Rogelio Sicat's Illustration of The Unjust System

Rogelio R. Sicat

Rogelio Sicat sometimes referred to as "Rogelio Sikat", was a prolific Filipino Novelist, playwright, and short story maker. He was known for his classic masterpiece particularly Impeng Negro, a short story based on a half-black, half-Filipino boy and Moses, Moses, a play in one act that depicts the social injustices and the abuse of the country's oppressive politicians.                                            

Tata Selo

In the story, the main character, Tata Selo,

fought with other people around him so that he

could defend himself in the case he faced

regarding the hacking and accidental death of

Kabesang Tano.

In the story of Tata Selo, Rogelio Sicat illustrate the social injustice experienced by an unprivileged farmer.

Tata Selo lost his field to Kabesang Tano, because he wanted to make money for his wife, and totally lost it when he can't pay the mortgaged. He has no other way of living other than farming, so he is still farming in the land now of Kabesang Tano. However, Kabesang Tano has a different plan and he wanted to disregard Tata Selo even though he can still do the work. The conflict that they have, resulted in murder case of Kabesang Tano. 

At first, as I was reading the story, the part of Tata Selo doesn't get on me, since it was a murder and there's no point for each other to point who's who. Since there's nothing that they can do on what happened, they are just trying to save their faces in front of the people. However, as I read the story and learned their action towards Tata Selo it made me furious on how they trash his human rights. They do not give him a proper investigation. All that happened was everyone is just questioning him the same questions and giving him the punishment that they think Tata Selo deserve for his wrongdoing. 

"Ang iyong anak, na kina Kabesa ra?" usisa ng alkalde.

"kinabog kagabi" wika ng isang magbubukid. "binalutan ng basang sako, di nang halata."

"ang anak dumating raw"

"naki-mayor"

these phrases is an implication of sexual assault against her daughter Saling who has no responsibility for her father's action.

And at todays ages, This kind of treatment that Rogelio Sicat portray in the life of Tata Selo still exist. The best example of this is the mistreatment of the curfew violator in the Philippines. They are forced to do what the police instructed them, while the privilege people can party and do "Mañanita" and get away with the punishments they deserve for breaching the pandemic health protocols.

It's so sad, that me a part of this generation can not do anything other than having a voice on the internet and spread awareness on this societal issues. And that these cases like Tata Selo still occur on this ages, a simple illustration of what's happening and awareness is not enough for this to end. But still a hope for a new days to come where all of us will end this chain of suffering against the unprivileged people, and get the equality we deserve.