In the days of old, there lived a very selfish king. He lived in a splendid place surrounded by a big garden planted to different fruit-bearing trees. But because he was selfish, he did not want anybody to pick and eat any of the fruits in his garden. He’d rather see them rot on the tree than give them away.
It was the king’s habit to cool himself on the balcony of his palace. Once when he saw birds eating the ripe fruits in his garden, he immediately ordered his soldiers to drive them away. The soldiers reluctantly obeyed their king. They would have allowed the birds to eat the fruits because they knew that birds were helpful to men.
One afternoon, the king was gaily taking a walk in his garden. He was happily looking up at the trees with their branches laden with fruits. He was even humming a tune as he came under a coconut tree. Suddenly, “tok!”—a coconut fell and hit him on the head. The king fell down dead. His selfishness killed him.
When he didn’t show up at the palace, his soldiers looked for him. They found his body picked at by birds. The slaves buried the king on the same spot in which he fell. A few days later, a plant grew on the king’s grave. Great was the amazement of the soldiers when the tree bore fruits with a crown on it–like the king’s crown.
They therefore, believed that the tree was their dead king. And this belief was confirmed when they saw that the birds loved to feed on its ripe fruits. This tree is what we now call the guava tree.
The Myths: Philippine Folk Literature by Damiana L. Eugenio Published by the University of the Philippines Press, 2001.Paperback, 513 pages.University of the Philippines Press, E. de los Santos St., University of the Philippines Campus; Call (+632) 928 2558. Visit www.press.up.edu.ph. Email up.press@gmail.com
