Pro Deo Et Patria
Southern Capital College Inc.
Vouge Davao City
A critical analysis on the legend of guava
Submitted by: Joy B. Corporal
Submitted to: Mary Grace Arnejo-Señora, LPT
The Legend of the Guava
A long time ago, there's a king who ruled a rich, prosperous island. He had all the things a king
could ever ask for: the power, the wealth, and all the delicious foods one could only
[Link] king's name was King Barabas.
King Barabas is a rude king and overweight, indulging himself to all the foods available, hesitant
to share to anyone. And his castle is starting to become filthy. He would spend most of his time
sitting and eating with his bare hands. As he eats, he drips food on the floor and smile
mockingly at the people around him, specially his servants.
People in the kingdom would approach with requests for his help, but he would always refuse.
As he neglected his kingdom, people started to complain and starve.
After some time, an old hunched-back woman showed up at the castle begging for food while
the king was eating. The old lady asked for food as she was starving.
"Go away! I don't have anything to give. Can't you see I'm eating?" said the king.
"Please, my king," begged the old woman. "I'm asking for anything, anything you could give me
as I am so hungry. Even a little piece of bread or fruit would do."
"Get out at once! You disgust me," the king belittled the old beggar.
The old woman stood up straight, casting aside her stooped posture. "I've heard much about
you and how your kingdom is suffering." The tone of her voice had changed. It was no longer
the voice of a weak, old woman. "I asked for help, and you shoved me away. You have a lot for
yourself, but when I only asked for a little food, you belittled me. You are selfish. No one loves
you and no one will remember you when you are gone!"
And the beggar disappeared.
After a few more days, the king slowly weakened and became sick. No one knows what's wrong
with him. He got weaker and weaker and lost much weight. He looked older than his age. Soon
after that, the king died. As unfortunate and unexpected as it was, no one cried and nobody
showed up at the king's burial. He died alone.
And where the king was buried, his people noticed a strange plant growing, a plant they had
never seen before. The plant soon grew into a tree, which bore rounded fruits that turned
yellowish when ripe.
People also noticed that the fruit seemed to have a crown as it develops, which reminded them
of their selfish, arrogant king. The flesh of the fruit tasted a bit sour, just like the sour
personality of the king towards them.
The people learned to eat the fruit, which helped them with starvation. And because the tree
was from the grave of their King Barabas and it has crown just like their king, they named the
tree after him: barabas, which in time they called bayabas.
The fruit is still called, as to this day, bayabas.
And although the guava may have came from the rude, selfish King Barabas, guava fruit is one
of the fruits that offers many health benefits when consumed, the fruit is a good source of
vitamin C. The leaves are made into tea and treats many diseases as well from a simple
toothache, to treating diarrhea, lowering blood sugar, and many more. And it is used amongst
young boys after their circumcision in the Philippines.
Or maybe it's the way of the late king to make up for the wrongdoings he did?
Analysis:
The story was all about the greedy king and his poor people arounds him. The king keeps all of
his food to himself and didn’t bother if his people are starving. Everytime the people ask
something to their king it will always be rejected because he is selfish. Just like what happen
now in our Politics. Most of our country officials will give us false hope and false promises
before they were elected then when they are finally in the position they will ignore the peoples
cry because they are busy corrupting money for their own good just like King Barabas attitude.
Most of them at the top will use poor people for them to be supreme but they forget or they
will not do what they are assigned to do, which is to help those people who puts them at the
top, the people who believes in them, the people who are hoping for a better leader and a
better life but the leaders will break their promises so as the peoples hearts. It’s sad that the
leaders will be more powerful and wealthy while the poor will always be poor. But just like in
the story of King Barabas. Everything has its end, karma will always hit those people who did
bad to other human beings. They cant bring their wealth in the grave when they die. But one
thing that will never die in the hearts of the people, their hope that one day there will be a
leader who will do what a leader should do! A leader that is different from the previous one. A
strong leader that can protect people and country. The leader that will always prioritize peoples
good before himself.
