“The World is an Apple”

Alberto S. Florentino

Filipino writer Alberto S. Florentino was born in Nueva Ecija, Philippines on

July 28, 1931, the second of seven children of Alberto San Buenaventura Florentino and
Maria Rivera Sanqueza. His father was a teacher who always organized drama and
choral groups. The young Bert used to type multiple copies of his father’s plays, an
activity that helped usher Bert into playwriting. Later, as a 23-year-old accounting
student at the University of the East, Bert wrote the one-act play, The World Is an
Apple, which won the Carlos Palanca Award. He dropped out of accounting and went
on to write plays, four more of which won Palanca Awards: The Cadaver; The Dancers;
Cavort with Angels; and Oli Impan. Continuing his exploration of the struggles of
Filipino urban poor, Bert wrote 100 plays for TV and cinema. He wrote poems, short
stories, and newspaper articles and he taught at the University of the Philippines. He
became a TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men) awardee for literature in 1960. Aside
from being a five-time Palanca awardee, he was a two-time Arena Theater winner. He
was awarded a Patnubay ng Kalinganan Award from the City of Manila and a
Presidential Medal of Merit (in 2008). He traveled six times from the Philippines to the
US on travel and study grants. He was the Philippine representative to the 1966 PEN
Congress in New York. Bert passed away on Saturday morning, September 22, 2018.
(source: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/)

“The world is an Apple“ is a drama for its composition in prose or poetry which
uses dialogue and action to tell a story. It is written primarily to be enacted. “A man’s
folly brings misery to his family,” was the theme of the drama. Mario’s mistake was
that he did not think twice about grabbing the red, big, delicious apple that rolled down
from the crate. This single blunder set in motion a chain of tragic circumstances that
resulted in greater misery and trouble for him and his family. Though his wife pleaded
with him not to leave with Pablo, his old crime partner, he left with him. This is an
ominous depiction of what our society today. Some people become involved with the
wrong crowd due to lack of other opportunities to improve their standard of living. By
doing so, these individuals do not aid their family in any way; instead, they exacerbate
their family’s predicament.

The drama takes place in a small, rundown house of which the couple are
embroiled in a very tragic circumstance, as their shanty, abode, built and put behind
Intramuros walls. Mario, a husband and father, was one of the main characters in the
drama. He was known to be bad in the past, but worked hard to change his life for his
family. However, life can be unfair at times, leaving him with no choice but to return to
his old ways. Gloria, a mother and wife. A lovely woman who only wants a simple yet
decent life. Finally, there’s Pablo, the antagonist of the drama who wants his friend
Mario live his previous life of easy and dishonest money. The plot of the story goes like
this: Mario’s family comes from a lower socioeconomic class. When Mario returned
home, Gloria approached him and asked for money to feed their daughter. Mario then
said he is cash-strapped because he loses his job. Gloria was taken aback upon hearing
Mario loses his job because of an apple. He assured Gloria that she need not be
concerned for he found a new job. Suddenly, Pablo appeared and interrupted saying
Mario’s new job is with him. Gloria then advised Mario that going back to its old life is
bad and dangerous. Mario did not listen and walked away with Pablo, leaving Gloria in
tears. Florentino’s piece portrays the people of today. Since, it tackles a wide range of
human flaws and cultural issues.

The word “apple” is used in the story to represent temptation and Mario’s
previous life of dishonesty. It is man’s inherent urge to survive that propels him
forward. But, whatever he does, he must remember that society wants him to conform
to its conventions. One’s actions are weighted as right or wrong, and as a result, one’s
actions should be steered toward the right path, while his bad decisions become heavier
burdens to his family. A figure of speech was employed in the drama as a literary
device, which is a metaphor that compares two dissimilar things. It is evident in
Florentino’s usage of the word apple and characterizing the reality, between
temptations and living an honest life.

The unwavering love of a father for his children is indisputable, as Mario

portrays by doing everything he could for his daughter – this was my favourite aspect
of the story. Mario is willing to do it even if he knew it comes from a dishonest way.
However, his action causes serious troubles for his family. This makes me think that
even if you are willing to offer everything to the person you truly cared about, you
don’t have to put your life in hell. Good intention yet in bad ways, is still immoral.
Jealousy, money, and wealth have poisoned today’s society. Everyone has their own
way of getting what they desire. When it comes to financial capability, people are truly
unequal. It wouldn’t make a difference if you were born into a wealthy or poor
household. Nothing is possible for you. However, whether you choose to stay poor or
prosperous is a choice you must make for yourself. God made the world for everyone,
and everyone has the opportunity to have that exclusive apple…grab it!