NOONG

BATA AKO...
LIM, Reighcy Anne
12HUMSS2001
 T i t l e

SI PAGONG AT
SI MATSING
 S U M M A R Y
The fable “Si Pagong at si Matsing” or in English “The Turtle and the Monkey”
is all about the two friends, which are the turtle and the monkey. The monkey is a very
cunning and playful animal, whereas the turtle is a kind and helpful animal. Day came
and the turtle and the monkey found a banana tree, it was literally a fine tree with
enormous green leaves, so both the turtle and monkey decided that they will divide it
into two portions and started cutting it in the middle. As the monkey as the stronger and
‘smart’, he took the upper part of the tree, thinking that it would grow quicker for it had
lots of leaves. While the turtle had the lower part that look ugly, although it had roots.
After that, they parted ways and begin planting what they collected.

After days have passed, they met. The turtle asked about the monkey's
banana tree, to which the monkey replied that it had been dead for a long time. The
monkey did the same thing; he asked the turtle, and the turtle replied that it was really
wonderful since his tree contains a lot of banana fruit. The only problem is that the
turtle is unable to climb up the tree to retrieve the banana, so the monkey offered to
take it and the turtle consented. However, the monkey did something unusual, he
plundered the banana and began to eat it. As a result, the turtle contemplated his
vengeance, planting a pointed thorn around the tree and fleeing the monkey. As a result,
the monkey had no choice but to go down, leading to a wound and a lot of blood on his
feet. As his punishment for the turtle, he offers the turtle three options: first he will
chop the turtle, or second burn it, and then lastly throw and drown it in the river as the
final punishment. After that, the intelligent turtle fakes his feeling as he gets terrified
on the last decision which is to be dumped in the river, that’s why the monkey throws
the turtle when the latter quickly emerges laughing and giggling.
 What information regarding Philippine History,
customs, traditions, and values are conveyed in
the story?

We Filipinos are more inclined to feel attached to someone or to

other people because of the words that comes out to their
mouth. We have such a strong belief in them that we know them
completely. And all of those experiences apply on the Philippine
Historic events and up until today. I would like to put an example
on the Philippine self-rule era, which we have “Presidents” that
govern us. We all know that on the running stage they would
always put flowery words on their speeches, promises, offering
something to the people to show that they are good enough, and
they will do their best for us to believe. And by the time that
everything is easily controlled and he/she win the presidential
position, it goes the other way around, and many people are
disappointed because of the things that he did. Same goes with
the time of Heneral Luna, when his fellow Filipino soldier
betrayed him killed him. These are all connected to the fable "Si
Pagong at Si Matsing," as we observed how others played,
betrayed, and greedily exploited their fellowmen.