Unveiling social realities: A Marxist analysis of Rene Eune Ponte’s balak
Mary Grace Restaura, Judelyn Cahucom, Sheilamae Gallo, Deije Acero & Arlene Loquias
Abstract
The research employs the Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) framework within the Marxist literary approach to examine selected balak (poetry) from Rene Eune Pueblos Ponte's collection Hagawhaw sa Salibagjaw. Ponte, a prominent cultural figure in the Bohol School of Living Traditions, Bohol, Philippines captures the socio-political realities of his community through poetry. The study focuses on five balak selected based on Marxist criteria, emphasizing their reflection on class struggle, ideology, and socio-economic disparities. Using CDA, the research dissects the linguistic and thematic elements of the balak, revealing how language conveys power dynamics and class ideologies. The analysis identifies recurring Marxist themes: alienation, corruption, poverty, inequality, and social injustice. These themes illustrate Ponte’s critique of systemic oppression while resonating with broader socio-political conditions in the Philippines. Findings demonstrate that Ponte’s balak are cultural artifacts encapsulating collective struggles and aspirations. His poetic imagery and stylistic devices articulate the lived experiences of marginalized communities, fostering critical consciousness among readers. The study bridges literary analysis with societal critique, emphasizing the relevance of Marxist literary criticism in understanding regional literature. Ponte's verses become a vehicle for collective introspection, offering insights into the poet's and his community's societal challenges. This research contributes to appreciating Boholano literature by providing insights into societal issues embedded in local poetic traditions. It advocates for including regional literary works in the curriculum, enriching cultural understanding and critical thinking while shedding light on enduring societal issues in the Philippines that resonate with the Marxist themes found in Ponte's poetry.
Keywords
Marxist literary approach, critical discourse analysis, balak, societal issues, Boholano literature
Author information & Contribution
Mary Grace Restaura. Student, Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English, Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City, Philippines.
Judelyn Cahucom. Student, Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English, Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City, Philippines.
Sheilamae Gallo. Student, Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English, Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City, Philippines.
Deije Acero. Student, Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English, Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City, Philippines.
Arlene Loquias. Corresponding author. Master of Arts in Education, Assistant Professor 4, Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City, Philippines. Email: aloquias@hnu.edu.ph
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Funding
This work was not supported by any funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement
Not applicable in this study.
AI Declaration
The author acknowledges the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in the preparation of this paper. Specifically, ChatGPT AI was utilized to translate Ponte’s balak from Cebuano Bisaya to English, ensuring greater accessibility for readers unfamiliar with Cebuano.
Notes
Acknowledgement
The researchers acknowledge Dr. Roque A. Bongcac, HNU- College of Education Dean, Prof. Jaremellita M. Arawiran, MM, Program head for BSED, and the late Dr. Michele S. Rellita for sharing their expertise and brilliant ideas and for painstakingly giving suggestions to make this research a success; Professor Noel P. Tuazon, an acclaimed poet and recipient of Palanca awards, who served as the esteemed consultant for this study, and Mr. Rene Eune Pueblos Ponte, the author of the poems, for his earnest support and for sharing his literary masterpieces and resources used as the subject of analysis for our study.
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Cite this article:
Restaura, M.G., Cahucom, J., Gallo, S., Acero, D. & Loquias, A. (2025). Unveiling social realities: A Marxist analysis of Rene Eune Ponte’s balak. International Review of Social Sciences Research, 5(1), 49-72. https://doi.org/10.53378/irssr.353144
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