ANT129 Final Project by Analyn Velasco

ANT129 Final Project

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[INTRODUCTION]

Use no scoring.

When play begins:
say “[bold type]Welcome to my Final Project for ANT129![roman 
 type][Paragraph Break]Through this text-based game, I’d like to give you a glimpse into the experiences of young women and girls in the Philippines amidst the COVID-19 pandemic! You will be playing from the perspective of a young teenage girl living in Luzon, Philippines. Through exploring her house and interacting with the various objects and people inside it, I hope you gain an insight on her experience. (Also, this game doesn’t have an ‘objective’ in the traditional game sense! Simply explore at your own pace, and leave whenever you want.)[Paragraph Break]Please refer to the supplementary tutorial/glossary pdf that I have also provided just in case you aren’t familiar with these types of games or some of the Tagalog terms that are used! ^_^[Paragraph Break][italic type]I’d like to make a disclaimer that there are thousands of islands of the Philippines, and hence, a wide variety of experiences that many young women and girls have during this pandemic. Because of the limited nature of this project, I’m only able to show you just one![roman type][Paragraph Break]Enjoy! And thank you for playing, if you do![Paragraph Break]”

[YOUR BEDROOM]
Your Bedroom is a room. "It's small, but cozy. You share it with your Ate and younger brother. Your brother seems to be elsewhere in the house at this moment.[Paragraph Break]On your desk is your [bold type]laptop[roman type], your [bold type]schoolwork[roman type], and your [bold type]phone[roman type]. Hanging on the wall nearby is a [bold type]calendar[roman type]. Next to it, a [bold type]photograph[roman type]. In a different corner of the room is your [bold type]clothes drawer[roman type]. [bold type]North[roman type] is the living room."

Your laptop is a supporter in Your Bedroom. The description is “A bit outdated, but it works. Taking a glance at the wifi icon in the corner, you see that your connection is pretty good right now. Hopefully, it stays this way during class as well. On your screen right now is an article written by the Homeless People’s Federation of the Philippines. It talks about their efforts to provide food and other resources to those hit hardest by the pandemic. Seeing how people are coming together during this trying time fills you with a bit of hope.” Instead of taking your laptop, say “It’s low battery right now -- you should probably leave it to charge for a bit.” 

Your phone is an object in Your Bedroom. The description is “Your main gateway to the outside world. On your lockscreen is a text from your best friend from school, who you haven’t seen in a while because of the pandemic. She tells you that her family hasn’t received a relief package from SAP yet, even though her [italic type]tatay[roman type] is definitely on the list.” After taking your phone: say “You send a quick text back saying that you’re sorry and sad that they haven’t received anything yet, and express your hopes that they’ll get something soon. Placing your phone in your pocket, you consider dropping by their house very briefly to at least give them some rice and canned goods.”

Your schoolwork is an object in Your Bedroom. The description is “Your notebook is still open from the brief hour you spent yesterday trying to complete this assignment. You haven’t gotten the chance to finish it yet. You’ll see if [italic type]nanay[roman type] needs help around the house first before getting to it.” After taking your schoolwork: say “Closing the notebook, you put it in a drawer nearby, so that your younger brother can have space to complete his schoolwork.”

The calendar is an object in Your Bedroom. The calendar is fixed in place. The description is “It’s been months since this pandemic has started. You wonder when this will all end.” Instead of taking the calendar, say "You don't particularly feel like redecorating right now."

The photograph is a scenery supporter in Your Bedroom. The description is “An old picture with you and your [italic type]kuya[roman type] back when he still lived in the Philippines. Right now, he’s in America as an OFW. Every time your family receives a [italic type]balikbayan[roman type] box from him, it feels like Christmas. You’re lucky to have such a hard-working [italic type]kuya[roman type]. You feel love for him fill your heart, but also can't help but feel sad. You miss him. You’re sure he’s having a difficult time going through this pandemic as well.” Instead of taking the photograph, say “You decide to keep it in its place for now. Looking at this photograph makes you want to work hard, too.”

Your clothes drawer is a closed, fixed in place, openable container in Your Bedroom. It is scenery. The description of the clothes drawer is “So many cute clothes, nowhere to go. You need to [bold type]open[roman type] it to find your diary hidden inside.” After opening your clothes drawer, say “You see a corner of your [bold type]diary[roman type] peeking out from under your pile of clothes.”

Inside the clothes drawer is your diary. Your diary is an object. The description of your diary is “Where you let out everything you’re feeling. You started it during the pandemic to have a healthy outlet for your emotions. All your concerns for the health of your family, duration of quarantine, food, and unstable internet are written here.” Instead of taking your diary, say “You don’t particularly feel like writing anything right now.” 

[THE LIVING ROOM]
The Living Room is north of Your Bedroom. “This is where most of your family spends their time.[Paragraph Break]You see your [bold type]Ate[roman type] and [bold type]younger brother[roman type] watching [bold type]television[roman type]. In front of the television is a [bold type]coffee table[roman type]. Seems like [bold type]Tatay[roman type] has just gotten home as well. Towards the back of the room is a picture of [bold type]Mother Mary[roman type], surrounded by candles, a rosary, and smaller pictures of our relatives who have gone before us. [bold type]West[roman type] is the Kitchen, [bold type]south[roman type] is your bedroom, and east is a [bold type]brown door[roman type] that leads to your parents room.”

The television is a scenery supporter in the Living Room. The description is “The channel is GMA (Global Media Arts), after the ABS-CBN shutdown months ago. Right now, it’s covering news about gender-based violence, and how the number of reported cases have fallen during quarantine because of how much harder it is to report abuse with lockdown restrictions. The things it's saying makes you worried.” Instead of taking the television, say “Your siblings are still watching. Best not to disturb them.” 

The Mother Mary is a scenery supporter in the Living Room. The description is “Your family has always held strong faith, and continue to do so during these difficult times. Looking at Mother Mary consoles you a bit and gives you strength to go about your day.” Instead of taking the Mother Mary, say “She’s perfect where she is, watching over everyone as we go through life.”

The coffee table is a scenery supporter in the Living Room. “Sturdy, made of wood. Atop it is a two small baskets, one where your family keeps their passes and permits necessary to be able to go to certain places during the pandemic, the other with a neat pile of surgical masks for easy access before going out.”  

Your Younger Brother is a man in the Living Room. The description is “He seems to be taking a break from schoolwork to watch television. You want to ask him about what he’s been seeing on the [bold type]television[roman type].”

After asking your Younger Brother about “television”, say “He keeps his eyes glued to the TV screen and says: ‘Hey [italic type]Ate[roman type], did you know the Philippines will be donated the Sinovac vaccine?’[Paragraph Break]You haven’t heard about that until now -- you’ll have to double check that on the internet later.” 

Your Ate is a woman in the Living Room. The description is “She sits next to your brother on the couch, visibly drained. She must have just gotten home from her job as a nurse at the nearby hospital. This is the first time you’ve seen her in 24 hours.[Paragraph Break]You sort of want to ask her about [bold type]herself[roman type] -- how she is, and such.”

After asking your Ate about “herself”, say “She lets out an exasperated sign, and says: [italic type]’Sobrang pagod.’[roman type][Paragraph Break]Super tired.[Paragraph Break]She then goes on to talk about what life’s been like at the hospital, and the current state of the pandemic. She rants about delayed mass testing, and how high ranking officials and their families were prioritized over citizens. You share her anger and frustration.” 

Your Tatay is a man in the Living Room. The description is “He looks stressed. He’s probably had it the worst since the pandemic started, since tatay works as a jeepney driver. It was especially hard for him to continue working during the beginning of the pandemic. In the back of your mind, you recall the memories from the beginning of the pandemic, when he had to resort to begging on the street for a couple days. Luckily, he’s been able to return to jeepney driving, but with many restrictions.[Paragraph Break]To show that you care for him, you want to ask him about his [bold type]day[roman type].”

After asking Tatay about “day”, say “He looks to you, expression stern, but there is kindness in his eyes. You can tell that above all, he is tired, but you know he continues to work hard in order to provide for his family. He says: ‘Okay [italic type]naman, anak.[roman type]’[Paragraph Break]Needless to say, he’s a man of little words. You decide to just let him go and rest.”

The brown door is a closed locked door. The brown door is east of the Living Room. The description is “Beyond this door is where your parents sleep and rest.” Instead of entering the brown door, say “You don’t see any reason to enter right now.” 

[THE KITCHEN]
The Kitchen is west of the Living Room. “It’s a little cramped, but that’s alright. On the dining table is a [bold type]radio[roman type] 
 and the [bold type]relief package[roman type] we received from the government according to the SAP (Social Amelioration Program). [bold type]Nanay[roman type] is currently sorting through its contents. [bold type]East[roman type] is the living room.” 

The radio is a scenery supporter in the Kitchen. The description is “Softly relaying some news regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Right now, it’s talking about the rising amount of COVID cases. It makes you a bit nervous.” Instead of taking the radio, say “It’s best not to. [italic type]Nanay[roman type] is still listening.”

The relief package is a scenery supporter in the Kitchen. The description is “Full of uncooked rice and canned goods. It’s really only good for one or two weeks. The lack of menstruation products concerns you a bit.[Paragraph Break]You want to ask [italic type]nanay[roman type] if she needs any [bold type]help[roman type] sorting things out, and if we could perhaps spare some things for [bold type]your best friend[roman type] and her family.” Instead of taking the relief package, say “Your mother is still sorting everything into where they should go.”

Nanay is a woman in the Kitchen. The description is “The backbone of our family. She’s been working hard to make the best of everything. You hope she’ll take a break for herself soon. She deserves it.” 

After asking Nanay about “help”, say “[italic type]Nanay[roman type] pauses her movements for a moment, looks to you, a small smile on her face, and says: 'It’s okay, [italic type]anak[roman type]. Just help me with dinner later instead, okay?'[Paragraph Break]You take a mental note of that in your head so you don’t forget later.” 

After asking Nanay about “your best friend”, say “[italic type]Nanay[roman type] gives a small nod, and says: [italic type]’Sige, anak.[roman type] I’ll put some things aside for them.’[Paragraph Break]You feel blessed to be able to help your best friend in this way.”

[YOUR PARENT’S ROOM]
Your Parent’s Room is east of the brown door. The description is “Where your parents sleep. It’s about the same size as the room you share with your siblings.”