Magnificence (Estrella Alfon)

• Estrella Alfon - despite of only earning an associate degree, she became a professor of Creative Writing at he University of the Philippines because of her unique writing style that drew form her life.
• Oscar aged eight while his younger sister aged seven. Their mother is a neighborhood association president - made her accessible to everyone.
• Vicente - the child molestor and despicable antagonist in the story; gives a clue that he lacks credibility to tutor the kids; a bus conductor.
• Oscar's mother brought sarsaparilla to the antagonist as recompense for his supposed kindness.
• "The father grunted again, and did not pay any further attention." (Oscar's father was oblivious of the antagonist's presence.)
• The father dismissed the danger of a suspicious stranger and thought that the antagonist was trying to be close to the family to be candidate for a new job.
• Vicente traded Japanese pencil for a dastardly kiss.
• When the children were out of harm's way, the mother slapped Vicente.
• The sexual advance started when Vicente held the girl to sit on his lap.
• The mother commanded her daughter to take a bath - that is symbolic to cleansing and purifying.
• "... he would stand for a while just beyond the pool of light, his feet in the circle of illumination, the rest of him in shadow." (The antagonist is yet to divulge himself)

Wedding Dance (Amador Daguio)

• Amador Daguio - more known for translating the Hudhud hi Ifugao.
• Awiyao - the lead character has torsos like lumber - torn and troubled between society and love.
• Lumbay  is barren - the reason why Awiyao left her.
• Lumnay asked for the beads as a parting gift, which was also the most prized possession of Awiyao.
• Twety fields - the worth of the parting gift.
• Lumnay prayed to Kabunyan for a child which sadly did not reply.
• Madulimay - the other woman that Awiyao replaced for Lumnay.
• The "terrible" gongs (Gangsa) terrified, troubled and called upon Lumnay to join the festivities.
• Awiyao wanted Lumnay to dance at the festivities so that she could find a mate.
• Lumnay thought of being the first woman to go to the village chieftain, complain and denounce the unwritten rule that a man should take another wife if his first was barren.
• Longing for a child which she was not blessed, Lumnay is seen in the end of the story caressing the pods of the beans.
• Awiyao and Lumnay crossed a treacherous river together as a testament of their love.
• "I'm sorry this had to be done. I am really sorry. But neither of us can help it." (Awiyao)
• "This house is yours, I built it for you. Make it your own, live in it as long as you wish." (Awiyao)

Footnote to Youth (Jose Garcia Villa)

• More known for poetry rather than narratives, Jose Garcia Villa (National Artist for Literature) who is said to also had troubled upbringing authored Footnote to Youth.
• Aside from the fear of his father's rejection, Dodong was also worried in abandoning his mother.
• "Too young" was the objection of his father to Dodong's proposal.
• Dodong was 17 years old when he proposed marriage.
• Dodong's love interest is Teang, whose sensual image prodded Dodong to overcome his fear and face his father.
• Knowing the consequences of an early marriage, this character did not want the same fate to fall upon his son Dodong.
• Resenting his father's disapproval and questioning, to cool down Dodong stripped all his clothes and bathered in a creek.
• During Teang's labor with Blas, Dodong realized that he was not ready when he whispered "Father?" "Father?"
• Dodong and Teang had seven children which gave them hardship and "did not fulfill all of youth's dream.
• "Like father, like son" a cliche that could truly characterized Blas.
• Tona was Blas' love interest.
• "A short colorless worm marched blindly to Dodong's foot and crawled over it. Dodong got tickled and jerked his foot, flinging the worm into the air. Dodong did not bother to look where into the air." (The worm in this account is an omen and a foreshadowing of moral decay.)
• "A small angled stone bled his foot, but Dodong dismissed it cursorily. He lifted his leg and looked at the hurt toe and then went on walking." (The stone in this account is symbolic to hardship)
• "Yes. I want your permission... I... want... it..." (stubbornness)
• The lessons of Footnote to Youth could be summed up in this line in the story "As long ago, youth and love did triumph for Dodong... and then life.