WHY WOMEN WASH THE DISHES by Filomena Colendrino

Summary

Philomena Colendrino's award-winning short story, 'Why Women Wash the Dishes,' explores the chaotic relationship between a married couple, Yugo and Imelda, in Santa Rosa. The couple engages in an intense and humorous bet to determine who will wash the dishes forever, leading to a battle of silence that confounds their neighbors. The neighbors, believing the couple is under a curse, seek help from a herbalist, but the situation escalates. Ultimately, Kamaldang, Imelda, breaks the silence and declares she will never wash dishes again, defying the absurd expectations placed upon her.

Takeaways

• 😀 Philomena Colendrino is a prolific short story writer from Quezon City, known for her book *A Home to the Rice Fields*.
• 😀 Her best-known story is *Why Women Wash the Dishes*, which won multiple awards.
• 😀 The story revolves around a married couple, Yugo and Imelda, who live in the Santa Rosa area.
• 😀 Yugo and Imelda, known as Kaugong and Kamal Dang by their neighbors, are always squabbling about who should wash the dishes.
• 😀 In an attempt to settle their dispute, they make a bet: whoever speaks first will wash dishes for the rest of their lives.
• 😀 Their silence as a result of the bet causes concern in their neighborhood, leading them to believe that the couple may be possessed.
• 😀 The neighbors call a local herbalist to try and resolve the situation, believing the couple may be under the influence of an evil spirit.
• 😀 Kamal Dang reacts angrily to the herbalist's attempts, while Kaugong remains calm and still.
• 😀 The herbalist suggests an extreme solution: the neighbors should build a bamboo coffin and bury the couple alive to rid them of the supposed evil spirit.
• 😀 In a dramatic twist, when Kamal Dang is about to be buried, she stands up and demands that the herbalist leave, declaring that she will never have to wash dishes again.

Q & A

Who is the author of 'Why Women Wash the Dishes'?

The author is Philomena Colendrino, a prolific short story writer.

What is the title of Philomena Colendrino's most awarded story?

'Why Women Wash the Dishes' is her most awarded story.

Where did Philomena Colendrino used to live?

She used to live in Quezon City.

What is the setting of 'Why Women Wash the Dishes'?

The story takes place in Santa Rosa, where the married couple Yugo and Imelda live.

What is the bet between Yugo and Imelda in the story?

The bet is that whoever speaks first will be responsible for washing the dishes forever.

Why do the neighbors intervene in the bet between Yugo and Imelda?

The neighbors intervene because the silence between Yugo and Imelda becomes so intense that they believe one or both of them might be possessed by an evil spirit.

Who do the neighbors call to help with the situation?

The neighbors call a local herbalist to try to intervene.

How does the herbalist try to solve the situation?

The herbalist applies a traditional remedy by attempting to lay his hands on the couple's foreheads, but his actions do not seem to resolve the issue.

What extreme action do the neighbors take to resolve the situation?

The neighbors build a bamboo coffin and decide to bury Yugo and Imelda alive, believing that they are bewitched.

How does the situation end?

The situation ends when Imelda (referred to as Kamal Dang) stands up and declares that she will never have to wash dishes again, breaking the silence and ending the bizarre conflict.