THE LEGEND

OF

BAMBOO TREE
A very long time ago on the certain island there lived a
familywho was well known and highly respected by the
people. They ruledthe entire village and whatever law they
made were followed by thepeople. In fact , The villagers
readily obeyed the laws that were justand fair which
made them very powerful. This power was enjoyedand
passed on to all their descendants.

After a long period of time, there arose a new

h e i r t o t h e throne whose style of government was a
complete reversal of hispredecessor’s. He was a very
cruel. His punishments were harshand he showed no
respect for anyone.

One day, there came an old man into the palace. The
old mancame to beg and asked the king to pity him and
spare him any food to eat.

Rajah Kawayan, which was the name of the king, got

angry. Heeven shoved him away and ordered him out of
the place.

“You’re lazy, shame on you for not wanting to work.

All youe v e r d i d w a s b e g an d b e g ,” s hou te d R aj a h
K aw a ya n w ho a t t he same time push away the pitiful
old man from out of his way.

At the king saying,” I pray you would change your

mannerismand learn to respect others,
especially to the old and weak.” Upon uttering these words,
the old man disappeared. RajahKawayan himself
became weak and sickly from then on. Not
longafterwards, the king died. Nobody went to lament his
death becausehe treated everyone badly when he was still
alive.

It did not take too long grew a strange plant on the site of
hisgrave. He plant became big. It grew tall, but one
thing noticeableabout it was that it had a bending
posture. It was always bowing tothe wind and
everything around it which on lookers say
remindedthem of Rajah kawayan whom they say
has finally learned his lesson of humility and respect for
others.

T h e p l a n t f u r t h e r g r e w i n t o a t r
e e a n d w a s n a m e d “Kawayan”(=bamboo, in
English) after the cruel king’s name as westill refer to it
today.

MORAL LESSON:BE HUMILITY AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS