Javier Martinez
Ms. Alyssa
English
20 March 2023
How perspective changes the story of Patron Saints of Nothing
"Patron Saints of Nothing" is a novel by Randy Ribay that tells the story of Jay, a Filipino-American teenager who travels to the Philippines to investigate the mysterious death of his cousin Jun. The novel explores themes of identity, family, belonging, and the power of perspective. Throughout the novel. The author employs different perspectives to change the story, revealing the complexity of the characters and the issues they face.
One of the most significant perspectives in the novel is that of Jay, the protagonist. Jay is a Filipino-American who was born and raised in the United States. He has a limited understanding of Filipino
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Jun is a victim of President Duterte's war on drugs and is killed by the police. Jun's perspective is important because it reveals the injustice and brutality of the government's actions. Through Jun's perspective, the reader understands the effects the drug war has, as well as the fear and despair of those affected by it. Jun's perspective also shows the impact of the war on families and communities, highlighting the importance of family and community in Filipino culture. In the novel approaching the end, Tito Danilo tells Jay and Grace “He told me that he ran away from her because he started using.”(281 Ribay). This showed how drugs affected Jun because he had to push everyone he loved away and became lonely so the new law wouldn't hurt them either. While Jun's perspective is not directly shared in the book, Jay learns about Jun's beliefs and experiences through conversations with his family members and friends. Through these conversations, the reader is able to gain a better understanding of the political and social issues affecting the Philippines and the perspectives of those who are directly impacted by them. Overall, Jun's perspective is one of concern for his community and a desire to make a difference, despite the many challenges he