Long ago, when the world was young and the mountains were still learning to touch the clouds, there lived in a quiet village a mother and her only son. The mother, Aling Maria, was gentle and hardworking, known for her kindness and patience. Her son, Berto, however, was spoiled, selfish, and quick to anger.
Aling Maria had raised him alone after her husband passed away. She loved her son dearly and gave him everything she could: good food, clean clothes, and warm shelter. But as the boy grew older, he became demanding. If dinner was late, he shouted. If his clothes weren’t washed the way he liked, he sulked. And no matter how hard his mother worked, he never said thank you.
The Ungrateful Son
One day, Aling Maria became ill. Her back ached from years of bending over the fields, and her hands trembled from carrying heavy baskets. Still, she tried to cook for her son, but Berto only complained.
“Why is the food cold?” he grumbled. “Can’t you do anything right?”
Tears welled in Aling Maria’s eyes. “My son,” she said softly, “I am not as strong as I once was. Please be patient with me.”
But instead of helping her, Berto turned away in anger. “You’re useless now!” he shouted, storming out of the house.
A Mother’s Wish
Aling Maria wept that night, her heart heavy with sorrow. “Dear spirits,” she whispered, “teach my son to understand what it means to care for others. Let him learn humility, even if it means I must lose him.”
The wind outside sighed through the trees, as if carrying her prayer to the heavens.
Days later, when Berto came home from the fields, his mother called to him, weak but smiling. “Come, my son,” she said. “I have prepared something for you.”
But Berto ignored her. “I’m tired. Leave me alone.”
“Please,” she begged, “come closer.”
But when he turned around, he saw her eyes fill with tears. “If you cannot love your mother,” she said, “then may you learn what it means to be left alone.”
The Transformation
The earth trembled beneath Berto’s feet. A warm light surrounded him, and before he could speak, his arms stiffened and his legs grew heavy. His skin turned golden, smooth, and curved. In moments, he had vanished—leaving behind a strange, long fruit hanging where he stood.
Aling Maria gasped in sorrow, realizing the spirits had answered her plea. The fruit looked as if it were bowing its head, its ends curved inward in humble silence. She touched it gently and said, “From now on, you shall remind everyone of what it means to be humble. Let your form forever bend in apology.”
From that day forward, the fruit became known as the banana, or saging in the native tongue. Villagers noticed that every banana seemed to bow its head, as if showing respect.
The Meaning Behind the Banana
In time, people said the banana’s curved shape symbolized repentance and humility—a lesson that even the proudest hearts could learn to bend. When families shared bananas at meals, parents would tell their children the story of Berto and his mother, reminding them always to honor and love their parents.
The tale spread across the islands, carried by storytellers and farmers alike. To this day, when Filipinos peel a banana, they remember the ungrateful son who was transformed into a fruit that forever bowed its head in shame.