Czarina Ysabel Jalandoni

STEM 1 D

A SUMMARY OF

THE GOD STEALER

The story begins at the dawn of December with two officemates

Philip Latak also known as “Ip-pig”, an Ifugao from the Mountain Province

who is presently working in the big city of Manila and Sam Cristie, an

American who in a few days will return to Boston for that leave which he

had not had in years, on the bus to Baguio. Despite the request of his

grandfather to pass on to him his share of the famous rice terraces, Philip

still chose to live in the city, away from his immediate family.

The two are on the bus to Baguio because Sam wants to buy an

Ifugao god as a souvenir; on the other hand, Philip was to help him find an

authentic one through his local connections.

Phlip is a Christian and a self- declared city boy who gradually

becomes less sentimental with his cultural identity, and customs. He no

longer has respect or affection for the Ifugao culture and has clearly

forgotten the importance and the value of his beliefs. Regardless of his

attitude, his grandfather, pleased and happy to see him, still decides to

throw a party in honor of his return.

On the day of the party, Sam and Philip discover that no Ifugao is

willing to sell his god. Philip offers to steal his grandfather’s god as a last

resort. He considers it a way of showing his appreciation and gratefulness

to Sam for giving him a rise at work. A day after, his grandfather dies

owing to the fact that his god was stolen. Sam finds out that Philip will no

longer be going back to Manila. Because of his curiosity, he looks for Philip

and finds him working in his grandfather’s house.

Philip expresses his guilt and his reason for settling to stay on the

mountains. "I could forgive myself for having stolen it. But the old man- he

had always been wise, Sam. He knew that it was I who did it from the very

start. He wanted so much to believe that it wasn't I. But he couldn't pretend

- and neither can I. I killed him, Sam. I killed him because I wanted to be

free from these. These cursed terraces. Because I wanted to be grateful. I

killed him who loved me most.." he says.

Sam cannot help but notice Philip”s attire. He is dressed in G-string,

Ifugao’s traditional costume while carving another idol, a new god to take

the place of the old one which Sam will take to America, as a souvenir.