Footnote to Youth by Jose Garcia Villa

Learning Competency

EN7LT-II-0–3: 1. Explain how a selection may be influenced by culture, history, environment, or other factors

Summary

A 17-year-old boy Dodong is impatiently waiting for his father's home to return so that he can tell him his love for Teang and his desire to get married which is an important first step as he thinks he is a fine grown man. There is a silence after he tells his father about marrying Teang. His father asks him if it’s really necessary to marry her because his father thinks he is still young. He resents his father's line of question “Must you marry Dodong?” but then his father finally gives his consent.

The day comes when Teang gives birth to their first son, Blas. Dodong feels young and inexperienced, compared to how he felt nine months ago. Six years later Teang gave birth to a total of seven children and she didn’t complain about it though it made her look shapeless and thin including the hard work of caring for them and the household. As she cried, she wished that she had not married at a very young age, though she loved Dodong.

Another suitor Luico was also a Teang suitor who was nine years older than Dodong. She chose Dodong because he is way more younger than Luico. After Teang and Dodong got married, Luico had also his. However, he is childless. Teang wonders if she married Luico, would she be childless? She feels that would have been a better lot in life. Even though life has made or old and ugly she loves Dodong.

Outside his house Dodong, one night he thinks about his life and wants to have the wisdom to know why life does not fulfill his youth’s dream. He never finds the answer when he asks himself why life does life abandon you after love.

Blas turned 18 and he comes to his father telling him that he wants to marry Tena.

A 36-year-old Dodong is portrayed as much an older man, who doesn’t want to Blas to get married at a young age. So, he asks Blas the same question his father asked him, But Blas reacts with resentment. He realizes that he is dealing with Youth and Love and they will overcome this situation. He decided to give his consent while feeling sad and sorry for his son.

How the Story Achieved the Competency?

The story “Footnote to Youth” achieved competency with the development of the story from start to end. The story reflects the common issue among young people which is early marriage and its consequences. Interestingly, knowing that a footnote is necessary information in support of the primary source is found at the bottom of the page of a document or a paper. Thus, the flow of the story is like a footnote where the son follows the doings of his father. It’s like the saying “History repeats itself”. The decision-making of Dodong to give consent to Blas was influenced by how his father responded to his decision to get married.

Will I recommend it?

I highly recommend this book not only to young adult readers but also to parents. For a young adult, this is a good book for them to reflect and have an overview of what life would look like if you got married at a young age without knowing any of the responsibilities. The reason why I also recommend this book to parents is that for them also to realize that what they taught to their children can influence them and can be passed down to their children’s future sons or daughters.