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A SHORT STORY
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The Wisdom Of The Mighty Tree
By Adelino L. Masigla
A strong typhoon had just caused devastation. Damages to several houses are seen as the pupils were on their way to school that Monday
morning. A group of men were clearing the street of uprooted trees and debris. The school roof was slightly damaged and as the resident
volunteers were busy doing temporary repairs the Grades 1 and 2 classes were suspended until afternoon when the works are expected to
be completed.
Instead of going home at once that early, the school mates Mauro, Jess, Rosing and I went uphill behind the school to visit Lola Terya’s
house. The old big balete tree we used to call the “Mighty Tree” at the approach to Lola Terya’s house remained intact as expected though
several trees on the lower part of the hill were uprooted or otherwise cut on its trunk. Inside the house, we found Lola Terya cooking cassava
root crop that she harvested early morning, after saying hello, she offered us to take some while still hot. We gladly took a piece each and
while eating Jess asked Lola Terya why the Mighty Tree remained strong and standing in as much as several on the vicinity were uprooted
by the strong typhoon. Lola Terya placed a tray filled with boiled cassava on the bamboo dining table and asked us to sit down, relax and
listen to the story of the Wisdom of the Mighty Tree.
By Adelino L. Masigla
A strong typhoon had just caused devastation. Damages to several houses are seen as the pupils were on their way to school that Monday
morning. A group of men were clearing the street of uprooted trees and debris. The school roof was slightly damaged and as the resident
volunteers were busy doing temporary repairs the Grades 1 and 2 classes were suspended until afternoon when the works are expected to
be completed.
Instead of going home at once that early, the school mates Mauro, Jess, Rosing and I went uphill behind the school to visit Lola Terya’s
house. The old big balete tree we used to call the “Mighty Tree” at the approach to Lola Terya’s house remained intact as expected though
several trees on the lower part of the hill were uprooted or otherwise cut on its trunk. Inside the house, we found Lola Terya cooking cassava
root crop that she harvested early morning, after saying hello, she offered us to take some while still hot. We gladly took a piece each and
while eating Jess asked Lola Terya why the Mighty Tree remained strong and standing in as much as several on the vicinity were uprooted
by the strong typhoon. Lola Terya placed a tray filled with boiled cassava on the bamboo dining table and asked us to sit down, relax and
listen to the story of the Wisdom of the Mighty Tree.
By the time Lola Terya was done with her story, the tray on the dining table was cleared off the boiled cassava. We then said thanks to
Lola Terya and went down the hill thinking what purpose in life each one of us has. While walking back home, we realized that at the
tender age of between 6 to 7, each one of us has varied dreams for the future. However, a common question remained unanswered as
we parted ways and reached home- - - - - “What purposes does the Mighty Tree has?”
Lola Terya and went down the hill thinking what purpose in life each one of us has. While walking back home, we realized that at the
tender age of between 6 to 7, each one of us has varied dreams for the future. However, a common question remained unanswered as
we parted ways and reached home- - - - - “What purposes does the Mighty Tree has?”
“Once the mighty tree was a seed no bigger than your smallest finger nail. From nowhere, most probably brought and
dropped by a bird, it fell on the ground on that very spot where it is presently located, warmth by the heat of the sun during
daytime and watered each night by the evening dew. Several days later the tiny roots started to crack out and searched
down until it felt the soil. These tiny roots gathered some nutrients from the soil and few more days later a tiny twig with two
tiny leaves gradually sprouted up out of the seed. The heat from the sun continued to provide appropriate warmth to the
leaves while the evening dew kept the soil moist. As the roots grew down deeper, the twig grows up taller and the leaves
bigger. It should be noted that the roots are always longer than the twig.
Weeks later the roots branched out and these enabled for the tiny seed to gather more nutrients from the soil. As the
roots continued spreading out the twig gradually developed into a tree seedling with additional branches and leaves. The
roots crept out deeper and farther, in between rocks, beneath the surface and down to the bowels of the soil reaching for
more sources of nutrients and water and these proportionately induced more branches and twigs thus more leaves were
warmed-up that absorbs carbon dioxide from the air. Reciprocally, the green leaves emits oxygen for us human beings
to inhale. Many years passed by and the process continued on and on slowly developing the trunk until it became a
mighty tree. The truth is, the root system, which is the foundation every tree, must spread out and grow deeper in greater
proportion than what is exposed in the air. Old leaves may dry and fall in time, only to be replaced by more new ones.
The trunk must grow bigger in diameter and strong enough to hold all the branches and leaves at the extreme weather
condition.
Children, that is the wisdom of the mighty tree. Strong typhoons may come and go uprooting all others with weak
foundations and cutting those with weak trunks but the mighty tree remains, standing with grandeur, digmity and honor
for she had kept its roots well widely spread and deeply anchored, its trunk massively huge and its branches
impressively strong.
That is a nature’s way of existence. In life you must always remember to keep and spread out the best root system you
can like our mighty tree, your moral and cultural values are part of your life’s basic foundation that is reflected on
whatever you do, spread that deeper and wider and be a learned person. Just like the massive trunk of our mighty tree
your visions in life must be able to hold your dreams for the future. You have to be always firm and be able to understand
your very purpose in life. Every purpose must be supported with a system of roots, trunk, branches and twigs. Keep it
alive with growing more leaves. The wisdom of the mighty tree applies to all, even to organizations regardless of its size.
A tree can never be mighty without first developing its roots. Therefore, in order for you to grow like the mighty tree you
must be able to comprehend ahead in time the consequence of whatever you are presently doing-- then no typhoon in
life, however strong, can ever bring you down. The questions are: a) Does your roots fully supports you like the mighty
tree? Will your trunk be strong enough to wither the elements? Like the mighty tree will you have sufficient leaves to
provide for its need? ”
dropped by a bird, it fell on the ground on that very spot where it is presently located, warmth by the heat of the sun during
daytime and watered each night by the evening dew. Several days later the tiny roots started to crack out and searched
down until it felt the soil. These tiny roots gathered some nutrients from the soil and few more days later a tiny twig with two
tiny leaves gradually sprouted up out of the seed. The heat from the sun continued to provide appropriate warmth to the
leaves while the evening dew kept the soil moist. As the roots grew down deeper, the twig grows up taller and the leaves
bigger. It should be noted that the roots are always longer than the twig.
Weeks later the roots branched out and these enabled for the tiny seed to gather more nutrients from the soil. As the
roots continued spreading out the twig gradually developed into a tree seedling with additional branches and leaves. The
roots crept out deeper and farther, in between rocks, beneath the surface and down to the bowels of the soil reaching for
more sources of nutrients and water and these proportionately induced more branches and twigs thus more leaves were
warmed-up that absorbs carbon dioxide from the air. Reciprocally, the green leaves emits oxygen for us human beings
to inhale. Many years passed by and the process continued on and on slowly developing the trunk until it became a
mighty tree. The truth is, the root system, which is the foundation every tree, must spread out and grow deeper in greater
proportion than what is exposed in the air. Old leaves may dry and fall in time, only to be replaced by more new ones.
The trunk must grow bigger in diameter and strong enough to hold all the branches and leaves at the extreme weather
condition.
Children, that is the wisdom of the mighty tree. Strong typhoons may come and go uprooting all others with weak
foundations and cutting those with weak trunks but the mighty tree remains, standing with grandeur, digmity and honor
for she had kept its roots well widely spread and deeply anchored, its trunk massively huge and its branches
impressively strong.
That is a nature’s way of existence. In life you must always remember to keep and spread out the best root system you
can like our mighty tree, your moral and cultural values are part of your life’s basic foundation that is reflected on
whatever you do, spread that deeper and wider and be a learned person. Just like the massive trunk of our mighty tree
your visions in life must be able to hold your dreams for the future. You have to be always firm and be able to understand
your very purpose in life. Every purpose must be supported with a system of roots, trunk, branches and twigs. Keep it
alive with growing more leaves. The wisdom of the mighty tree applies to all, even to organizations regardless of its size.
A tree can never be mighty without first developing its roots. Therefore, in order for you to grow like the mighty tree you
must be able to comprehend ahead in time the consequence of whatever you are presently doing-- then no typhoon in
life, however strong, can ever bring you down. The questions are: a) Does your roots fully supports you like the mighty
tree? Will your trunk be strong enough to wither the elements? Like the mighty tree will you have sufficient leaves to
provide for its need? ”
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