Reaction to Midsummer by Manuel Arguilla

In "Midsummer", Arguilla vividly describes the summer season in the Philippines. He describes the rocky dirt road, far away hills and patches of green that characterizes a typical rural area. The persona and his bull were monotonously traveling along the path when a young woman catches the persona's attention. When she suddenly turns back to where she came from, the persona's curiosity gets the better of him and he follows her to a well. Here, Arguilla gives us a picture of rural life. The woman's clothes, he says, are homespun and she is barefoot. She gets water manually from a well and fills her large jar with water. Then she lifts it to the top of her head and carries it back to her house. 

Despite the modernization of the country, this kind of lifestyle is still present in many of the rural areas in the Philippines, as well as in other countries. In my opinion, this kind of lifestyle is simple and relaxing, which is a good contrast to the fast-paced world in the urban areas. I have often wondered what it would be like if I had been born into that kind of life. Right now, I can't imagine a world without the modern technology I have now. I wouldn't even be able to write about it without a laptop and internet connection. It seems as though people living in the rural areas are missing out on a lot of good things technology has to offer. But that might not be the case. Perhaps these people are perfectly content with their current lifestyle because that is the only way they have even know to live. 

"Midsummer" also emphasizes the famous Filipino hospitality. The persona is a stranger to the young woman but they treat each other with respect, kindness and generosity. the persona offered her some of his food and  the woman offered to let him and his animal stay at her house so they could rest. This kind of hospitality can rarely be seen in our society nowadays, especially in the city. It is simply too dangerous and a lot of people cannot be trusted anymore. Still, we should not forget that showing respect. kindness and generosity even to strangers is healthy for the soul and for the society.