Read the summary of the story entitled “May Day Eve” written by Nick Joaquin.

One night, Don Badoy comes home to his old house at Intramuros, Manila late. He finds his grandson chanting an old spell in front of a mirror. Then, memories of his youth came back.

He recalled how he fell in love with Donya Agueda, a young woman who often resisted his attempts of courtship. Agueda learned that she would be able to know her future husband by reciting an old spell in front of a mirror. As she recited the words: “Mirror, mirror, show to me him whose woman I will be,” Agueda saw Don Badoy.

So Don Badoy and Donya Agueda got married because of this. However, Don Badoy learned from his grandson that he was described by Donya Agueda as a "devil" because that is what she sees everytime she looks at the mirror. In return, Don Badoy admitted to his grandson that every time he looks at the mirror, he only sees a "witch" which looks like Agueda.

Don Badoy ponders whether their love was real. Because in reality, Don Badoy and Donya Agueda had a “bitter marriage”, which began in the past, during one evening in the month of May in 1847. The tragedy of the story is Badoy’s heart forgot how he loved Agueda in the past because their marriage became miserable, all because they relied on what they saw in the mirror.

Explain how the literary selection was influenced by culture, tradition, history, etc.
using these guide questions. Combine your answers to make a paragraph.

1. Who are the characters in the story?
2. What belief or practices did they have?
3. Did these beliefs/practices affect the lives of the characters? In what way?
4. Did these beliefs/practices bring conflict?
5. If you were one of the characters, would you have done the same?
6. What is the message of the story?
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