AJ Isidro G.

Belaro 2018-09226

PHILARTS 1- TFG

Reflection Paper on Ang Alamat ng Kweba ni Donya Geronima

(As reported by Andre Nicole Avellana)

For how long can a woman’s heart continue to yearn and endure for love? For the people of
Pasig, there is a tale of a mysterious woman who has been abandoned by love and has learned to live in
isolation for it. Passed on from generation-to-generation, the story became a part of the compilation of
Espiridon Arsenio Manuel and Henry Otley Beyer and has since then became a known literary piece for
Filipinos.

The story of Donya Geronima is said to come in different versions, probably because of the
passing-on of stories, and was given attention by Dr. Jose Rizal in his work El Filibusterismo. Which is
why, the legend holds a vital place in the culture and literature of Filipinos. It is said that once- in the
barrio of Pineda, Pasig, Rizal-there lived a beautiful, young maiden with long, black hair and brown skin.
In some versions of the story, she was depicted as some sort of fairy. As some story goes, she was the
only daughter of a fairly-rich family in the town, and her wishes were always granted by her parents. In
the same town she also met an only-son of a rich family whom she fell in-love with. The two were
engaged and the man promised Donya Geronima that they will get married. However, the father of the
man had other plans, as he wished for his son to become a priest. The man was sent to Manila to study
and promised to Donya Geronima that he will come back to marry her. However, years have passed and
Donya Geronima grew old, waiting for the man. Until one day, she decided to look for him, and there
she discovered that the man that she dearly waited for in so many years, had already become an
archbishop. And so, extremely heartbroken by the revelation, stories said that Donya Geronima decided
to isolate herself and live in a cave. The cave in itself was also mysterious and somehow enchanted.
Some says that the interior of the cave is made of gold, others say that it is composed of a lot of
tributary channels inside, and some mentions that the tunnel is very long and deep. Donya Geronima
still possessed a kind and genuine heart after the major heartbreak that she has been through. Stories
tell us that even though she grew to be a fat lady who had always stayed in her traditional clothes, she
was very generous of her belongings, as she would often let the people borrow her silver spoons and
golden plates for several occasions. Moreover, it was said that Donya Geronima also possesses some
kind of magical power, as she has a magical net by which she puts all of the dirty utensils and submerges
it to the Pasig River. Once she lifts the net, the dirty plates turns out clean in an instant. The poor lady
continued to live inside her own cave until the day that she died.

I think that the story of Donya Geronima is a very powerful and inspiring story of how love can
change a person. However, Donya Geronima remains an exemplary “Mutya” of the people, for she
remained to be benevolent of the people around her. And although her physical state changed over the
course of time, her heart remained pure and giving for those who needed her. Moreover, I think the
cave in itself is a metaphor for her choice of isolating herself from people, and for guarding her heart
from those who may attempt to break it once more. Nevertheless, Donya Geronima is an exemplary
character that teaches us not to store hate in our hearts no matter how other people hurt us, and to
continue being giving for those who needs our help.