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st
21 Century
Literature from
the Philippines
and the World
Week 4 : Module 4

Jennifer Bañez-Rañeses
Author

MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCY:

Produce a creative presentation of a literary text by applying multi-media
and ICT skills (EN12Lit-ld-25)
Lesson 1: Apo on the Wall by BJ Patino

CONTENT The learner will be able to understand and appreciate the

STANDARDS elements and contexts of 21st century Philippine literature
from the regions.
PERFORMANCE The learner will be able to demonstrate understanding
STANDARDS and appreciation of 21st Century Philippine literature from
the regions through an adaptation of a text into other
creative forms using multimedia.
MOST ESSENTIAL
Produce a creative presentation of a literary text by applying
LEARNING
multi-media and ICT skills (EN12Lit-ld-25)
COMPETENCIES

How to use this module

(www.stickpng.com) To achieve the objectives of this module, do the following:

1. Take your time reading the lessons.

2. Follow the directions in the activities carefully.
3. Follow the time limit per lesson or activity as closely as possible.
4. Answer all the given tests and exercises.
5. If you are having a difficult time understanding the lesson, take a short
break and continue the activities and lessons after.
6. Make sure that you are in a quiet and conducive to learning atmosphere
as you answer this module.

What you are expected to learn

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1. Demonstrate reasoning abilities by solving the situations presented
2. Express your own opinion as to what is being described in the poem
3. Practice comprehension skills
4. Produce a creative representation of “Apo on the Wall” by applying multi-
media and ICT skills

Pre-test
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TRUE OR FALSE
Directions: Read the sentences very well. Write T if the sentence is true and F if
the sentence is false.

__________ 1. Martial Law was declared on September 22, 1973.

__________ 2. It was declared by President Corazon C. Aquino.
__________ 3. Martial Law was said to be one of the most peaceful events in
our history.
__________ 4. This 14-year period in Philippine history was remembered for the
administration’s record of human rights abuses.
__________ 5. Marcos was exiled from the country on February 25, 1986.
__________ 6. The poem “Apo on the Wall” told the reality of life during the Marcos
regime alongside the Martial Law.

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 __________ 7. It was written by RJ Patino.
__________ 8. Fiction and non-fiction are sub classifications of prose.
__________ 9. Visual literature is composed of literary works presented in front
of an audience.
__________ 10. Apo on the Wall is a poem that talked about the narration of a child’s
point of view about his rigorous Father and the hanging photo
around the wall called “Apo”.

Looking Back
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Literature (from Latin litterae (plural); letter), is the art of written work, and is not
confined to published sources (although, under some circumstances, unpublished
sources can also be exempt). The word literature literally means “things made from
letters” and the term “letters” is sometimes used to signify “literature,” as in the figures of
speech “arts and letters” and “man of letters.” The four major classifications of literature
are poetry, prose, fiction, and non-fiction.

Complete the chart below and give a short explanation of your answer.

LITERATURE

ORAL LITERATURE 1. VISUAL LITERATURE

PROSE 2.

Fiction 3. 4. Lyric 5.

Explanation:
1. ____________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________
3 _____________________________________________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________________________________________

The following rubrics will be the basis of your grade for this activity.

(Source: www.thoughtco.com)

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 I. FORMS OF LITERATURE

A. ORAL LITERATURE – literary works verbally transmitted from one

generation to another
B. WRITTEN LITERATURE – literary works in printed form
C. VISUAL LITERATURE – literary works presented in front of an audience
II. DIVISIONS OF LITERATURE

A. PROSE - is the most typical form of language, applying ordinary

grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic
structure (as in traditional poetry). While there are critical debates on the
construction of prose, its simplicity and loosely defined structure has led to
its adoption for the majority of spoken dialogue, factual discourse as well
as topical and fictional writing. It is commonly used, for example, in
literature, newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias, broadcasting, film,
history, philosophy, law and many other forms of communication.

B. POETRY - (from the Greek poiesis — ποίησις — with a broad meaning of

a “making”, seen also in such terms as “hemopoiesis”; more narrowly, the
making of poetry) is a form of literary art which uses the aesthetic qualities
of language to evoke meanings in addition to, or in place of, the prosaic
ostensible meaning.

(Source:https://www.academia.edu/27992041/INTRODUCTION_TO_LITERATURE_FORMS_DIVISIONS
_AND_SUBDIVISIONS)

Introduction to the Topic

As 21st century learners and Senior High school students of our time, it is
obvious that you know your way when it comes to technology and the use of
gadgets. This module will help you in understanding the past and connecting it to
our present. You will further discover why in the history books, martial law is seen
as a great evil under the reign of former President Ferdinand Marcos but there are
some Filipinos who look at our martial law with fondness. This module will also
help you use technology and your gadgets in coming up with very inspiring output.
You will have a chance to be like your favorite bloggers and vloggers as you use
the poem as an inspiration.

Activity1: Stop, Look and Listen

(www.bitmoji.com)
To appreciate the poem about martial law and former President Marcos, try to
find out what older people think or feel about martial law. Interview your parents or
grandparents and ask them the questions below.

1. What do you remember about Ferdinand Marcos?

2. What do you remember about martial law?
3. What do you think are the positive or negative effects of martial law in our
country?

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Interviewee Responses:
1. ______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________

Make a summary about the result of interview and react on their responses.

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

The following rubrics will be the basis of your grade for this activity.

(Source: www.thoughtco.com)

Read the following information and background about former President

Ferdinand E. Marcos and Martial Law.

Figure 1. Image of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos. From Official Gazette.

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1972/09/23/radio-tv-address-of-president-marcos/

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 Fast Facts about former President Ferdinand Marcos

• Known For: Philippines dictator

• Also Known As: Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr.
• Born: Sept. 11, 1917, in Sarrat, Philippines
• Parents: Mariano Marcos, JosefaEdralin
• Died: Sept. 28, 1989, in Honolulu, Hawaii
• Education: University of the Philippines, College of Law
• Awards and Honors: Distinguished Service Cross, Medal of Honor
• Spouse: Imelda Marcos (m. 1954–1989)
• Children: Imee, Bongbong, Irene, Aimee
• Notable Quote: “I often wonder what I will be remembered in
history for. Scholar? Military hero? Builder?”

A Short Background on the Declaration of Martial Law

Martial law under Ferdinand Marcos

At 7:17 pm on September 23, 1972,
President Ferdinand E. Marcos announced that he
had placed the entirety of the Philippines under
martial law. This marked the beginning of a 14-year
period of one-man rule which would effectively last
until Marcos was exiled from the country on February
25, 1986. Even though the formal document
proclaiming martial law - Proclamation No. 1081 - was
formally lifted on January 17, 1981, Marcos retained
virtually all his powers as dictator until he was ousted
Figure 2. FM declares Martial Law by the EDSA Revolution.
appears in the headline of Sunday
Express. From RadyoTodo.
https://www.radyotodo.ph/wp- While the period of Philippine history in which
content/uploads/2019/08/Marco22-
400x240.jpg
Ferdinand Marcos was in power actually began seven
years earlier, when he was first inaugurated president
of the Philippines in late 1965, this article deals specifically with the period where he
exercised dictatorial powers under martial law, and the period in which he continued
to wield those powers despite technically lifting the proclamation of martial law in
1981.

When he declared martial law in 1972, Marcos claimed that he had done so in
response to the "communist threat" posed by the newly-founded Communist Party of
the Philippines (CPP), and the sectarian "rebellion" of the Mindanao Independence
Movement (MIM). Opposition figures of the time, such as Lorenzo Tañada, Jose

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Diokno, and Jovito Salonga, accused Marcos of exaggerating these threats, using
them as a convenient excuse to consolidate power and extend his reign beyond the
two presidential terms allowed by the 1935 constitution.

After Marcos was ousted, government investigators discovered that the

declaration of martial law had also allowed the Marcoses to hide secret stashes of
unexplained wealth which various courts later determined to be "of criminal origin."

This 14-year period in Philippine history is remembered for the

administration's record of human rights abuses, particularly targeting political
opponents, student activists, journalists, religious workers, farmers, and others who
fought against the Marcos dictatorship. Based on the documentation of Amnesty
International, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, and similar human rights
monitoring entities, historians believe that the Marcos dictatorship was marked by
3,257 known extrajudicial killings, 35,000 documented tortures, 77 'disappeared',
and 70,000 incarcerations.
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_law_under_Ferdinand_Marcos)

Let’s Discuss
(www.bitmoji.com)

ACTIVITY 2.1: Unlocking Unfamiliar Words

These words are found in the story to be tackled later. Find their meaning
through this activity. Match the bold-lettered words used in the sentences below to
their meanings in the box. Write the letter of your answer on the blanks provided.

________ 1. The association gave him a plaque for his a. feeling of fear
commitment and dedication. b. a commemorative
________ 2. The language was strange to me. inscribed tablet
________ 3. A scary movie gave my child nightmares. c. marked by vigor or
________ 4. Father snapped at me when he caught me liveliness
making fun of my sister. d. unfamiliar
________ 5. The officer moved his shoulders in a snappy e. a stealthy or furtive
move
manner.
f. to utter sharp
________ 6. My sister sneaked into her room after
biting words
midnight.

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ACTIVITY 2.2: Reading of the Poem

The poem below delved into the experience of martial law and what happened
after. It was written using the point of view of a child and his relationship with his
father. Read the poem.

Apo on the Wall

by BJ Patino

1. There’s this man’s photo on the wall 14. Sneaking around his office at home
2. Of my father’s office at home, you 15. Looking at the stuff on his wall-
3. Know, where father brings his work, handguns,
4. Where he doesn’t look strange 16. Plaques, a sword, medals a rifle-
5. Still wearing his green uniform 17. Told me that was no place for a boy
6. And colored breast plates, where, 18. Only men, when he didn’t really
7. To prove that he works hard, he 19. Have to tell me because, you know,
20. That photo of Apo on the wall was
8. Also brought a photo of his boss
already
9. Whom he calls Apo, so Apo could 21. Looking at me around,
10. You know, hang around on the wall 22. His eyes following me like he was
11. Behind him and look over his 23. That scary Jesus in the hallway,
shoulders saying
12. To make sure he’s snappy and all. 24. I know what you’re doing.
13. Father snapped at me once, caught
me

Activity 3.1: Fill it Up

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To help you analyze the poem, fill in the blanks of the worksheet below.

Details About the

Character Conclusion
Character
Persona Sneaking in the office The persona is a child.
“Boy,” not a man He is afraid of his father.
Scared of Jesus He is afraid of authority figures
like his father.
He doesn’t always follow his
father.
Persona’s Father

Apo

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 Activity 3.2: Express Yourself

(www.dreamstime.com) Answer the following guide questions.

1. How would you describe the persona and the persona's father? How would you
describe their relationship? Would you say that your relationship with your father
is similar or different? Explain.
2. In lines 12-13 in the poem, there is the use of the words “snappy” and“ snapped”,
respectively. What do these words mean? How do they add to the poem in terms
of sound? How do they add to your understanding of the relationship between the
father and the son?
3. Who is Apo in the poem? Cite evidence to support your answer.
4. How would you describe the relationship between the persona’s father and Apo?
What does this tell us about the father’s perspective about martial law?
5. What kind of values does the persona’s father want to teach to his child,
specifically, about what it means to be a man? Do you agree with these values?
Why or why not?
6. Why is Apo compared to the “scary” Jesus in the hallway? What do they seem to
have in common?
7. What do the father, Apo, and the “scary” Jesus have in common?
8. Read the last line of the poem. What does it mean? How does this regulate the
persona’s behavior?
9. Do you think the persona’s perspective about martial law is the same as his
father’s? Why or why not?
10. How does this poem provide you as the reader a glimpse of what martial law was
like? How did the poem make you feel?
(Source: https://bertsnewblog.blogspot.com/2018/07/apo-on-wall-by-bj-patino.html)

Activity 4: Let’s be Techie

Now you are tasked to make a 2-minute vlog-like
presentation about the poem. In the vlog, include the following:
 Why you liked the poem
 How it made you feel
 The message you got from it, and
 How it affects your appreciation of the past and the present.
Share the vlog with your classmates and have them rate
(www.bitmoji.com)
your vlog using the rubrics below.

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 Poor (1 pt.) Needs improvement (2 Satisfactory (3 pts.) Good (4 pts.)
pts.)
Student was difficult to Student was able to Student was able to Student was able to
understand and had a express their ideas and express their ideas and express their ideas and
hard time responses adequately responses fairly well but responses with ease in
communicating their but often displayed makes mistakes with proper sentence
Grammar
ideas and responses inconsistencies with their tenses;however, structure and tenses.
because of grammar their sentence structure was still able to
mistakes. and tenses. communicate meaning
effectively.
Student was difficult to
Student was slightly Pronunciation was good Pronunciation was very
understand, quiet in
unclear with and did not interfere clear and easy to
Pronunciation
speaking, unclear in
pronunciation at times, with communication understand.
pronunciation. but generally is fair.
Student had inadequate
Student was able to use Student utilized the Rich, precise and
vocabulary words to
broad vocabulary words words learned in class, impressive usage of
express his/her ideas
but was lacking, making in an accurate manner vocabulary words
Vocabulary
properly, which him/her repetitive and for the situation given. learned in and beyond
hindered the students in
cannot expand on of class.
responding. his/her ideas.
Speech is very slow,
Speech is slow and Speech is mostly Speech is effortless and
stumbling, nervous, and
often hesitant and smooth but with some smooth with speed that
uncertain with response,
irregular. Sentences hesitation and comes close to that of a
Fluency except for short or
may be left unevenness caused native speaker.
memorized expressions.
uncompleted, but the primarily by rephrasing
Difficult for a listener to
student is able to and groping for words.
understand continue.
The student's content is
The student's content The student's content is The student's content
not relevant to any of
has some relevance to relevant to the reflects good
the assessment topics
the assessment topics, assessment topic, with understanding of the
and the student has little
but incorrect words are few errors. The student assessment topics with
Content understanding/compreh
used. The student has general no errors. The student
ension of assessment
demonstrates some understanding of has good grasp of
requirements. understanding of assessment assessment
assessment requirements. requirements.
requirements.
(Source: https://www.rcampus.com/rubricshowc.cfm?code=CX87669&sp=yes&

LET’S SUMMARIZE
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Apo on the wall by BJ Patino is a poem that talks about the narration of a
child’s point of view about his rigorous Father and the photo on the wall called “Apo”.
The poem tells the reality of life during the reign of Marcos alongside with the Martial
Law. It reflects the scenario of what and how the Filipinos experienced the tragic and
traumatic event throughout the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines.
“Apo on the Wall” shows the real situation concerning with the different perspective
between millennial and those who lived through Martial Law. This masterpiece of BJ
Patino advocates reasonably close to the realization of giving importance on looking
back to our past, moving forward through our present and ensuring the success of
our future.
(Source: https://bertsnewblog.blogspot.com/2018/07/apo-on-wall-by-bj-patino.html)

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 Post-test
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Directions: Answer the following questions. Write your answer on a one whole
sheet of paper.

1. When was Martial Law declared?

2. What do you believe are reasons for the declaration of Martial Law.
3. What were some of the effects of Martial Law in the Philippines?
4. Who is Apo in the poem? Prove your answer.
5. What do you think is the message of the poem?

Reflection

Ask yourself the following questions. Write your

answers on your notebook.
1. What difficulties did I encounter in doing the assigned
tasks?
2. How can I improve my understanding of the tasks?
(www.bitmoji.com) 3. What did I learn from this module?
4. Describe how this learning affected you as a Filipino.

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