The World Is An Apple

The World is an Apple
A Play Written by: Alberto S. Florentino

Alberto S. Florentino (1931-2019)
He is a son of a
teacher who was
active in school
directing and writing
plays. He assisted his
father in doing copies
of the plays he
directed.
Alberto S. Florentino (1931-2019)
 When he was an Accounting
student in the University of
the Philippines, he won a
Palanca Award for his play
“The World is an Apple”.
 He has since written 50 plays
for stage and more than 100
for television.
 He is today considered one of
the foremost Filipino
playwrights in English.
FACTS
First published in 1954, first
presented on television by the
Caltex Star Caravan
It is a play in one act
Characters
Gloria
Pablo
Mario
Setting
It is set in late
afternoon in a
small and poor
house in
Intramuros with
an Acacia tree
and a small
wooden bench
under it.
It is a story about a man named Mario
who suffered in extreme poverty, so, he
walked through the sinful road. He steals
with his friends to experience pleasures
and gained a lot of money from it.
However, he changed when he met
Gloria who is a religious woman, and he
married her. Despite of Mario’s past,
Gloria accepted him because she
believed that he will change.
Indeed, Mario had changed.
Mario chose a legal
job. For four years, his
family suffered in
poverty but he never
went back to the life he
had before, because
he knew that his wife
will get angry, until
such time God tested
his faith. His daughter,
Tita, fell ill because
she has not eaten
anything nutritious
Because of this, he was forced to steal an apple
when he took his daughter for a walk. They passed a
grocery store that sold delicious apples on their way
home. His daughter wanted him to buy one but he
couldn’t because he didn’t have enough money that
time. He gives her one of small green apples they sell
on the sidewalk, but she just threw it away, saying it
was not a real apple.
 And for an apple, he lost his job. He did not
want Gloria to know about it because he
wanted her not to worry. He looked for another
job but found none, so, he approached his
friend, Pablo, and told him that he will join their
group again. He was tired of doing good things.
He wanted his family to have a beautiful life,
so, he chooses to return to the life he had
before, where he steals. One day, he arrived
home and his wife slips her finger to take some
money to buy Tita a biscuit, but Mario was
annoyed and began to quarrel with his wife.
 Gloria was asking some of the money from his
pay but Mario insisted that he has none. He
told her that he spent it all for a woman and
some drinks, but Gloria did not believe it. So,
Mario told her everything. Gloria got angry after
hearing it, but Mario told her that he had found
a good job and he’s going to meet someone.
Gloria then became glad after hearing it, not
until Pablo showed up. She hated Pablo
because he was one of Mario’s friends who
would do illegal things. Pablo offered some
money to Gloria but she didn’t accept it.
Pablo came to their house to fetch
Mario because he thought that Mario
would change his mind. He even told
Gloria about Mario willing to work
with him. Gloria was shocked and
she insisted that Mario wouldn’t do
such things. But Mario confirmed it
to her that what she heard is true
and that he only wanted what is
good to his family.
Gloria convinced him
not to go and
reminded him of God.
But, Mario never
listened to her. He told
her to take good care
of herself and that he
will be home safely.
Gloria was then left
crying with her
daughter.
Mario: Why? Did God create apple trees to
bear fruit for the rich alone? Didn’t He create
the whole world for everyone? That’s why I
tried to bring the apple home for Tita. When
we brought her into this world, we promised
her everything. She has the right to have
everything in life.
Gloria: So, for just an apple, you lost a job

you need so much?
Symbolism
The word “Apple” symbolizes
temptation and the
dishonest life lived by Mario
before. The theme of the story
is, 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 confirm
to its norms. One’s action is
weighed right or wrong and
thus should be kept towards
the proper action and his
wrong decisions become
greater burdens to a family
that symbolizes the word
“Apple”.

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The World is an Apple

A Play Written by: Alberto S. Florentino

Gloria: So, for just an apple, you lost a job

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