Symbols and Archetypes: A Formalist and Archetypal Analysis of Peter Solis Nery’s Three Hiligaynon Short Stories

Authors

  • Atasha Rose Salva Philippine Normal University Visayas Author
  • Pearl Joy Materbonia Author
  • Ma. Rebecca Canono Author
  • Alyka Marie Guanzon Author
  • John Jonathan Normandia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70922/t55vj346

Keywords:

archetypes, formalism, Hiligaynon short stories, Peter Solis Nery, symbolism

Abstract

Philippine regional literature, specifically Hiligaynon, encompasses a multifold of genres that reflect the region’s culture and literary excellence. Authors in the language excel in the craft of putting narrative and other elements together to create stories that provide insights into the lives and values of the Hiligaynon community. This study aims to contribute to the visibility of regional literature in academic research by exploring Hiligaynon literature through the works of Peter Solis Nery, particularly in the aspect of symbolism. Employing a Qualitative Textual Analysis design, this study sought to find (1) the symbolisms in the short stories Lirio, Donato Bugtot, and Si Padre Olan kag ang Dios, and (2) how the symbols align with or  diverge from universal archetypes. Using I.A. Richard’s Formalism, the  study examined the symbolisms in the three short stories to uncover layers  of representations and meanings. Guided by Carl Jung’s Archetypal Theory, the symbols were then compared to collective mental constructs that have resonated among individuals for thousands of years. The findings show that the symbols play important roles in the stories, serving as vessels through which the characters’ struggles, experiences, and faith are illustrated, illuminating the truths often unspoken within Filipino society, such as abuse, social rejection, and the struggle of faith. Among the eighteen symbols, fifteen were found to align with universal archetypes, highlighting the universality of Hiligaynon literature. Meanwhile, the three symbols, specifically the lily flower, Donato’s hump and kidney, hold distinct meanings in the narratives, showing the contextual nature of symbolism.   

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Author Biographies

  • Atasha Rose Salva, Philippine Normal University Visayas

    Atasha Rose Salva is a fourth-year student at Philippine Normal University Visayas (PNUV) pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English education. She completed her elementary education at Villacin Elementary School and her junior and senior high school education at Holy Infant Academy Diocese of San Carlos Inc. and CEDAR College Inc., respectively. She served as a practice teacher in English at the PNUV-Center for Teaching and Learning and is a member of the Torch Publications Visayas.

  • Pearl Joy Materbonia

    Pearl Joy B. Materbonia is a fourth-year student at the Philippine Normal University Visayas (PNUV) pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English education. She completed her primary education at Cadiz Viejo Elementary School and her junior and senior high school at Cadiz Viejo National High School and CEDAR College Inc., respectively. She served as a practice  teacher in English at the PNUV-Center for Teaching and Learning as and currently serves as Feature Editor at Torch Publications Visayas.

  • Ma. Rebecca Canono

    Ma. Rebecca Canono is a fourth-year student at the Philippine Normal University Visayas (PNUV) pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English education. She completed her primary and secondary education at Bayabas Elementary School and Dr. Vicente F. Gustilo Memorial National High School, respectively. She gained teaching experience as a practice teacher in English at Tiglawigan National High School, Cadiz City during on-campus training.

  • Alyka Marie Guanzon

    Alyka Marie Guanzon is a fourth-year student at the Philippine Normal University Visayas pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English education. She completed her primary and junior high school in the same institution and finished her senior high school education at Dr. Vicente F. Gustilo Memorial National High School. She gained teaching experience as a practice teacher at Villacin National High School, Cadiz City, and is a member of the PNUV Election Committee.

  • John Jonathan Normandia

    John Jonathan Normandia is an Associate Professor and Head of the Research and Publication Unit at the Philippine Normal University Visayas, where he also serves as Bachelor of English Education Program Coordinator and Adviser of Torch Publications Visayas. He earned his Doctor of Arts in Literature and Communication from Cebu Normal University.  His research spans literature, communication, teacher education, and genre analysis, with  funded work under CHED and the Teacher Education Council.

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Published

2026-07-30

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 1 (2026): Social Sciences and Development Review

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Atasha Rose Salva, Pearl Joy Materbonia, Ma. Rebecca Canono, Alyka Marie Guanzon, John Jonathan Normandia (Author)

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Articles published in the SOCIAL SCIENCES AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW will be Open-Access articles distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). This allows for immediate free access to the work and permits any user to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles, crawl them for indexing, pass them as data to software, or use them for any other lawful purpose.

How to Cite

Salva, A. R., Materbonia, P. J., Canono, M. R., Guanzon, A. M., & Normandia, J. J. (2026). Symbols and Archetypes: A Formalist and Archetypal Analysis of Peter Solis Nery’s Three Hiligaynon Short Stories . Social Sciences and Development Review, 18(1), 61-88. https://doi.org/10.70922/t55vj346