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Ang Gilingang Bato


Hindi ko alam kung gaano kahusay na magpuputo si Ina. Sa lasa ko, ang kanyang lutong mga kakanin, na bihira kong tikman, ay wala namang katangi-tanging sarap. Ngunit maaaring dahil ako'y sawa na. Nawawalan ng lasa ang pinakamasarap mang pagkain kapag araw-araw ay nakahain iyon sa iyo." 
~Ang Gilingang Bato, Edgardo M. Reyes

( I don't know how great is my mother at making puto. In my taste, the kakanin she cooked, which I often eat, has nothing particularly appetizing at all. Maybe, I have gotten used to its taste. After all, even the most delicious food, if served daily, can lose its wonder.)

My 2 cents:

It's been a long time ago since I read a Filipino classic story. While I boringly watched TV, then sitting near our bookshelves, I picked and browsed a Filipino high school book, then randomly I flipped on the short story "Ang Gilingang Bato". I wondered if I had read this story before. I usually read all stories in that book, randomly at least one story in a sitting, but I couldn't remember the plot of the story so I read on. As I read it aloud for my siblings to hear, I realized how poor I have become in properly pronouncing some Filipino words. I also bumped into a couple of unknown words, but realized that Filipino is my native language and context clues are very helpful.

The story revolves in the life of an ordinary Filipino family who through the changing time has realized the importance of simple things. This include the millstone which was passed from the family generation to another generation. The story was witty and full of observation of scenes in their ordinary daily life and relationships in the family. Reading the last paragraphs of the story will surely make you smile.

After I finished reading, I appreciated the Filipino stories again. Although, I used to love Filipino stories during high school, I have forgotten much about it. This old story is still refreshing as new reading. And like one of the best line I have picked from this story, I tasted again the appetizing wonder of Filipino story.

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