days that is neglected. Neglected both of society and her drunkard husband, The Apache Kid.

As a wife, she was beaten and used unmercifully as what Apache Kid claims. He never had given her respect. Never. Not a bit.

Maybe he looks at her as a whore for free. He uses her when he wants to, even if she refuses. He would have beaten her if he would not let him use her. There are times when he allows other men use her. While reading this, I thought "Aren't he afraid of getting venereal diseases?" just a thought because if you apply it to modern times, today, he could have given it a second thought. She was described to be a woman who is fearless of men.

Why? Maybe because she had experienced everything there is to be experienced when you are with a man, to be used for pleasure, for a stress reliever, for a toy, a simple past time. Maybe she knew how to interact with a man, how to read his thoughts, his movements, the way he stare, the way he talked. How was this possible? She knew because she had been with a lot of them. Her husband gave lent her to other men, maybe even some he does not the name, like a rag.

For me, she is the modern day Magdalena. Though she does not earn from what was done to her, the way the society views this sort of woman, she will fall under the category of whores for sale. Whores. Why are there whores? Are they made or are they born? They are the product of a difficult life or of a wrong decision.

Difficult life - a family, a very large family with no income, no education at all. The poor children know how to speak, but never held a pencil or pen. Some, fortunate enough, get through the third or the forth grade, the fifth and sixth grade, rarely. No, they are not conceived by their mothers, only to be whores. Life came to them at the lowest. They had no choice.

They just grew up, tired of living poor. Some lived in barong- barong, some in carlton, some just loiters around. Some grew up alone, abandoned by their irresponsible parents. And who are left to care of them? Themselves. How do they survive a day without a decent meal?

Where do they get their basic needs such as clothes and mattress? Only God knows. They are left no option but to use what they have - their body, their soul, their only possession. How do you react if you were to converse with a whore for a day? Would this encounter excite you? Will you try to make excuses just to get away from her?

Well, most of the people I asked told me they would try to run away because they could not stand to be with such kind of person. I asked them, "What kind of person?" they will answer me, the dirty kind of person. Are the answers I have heard true for all of us, the ever-judging society? Are we like the people of Lakambaga who prejudged Littlefeather? We look at them as people dirtier than those bastards who kill and rapes women. People tend to pull back from them; people who claim to live "cleanly".

Actually, those people who act like that are dirtier in thought for they refuse to accept an individual just like them. They only differ in profession. Right? Life is unfair for it is biased with people who were born rich. Life is even meaner to whores for not only life treated them unkind, but people like us who failed to see what is inside them. The true person, what is within, that is what counts.

Maybe we are blinded by the social standards set before us. The standards of what is prestigious and low-life. Standards that tells us how to act with people around us. We are all created equal. Men and women. Living status marginalized that equity.

The equality of people ended the moment we were born. When a family claims us to be a member of their circle. We are left no choice but to embrace what life awaits us. The only chance we can escape poverty if introduced to it, is in our hands.

And the only way to beat poverty is making money, more money. Money. Money. Money. That is the basis of social anarchy. The height of success measures up to how much you earn.

The whores, maybe just wanted a taste of the life of those who were born in a grand kind of living. Money is their way to aid their dying family. Sometimes giving their virginity to someone they knew nothing about. I consider some of the whores noble in deed for sacrificing their soul and life. We do not know their reasons yet we judge so sudden. If we are to strip off the clothes, the hair, and the identity of each and every person and put them in a row... line them.

Do you think, there will be any distinction of who the whore is? Nothing. The story is a portrayal of the Philippines itself. The Philippine culture and history encapsulated in this 79-page story. The history, the characters and the setting, very Filipino. Relevant issues such moral, social and political in nature was touched in the story, directly and indirectly.

In the moral aspect of life, the topics touched in the novel are about the family and types of women. These topics are illustrated through some characters and situation as narrated by the story. There are two types of family shown in the story using the same characters. Remember the part when Apollo Olfato turned himself into a rock? He and the kinsmen gathered.

He said he remembers the day when they and the mountain are family, as one. One of the kin teased him. He recalled that a tease in the old days meant disrespect. This type of family is authoritarian.

There are certain rules that apply to everyone and some rules for the higher position (e.g. father, mother). Another is when he mentioned that during that time, communication is so much valued that everyone can speak their mind. Anyone can raise any questions. No rules applied. This type of family is democratic. Evidently, close-family ties are evident although out the story.

The kinsmen and the shamans move together. They ate together. They treat every child as theirs. No bias. Everybody's equal. There are two types of women in the story.

Each different from the other. Littlefeather is a depiction of a modern woman. A liberated one. She has had one-night stands, with how many man, only she knows. She does not fear being alone with a man.

Sometimes I think she enjoys it. She is carefree. Reinamaria Fenol, on the other hand, represents the so-called "Maria Clara". Preserved, shy and composed. She is the type of woman you rarely meet nowadays. Politically speaking, most part connected to politics and political obligation, are dealt with clearly.

In the length of the story, most was portrayed through the soldiers, Gabriel Diego, the scouts, majors, generals and the townsfolk. The suspension of social process was the greatest issue that surprised both the townsfolk and me. At this point, I realized what the author was trying to tell or impart to his readers. He was saying that life, especially the political aspect of it, has not changed through time. In my opinion, the Americans in the story are now Filipinos on our present day. They are the politicians, the businessmen, and the monopoly company who can bully us as mush as they want and we cannot do anything about it.

This part of the story I am going to tell, I remembered so well because I felt anger. The part when a family with a wounded boy, bitten by the beast, almost dying in pain, pleads for the soldiers to let them pass. The boy's father was maybe thinking the checking of their things and belongings might take them much time; the boy could loose blood and die on the trail. The soldiers insisted. The angered father, with a bolo at hand, approached a soldier, and he was shot dead. What's worst is that anyone who came to help him (the boy's father) was shot dead also.

The human cruelty - very intolerable, very animal. Take for instance what they did to general Apollo. He was set up in secret. If it were not for his nephew Gabriel Diego being in charge of the operation, he could have been killed. Here, I proved that no matter how distant you are to a relative, your blood would speak its language. Blood is thicker than water, so they say.

The way Americans issued such abrupt decision of arresting a person, and after arrest, what would follow? Interrogation. Wherein just in the process of interrogation, you could possibly die. Where is justice? Where are your rights? The suspension of the social process gave the soldiers, the Americans to put justice in their own hands.

Anyone they will to kill, they can, for they have the rights? And what happen to the people? They were stripped off of their rights. No one can dare speak badly of those in power. The toll was death and suffrage. Right now, we experience the abuse of power of those who have them.

Set as an example what happened at the Hacienda Luis ita. Are the victims given proper justice? Is there a case filed against the owner, the Aquino's. Have they faced the farmers and ask their needs? Have they given raises on their salary? The answer is no.

Why? Little people cannot afford justice. People in power can buy judges. Its factual because it happens. The social issue is where the moral and political obligations meet. It is the testing ground of etiquette's and character.

Here, people can measure a specific person on his communication and adapting skills. El Boging Segundo is a good example of a person with very high social capability. His captors, the motley soldiers, first, let him roam around their camp but not to attempt escape. His captors trusted him. He proved them of his being trustworthy. The motley soldiers, gracious of his attitudes, put him under pressure when he was to conduct a play for them.

The play ran out the he wanted it to. It was successful. Some people's attitude shows when they are put under pressure. Some, friendly when relaxed, are surprisingly hard when under stress.

When demands increased, and the service is slow, some people surprises me by cursing loudly, which is very opposite of how they look. Well, some people. Masculine, ageing, widower, and childless, responsible, noble- these are the words that are synonymous to the name Gabriel Diego. He is the sergeant of police in the mountain town of Lakambaga. He manned the only police station in their town together with a jest deputy, Buso. Gabriel Diego, though ageing, is still masculine in physique.

The beautiful Reinamaria is somewhat drawn in to him, but the woman was about to get married to somebody else. In the story, he was the only man who made love with the Apache Kid's wife, Littlefeather. Littlefeather is still young, but was drawn at his charms the first night they slept in Lakambaga. Gabriel Diego is a gentleman. He respects the whore Littlefeather, despite of what Apache Kid had told him. Apache Kid had told Gabriel Diego that he had let other men use his wife Littlefeather.

Gabriel Diego must have felt sorry for her. Gabriel Diego is warrior, hardened by time and experience. All his life he had been fighting men, killing them. Sometime he burned them himself. He can stand staring at a dead corpse feeling nothing but wonder what had happen. I think at times he would play it in his mind, what happened, how the victim was killed, if he fought, how long?

Piercing his mind was difficult, for he is deep. He maybe thinking of killing you and never knows it until the time comes. Gabriel Diego, a natural - born fighter. He is a descendant of the mountain kings, guardians of the woods, priests to the volcano and consorts to the mountain nymphs. Of the warlords and shamans.

The blood flowing through his veins are the same blood that flowed his ancestors. Some of them revolted and took over the villages. They had gone mad, it seemed. They were crazed for Aguinaldo proclaimed the campaign over for a time. His uncles, the generals, could no longer command the army, so the two rode homeward. When his uncles arrived, the young Gabriel Diego was held captive of the Americans.

He grew up in the American base. First, translating the captives' confession. Then, he became a private soldier enlisted in the scouts. He had endured ten years in the scouts. I cannot imagine how would it be if I would be away from my family for ten long years.

The longing would kill me. The endurance of such emotional torture could kill a man. But not he. He has the heart of a lion, the teeth of a tiger, but the mind of a noble man. He is the perfect fighting machine. He is an athlete.

An athlete of a sport only warrior knew how to play. His is the portrait kings would love to hang on their wall. He embodies the word strength and all its extent. Gabriel Diego. A mystery. As I read the first chapter, I thought for a moment, I have a suspicion I would want to verify in the end - that Gabriel Diego is a fire walker.

He remained mysterious to me till the concluding part came. I recall the part when the Apache Kid asked Gabriel Diego about the fire walkers. He readily dismissed the thought and told him it was just a mere story. At this point, I was nearly convinced to disregard my suspicion. But I thought it was too early to give up. His mystery went on the remaining length of the story.

I held on to my belief. I will hang on to it. I thought. When he made love with Littlefeather at the pool, I saw him as a man hungry for love. For he had long been deprived of the pleasures of the earth. He demonstrated the nature of men.

He was Adam. She was Eve. In their own paradise. The world was theirs that certain moment, that fleeting time. They owned it. They claimed it while it last.

The nature protected and sheltered them form harm. The nature cradled them. If I were to meet him now, I would shake his hands and congratulate him. I would tell him that he was one of the greatest men I knew of. He can be a hero for killing major Edwards, for all I know. He was a lonely man, I perceived.

To have lost a wife and a child is so agonizing. I think their deaths haunt him when he is alone. Before he goes to sleep, he utters his sorry. To learn of the death of the two most important people in your life, is to face the reality that you cannot do anything about it, the same way you have not done anything when they were dying. It is facing the fact that you were never there when your wife needed your embrace, your kiss. When your child was hapless with the plague and needed a father to play with him, you were never there.

How hopeless could someone get or feel once they learned their love is too late to express? When your hug will not be felt but will just be a gust of wind on an anthill? When all you can do was dream of them, how miserable". Love is useless if not expressed nor felt by your loved one". Now, too late, he learned. He knew.

But he cannot undo it anymore. No power in the world could ever turn back time but our memory. Memory is the only link between the living and the dead. Gabriel Diego... a legend. A legend who, walked this earth, once, when American soldiers marched on our land. A fire walker.

The elements of a story are what make the connection between the writer, the story, and the reader. Interlinked by a common language, they merge as one. All three, in unison with a common goal to achieve: to communicate and understand each other. The story entertains the reader with the funny gestures of some of the characters. The way they act and deliver lines. It was like watching a stage play, or a short film.

The way they speak, stirs the reader to another sitting position for the back not to ache. Like all books, there are some boring parts. The writer was concerned with his reader. He, too, was a reader.

He knows that a bored reader throws a book for a time. But sometimes, he never remembers to pick it up again. The story never ended. The author's chance to make another friend... gone. The reader's chance to have a companion... gone.

This story also instilled in me a sense of Nationalism. The love for my country, Philippines. Many blood have been spilled and many lives ended at the battlefield, the battlefield of strength and dignity. This book made me proud to be a Filipino. To be a descendant of brave ancestors and kinsmen made me feel lucky. Who knows, I may be able walk through fire.

This book awakened my senses, my long-asleep national spirit. The book will awaken your memory, of your stored knowledge. Of what you know about your country. I became curious. I wanted to know more about me. The inner me, seemed thirsty.

The thirst only I can quench. Through the aid of more books about my country, I can teach my inner soul to love my country more. I was once interested on supernatural. And thanks to this book, I became inclined to native culture and beliefs. I was fascinated by the fire walkers mentioned in the story. I was intrigued by their powers and their bloodlines.

The story, since entertaining seduces the reader to be more inclined unto this type of story - metafiction. The characters exhibit power- natural in nature and power -given by man. An example of this is the power possessed by the generals and the so-called fire walkers and the power called the authority possessed by the major and American soldiers alike. The setting such as the pool creates an imaginary paradise on the reader's perceptions. The settings of crossfire between people, particularly between civilians and American soldiers or scouts.

Reality sinks in the moment when the telegram came to major Edward's house. The telegram contained a declaration from Manila announcing the temporary suspension of civil process all over the land. This part reminds the reader about what had happened in the Philippines during Marcos regime. Some readers may remember the anguish demonstrated by the people to destroy dictator. The story stimulates its reader to grow personally, emotionally and morally. The story let the reader assess himself as to what type of person or individual he is.

The characters in the story depict different personalities of people from all walks of life. For a group a reality check of whether they are authoritarian or democratic in nature. Whether they put importance in communication or in rules. These, as shown by Castor Olfato and their followers, before and during the time the story happened. The story encourages its reader not to cradle ones fear. Fear as embodied by the beast that thrives on the corpses of children.

Fear like the beast, destroys the innocence of oneself. Unselfish giving that is compassion can only destroy fear. This trait can be seen with what Castor Olfato did with Littlefeather by the pool. He made her feel that she is beautiful. He gave her something she lacks before - respect. Littlefeather was considered a whore.

Never in her life had she felt beautiful and important, never the way the general made her feel. The story in general aims to impress the reader and reviewer of its style and theme. The author being able to embody the Philippines its history culture and folklore in a metafiction themed story raises eyebrows and invites applause. The story "The Firewalkers" made such good impression that FP brought its rights.

It was an excellent read. C. RECOMMENDATION 1. The terms and words in use invites limited scope of audience. Use words that are simpler. 2. The playfulness in words resulted in some incomprehensible sentences. 3 BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR Erwin E. Castillo is a poet, a painter, musician, and writer of metafiction.

A product of public schools, the University of the Philippines and the University of Iowa, his literature has been published in England, Germany, the United States and the Philippines. He has won the Free Press, Asia-Philippines Leader, Palanka, Taga yan, and ASEAN Short Fiction awards. For many years, he was active in business and political communications, and as a journalist provided reportage and commentary on culture, history, and sports. He has also written materials for popular art forms like comic strips, movies, and rock music for such performers as Fernando Poe Jr. and The Dawn. A lifelong athlete, he was an amateur boxer and instructor, a student and teacher of the Chinese Martial Arts, a ranking competitor and trainer in the practical shooting disciplines.

He has four (4) sons, one grandson, and is married to Ma. Lourdes Clara vall.