Haen an sulong Lesson Plan

1. ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
“Looking for Sulong”
Victor Dennis T. Nierva
I was looking for the flow of the River Sulong
like a fish out of water, deprived of shelter
for it was there I could only be at peace
On the way a wise man warned me
when he asked what it was I was looking for:
I am looking, Sir, for the flow of the River Sulong
The sand, the stones, and the deep part are no more,
The old man said, but still I went on my way
For it was there I could only be at peace
When I got to the river of my youth, I wanted to swim,
but where was the water? Inside me was the question:
where was the river I was looking for?, Sulong?
Alas! For all I got was the wordless wind
no returning current, no answer for my question.
So where now at all will I be at peace

2. ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
LESSON PLAN IN ENGLISH 1O
“LOOKING FOR SULONG”
Objectives
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
a. Identify the theme of the poem,
b. Share personal experiences that are related to the context of the poem,
and,
c. Perform varied tasks highlighting the theme of the poem
Notes:
1. Victor Dennis T. Nierva: The author was born in Naga City, Camarines Sur on
February 24, 1980.He entered Ateneo De Naga University (AdNU) for his high
school and college with the degree of Development Communication. At present, he
works as a freelance writer, translator, and graphic and industrial designer. He is
currently finishing his MA Creative Writing at the University of the Philippines
Diliman. “Antisipasyon asin iba pang Rawitdawit sa Bikol asin Ingles”-his First book
was published in Naga and won “Premio Tomas Arejola para sa Literaturang Bikol”
in 2007.In 2008 the book also won the prestigious Philippine National Book Award
for Poetry from the National Book Development Board and the Manila Critics
CirclesIn 2009, the book became a finalist in the Madrigal-Gonzales Best First Book-
Award.
2. Theme: The theme in a story is its underlying message, or 'big idea.' In other
words, what critical belief about life is the author trying to convey in the writing of a
novel, play, short story or poem? This belief, or idea, transcends cultural barriers. It
is usually universal in nature. When a theme is universal, it touches on the human
experience, regardless of race or language. It is what the story means. Often, a
piece of writing will have more than one theme.
3. Sub theme: a theme that is secondary to a larger theme, the argument present
in the poem.
4. Persona: The person who is understood to be speaking (or thinking or writing)
a particular work. The persona is almost invariably distinct from the author; it is the
voice chosen by the author for a particular artistic purpose
6. The intended target learners are Grade 10 students.

3. ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Guide Questions:
1. Who is the speaker of the poem?
2. How does the river Sulong impacted the life of the persona?
3. What are the environmental issues in the poem?
4. What are the sub themes of the text?
FIRST ENCOUNTERS: (15 minutes)
“Help Nemo Escape the Room Puzzle”
Direction: The class will be divided into four groups and the same groups will be
used throughout the lesson. Each group will be given this worksheet printed in a
tarpaulin but made of paper and they will do the activity entitled “Help Nemo Find
His Way Home” puzzle. The group who find the way first, wins.

4. ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Process Question:
1. What were the challenges you felt while helping Nemo find his way
home?
2. What will happen if Nemo was not able to return to his home?
Reading Activity (10 minutes)
The teacher will give the students a copy of the poem and the teacher read it first
and then let the students read it silently for 5 minutes.
MAINTAINING MOMENTUM (30 minutes)
The students are asked to answer the following questions through a true of false
question. They will have to identify whether the statements from poem provided
are true or false.
Direction: Put a √ on the first column if the statement is present in the poem and
put a √ on the second column if the statement if not.
Statements True False
1. A man was looking for Sulong.
2. A man was looking for Sulong to achieve
peace.
3. Oh his journey, he met a beautiful maiden.
4. A wise man asked the man where he was
headed.

5. ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
5. The man ignored the wise man.
6. The wise man told him that there are no sands,
stone and deep parts in the river.
7. When he got to the river of his youth, there
was still water.
8. He remembered the days he was lonely.
9. The river was all dry-out
10.He kept on looking for Sulong
Processing Question:
1. What is the poem all about?
2. Did the persona of the poem find the Sulong?
3. What was the reason for looking for Sulong?
4. The teacher will review the students about the meaning of “Theme” before asking the
question. What do you think is the theme of the poem?
EXPLOITING HIGHLIGHTS (30 minutes)
“WHAT IF?”
Direction: The teacher will give each student a worksheet containing four questions that
they have to answer in 2-3 sentences (except for number three). When the students are
done answering the teacher will randomly pick 5 completed worksheets and they will
share their work to the class.
Name:
What if you were the man searching
for Sulong and you actually found it?
What would you feel?
What if you did not find the Sulong? What do?
What do you think will happen to you?
Draw image(s) of your own version of
“Sulong” that you are looking for.
What if you are the persona who is
determined to reinvent Sulong, What would
you do?

6. ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
The teacher will give feedbacks to the responses of the students.
ENDINGS (15 minutes)
Direction: On the same group on the first encounters, the students will be asked
to do the following activity based on their group number.
1. For the singers: They will perform a three minute song performance
that is related to the theme of poem. (Group 1)
2. For the artists: They will create a cover page that is suitable on the
poem (Group 2)
3. For the dancers: they will perform an interpretative dance on a music
of their choice that fits the theme of the poem (Group 3)
4. For the writers: Write a poem regarding the theme of the poem.
Maximum of 2 stanzas. (Group 4)
Criteria
Creativity 40%
Substance 30%
Uniqueness 20%
Impact 10%
Total: 100%

7. ATENEO DE NAGA UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Prepared by:
Abad, Rosemarie
Pacayra, Ivy Jean
Viray, Mary Grace