Summary of Children of the City-Amadis Ma. Guerero The father of the boy Victor got involved in a strike. He acts as though it was nothing and takes Victor to night walks around Manila. He takes Victor’s mind off vices and promises Victor a bright future some day. One day, during the strike. Victor’s father was shot dead in the heart. His wife mourned greatly and his son was subdued. The wife began to disappear late at night and come home early dawn. She refuses to take care of Victor. And then, she comes home with some goon, telling that the goon will be Victor’s new dad. Victor didn’t like the stranger at all. As often as possible, he tries to stay out of his mom and her lover’s way. And then, Victor just woke up with his mother and the man gone. His Uncle Pedring introduces to take care of him. He recruits Victor to a newspaper job. The man does not treat Victor well unless he brings home money. During his job, Victor meets Nacio. Nacio was also a newspaper boy. He taught Victor various tricks in newspaper selling. They become close friends. Victor’s job grew prosperous. Soon, his “Boss” starts to trust him with a ration of 20 papers a day. He becomes contented with his life until Nacio was run over a car. He was dead. Victor grieved for his friend just like the way he did with his father. He gets beaten up with the other kids. His colleagues beat him up whenever he refuses to smoke or say curse words… Victor was defiant at first. But after long, tired of being tossed around like a stray dog-Victor finally gave up. Moral Lesson The story ended when the author realized how cruel the world is..."... And Victor, swirled the life of the city: this city, flushed with triumphant charity campaigns, where workers were made to sign statements certifying they received minimum wage, where millionaire politicians received Holy Communion every Sunday, where mothers taught their sons and daughters the art of begging, where orphans and children from broken homes slept on pavements and under darkened... Children of the city Summary "Children of the City" is a short story written by the Filipino contemporary author, Amadis Ma. Guerrero. The story is about the life of Victor, an eight year old boy whose father was involved in a company menace because of unjust salaries and compensations. His father joined the employee's strike and there he met his death when he was shot by the police officers managing the chaos in the strike. Victor was shocked to know the sudden death of his father on a newspaper. He and his mother were in deep pain upon h earing his father's death. Soon, her mother had a new husband. She left Victor to his older brother. There, he was trained to be a newspaper boy in the dangerous streets of Avenida. He met there many children doing just like what he is. In those dark street he learned learned how to curse-say bad words words and smoke cigarette because he was influenced by a group of unmannered teenagers. He found himself alone in the street, sometimes being beat up by bullies. The story ended when the author realized how cruel the world is... "... And Victor, swirled the life of the city: this city, flushed with triumphant charity campaigns, where workers were made to sign statements certifying they received minimum wage, where millionaire politicians received Holy Communion every Sunday, where mothers taught their sons and daughters the art of begging, where orphans and children from broken homes slept on pavements and under darkened bridges, and where best friends fell out and betrayed o ne another.
