Tiniente Gimo

Urban Legend
Brief Background:

The story of Tiniente Gimo has many versions. One version has this background:

Tiniente Gimo was so called (Spanish word which means Lieutenant) because he was actually a
Tiniente del Barrio, or what Filipinos, in the present day, refer as the Barangay Chariman, of
Duenas in Iloilo. He may also be a leader of the family of Aswang from which he acquired the
title.

Because of the legend about him, many stories made him an antagonisht as the blood-sucking
villain, a leader of a group and/or clan of Aswangs. Perhaps, the effect of this tales created a bad
image to every people, and versions of his story was created.

One of the versions of the story is as follows:

Tiniente Gimo is some sort of a captain of a barangay in the town of Duenas,

Iloilo. His daughter Ella invited her friends to come to their place for their
fiesta. Two of her friends – Juana and Teresa accepted the invitation. They
were fed and entertained. Thereafter, the three of them slept in a room in her
house. Juana overheard the plan of Tiniente Gimo – that they will butcher the
girl lying in the center then in the right of the room where they are sleeping.
They are referring to her, Juana, and Teresa. Knowing this plan, she swapped
her position with Ella. The plan happened, and their head being covered with
blanket, Gimo’s men didn’t notice that they hit Ella, instead of Juana. After
they brought her body out, Juana tried to wake Teresa, but failed so she
decided to go alone escape. When Gimo and his men realized that it was his
daughter Ella who was killed, they pursued Juana. Fortunately, Maria was able
to hide up in the tree and was able to ultimately escape.

The Author:

The story of Tiniete Gimo is an urban legend and has many versions. The legend is based on folk
beliefs and collective experiences.

Marites T. Casiple
 LITERARY CRITICISM

1. How does the literary piece was resembled base on its plot, character, setting,
or symbolism? What recurring patterns (repeated or related words; images) can
you find? What is the effect of these to the pattern of the work? There is a
relationship between the beginning and end of the work?

The plot of the story is simple. It tells how the characters were brought to the
place where the event happened, then it puts emphasis on details of the event
and the escape of the character Juana. The role of character Ella is a big twist
because he was not expected to be killed in place of Juana. Patterns of rising
fear is common in the story. The effect of these patterns is to make the story
more interesting and exciting. There is a relationship between beginning and
end of the work because the beginning explains how the characters were
brought to the setting and at the end the role that they played.

2. How do the various elements of the work reinforce its meaning? What tone and
mood are created at various part of the work? How do the various elements
interact to create a unified whole?

The setting which is a remote place gives the reader the clue as to the tone of
the story. The young characters Juana and Teresa makes the reader think their
chance of survival should something happen to them. Suspense, thrill and fear
are common tone and mode created at various parts of the work. The elements
run smoothly to create a unified whole. Even the role of passive characters like
Teresa are illustrated clearly in the story.

3. What is the authors attitude toward his world? What view of life does the
literary piece presents?

The authors give value to having the story told may be without regard to the
fear which they may actually instill the readers, especially that the setting is a
real-life place. The literary piece presents both negative and positive views of
life. The negative view has to do with the fear created by the fact that
“Aswang” is being presented in the story. The positive view has to do with the
character Juana’s being motivated to survive despite that very small chance of
survival.

Marites T. Casiple
4. How does the work reflect the hopes, fears and expectation of a human person?
What common human concerns are revealed in the literary piece? How does it
reflect the experiences you have in your life?

The work reflects on the author’s expectation that urban legends like this will
remain in history. Common human concerns revealed in the literary piece
include concerns about safety in a remote place,

5. What seem to be the authors major concern? Do they reflect any of the writer’s
personal experiences? What does the work say about human nature? What
moral statement, if any does the literary piece make? Is it explicit or implicit?

The author’s major concern is to entertain by showing the story of Tiniente

Gimo to the audience. Because the story is base on belief of folks, they don’t
necessarily reflect any of single individuals experience. The work shows that it
is human nature to run for his life and to resort to all ways to maintain it. The
moral statement the story makes is that we should not give up when we are
faced with the worst life situation. This is implied in the story.

6. As a whole, what is the significant impact of the literary piece to you as a student
and its moral implication in the society today?

As a student, the significance of the story is that it teaches me to be prepared

for worst situations in life so that the chances of success or survival is higher.
Its moral implication in the society today is that we shouldn’t give up on small
or even bigger problems that we are facing today because there is always a
high chance that we overcome them.

Marites T. Casiple