REYNAN T. OLA BPG 4-1

TITLE: SCENT OF APPLESAUTHOR: BIENVENIDO N. SANTOS

SUMMARY:

The story “Scent of Apples” written by Mr. Santos is about a man who longing for his native land. This story focuses on the real score of Filipinos who cannot come back to the Philippines because of poverty. It reflects the immigrant-character yearning to come back to his land. And when he sees a fellow Filipino, he was very delighted to introduce himself as well as his family to him. It is meant to show that not all Filipinos are lucky to go abroad and it is indeed possible the lives of Filipinos to be miserable and suffer from poverty even in abroad.

One night Mr. Santos met Celestino Fabia, a farmer. He was surprised to see a man who travelled really long just to make conversation to him. The man asked in a little incorrect English, how the Filipino women of today were different from the stereotype he was familiar with. Then, Mr. Santos replied that although they differ in the exterior, both women of different generation bear the heart and soul of a modest Filipina, God-fearing, faithful and nice. Mr. Fabia talked about his farm to Mr. Santos. His family invited him to his house where his wife, Ruth, will be pleased to meet a first class Filipino. He also told him about his son, named Roger with pride. On the next day, Mr. Fabia picked him up. When they arrived in the farm, the fragrance of apples was spread in the area. He noticed how Ruth’s hospitality and gracious was almost Filipino have and how delightful Roger really was.

Each time Fabio smell the scent of the apples, he always remember his country, our country that has no apples. He has the feeling of loneliness every day because he smells the scent of the apple every time. He bade farewell to the family and Mr. Fabia took him back to the hotel. He offered to drop news to his family when he got back to the Philippines but Mr. Fabia refused, saying that they might have already forgotten him. Thus, the feeling of loneliness, exile and isolation are the common feelings of immigrant Filipinos, it comes with the fear of no longer belonging to a culture which itself

seems at times to be wasting away, and finds expression in the rhythm of arrangement provided by the selections in Scent of Apples.

ROLES OF THE CHARACTERS:

Narrator – the writer of the story who went to Kalamazoo, America for a discussion. Petit bourgeois expatriate intellectual contrasting with the poor farmer expatriate Celestino.

Celestino Fabia - An immigrant from the Philippines, a Filipino farmer, who invites Santos home for a meal. He was longs for home, given the emotionally harsh and divisive family matters that compelled his departure.

Ruth - Celestino's wife, an American country girl. Willing to work like a slave, her appearance roughened by hard labor, displaces the mother and sisters who would have influenced Celestino if he had remained in the Philippines.

Roger – the child of Mr. and Ms. Fabia who goes to school in town. He "ate like a little gentleman", exuding niceness and innocence.

LESSON OF THE STORY:

Life is a really hard battle, we have to be strong enough in facing many trials and challenge to be able to win this struggles.

A person should be thankful in whatever job they have. Never forget where you came from. Bear in mind that the

country you leave is the country where you should live.