Children Of The City

Children Of The City

by Amadis Ma. Guerrero

Theme:

The hardships of children in the city who wasn't able to pursue their education, experience the lose of loved ones, the irresponsibility of a parent, the cruelty of people, and the need to work in order to make use of their lives.

Characters:

• Victor - the protagonist and a newsboy
• Victor's Father - very loved by Victor who died violently by being shot
• Victor's Mother - became irresponsible about her son after her husband's death
• Tio Pedring - helped Victor find a job as a newsboy
• Nacio - Victor's first friend as a newsboy who died by being hit by a car.

Summary:

Victor was the son of a father who worked on a waterfront and got involved in a strike wherein employees were charged of unjust compensation, their earnings were being withheld, and their right to form a union was disregarded. Violence then broke out.Victor was too young to understand everything. his father was having a hard time while his mother as well. He has always been close to his father and they would usually take night walks along the Boulevard and watch the ships sail away wondering when he would ride there.

One night, an incident occurred wherein two men were shot dead including Victor's father that left him, who was only eight years old, in deep pain and anguish upon hearing and reading about the news.When Victor was in third grade, he dropped out  of school and his uncle, Tio Pedring, made plans about employing him as a newsboy. 

One day, Victor's mother arrived home with a man introducing him as Victor's new tatang which he didn't accept at all for the new man is the total opposite of his father whom he loved so dearly and is irreplaceable. After a week, Victor's mother and her man went out for a long vacation and Tio Pedring assured that they'll be back soon and he has to start working immediately as a newsboy explaining to him all his duties. He did well and is learning. There are group of boys who smoke and say all those harsh and loud bad words that Victor never does. He only made one great friend named Nacio who has been with Victor a lot but tragically died because of being ran over by a car while charging into the street following the release of the first edition. Again, Victor was in deep pain and grieved for his friend.

One night, he went into a bar filled with foreigner sailors. He tried to sell his newspaper but got embarrassed and humiliated by the sailors but then one seaman went to him and just gave him two pesos and Victor appreciated it, thanking the man for his generosity. 

Victor's colleagues pushed him to be like them. They pushed him to say all different types of curses. Victor then screamed and said all curses. The next morning, it seemed like everything that happened last night was forgotten and the ring leader offered him a stick of cigarette that he refused since he didn't smoke.

Around Victor and the group of boys was the life of the city with charity campaigns, workers receiving minimum wages, millionaire politicians received Holy Communion every Sunday, sons and daughters were taught how to beg, orphans slept on pavements and darkened bridges, and best friends betrayed each other.

Guide Question: How was the Marcos Administration depicted in the story?

The Marcos Administration was depicted in this story specifically through the children of the city. It is actually like the outcome of the Marcos Administration because after Marcos' regime, everyone suffered in so may different ways experiencing miseries and unjust declarations.