Ang Alamat ng Kawayan | Tagalog 2023

Summary

The story tells of a proud and envious bamboo tree in a forest, which constantly compares itself to other trees and plants. The bamboo, frustrated by its lack of fruit and flowers, seeks revenge by calling upon wind and rain to destroy the other plants. However, its actions lead to its own downfall, as the bamboo’s arrogance and jealousy are punished by the gods. The tale teaches the lesson that pride and envy can lead to self-destruction, and the importance of appreciating one's own gifts and blessings.

Takeaways

• 😀 The bamboo tree is initially very proud, boasting about its smooth, green appearance and height.
• 😀 The bamboo tree feels jealous of other plants, especially fruit-bearing trees and flowering plants, because they provide benefits that it cannot.
• 😀 A group of children notices the bamboo has no fruit and ignores it, instead picking fruits from guava, santol, and makopa trees.
• 😀 In its jealousy, the bamboo calls on the wind to knock down the fruits from the other trees, feeling a sense of temporary triumph.
• 😀 A couple walks through the forest and, seeing no flowers on the bamboo, they move on to admire the fragrant rosal and sampagita flowers.
• 😀 The bamboo, again feeling envious, calls upon the rain to destroy the beautiful flowers, causing them to wither.
• 😀 Later, two elderly people seek shade in the forest and ignore the bamboo’s narrow leaves, finding shelter under a banaba tree with broad leaves.
• 😀 In retaliation, the bamboo calls upon the birds to peck at the banaba tree’s leaves, leaving it bare and damaged.
• 😀 The bamboo’s pride and envy do not go unnoticed by Bathala, the creator, who decides to teach the bamboo a lesson.
• 😀 As punishment, the bamboo is cursed to always be bent low by the wind, symbolizing the consequences of pride and envy.
• 😀 The moral of the story is that pride and envy only lead to downfall, and true happiness comes from appreciating what we have.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the story?

The main theme of the story revolves around pride, envy, and the consequences of being boastful. The bamboo tree, which is proud and envious of other trees, learns a lesson about humility and appreciation through its interactions with other plants and elements in nature.

Why does the bamboo tree feel envious?

The bamboo tree feels envious because it does not bear fruits or flowers like the other trees and plants in the forest. It becomes jealous of their beauty and usefulness, especially when the young children prefer to pick fruit from other trees.

How does the bamboo tree react to its envy?

The bamboo tree calls upon its friends, such as the wind and the rain, to seek revenge on the other trees. It uses the wind to knock down the fruits from the other trees and the rain to destroy the flowers of other plants.

What role does the wind play in the bamboo tree's actions?

The wind acts as an ally to the bamboo tree in its quest for revenge. The bamboo tree calls upon the wind to blow down the fruits of the Bayabas, Santol, Kaimito, and Makopa trees, making the bamboo feel momentarily triumphant.

Why does the bamboo tree feel embarrassed when it is ignored by the couple?

The bamboo tree feels embarrassed because it has no flowers to offer when a young couple visits the forest. While other plants like Rosal and Sampaguita have beautiful, fragrant flowers, the bamboo has nothing to present, which fuels its sense of inadequacy.

What is the significance of the rain in the bamboo tree's actions?

The rain plays a key role in the bamboo tree's revenge. The bamboo tree calls upon the rain to destroy the flowers of Rosal and Sampaguita, which were admired by the young couple. This act of revenge makes the bamboo momentarily feel vindicated.

What happens when the elderly couple, Lolo Guillermo and Lola Jovita, rest under the Banaba tree?

The elderly couple, Lolo Guillermo and Lola Jovita, choose to rest under the Banaba tree because of its wide leaves that provide ample shade. This makes the bamboo tree feel slighted, as it is ignored in favor of the more practical Banaba tree.

How does the bamboo tree seek revenge on the Banaba tree?

The bamboo tree seeks revenge on the Banaba tree by calling upon its friends, the Tagak (herons), to destroy the Banaba tree's leaves. This act leaves the Banaba tree bare, and the bamboo tree momentarily feels pleased with its revenge.

What is the lesson that the bamboo tree ultimately learns?

The bamboo tree learns that its pride, envy, and desire for revenge only lead to harm and that appreciating what it has, instead of comparing itself to others, is the true path to happiness. The lesson teaches that humility and gratitude are virtues to be valued.

What is the final punishment the bamboo tree receives, and why?

The bamboo tree is punished by Bathala (a divine figure) for its arrogance and envy. The bamboo tree is cursed to always stand tall, never bending, symbolizing its pride. The wind constantly blows on it, forcing it to bow in humility, teaching it to appreciate the blessings it has been given.