Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo

Sa Pula, Sa Puti (For the Red Rooster, For the White

Rooster) is a play in one act, written by Francisco "Soc"

Rodrigo. It was first staged on September 10, 1939 by the

University of the Philippines Dramatic Club at the Manila

Metropolitan Theater. Originally, this was written by Rodrigo

in English for his class in dramatics under Jean Garrot

Edades at the University of Santo Thomas. It has been

expanded and revised by Rodrigo and he subsequently

translated it in Tagalog. It has also been published in Short

Plays of the Philippines , Manila: Robert S. Hendry, 1950, by

Jean Edades.

This play is a comedy that comments on people's

weakness in a situation recognizable throughout the country.

Its main character is a sabungero or cockfighter who is

addicted to cock pit. This play tells about how he learns and

realizes his foolishness of gambling.

This practical approach to Francisco Rodrigo's "comedy of the

cockpit" illustrates a freer way of "bending English" and delivers a more

vivid impression of "native" speech. The dialogues have been liberally

flavored with Tagalog expressions in near-literal English translation.

Also,the playwright aimed to extract the general theme of gambling with

a hint of comedy which will be presented into two (2) division. Part One:

Backgrounders. In this section, the information about the author

including his life, career history and other relevant information which

make the field of visions larger. Part Two: My Text-Dependent

Interpretation. In this part, the play will be illuminated in perfection such

as Formalism and Structuralism. In formalism, the play is presented in

terms of its element that would make us understand its literal and

general literary features. From another point, the structural view is

garnered through the concept of binary opposition and significant.

PART ONE: BACKGROUNDERS(A Reflection to the Author’s Perfection)

Francisco Soc Rodrigo was born on January 29,

1914 in Bulacan, Bulacan to Marcela Aldana and Melecio

Rodrigo and a blood kin of two great heroes of his native

province, Marcelo del Pilar and Gregorio del Pilar. He was a

Senator of the Republic of the Philippines; Third Congress

since 1955 to 1957, Fourth Congress since 1958 to 1961,

Fifth Congress since 1962 to 1965, and Sixth Congress

since 1966 to 1969 . He was also an accomplished

playwright and broadcaster.

Rodrigo finished his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of

Science in Education degrees from Ateneo de Manila and

University of Santo Tomas, respectively, after which he

completed his degree of Bachelor of Laws at the University

of the Philippines, graduating magna cum laude and

valedictorian. While in college, he was captain of the

Debating team.

After passing the Bar , he joined the law firm of

Senators Francisco Delgado and Lorenzo Tañada. With the

latter, he authored Philippine Modern Legal Forms and

Handbook on the Rules of Court. During the 1953

presedential election, Soc Rodrigo covered the entire

proceedings in an unprecedented marathon broadcast, a

feat which won for him the Legion of Honor award by

President Ramon Magsaysay.

His performance in the Senate has consistently

landed him in the coveted list of the Ten Outstanding

Senators and made him a much invented guest of foreign

government such as the United States, Britain, West

Germany, and other countries. He was also awarded a U.S.

Government grant under the terms of Public Law 402 (Smith

- Mundt) for observation and travel under the auspices of the

Governmental Affairs Institute(Nov. 20, 1959 - Jan. 20,

1960).

From 1970-1972, Rodrigo hosted the ABS-CBN program "Mga Kuro-kuro ni Soc Rodrigo."

Not the least of his achievements was his anti - Japanese

activities during the war years when he distributed proaganda

materials together with Raul Manglapus. For their dissent against

President Ferdinand Marcos, Rodrigo, along with Ninoy

Aquino and many others, was incarcerated during upon the

declaration of Martial Law in 1972. During this time in jail, Rodrigo

kept the faith of fellow detainees alive as he led nightly prayers of

the rosary. Ninoy Aquino would treasure of the crucifixes that

Rodrigo gave him during this time. Rodrigo was released after

three months but was detained two more times. In 1978, for

writing Tagalog poems attacking the Marcos dictatorship, and in

1982, for his anti-Marcos poems in the We Forum and Philippine

Star.

As a playwright in English and Tagalog, his works are

noted for distilling the foibles and wit of the Filipino soul. His

most celebrated play was Sa Pula, Sa Puti while his most

popular Kuro – Kuro sa likod ng mga Balita had also won

legions of admirers throughout the country. Whether he is

delivering a speech in tagalog or in English, within or without

the halls of the senate, men rise to give their attention to Soc

Rodrigo, a man who has given his best in the service of God

and country.

On January 4, 1998, Rodrigo died at age 83 due to

complications of cancer. In November that year, his name

was inscribed in the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Memorial Hall

in Quezon City to honor his role in the long struggle against

Marcos.

Trivia: The Gawad Soc Rodrigo is an award named after him given

by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) and the National

Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

PART TWO:MY TEXT-DEPENDENT INTERPRETATION

In Light of Modernist Vistas: Formalism (Elemental Analysis) and Structure (Binary Opposition and Signification)

Elemental Criticism

Explication Exegesis

CHARACTERSMajor:Kulas - an out-and-out sabungero, or cockfighting addictCeling - wife of KulasMinor:Sioning - friend of CelingCastor - a middleman in the cockpitTeban - an old manservant of Kulas

and Celing

Some remarkable lines from the film were encoded and interpreted below based on the subjectivity of the maker:

“Sapagkat pagkadilat ng mga mata mo sa umaga, wala ka nang naisip kamustahin at himasin kundi ang iyong tinali. Tila mahal mo pa ang mga tinali mo kaysa sa akin.”

SETTING In a cock arenaResidence of Kulas and Celing, near in the cock arena

ATMOSPHERE The story is covered with fondness in gambling and tricks.

PLOTExposition: One morning Kulas greeted his wife a pleasant morning but Celing answered dryly. She was jealous and envious about Kulas’s fighting cocks for they were the first thought of Kulas every morning. Rising Action: Castor taught Kulas some techniques how to win a fight in a way of cheating when Celing was out in the market. Climax: Kulas went to the fight and bet but this time he staked at his opponent’s cock.Falling Action: Kulas was disappointed after the fight because his cock won.Denouement: Celing cooked in broth the three cocks of Kulas and made adobo with the other three.

“Iyon ay disgrasya lamang! Celing, makinig ka. Alam mo, kagabi ay nanaginip ako. Napanaginip kong ako’y hinahabol ng isang kalabaw na puti.

Kalabaw na puti, Celing!”

“O, heto, Teban, limang piso . . . Nagpunta na naman ang amo mo sa sabungan. Madali, ipusta

mo ito. Madali at baka mahuli!”

“Ano bang ako ang pumili ng bahay na ito. Anggusto kong bahay ay sa tabi ng simbahan, ngunit

ang gusto ni Kulas ay sa tabi ng sabungan.”

“Ang lahat ng manok ay may litid sa paa na kapag iyong dinuro ay hihina ang paa. … Wala sinumang makakakita sa ating ginawa, ngunit

mahina na ang paang ating dinuro at ang manok na iyan ay hindi makakapalo.”

“Celing, ako man ay natalo din sa pustahan sapagkat sa manok ng kalaban ako pumusta.”

Theme: Man’s obsession in attaining wealth by means of illegal condition.

STYLE

Allusion – The interpretation of Kulas on his dream turns out wrong. He made false construction of it which led him to lose again.

Symbolism – The cockfight symbolizes social passion or simply, a game; money symbolizes the material; the cocks themselves represent everything evil and nasty; and the adobo represents the result of the work.

Plot/Tragedy – The play does follow a plot (Fight -Trick - Result)

Local Color – The entire play focused on specific features including characters, dialects, common arguments of a typical Filipino couple about cockfight,dreams and superstitions in gambling.

Epilogue – In a remarkably contemporary moment at the end of the play, Kulas promised he will never get involve in gambling.

Antithesis – Kulas realized that good fortune can’t overcome when you put cheating on it. Luck is the opposite of the desire to win a fortune in a cheat way.

General Interpretation

After examining the script of the play, it clearly states the importance of time and family or time with family, and having a good fortune.

Men are so attached into grooming and taking care of the cocks that they did not mind spending time with their family. The cockfight is a metaphor that stands for the struggles going on in everyday social life of every individual. It displays social conflicts, tension and somehow things lead into constructing evil clutches and tricks. They believe that it is the solution and easiest way to find wealth.

After getting through the concept of determining the play in the view of the formalistic approach particularly by explication and exegesis, the theme was extracted. The theme states that: Man’s obsession in attaining wealth by means of illegal condition. It is all about the cravings of man into gambling. It comes across with anything that makes him constantly think about a certain thing.

Almost everyone who was involved with unlawful habit of gambling are logically smart. They construct tricks that results into winning the fight. It explains such a valuable meaning that man could possibly do whatever it takes just to have something he have been fascinating to gain.

Significant

Promise DisengagementSignifier: Cockfight

Signified: Money

Game of Life Sign: Desire

THEME: Man’s desires to have nice fortune in life. Also, It is saying that life may be dealt what looks like a bad hand.

II. Structuralist Approach

Binary Opposition

After building the theme based on the structuralist’s view towards the play, it is all about life. It is saying that you may be dealt what looks like a bad hand.

This means that we might born in poor surroundings or born in rich surroundings, or any other life that you are born into, it doesn't matter because every hand is a winning or losing hand -you make it what it is. We make our own path; either it is on the right way or not. The intensions of the play was for us to realize what is important and what you have to hold on too, and when things are getting dangerous and when to get out if you need to.

No matter what hand life has dealt to you, you can still win if you play your game well.

III. FUSION OF THE THEMES EXTRACTED FROM FORMAL AND STRUCTURAL ANALYSES

FORMALISM STRUCTURALIST

Extracted Theme Extracted Theme

Man’s desires comes in many figures. At the same time, it makes their own way even it is in illegal forms such as cheating. Because of that, the obsession become stronger in a possible mean that sometimes leads to ruin a family bond.

New Theme

Man’s obsession in attaining wealth by means of illegal condition.

Man’s desires to have nice fortune in life. Also, It is saying that life may be dealt what looks like a bad hand.

Man’s desires come in many figures. At the same time, it makes their own way even it is in illegal forms such as cheating. Because of that, the obsession become stronger in a possible mean that sometimes leads to ruin a family bond. The connection with the family might probably on the edge. Therefore, it creates crack on their relationship. Just like in reality, desires could literally destroy anybody’s choices because it blocks the way of thinking and all of his concern will be on how to attain his desires.

Acuña, Joan F.

Catabui, Josephine

Lapig, Glydel I.