Lengua Para Diablo (The Devil Ate My Words)

WATCH:   Lengua Para Diablo (Short Video)  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I7KJUc3fPEa_rRvGYWdCCZWu0RWvugwE/view?usp=sharing

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lengua Para Diablo (The Devil Ate My Words) was written by Merlinda Bobis, a contemporary Philippine-Australian writer and academic.  She was born on 25 November 1959 in Legazpi City, Albay Province, Philippines. Merlinda Bobis attended Bicol University High School then completed her B.A. at Aquinas University in Legazpi City.  She was also a recipient of the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Poetry in Filipino.

 

ABOUT THE STORY:

This story shows how unemployment can affect a person and their family. It is about a father who feels that he has no longer the power to voice out his feelings to his family. 

Lengua Para Diablo (The Devil Ate My Words) is all about a father who sold his tongue to the devil and so that he lost his ability to express his thoughts or even speak for himself.  

The father lost his dignity; he doesn't gain respect from his children. He also lost his pride to utter his sentiments and thoughts inside their house. He lost it all because he has no work and no longer can support his family’s needs. 

The man has a wife who always grumbles about their life. As she nags, the husband could only murmur. The man would tend to give her kisses and promises. He is only a mason but sadly got fired. Days had passed that he hasn’t told his wife that he had lost his job. He can’t say anything and hardly eating anything. The narrator said that the man sold his tongue to the devil.

MORAL VALUES

This story tells 3 Main moral values:

1. Build communication: Know how to express your feelings and thoughts among your family members. Telling what you feel could be a way to build a strong bond within your family; this enables you to voice out and let go of what’s bothering you, and it could also help your family to understand and know you more as a person.

2. Understand others' feelings:  Learn to put yourself in another’s shoes to understand his or her situation. Practice empathy by taking perspective, staying out of judgment, and especially recognizing his or her emotion. You do not know what he or she is going through, so the best thing to do is to understand his or her situation no matter what. 

3. Work hard and dream big:  This story is an eye-opener for students; you must work hard and pursue your dreams to have a better life in the future to avoid discontentment and prevent any situation likewise to the story, Lengua Para Diablo. Do something today that your future self will thank you for.

IMPACT

As a 21st century learner, I understand and learned the value of having a goal in life, and especially the real essence of education.  

Education is the only way to reach whatever dreams and goals that we have. Valuing education is essential; we must be grateful that we can study and gain knowledge. We must use this aspect to grow as a person and grab this opportunity to work hard. 

In dealing with success, we may encounter a lot of trials and circumstances because that's the essence of it, to learn how to persevere and use these challenges as a motivation in life. 

Setting goals and working on our dreams is progress. We should not give up on our aspirations; instead, we must be eager to face all challenges with equipped minds and determined hearts. Work hard, dream big, and make it happen.

 -sebastiancrotilsfjc