Sweet Summer/The Marriage

For me, the story "sweet summer" is all about a boy and a girl where "puppy love" can be said as to be present. The two main characters there is frederick and sara. The day was cool and sunny where they enjoy each others company and the sweets like cloud9 and halls honey-lemon flavor but eventually their sweetness broke-up when Felix, the older brother of Frederick, came into the scene. For me, I think this short story is not very filipino, because upon reading this short story, I can't imagine filipino kids playing and eating candies, its like the picture of this scene is more like american kids. Also, for me, "puppy love" in us filipinos develop when we're a little older not this young because most kids I observed this days has their mind set on playing but as they move on with their life, I think love is becoming a part of them that they get involve in romantic relationships. I think nowadays, the representation of Felix symbolizes a man who has no commitment in romantic relationships and can also be considered as a "playboy" while his younger brother, frederick symbolizes a kid going to be that way because of his brother while sara can be said to be symbolizing innocent women victimized by these men. The next story "The Marriage" is like the continuation of the story because now, in this short story, we are now talking about marriage and can be said as to the next step of that "puppy love". The story started when the husband had a stroke and doesn't want to be dependent of her wife. Also, in this story, the term "predator" and "prey" can be seened and coined. For me, the lesson to be learned here is that sometimes, when your a predator or in other words, the dominant in your relationship, you have to be also a "prey" which means you must also give in to save your relationship or save your marriage. Marriage is a sacred sacrament which is rooted and composed of love and to have or give love means to also have sacrifice and for me, it is one of the important words to describe love-- Sacrifice because love is sacrifice. The husband is ussually the dominant and the wife is the inferior so sometimes, the husband must give in to the "prey" and let the "prey" become the "predator" to show and express love. In the story, the wife showed her love and compassion by being loyal to her husband despite his handicap instead of leaving him and finding a new spouse. For me, that is one of the most important elements of marriage, loyalty to your husband or wife because you have chosen that person and marriage is a forever commitment not a temporary one.