BELANO, DAVID KYLE C.

Philippine Literature
2- G3
A Fruit that unveils the Truth

“The World is an Apple” by Alberto S. Florentino is a story about Mario and Gloria a couple
having a dispute over an apple that later on unveils the reality of their situation when Mario’s Friend,
Pablo came over and explain the twist in the story. The story unfolds the reality of a married couple and
the poverty situation of every households. Mario has an amazing lines the he brought up in their fight
which is a question that pierce my heart which is “Why? Did God create apple trees to bear fruit for rich
alone? Didn’t He create the whole world for everyone? That’s why I tried to bring the apple home for
Tita. When we brought her into this world we sort of promised her everything she had a right to have in
life.” As I read this I’ve come to realization that the author wants to portray something that either change
my perspective or change my way of living.
Why is there a gap in society that can’t be changed? Why is there a poor person and a rich
person? According to an Article from The World Bank released on Oct 7 2020, there’s 88 million to 110
million people are added in extreme poverty during the pandemic with a total rising of population to 150
million in poverty which is in between of 9.1% to 9.4% of the worlds population. Because of the
pandemic, the global recession increases which enlarge the rate of the worlds population who are in
extreme poverty. World Bank Group President David Malpass qouted, “The pandemic and global
recession may cause over 1.4% of worlds population to fall into extreme poverty” and justified by low
income received by workers which is estimated to be less than 1.9$ per day along with the inflation of the
cost of living in every country. Now if we go back to the first question which is why is there a gap in
society is because Societal gap is a typical topic discussed if we are talking about economic growth as it
creates barrier in society that prevents equal opportunities or equal way of living. This inequality further
increases day by day that even trying to close it makes it bigger but how can we overcome this inequality?
According to Environmental Conscience, there are solutions such as better access to education, Financial
Subsidies, worldwide support and etc. is needed to overcome the inequality. Next is why is there a poor
and rich person which rooted from the inequality that everyone suffers from and divides us from one
another. Now as we go back and reflect on the story of The World is an Apple, Mario's actions and
arguments about their situation is nothing but all bark without actions, for he did was purely ranting about
his situation instead of finding a way to solve it. Mario is a representation of frustration of many people
about the unjust treatment in the workplace but responds through rants and putting his frustrations on
other things or people. We can change or make change in our situation by starting to change ourselves
and our ways by then we can change our future actions and make a decent future for us.
Mario never come to conclusions on fixing his self first before fixing their whole situation
instead of arguing with Gloria and leaving her in the end for his selfish reason and desires of wanting to
have a better and leisureful life. In this kind of situation we must fix ourselves first just like what Sonya
Parker quoted, “If your life is a mess clean it up. Throw away your excuses, sweep the negative people
out of your life, fix the problems you can fix and pick up the pieces of your life one at a time”. Which
encourages us that if our life isn’t going the way we exactly wants it to be, we must change our ways, fix
our path, cleanse ourselves and reach the goal step by step because we have all the time in the world to
change so don’t rush and be patient.