HEIGHTS

2008-2009

Everyday, a red apple seeks the company of

knights and other forest dwellers. Join her in

this journey with her friend, Robin, as they

discover the true meaning of friendship and

home.

This book is recommended

for children ages 8-10.

by Mary Joyce Tan

HEIGHTS

2008-2009

aklat ni / this book belongs to

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The Poisoned AppleStory by Mary Joyce TanIllustration by Natasha Ringor, Selene Sarmiento, Alyza Taguilaso, Eliana Laurice Javier, Miguel Mercado, and Katherine Denise YapLayout by Denise Yap

Copyright © 2009

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced in any means whatsoever without the written permission of the copyright holder.

This publication is not for sale.

Correspondence may be addressed to:Heights, Publication Room, MVP 202Ateneo de Manila University, P.O. Box 154, ManilaTel. 426-6001 local 5088www.Heights-Ateneo.org

Heights is the official literary and artistic publication and organization of the Ateneo de Manila University

Translated by EJ Bagacina, Brandon Dollente, Walther Hontiveros, and Rachel Marra.

Printed in the Philippinesby LSA Printing Press Inc.

by Mary Joyce Tan

HEIGHTS

Noong unang panahon, sa isang liblib na kagubatan, may

isang punong hitik sa bunga. Sa tuktok nito matatagpuan

ang pinakamaganda at pinakamapulang mansanas. Dahil sa

taglay niyang kagandahan, hinahangaan siya ng lahat ng hayop

sa kagubatan.

5

Once upon a time, in a faraway forest, was

an old tree that bore much fruit, and

hanging on its highest branch was the reddest

one of them all. She was truly beautiful and for

that, all the forest creatures admired her.

6

Dumating ang araw na tinipon ng mga taga-bayan ang lahat

ng kanyang kapatid. Siya lamang ang naiwan. Napakataas kasi

ng sanga kung saan siya kaya walang makaabot sa kanya.

Mula sa kanyang kinalalagyan, nakikita niya ang mga

kabalyerong nakasakay sa kanilang mga puting kabayo.

Pinanonood niya ang mga hayop na naglalaro sa kagubatan.

Pinagmamasdan niyang lumulukso-lukso sa daan ang mga batang

babaeng may balabal na kasimpula ng kanyang balat. Lumipas

ang mga araw na walang pagbabago.

7

But then came a day when men from the village gathered all

her brothers and sisters until she was left alone. Although she was

beautiful, she was too high up for the people to reach.

From there she could see knights riding by on white horses, and

watch the small animals scamper on the forest floor. She observed

little girls, with hoods as red as she was, skip their way through.

Days came and went, and all were the same.

8

Sa kanyang pag-iisa, ninais niyang makasalamuha ang lahat

ng dumaraan sa kagubatan. “Kay saya sigurong maglakbay at

tuklasin ang mundo!”sabi niya.

Mula sa isang palumpong, may lumabas na munting ibon at

dumapo sa kanyang tabi. Nagpakilala itong si Robin na may

dibdib na kasimpula ng mansanas. “Dito sa tuktok, makikita mo

ang lahat ng kagandahan ng gubat. Bakit mo pipiliing bumaba sa

kung saan naghahari ang kasamaan?” sabi ng ibon. “Dumito ka na

lang para ligtas ka. Aawitan kita buong araw at kakainin ko ang

mga uod na lalapit sa magdudulot sa ‘yo ng panganib.”

Sa wakas, nakatagpo ang mansanas ng isang kaibigan.

Patuloy siyang inaalagaan ni Robin ngunit hindi ito naging sapat

para sa kanya. Nangarap pa rin siya sa mundong nasa ibaba niya.

9

She longed to be with every passerby. “How wonderful it must

be to travel and see the world!” she exclaimed.

Then out of a bush flitted a little bird. He perched himself right

beside her. He was called Robin, and his breast was as red as her

skin. “From up here you can see all the wonders of the forest. Why

choose the troubled world where evil longs to destroy the good?” the

charming bird said. “Do stay here and be safe. I will sing to you all

day long and eat the worms that threaten you.”

Robin continued to stay with her and sing. He paused only to

eat the worms that had come to harm her. At last, the reddest fruit

of the forest found a friend to love, but although she rejoiced in this,

she continued to long for the world below her.

10

11

As the sun was about to set, two black crows came rushing,

cawing loudly and frightening the small animals below.

“Miss, would you like to come with us and see the world?”

asked the cunning crow.

Nang palubog na ang araw, dalawak uwak ang mabilis na

dumating. Nakagigimbal ang iyak ng mga ito na siyang

ikinakatakot ng maliliit na hayop.

“Magandang hapon, binibini. Nais mo bang sumama sa amin

at makita ang mundo?” tanong ng tusong uwak.

12

13

“Do not be afraid. We will stay in the skies, safe from all evil,”

the other continued. What a proposal that was for the red fruit. It

was her lifelong dream after all.

“Please listen to me,” insisted Robin, “you cannot trust the

crows.”

“Wag kang matakot. Mananatili tayo sa kalangitan kung saan

ka ligtas.“

Isa itong kaaya-ayang paanyaya para sa pulang mansanas.

Matagal na niya itong pinapangarap.

“Makinig ka sa ’kin,” giit ni Robin, “Hindi mo

mapagkakatiwalaan ang mga uwak.”

14

15

Sinugod ng dalawang uwak si Robin at

habang nanlalaban ang munting ibon, sinabi ng

isang uwak, “Kaya ka lang gustong makasama

ng ibong iyan ay para may uod siyang makain.

Sumama ka nalang sa amin, makikita mo ang

mundo.“

16

The two crows cawed violently and attacked

the little bird. Robin was trying to fight back when

the crows said to the fruit, “Can’t you see that this

robin only wants you to stay so he could eat the

worms that come to you? Come with us, see the

world.”

Pinagdudahan ng mansanas ang nag-iisa niyang kaibigan.

Totoo kayang uod lang ang nais ni Robin sa kanya? Pakiramdam

niya’y naloko siya kaya’t sumama na lang siya sa mga uwak. Bago

pa man siya mapigilan ni Robin, nailayo na siya ng mga ito.

17

She came to doubt her only friend. Was it true that Robin only

stayed for food? She felt betrayed, and so, she agreed to go. Before

Robin could stop her, the crows had picked the fruit from the tree

and taken her away.

Ilang oras na silang lumilipad at bigla siyang nakaramdam

ng takot. “Saan ninyo ako dadalhin?” tinanong niya ang mga uwak

ngunit hindi siya sinagot ng mga ito.

Ilang sandali pa, sa di kalayuan, nakita niya ang isang ku-

bong nasa gitna ng kagubatan. Bumulusok sila paibaba at

dali-daling lumusot sa bintana ng kubo.

18

They flew for hours. It was cold and dark. “Where are you tak-

ing me?” she asked the black birds but there was no reply. All she

could hear were the strong rhythmic flapping of their wings. She

began to feel afraid.

Soon enough, they approached a hut hidden deep in the forest,

and they flew through an open window.

Sinalubong sila ng isang matandang babaeng may matulis

na sombrero at baluktot na ilong. Ngumiti ito at lumantad ang

kanyang naninilaw na mga ngipin. Kinuha niya ang mansanas na

ipinatong ng mga uwak sa mesa.

“Kay gandang prutas! Ikaw ang katuparan ng aking

pangarap.” Kinuha niya ang mansanas at inihulog sa isang

palayok ng kumukulong itim na likido.

Nanuot sa kanyang balat ang itim na likido.

19

An old woman with a pointed hat and a crooked nose welcomed

them with a smile that showed her awful yellow teeth. She examined

the beautiful fruit that the crows had laid on the table.

“What a precious, precious, little fruit this is. Come, my dear,

you shall make my wish come true,” said the evil witch. She then

seized the beautiful fruit and dropped her in a bubbling cauldron.

20

Takot na takot ang mansanas habang lumulutang-lutang siya

sa palayok. Kitang-kita niya ang naninilaw na mga ngipin ng

bruha habang humahagikgik ito.

Hindi nagtagal, nahilo at nagdilim ang paningin ng

mansanas.

21

The fruit was terrified, floating painfully in the witch’s brew.

She could see the witch smiling at her from above.

The witch continued to chuckle.

The fruit began to feel dizzy; her world seemed to swirl and

everything grew dark.

Nang muling magkamalay ang mansanas, nasa loob na siya

ng isang basket. Tila dadalhin siya ng bruha sa kung saan.

Napansin na lang niyang kinakausap ng bruha ang isang

dalagang simputi ng niyebe.

22

Hours later, the fruit woke up and found herself in a basket.

The witch was taking her somewhere. She noticed that the witch was

talking to a beautiful young woman as white as snow.

23

“Would you like an apple?” offered the witch, “it is the reddest

of them all.”

“Why, thank you! How kind of you! It looks so delicious,” Snow

White politely accepted. She held the fruit in her hands and took a

bite.

“Baka nagugutom ka. Ito ang isang mansanas – ang

pinakamapula sa lahat ng mansanas sa gubat,” alok ng bruha.

“Maraming salamat! Mukhang napakasarap nito,” malugod

na pagtanggap ni Blanca Niyebe. Kumagat ang binibini mula sa

mansanas.

24

Gumulong ang mansanas sa lupa. Nasindak at napaluha siya.

Ano’ng ginawa niya? Hindi niya ninais manakit ng kapwa, lalo na’t

pumatay!

25

The fruit rolled on the ground, aghast. She ached and wept.

What had she done? Never did she mean to do harm, let alone kill!

26

“Snow White!” iyak ng mga Pitong Unano habang patakbong

nilapitan ang binibini. Tinanggal nila ang kanilang mga sumbrero

at nagluksa sa pagpanaw ng kanilang kaibigan.

Nakaramdam siya ng pangungulila sa punong dati niyang

tinitirahan. Gusto niyang marinig muli ang mga kanta ni Robin.

Naalala niya ang mga araw na nananatili ang ibon sa kanyang

tabi kahit na walang uod sa paligid.

“Hindi ito mangyayari kung nakinig ako kay Robin,” inisip

niya.

Lumipas ang mga araw, linggo, buwan at taon na nabuhay

ang mansanas sa pagsisisi. Nagsimula siyang magtanong. “Ano

nang mangyayari sa akin ngayon? Mabubulok na lang ba ako at

tuluyang mababaon sa lupa?”

27

“Snow White!” called the seven dwarves as they rushed to the

lady that was already lying on the ground.

The red fruit longed for the tree she once called home and the

only friend she ever had. She wanted to hear Robin sing again. She

also remembered the days when he would stay with her even when

there were no worms around.

“This would not have happened had I listened to Robin,” the

fruit thought.

She spent her days in regret. Time no longer mattered, and she

hardly paid attention to the world around her. “What will become of

me?” she wondered. “Will I rot in the soil and be forgotten?”

28

Matapos ang napakahabang panahon,

tinubuan siya ng mga ugat. Nagkaroon din siya

ng mga sanga, na di kalaunan ay

tinubuan ng malalagong mga

dahon. Tila sumasayaw ang

mga ito sa ihip ng hangin

habang lalong bumabaon ang

kanyang mga paa sa lupa.

29

As time passed unnoticed, she felt herself being lifted from

the ground. She watched herself grow branches, and how leafy they

became! She could feel that she was growing roots that were

piercing through the soil. Her arms danced with the wind as her feet

stretched deeper into the ground to nourish her.

30

Sa wakas, siya ay naging isang napakagandang puno at

naging bahagi siya ng mundong matagal na niyang pinanabikan.

Natupad na ang kanyang pangarap – bilang isang

nakabibighaning puno – ngunit hindi pa rin siya masaya.

31

She finally transformed into a tree planted deep into the very

earth that she had longed to be a part of, but though her dream had

come true, the fruit—now a wonderful tree—was still unhappy.

Isang umaga, may abuhing ibong dumapo sa kanya.

“Kay ganda mo namang puno! Maaari ba akong

gumawa ng pugad sa iyong sanga?” tanong ng ibon.

32

One morning, a little gray bird landed on her.

“What a beautiful tree you are! May I build a nest on your

branches?” the creature asked.

33

Hindi tumanggi ang puno at pinanood niyang maghabi ng

pugad ang ibon na ‘di kalaunan ay pinangitlugan nito.

34

“You may, little bird, I am glad to give you shelter,” answered

the tree. Soon after, the bird weaved twigs and grass into a nest and

laid her eggs.

Lumipas ang ilang linggo at napisa ang mga itlog kung saan

tatlong mga sisiw ang lumabas.

“Paano mo pakakainin ang mga supling mo?” tanong ng puno.

“Huwag kang mag-alala,” paliwanag ng ibon, “darating ang

kanilang tatay na may dalang pagkain.”

35

Weeks passed and three featherless hatchlings pecked and

pushed their way out of their shells, twittering with joy.

“How will you feed all of them on your own?” the tree asked.

“There is nothing to worry about,” the bird explained, “their

father shall come with food as well.”

Ilang sandali pa, may dumapo

pang isang ibon - kasimpula ng mga

balahibo nito sa dibdib ang puno

noong siya’y isa pa lamang

mansanas. Pinanood ng puno ang

tatay habang pinakakain nito ang

tatlo niyang bulinggit.

36

Moments later, another bird landed beside the nest. He had a

breast as red as the fruit had been before. The tree watched as he

came and went, feeding his three hatchlings with the insects he had

caught.

37

The End

Mula noon, masayang namuhay ang napakagandang puno

kasama ang pamilya ni Robin. Kahit na hindi na siya nakikilala

ni Robin, alam niyang natagpuan na niya ang kanyang tunay na

tahanan.

38

The beautiful tree spent the rest of her days blissfully watching

over Robin’s family. Although her old friend did not recognize her,

the beautiful tree, once a bright red fruit, knew that she was finally

home.

About The Author Joyce thinks of herself as an art appreciator. She loves

collecting the masterpieces of her artist friends. Perhaps she

also considers herself as an artist for her sheer love of music (that

includes her handsome piano of course), writing, and photo-

graphy. Joyce dearly believes in the magic of things and that is the very

reason why she is fond of writing stories for children. She is

currently in her senior year as an AB Communication major

and is looking forward to the fulfillment of her musical dream.

dStafffCharacter Design: Alyza Taguilaso

Colors: Natasha Ringor, Denise Yap, Miguel Mercado

Backgrounds: Erica Sarmiento

Layout: Denise Yap

Translation: EJ Bagacina, Brandon Dollente,

Walther Hontiveros, Rachel Marra

Operations: EJ Bagacina, Walther Hontiveros, Eliana Laurice Javier,

Rachel Marra

dThanksf Ms. Christine Belen

Mr. Hubert Fucio