Long before humans walked the islands, the jungle was ruled by the voices of creatures who lived, worked, and quarreled beneath the tropical sun. Among them were two unlikely companions — a clever turtle and a boastful monkey — whose friendship turned into one of the most enduring lessons in Filipino folklore.
This is the story of The Monkey and the Turtle, a tale that teaches wit over strength, patience over greed, and justice born from nature’s quiet wisdom.
Introduction
Passed down through generations, “The Monkey and the Turtle” (Ang Pagong at ang Matsing) is one of the oldest and most beloved stories in the Philippines. Long before it was written in books, it was told aloud in villages, often around the fire or beneath the shade of banana leaves.
The story gained literary immortality when Dr. José Rizal, the Philippine national hero, published an illustrated version in 1889 in the children’s magazine Trübner’s Record in London. His adaptation preserved not just a folk tale, but a window into the Filipino spirit — clever, humorous, and deeply moral.
The Friendship Begins
One day, a monkey and a turtle found a floating banana tree in the river. The plant was young, sturdy, and full of promise. “If we plant it,” said the turtle, “it will bear fruit, and we shall both eat well.”
The monkey agreed eagerly. “Yes, yes!” he said, scratching his head. “But who shall plant it?”
The turtle, being patient and wise, replied, “Let us divide it in half, and each shall plant his share.” The monkey nodded, and with a quick snatch, he took the upper part of the tree — the portion with the leaves. The turtle, slower but thoughtful, took the lower part — the roots.
The monkey scampered off to plant his half on a rocky hill, laughing as he went. The turtle crawled carefully to the riverside, planting her half deep into the moist soil. Days turned to weeks. The monkey’s plant withered under the sun, but the turtle’s tree grew tall and strong, its leaves spreading wide and green.
In time, the tree bore golden bananas.
The Monkey’s Trick
When the monkey saw the turtle’s tree heavy with fruit, envy filled his heart. He leapt down from the rocks and shouted, “Friend Turtle! How lucky you are! You have grown such a fine tree. Let me climb and gather some bananas for us both!”
The turtle, kind and unsuspecting, agreed. “Very well,” she said. “But promise that we shall share the fruit equally.”
The monkey climbed swiftly, chattering with delight as he reached the top. He plucked a banana, peeled it, and ate it greedily. Then another, and another.
“Monkey!” cried the turtle from below. “Remember your promise!”
But the monkey only laughed, his mouth full. “I’m just tasting them to be sure they’re ripe,” he said between bites. He ate until his belly was round and full, tossing the banana peels down at the turtle’s shell.
When the turtle realized she had been tricked, her temper rose. “You are greedy and deceitful!” she shouted.
“Ha!” the monkey sneered. “Who told you to move so slow? You can’t climb or fight me. What will you do now, little shell?”
The Turtle’s Revenge
The turtle said nothing. Instead, she began to gather the sharpest thorns she could find in the forest. Quietly, she planted them around the base of the banana tree. Then she hid behind a rock and waited.
When the monkey finished eating and tried to climb down, he yelped in pain. The thorns pricked his feet and tail. “Ah! What is this?” he cried, hopping helplessly. “Turtle, you have tricked me!”
The turtle emerged slowly from her hiding place. “Now who is clever, and who is greedy?” she said.
Furious, the monkey leapt down, though every step drove another thorn into his skin. He caught the turtle and shouted, “Now I will punish you for this! How should I do it? Shall I pound you against the rocks? Shall I throw you into the fire?”
The turtle trembled but kept her wits. “Oh, kind Monkey,” she said, pretending to beg, “do anything you wish — anything but throw me into the water! I fear the river more than anything.”
The monkey grinned, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Ah, so that’s your weakness!” And with all his might, he hurled the turtle into the rushing water below.
The Triumph of the Turtle
For a moment, the river was still. The monkey clapped his hands, proud of his revenge. Then, to his shock, the turtle’s head appeared above the rippling surface.
She smiled and called out, “Thank you, Monkey! The river is my home!”
The current carried her away, laughing as she swam. The monkey, left sore and bleeding from the thorns, howled in anger. From that day forward, the two became enemies — the monkey forever cunning and impatient, the turtle forever wise and enduring.
Symbolism and Meaning
The story of The Monkey and the Turtle reflects the Filipino love for wit, justice, and poetic irony. In a world where power often favors the strong, the tale reminds its listeners that intelligence and patience can outmatch greed and arrogance.
The turtle embodies karunungan — wisdom, restraint, and perseverance — while the monkey represents kapalaluan or pride. Their conflict is more than animal mischief; it is a moral struggle between clever humility and foolish ambition.
The story also mirrors the Filipino worldview where nature itself — rivers, trees, and animals — becomes the moral compass, rewarding those who live in harmony and punishing those who take more than they deserve.
Cultural Context
This folktale, known across many Philippine islands, predates written history. Variants exist in Bisayan, Tagalog, and Ilocano traditions, each adding local flavor but preserving the same moral core.
When Jose Rizal published his illustrated version in Europe, it became one of the earliest examples of Filipino storytelling to reach an international audience. His version symbolized more than a fable — it was a reflection of the oppressed outsmarting the oppressor, a parable for colonial resistance through intellect and perseverance.
Over time, “The Monkey and the Turtle” has been taught in classrooms, adapted into cartoons, and retold in children’s books — yet its wit remains timeless.
Modern Relevance
Today, this story continues to charm children and adults alike, not just as entertainment but as a mirror of Filipino values. It celebrates the triumph of the clever underdog, the importance of fairness, and the dignity of those who win not by strength but by wisdom.
In every retelling, the turtle’s laughter at the end reminds us that patience and intelligence endure long after greed consumes itself.
Source: Public domain Filipino folktale, Tagalog oral tradition. Earliest known written version by José Rizal (1889), Trübner’s Record, London.