Mirroring the real: Reinscribing the child in the selected works of Genaro Gojo-Cruz

• Main Author: Abaricia, Maricar A.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2023
• Subjects: Genaro Gojo-Cruz; English Language and Literature
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdm_lit/14; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etdm_lit/article/1012/viewcontent/2023_Abaricia_Mirroring_the_Real__Reinscribing_the_Child_in_the_Selected_Works_Full_text.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Filipinos have grown accustomed to different media platforms—print or digital—that mirror the realistic living conditions and experiences of the majority of the population, whether young or old. Every time shift paved the way for more diverse writing to represent what is “real” in society from manifold perspectives including children’s. One of the main concerns of children’s literature—the only literary genre ‘defined’ by its audience—is to equip children with various lenses with which to become aware of the world. While children may be perceived as simple-minded individuals having uncomplicated lives, they are not at all sheltered from their difficulties. Genaro Gojo-Cruz’s selected eight works—Anluwagi, Ang Batang May Maraming Maraming Bahay, May Gulong Na Bahay, Gaano Ba Kalayo Patungong Paaralan, Ang Asul Na Kariton, Ang Bahaghari, Ang Kamisetang Dilaw, and Ang Dyip Ni Mang Tomas—reinscribe the children by presenting the young characters as people who are exposed to inconvenient and unideal lifestyle and are capable of understanding such circumstances. In the literary world of Realism, the writer builds a world of places and characters that are possible, formulating a writing that is as convincing and recognizable as it can. This study, through a close reading of each of the selected works of Genaro-Gojo Cruz, focuses the lens on localized themes such as but not limited to pangangariton, paglalabada, and pamamasada that reflect a familiar Filipino society. Moreover, the characters of Ino, Koko, Bunso, Kuya, Joey, and Anak are re-established in a stronger sense given the context and the settings in the mentioned works which are analyzed from the angle of Realism—Social, Natural, and Psychological. The study's significance lies in its provision of a more progressive representation of the child and its ability to forward the idea that children’s literature, specifically Filipino children’s literature, is worthy of serious thought. Keywords: reinscribe, child, children's literature, realism, reality