Alejandro Roces is an author who focused on the ignored rich culture on our country. Two of his best short stories are We Filipinos are Mild Drinkers & My Brothers Peculiar Chicken. Just by the title of both stories you can sense the way of his writing. His way of writing is set to make the reader have a laugh. Both stories share the qualities of being funny, only in a way that we could not expect.
Characters
Farmer : the humble Filipino who invited the American soldier for a drink
Joe: American soldier
Summary
PLOT: This story is about an American soldier bragging about his ability to drink all kinds of liquor to a Filipino farmer, but in the end got drunk because of the lambanog that the farmer offered. It centers on the drinking habits and the cultures of Filipinos and Americans and it uniquely showed the events that happened during the war by making the atmosphere light and humorous compared to ordinary stories with “historical” events on it.
CLIMAX: Since there were no bars in Barrio, the farmer invited the soldier to his nipa hut and offered some “lambanog” the local liquor of the Barrio.
RESOLUTION: The farmer brought Joe back at the barracks because he was so drunk at that time. After that, one of Joe’s friends asked the farmer if he wanted to join them and have a can of beer, then he replied, "No thank you, we Filipinos are mild drinkers."
CONFLICT: The Filipinos have a mild wine to drink, the “lambanog”, mocked by American soldiers as jungle juice. The farmer thought that Joe might not like the jungle juice but the soldier told the farmer to not worry about it as he have drunk everything. THEME: Simplicity and humility
Notes and Analysis / Study Guide for Students
The title of the story suggests that Filipinos are moderate drinkers, but the narrative delves deeper into this notion through the interaction between Joe, an American soldier, and a Filipino farmer. While Joe, a heavy drinker, might see Filipinos as mild drinkers in comparison, the story offers more layers. It critiques colonialism by showing how Filipinos might downplay their drinking habits to seem more civilized to their colonizers. This is ironic, as the farmer offers Joe a strong local liquor, lambanog, contradicting the stereotype of mild drinking. The story invites multiple interpretations, challenging readers to reflect on cultural dynamics and the impact of colonialism. It also comments on Western perceptions of Filipinos and questions stereotypes about Asian cultures and drinking habits.
