THE MONKEY AND THE TURTLE (or Ang Pagong at ang Matsing in Tagalog) is a renowned Philippine fable, popularized and illustrated by the national hero, José Rizal. The story serves as a moral commentary on greed versus intelligence, depicting how cunning can outsmart strength, and emphasizing the importance of cooperation and the consequences of selfishness. The narrative begins with a monkey and a turtle finding a banana tree floating in the river after a storm. They decide to split it and plant

10 Philippine folktales, stories and legends for children