Filipino plot twist story of "SINIGANG"

The main purpose of this blog is to demonstrate the moral lessons or values that we can gain from reading Maria Aubrey J. Villaceran's short story "Sinigang."

As Filipino people, we are accustomed to and will not abandon the dish that our people are proud of, which is sinigang.  Sinigang  is a nominalized form of the Tagalog verb "sigang", which means "to stew". The most common condiments for the stew are fish sauce and Sampaloc. This dish can include fish, such as bangus , as well as pork parts, such as liempo (pork belly) and buto-buto (pork ribs).

We also eat at the table with our family, happily sharing for good company. That's how the Filipino thinks; there's no problem as long as the family is intact. 

but what if one day, the happy family life gradually fades away for a reason 

In my own view, Maria Aubrey J. Villaceran wrote the short story "Sinigang" to depict a family's approach to trials and how they can overcome them. 

This story starts with the point of view of it's main character, and her name is Liza. She is having a random conversation with her aunt, who is referred to as "tita" or aunt Loleng in the story. Liza has a flashback to the past as she prepares to cook sinigang.

Liza remembered his father, who had betrayed them all, most notably her. Her father loves to eat sinigang, so her mother always prepared sinigang for him whenever he requested it.  That's why she always does what her mother tells her: whenever she cooks sinigang for her father, he doesn't want it to be too salty. Since then, she's been the one who's always cooking sinigang for her father.

Liza is a true daddy's girl; she is closer to her father than she is to her mother...... But then something unexpected happened, and it hurt Liza so much, and it's one of the reasons she feels emotionally detached from his father.

That's when she discovered her father was having an affair with another woman, whose name was Sylvia.

Liza always remembers what happened to her family after what her father does whenever she cooks her father's favorite ulam, sinigang. She also admits that it still hurts her to this day and one thing she will never forget is the day her father apologized to her and said "I'm sorry."

This story may confront and evoke sad and terrible emotions in us, but the truth is that it is one of the realities that most families have faced not only in the Philippines, but throughout the world.

"Sinigang" depicts the conflict within a family's life. If I were Liza.. I will make the best decision I can, which is to either give myself a break from what happened or to forgive my father. 

True, it is difficult for a family to be in a situation like Liza's, but the moral of the story was to do the right thing and choose to forgive, no matter how difficult it was. Forgiving someone will make the situation better and set you free.

We, as twenty-first-century learners, can do the same. We can choose the right path while giving ourselves time to heal from what hurts us or makes us sick on the inside.  All we need is acceptance and forgiveness.

So what is your opinion about the story "Sinigang" ?

Have you ever been in a situation similar to Liza's in the story?

How do you feel after reading this blog?

published by: Kim Zaira S. Nguslab, 11HUMSS A

I am Kim Zaira S. Nguslab from grade 11 HUMSS A of Quezon National Highschool

This blog contains the summary and the moral lessons of the story entitled "Sinigang" from our 21st Century Literature subject.

WARNING: Please do not copy, be respectful and honest with yourself, No plagiarism. THIS IS FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES ONLY.