The book “Batong Bahay: Naratibo ng Kahirapan at Tagumpay ng Isang Karaniwang Pamilyang Pilipino(2010) is a story that tackles the story of the family of the writer (Dr. Clarence Batan, 2010) on how he wins the battle of life against poverty. It was Dr. Clarence who tells the story of every character. It was him that tells the story of Nanay Biday because she dies before the Batong Bahay was written. Daddy Israel, Mama Violeta and Kuya Sherwin, in the other hand, tell their story to him. It was written as conversational wherein the writer and the characters was talking to the readers, it was diligently and very interesting way of writing.
The story of his family was represented in the materials that were used in making up their concrete house. It is made up of five chapters: Pundasyon ng dapithapon, which was dedicated to his Nanay Biday; Haligi ng buhay, which was dedicated to his Daddy Israel; Ilaw ng Tahanan, dedicated to his Nanay Violeta; Buhangin ng relasyon, dedicated to his Kuya Sherwin; and Interseksyon: Bahay Kubo’t bahay na bato, which summarized the whole book. I admire this book not because of its great story but also because of the writer who use his own story to give his readers a realistic portrayal. I know how it is difficult to write your own story because of the personal issue it could have but Dr. Clarence being true sociology he set aside his personal feeling and issue and make it possible to write a book about his family.
Daddy Israel choose to stay with his family and face the hardship altogether than to be working abroad all alone and left his family here in the Philippines. The reason that we should know how he was influenced by his decision was that he feared that his child including Dr. Clarence will grow without a father figure and there will be distant to him like how he used to be when he was child he felt distant to his father. Like daddy Israel my father also once has the same situation where he need to choose between going abroad and give us wonderful life or being with us. Unlike daddy Israel my father choose to work abroad for us to have a nice and beautiful life but not like what daddy Israel think we still grew close to our father and we have a great understanding about his decision. Mama Violeta is a mother which is loving and caring when her work is done she still serves at home for her family. She was admirable for being like a superwoman to her family. She use to work hard to give her family what they need in terms of financially and she serves them to show them her care and love. Kuya Sherwin, in the other hand, describes how they (Dr. Clarence) used to fight when they are little because of the rivalry between them. It normally happens to siblings. They are not only the one experiencing situation like that.
The story of his family is inspirational because everything that his family experiences happens in a typical family. Everyone can learn from their experience. All in all, the author has succeeded in writing this book. He was able to portray what he wanted to portray, that is to narrate to the readers how his family’s determination and hard work changed and improved their life. Also to hope that in every diligence and perseverance you would gain something beautiful.
Bibliography
Batan, C. M. (2010). Batong Bahay: Naratibo ng Kahirapan at Tagumpay ng Isang KaraniwangPamilyang Pilipino . Manila: UST Publishing House.
