Children of The City
By Amadis Ma. Guerrero

About The Author
Amadis ma Guerrero was born in Ermita, Manila in 1941, hegraduated from the Ateneo de manila in 1965 from theUniversity of Santo Tomas in 1959. His short story “Children of the City” is a departure from his usual style. It won the PalancaAwards in 1971.
Setting
This story happened in the late 1980’s. Everything occurredin the dark perilous busy streets of Manila.

Characterization: Victor
He is a boy from Intramuros. At the age of eight, he loses hisfather and his mother abandons him for some other man. He ishired as a newsboy by his uncle and starts his life on the streets.Innocent and young, he ponders on the menace and vices of hiscolleagues and the people all around him.
Victor’s Dad
A good-natured man and a loving father to Victor, he was apart of a worker’s strike. The man loved his son dearly and hisdeath brought a huge blow to Victor.
Victor’s Mom
She loved Victor’s dad but never cared felt any affection forher son. She took her husband’s death grievously. But later on,she ignores Victor, becomes a prostitute, then leaves Victor to hisUncle to go away with her new lover.
Tio Pedring
Victor’s uncle, he adopted victor after the leaving of hissister. He forces victor to become a newspaper boy.
Nacio
He is a newspaper boy. He was victor’s new friend. Thoughfull of cruel vices, Victor took his death as another major loss.

Summary The father of the boy Victor got involved in a strike. He actsas though it was nothing and takes Victor to night walks aroundManila. He takes Victor’s mind off vices and promises Victor abright future someday.One day, during the strike. Victor’s father was shot dead inthe heart. His wife mourned greatly and his son was subdued. Thewife began to disappear late at night and come home early dawn.She refuses to take care of Victor. And then, she comes