Full Text
THE MONKEY AND THE
TURTLE
Translated into English by Paolo Ven B. Paculan
and Kristine Anne P. Valdellon from “Un Mono
y Una Tortuga” by Dr. José Rizal, a story that
appeared in Rizaliana for Children: Illustrations and
Folk Tales by Rizal, edited by
Alfredo Navarro
Salanga. Quezon City: Children’s
Communication Center. 1984.
A monkey and a turtle found a banana tree on a river. They fished it out and because
each wanted the tree for himself, they cut it in half.
Now the monkey, being the stronger one, took the part with leaves despite the turtle’s
protests, and carefully planted it in his backyard. The turtle did the same for his part.
But because the part the monkey got had no roots, it died, while the turtle’s lived and
sprouted leaves.
One day, the monkey visited the turtle and they talked about their banana plants.
“Alas! My banana tree is dead!” wailed the monkey tearfully. “And yours?”
“Alive, and bearing fruit! But because I can’t climb up...”
“Don’t worry!” interrupted the monkey. “I’ll climb up for you.”
The turtle became very happy and accompanied the monkey to the place where the
banana tree was. The monkey climbed the tree at once and started eating, filling both
cheeks.
“Give me some, too,” begged the turtle.
“Krrr! Not even the peels!” answered the monkey.
1Sandaang Salaysay: The Monkey and The Turtle
