NVM GONZALEZ

Student Book This is a printable presentation in A4 vertical format

Nestor Vicente Madali Gonzales

By: Cassandra, Karl, & Mariella

Contents 1.

2.

3.

4.

Background of the Author Notable Awards, Prizes, and Honors Collection of Works The Bread of Salt

“There is no such things as children’s literature.”

—NVM

01 Background of the author The life of NVM

Birthdate He was born on 8 September 1915 in Romblon, Philippines. However, he was raised in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro.

Teenage Life

Delivered meat door-to-door across provincial villages and municipalities.

He played the violin and even made four guitars by hand.

Educational Background

High School Oriental Mindoro High School (1927 to 1930).

College National University Manila (unable to finish)

Writing Career

Philippine Graphic -Writer -published his first essay and poem (1934)

Manila Chronicle -Editor

Likhaan -Board Member

The Diliman Review -Founding Editor

Philippine Writers' Association -Founding President

Teaching Career University of Santo Tomas

University of the Philippines

Philippine Women's University

University of Washington

California State University, Hayward

University of California, Santa Barbara

University of California, Los Angeles,

University of California, Berkeley.

Death He died on 28 November 1999 in Philippines at the age of 84. Buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

02 NOTABLE AWARDS, PRIZES,AND HONORS

Awards 01

National Artist Award for Literature (1997)

02

Philippines Centennial Award for Literature (1998).

03

The Cultural Center of the Philippines award (1990)

04

Republic Cultural Heritage Award (1960)

05

Republic Award of Merit (1954)

Honors and Prizes 06

Doctor of Humane Letters (1987)

07

Regents professor at UCLA (1988-9)

08

City of Manila Medal of Honor (1971)

09

Rockefeller grant (1949-1950, 1952, & 1964)

10

Honorable mention in the First Commonwealth Literary Contest (1940)

Quiz Time!

01

Where was N.V.M born?

A. Romblon B. Oriental Mindoro

What school did he attend in college but did not finish?

A.

.

A. University of the Philippines B. National University

02

03

What did he deliver during his teenage years?

A. Meat B. Newspaper

Where did he published his first essay?

04

A. Likhaan B. Philippine Graphic

05

What instrument does he play?

A. Violin B. Piano

03 Collection of Works In total, he wrote five novels, eight short fictions and multiple essays

Writing Style Prose: ● Poetry ● Fiction Themes In Writing ● ● ● ●

Culture Family Personal Experience Observations

The Winds of April (1941) Main character The narrator Setting ● Commonwealth era ● Countryside of Romblon and ● Mindoro

Themes Survival, travels, and romance

A Season of Grace (1956) Main character Doro and Isabel Setting Bondoc

Themes Family and hardships, poverty, and hunger.

The Bamboo Dancers (1959) Main character Ernie Rama Setting ● Philippines ● United States

Themes Culture, ambition, and love

The Bread of Salt Main character Boy(no mention of his name) Setting 1930s Philippines

Themes Simple routine in life, Love, Social Status

Mindoro and Beyond: Twenty-one Stories

Main character Kaingin farmers, modern traveler's, etc.

Setting ● Philippines ● United States

Themes Culture, travel, hard work, modernization

Look Stranger, on this Island Now

Main character Jose Rizal

Setting Romblon

Themes Culture, diary

Children of The Ash-Covered Loam and Other Stories (1954)

Main character Common people Setting Countryside, rural Philippines

Themes Poverty, hunger

Seven Hills Away and Other Stories (1947)

Main character Common people Setting Countryside, rural Philippines

Themes Simple life, tradition, old beliefs

The Novel of Justice: Selected Essays 1968-1994

Main character Common people

Setting Philippines

Themes Culture, History

Work on The Mountain Main character N.V.M Gonzales

Setting Ajanta in Maharashtra, India's central state

Themes His journey in Ajanta

04 Literary Text Examination The Bread of Salt

Bread of Salt Settings: ● Bakeshop ● Aida’s house for the party ● School

Time • 1930’s in the Philippines

Point of View ● First person narrator

Theme ● Love between two people with different social status ● Simple routine in life

Characters ● The 14 year old boy Protagonist ● Aida - Albert's apple of the eye ● Pete Saez - invited Albert to join his band ● Josefina and Alicia - Aida's cousins ● Don Esteban - J and A's father ● Aunt ● Grandmother and Grandfather ● Mr. Custodio

It was his assigned duty to be up early in the morning and be on his way to the baker’s to buy rolls and pan de sal for the breakfast table. He was fourteen and he has already got used to his task. On his way he thought of the bread of salt – pan de sal – and wondered how it was made, what gives its flavor and shape. He looked around the landscape at daybreak and once again remembered how much he adored Aida, the niece of the old Spaniard whom he thought he was destined to serve, just like his late Grandfather. At times he thought it was his duty to stay in the house in the service of the young maiden. He even dreamed that she likewise keeps an intense emotion for him, which she will only dare manifest in the right time.

He was a diligent student and violinist. It didn’t take long before he was transferred from second to first violin and before long, he was invited to join Pete Saez’ band and perform in one engagement after another. He was happy to earn money through his own skill, although it was with utter bitterness that he had to endure rehearsals despite the outward disapproval of his aunt against his chosen field.

She thought musicians are no better than dogs scurrying to get their mouths on food scraps in trash bins. But he didn’t mind, thinking that the money he’ll earn from playing the violin will allow him the capacity to buy a brooch and beautiful stationery for his ardent love letters to Aida.

Then he was invited, together with Saez’ band, to the asalto for Don Esteban's daughters who were arriving from Manila. He was honored to be in a sophisticated gathering and get a magnified look at Aida’s stunning beauty. He was beside himself with immeasurable joy and pride but will later on be displaced by an equally immeasurable embarrassment at the buffet table after Aida caught him sneaking some sweets into the packet under his shirt. She nonetheless offered him a big package of food after the party but due to his intense shame, he lost the composure to react, along with the entire ardor he used to shower the maiden with. After the party they led the guests home with their music. Then with Paez, he went to the bakery to buy pan de sal with his own money.

But the bread wasn’t ready yet so they waited.

References: ● https://alchetron.com/N-V-M-Gonzalez ● http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/maga zine/you-cant-go-home-again-if-you-nev er-left ● http://malacanang.gov.ph/75494-the-br ead-of-salt-by-nvm-gonzalez/ ● https://prezi.com/z6uwsxi3fytt/bread-o f-salt/#:~:text=The%20story%20is%20 about%20a,feelings%20for%20her%20d uring%20classes. ● https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-andarts/culture-profile/national-artists-of-t he-philippines/nvm-gonzalez/ ● http://mambao43.blogspot.com/2013/ 09/biography.html