When Love Comes (Footnote To Youth)

             

  " Youth must triumph, now. Love must triumph, now. Afterwards, it will be life. "

     This quote of Jose Villa Garcia's Footnote to Youth caught my attention. It narrates about the story of Dodong who lived with his parents in a small barrio. He worked on their family-owned farm. At the age of 17, he decided to marry the love of his life, Teang and asked permission from his father who also married at a young age. They had six children and life after marriage for them was not easy - they became miserable living with life's hardships and consequences. Teang became shapeless and thin, even she was young. There was endless housework  to be done. She had wished she had marry her other suitor instead of Dodong while Dodong realized the thing he threw away - dreams, wisdom, and a better life. When their eldest, Blas, was turning 18, the same scene repeated. Blas wanted to marry and was asking for his permission. He did not want his son to marry early, to have a painful life and to be like him but he was helpless and could not do anything. " Youth must triumph, now. Love must triumph, now. Afterwards, it will be life, " thought Dodong sad for his son's next life.

      Footnote to Youth is a beautiful story. It leaves us lessons and issues that fit our generation today : early marriage and parenting role. Youth today are vulnerable when it comes to love. They are intrusive about their feelings and desire. They easily come into a situation which there's no way out in the end and make decisions that make it worse. Love comes anytime. But it takes a wise man to determine and wait for true love at the right moment and time. Marriage is not about being with the girl you love but also carrying the responsibilities such as becoming a good husband, feeding and educating your children, giving them a comfortable house to live, presentable clothing, paying all the bills and expenses and spending your life for this lifetime commitment.

      Parenting also plays a key role to the youth's tomorrow. Parents should guide their children to the right path and set as a good example to them. They must also give enough time to play, laugh and talk with them.

     

                                      When a father teaches his son, he teaches his son's son.
     

          Every father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice. 

     

      When it comes to technical basis, the story has a unique style of revealing the plot because it did started on a scenic location instead on the common "Once Upon A Time".  The setting was appropriate  and had added impact to the story. It was described in a picturesque manner which made our imagination worked.

The different personality of the characters sustained the plot. 

                             Footnote to Youth is worth reading and sharing for.