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)