Summary - Rice for the Moon

Rice for the Moon, Manuel S. Diaz
Written by: Mark barba
IP 411: Ilokano Lit & Translation

Summary

Rice for the Moon is a story about the journey of a boy named Odet and his family who are dealing with the hardships of World War II. The mother of the family was a strong believer in the ritual of throwing rice towards the moon. This action was very popular among Filipinos and was meant to bring good fortune to the family. Unfortunately, the presence of the war made rice and food altogether scarce. Due to the many dangers that the war brought to the village, families had to evacuate. There was one man though, who had an abundance of food. His name was Don Gaspar. He treated the mother and her family very well by supplying them with rice whenever they needed. Odet, the nine year old son and narrator of the story continues the story by talking about their journey towards the mountains. Along the way he would ask numerous and childish questions. For example, “Are we there yet?” He was quite curious with the family business, though he might be only nine. In this story, he showed a significant love for his sister. Odet would look to her for answers and would always her business. But on the way to the mountains he noticed something different about her. She seemed unattached with the family. The families eventually reached the mountain and were relieved. While the family was settling down, Odet noticed his sister was saying a sorrowful goodbye to her boyfriend. Things begin to connect for Odet when he and his family are eating dinner. He realizes that his family was now in the security of Don Gaspar and that his sister was the price for their happiness.

Reaction
I had mixed reactions for this story. The main issue with the decision of Odet’s sister was that she did it out of family obligation. From my understanding, it is a serious moral for the Filipino community. Your family gave you everything to grow up and when you are responsible enough, you have to owe it back to them. From my experiences, I feel that it is important to give back to those who have given to you. I personally think that the (American) society that I live in now cannot make such big sacrifices. America is becoming more and more individualistic in my eyes and therefore lacking a sense of community. The other side of my opinion would be that for Odet’s sister to go that low and please Don “the dirty” Gaspar for her family, takes a lot away from her self-respect.