CHARACTER SKETCH "APO ON THE WALL"

 APO ON THE WALL (Bj Patino)

Apo on the wall by Bj Patino is a poem that narrates about the child’s point of view regarding his strict father and the hanging photo called “Apo” around the wall. The poem depicts life during Marcos’ reign, as well as the implementation of Martial Law. It reflects the scenario of what and how Filipinos experienced the tragic and traumatic event during Ferdinand Marcos’ dictatorship in the Philippines. “Apo on the Wall” depicts the reality of the disparity in perspectives between millennials and those who lived under martial law. 

CHARACTER SKETCH OF THE PERSONA’S FATHER

The persona is a curious child that secretly sneak onto his father’s office and then got curious towards the photo hanging on the wall of his father’s office. The curious child stare and analyze the photos and other stuffs of his father around the office, the child saw stuffs like handguns, plaques, a sword, medals and a rifle. The child’s father is very strict and works for the government as a soldier. One time, the curious child was surprised as his father caught him off guard in the office. He wears a green uniform and the breast plates that symbolize that he is in the high rank position serving in the army. The father always carries his boss picture called “Apo”, this signify that he is hardworking to his duties as a soldier and remained snappy even not in front of his apo. When child stared on the picture of Apo on the wall, he got scared as how the eyes look on him, its like saying that he knows what child is doing. The persona’s father was serving his duty as loyal and a responsible soldier at that time. The father did not want his child to be exposed to the real world while he was still young, as the world that time was merely chaos and under martial law where dictatorship is the rule. Even though the persona portrays him as a strict father, the father still cares about his child to live a normal childhood life as the other children does. When he grows up, he will then understand and be grateful about what his father have done to him for providing a good life even facing the violence of our country during Marcos’ reign and as his father stand as one of the men who is protecting our country.