"Sinigang" by Marie Aubrey J. Villaceran

The short story "Sinigang" is written in 2001 by Marie Aubrey J. Villaceran a professor at the Department of English and Comparative Literature in the Univeristy of the Philippines, Diliman. The story is all about Liza, who narrates how she deals with the issue of her father, having an affair with another woman, and how it emotionally separates her from him. The story was started when Liza and tita loleng start their cooking on Sinigang. Tita loleng asked questions to Liza that leads her to reminisce her memory of meeting the mistress of her father, Sylvia in the burial of her half brother, Lem. And when she talks to her father, as they continuing to cook sinigang. She remember this strong anger she felt towards her father and the big question 'WHY?' to him but sadly her father did not response to it. So the cooking continues and she remember the times when she and her sibling used to prefair kangkong meals with their mother and that is also the time when her half brother, Lem keep on calling her father. By that time she's affected about it for she is always been Daddy's girl, she loves her father truly and she cannot deny the fact that she's jealous about the other child of her father. As she finish cooking sinigang, her father's favorite dish. She recalls the grave of her half brother Lem, where her father cried then he look at her, fell on her shoulder and said 'I'm sorry'.

The bright picture came into her mind by thinking they would be together as family in one table in the evening. They would talk about their day and her father would compliment her and she would smile that she never quite show, for it is a new beginning for them to start.


Sometimes, it only takes one word to say to let go all the anger, pain, and sadness. Sometimes you just need to say sorry to make things right. Forgiveness is the key for a happy life. Saying sorry may not be easy for other people but the one who admits that he/she is wrong and know how to apologize after it, is the one who is strong, wise, and blessed. Our God forgive us so we should forgive others too.

Don't let our emotion to control us even the struggles we were facing now, all of them are temporary. Dont live a defeated life, we are born to be winner. Keep on winning! Don't lose hope. Forgive and forget. Let go and let God.