Background of the story The World Is An Apple' is a play in one act, written by Alberto S.

Florentino and directed by Nick Agudo.It was first presented on television by the Caltex Star Caravan on 24 July 1959 under the direction of Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero. It was published in the The Sunday Times Magazine on 26 Sept 1954; in Jean Edades (ed) More Short Plays of the Philippines , Manila, 1957; and Alberto S. Florentino's The World Is An Apple and Other Prize Plays , Manila: Cultural Publishers, 1959. It won the first prize in the one-act play category of the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature in 1953 and 1954. This play depicts social realities, particularly of the problems of the urban poor. It tells the story of a couple who has no money to buy food for their children. His husband spent their money for his vices and he lost his job for stealing. Falsely figuring out the situation as misfortune he left his wife and daughter, went back to his partner in crime and did crimes again to have money. This is a story of how wrong decisions become greater burdens to a family. Mario s family happens to be in the lower bracket of society. He cannot even provide for his family s basic needs. Albeit all this hardships, his wife Gloria, still manages to keep her good virtuous. She insists that the way they are living is a much better than the one they will have if they do wrong acts. But Gloria s entire constant reminder to Mario did not prosper. Mario decided to come back to his old life of crime when he lost his job when he tried to steal an apple for his daughter. He keeps on insisting that his priority is to provide what his wife and daughter needs. He left with Pablo, his old crime buddy, even if Gloria pleaded very hard for him not to go with the man. This is a sad representation of what is happening in the society today. Due to lack of better opportunities to heighten one s standard of living, some become entangled with the wrong crowd. By doing so, these individuals do not help their family at all; instead, they end up worsening their family s problem. It is man s basic instinct that drives him towards his survival. But, no matter what, he should not forget that society expects him to conform to its norms. One s action is weighed right or wrong and thus should be kept towards the proper action.

Background of the author

Alberto Florentino is a Filipino playwright and book publisher. His plays in English center on the conflicts in the everyday lives of ordinary Filipinos. The most famous among his works is The World is an Apple, which is one of the most performed plays in the Philippines. His books of plays include: The World is an Apple and Other Prize Plays; The Portable Florentino; Memento Mori; Sangyugto; Panahon ng Digma; From Book to Stage; among others. He published/edited 75 books under his imprints from 1959 to 2001. He was also the literary manager behind the story selections featured in the award-winning television show Balintataw. He was one of the 1960 TOYM Awardees for Literature. In 2008, he was given a Presidential Medal of Merit for being a distinguished literary figure by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He now lives in the US with his family and publishes articles online. The summary of the story Mario's family happens to be in the lower bracket of society.

As Mario got home one night, Gloria, his wife, asked for money, which they needed to feed their daughter. Mario told her that he doesn't have money. Gloria didn't believe him, and asked him to tell the truth. Mario told his wife the truth - he was fired from his job.

The reason is because of an apple. He stole an apple for his daughter because he thought that she would like it - this part shows his love for his daughter.

He left with Pablo, his old crime buddy, even if Gloria pleaded very hard for him not to go with the man.

The story

When Mario got home. Gloria saw Mario and she was asking for some money to feed their children to Mario. Mario said that he have no money because he did something. Gloria didn't believe on what Mario said and said to tell the truth.

When Mario answered it, Gloria was shocked on what she heard because Mario lost his job. Gloria asked Mario if how he lost his job and Mario answered it and Gloria was shocked again because Mario said

that he lost his job because of an apple. Gloria said that how can he lose his job by just taking one not a dozen not a crate but one apple and Mario answered that he just saw it rolling and he found himself putting it in his bag because Tita would love to have it, and Mario told Gloria that there's no need to worry because he found a new job.

Suddenly Pablo was there ruining the whole conversation and asked them if how is their daughter doing and he'll loan a few pesos to help their daughter and Gloria said that no thank you because Mario stopped depending on Pablo. Pablo said that Mario's new job was with Pablo and when Gloria heard it he told Mario that it's a bad doing and risky. But Mario didn't listen and walks away with Pablo and told Gloria not to worry because he will come back early morning and don't wait for him. Gloria cries and shouting Mario, while Tita was crying also because he heard the conversation.