Lito, listless and worried, walked back and forth. Only yesterday he was home play- ing around with the kids. His son would climb upon his back and Lito, pretending to be a tame horse, would steer obediently to wherever the boy would want him to go. Now, his son lies inside the hospital.

As Lito awaits for the examination door to open, he could not help but blame himself for allowing the boy to go and play under the big Dalipaoen tree. His own old folks had warned him to stay away from the same tree. Someone, or something, he was told, inhabits the tree and if disturbed, it would cause harm and illness to the intruder. He reasoned his boy must have fallen ill because he strayed into the habitation of the unseen. Few hours later that same day, his boy, suffering a severe stomach pain, had gone through intermittent fits of vomiting. His folks were quick to diagnose- his son, evidently the boy was "narang- gasan". Lito had no one to blame but himself.

The hospital was his very last resort. His old folks had objected strongly because it may cause the boy more harm than good. Lito was told to appease the unseen inhabitant of the century old Dalipaoen tree by a blood letting ceremony the following day. He had to secure a pair of chicken and this he almost agree to have his boy looked a bit healthier. But he decide against this because he assessed his son's condition to be severe. Against the will of his folks, Lito took his son to a hospital for medical examination. The hospital was about an hour away by a motorized vehicle.

At last he heard the doorknob tum and almost at a run. Lito begged for some words from the doctor. "Is my boy safe? Is he gong to make it through? Can I play with him again? Can my boy be the same bubbling kid once more?" These were some questions that ran through Lito's mind. Now, as he awaited for the words to come, Lito held his breath and braced himself for worse.

"Your son is going to do just fine," the doctor's words came clearly. "It was a case of indigestion. He will be up and about in no time."

Lito went limp. He knew it could have been worse had he waited the following day to perform the peace ceremony.


Questions:
1. Which of the following is the best title for the selection?
a. Sonny's Little Boy
b. The Dalipaoen Tree
c. The Peace Offering
d. Mystery Illness
e. Medication

2. The most probable setting of the story is:
a. an urban place
b. rural place
c. a town
d. a desert

3. Lito's old folks are strongly influenced by:
a. science and modern medicine
b. old beliefs and superstitions
c. the spell of the dalipaoen tree
d. western culture and traditions

4. The little boy's stomach pain and vomiting were actually caused by:
a. food indigestion
b. playing horse with his father
c. unseen spirits in the dalipaoen tree
d. absence of peace offering for the spirits

5. Which of the following cause and effect relationships is true as portrayed in the story?
a. unappeased spirits - stomach pain and vomiting
b. food indigestion - stomach pain and vomiting
c. playing - unappeased spirits
d. hospital - stomach pain and vomiting​