SUMMARY

A writer was asked to speak before an audience in Kalamazoo, MI one October when
the war was still on. On the same night he met another Filipino – Celestino Fabia, a farmer. The
writer was surprised to see a man who travelled really long just to hear him talk. In the course of
the discussion, the man asked, in sporadically incorrect English, how the Filipino women of
today were different from the stereotype he was familiar with. The writer replied that although
they differ in the exterior, both women of different eras bear the heart and soul of a modest
Filipina. Mr. Fabia was pleased.

After the lecture, Mr. Fabia told the writer about his farm and his family and invited him
over to his house, repeatedly saying that his wife, Ruth, will be pleased to meet “a first class
Filipino”. He also told him about his son, Roger, with pride. Mr. Fabia picked the writer up the
next day and during the course of what seemed to be an endless journey to the distant farm, the
writer became aware of Mr. Fabia’s life in the Philippines. He was a spoiled brat and the black
sheep of the family. He lived in an old Visayan town where there are no apples. But there are
coconut trees and roosters cooing early in the morning, and there was his family.

They finally arrived in the farm, the fragrance of apples diffusing all over the place. The
writer noticed how Ruth’s hospitality and kind-heartedness was almost Filipino and how
adorable Roger really was. In their humble home, he also found a picture of an anonymous
Filipina wearing a traditional costume – another manifestation of how dire Mr. Fabia’s nostalgia
is. He bade farewell to the family and Mr. Fabia took him back to the hotel. He offered to send
news to his family when he got back to the Philippines but Mr. Fabia refused, saying that they
might have already forgotten him. They shook each other’s hand and said goodbye.
 The Scent of Apple written by Bienvenido N. Santos is captivating and it gives me a clue
of what it is like to be away from home, the people you love and making a home out of the new
place you have found. In connection, the author gives emphasis on the life of a Filipino who
found himself to living in a foreign country. Furthermore, the story captures the man’s great
longing, regret, love for his country and Filipino family.

The story is more than just a story of an immigrant Filipino. Furthermore, the title is very
much striking to the extent that it can lure an individual to read the story. Basing from the title
itself, it suggests that “The Scent of An Apple” is metaphorical. In a sense means that the title
contains a metaphor which relates to the story. In my own interpretation, “Scent of an apple” is a
metaphor for the man himself. An ‘apple is a very unique fruit in terms of its color, shape, and
texture. In connection, the man is a Filipino therefore he is different from the others who lived
there. In the story he feels alone and lonely because he thinks that being in a foreign country is
an exile for him every time he smells the scent of an apple.

The writer used the word “nostalgia” to describe the man who seems to have a great
longing for what he calls home in the past. He is wistful for affections for the past which is why
the man regrets his decisions that caused him to be away from his family and his country. His
regret is shown while he was telling the writer about what he remembers about the people
especially about the Filipino women. He also told the writer about his childhood wherein he was
back with his family in the Philippines.

Love for the country is also present in the story due to the fact that Celestino Fabia came
all the way to the city just to hear the writer talk and to have a glimpse of how the Filipino
woman is today. This is what makes him very vocal to ask about it in a room full of foreign
people. Celestino Fabia also talked about what he remembered about what the values that
Filipino women uphold in the past.

One of the Filipino core values evident in the story is the love for the Filipino family.
Celestino Fabia imagined his brothers, sisters, his father and his mother. This alone is a fact
that the work is simple yet it can rival the literary audacities of other short stories.

A scene in the story grabbed my interest and this is when the narrator was expected to
speak before an audience regarding the culture of the Philippines, which was now becoming a
“lost country”. It is when a Filipino farmer, Celestino Fabia, asked about the difference between
Filipinas then and now, to which the narrator responded that though their physical appearance
changed, they remain the pure-hearted and nice women like past years. The farmer was
pleased with the answer and he invited the narrator over to his house so he could meet his
family.

In connection, the man is suffering with the fear of being forgotten due to the fact that he
chose to leave all by himself. He did it all to himself therefore his heart is longing to reach the
other side of the world even if he has already built his own home to where he is now.

Thus, the story in my opinion is a priceless literary work. I commend the author for literary
work which that equates the torment that comes with being away from home and in return hitting
the values of an immigrant Filipino who is facing the consequences in line to the choices he
made.

SUMMARY

The story “Scent of Apples” written by Mr. Santos is about a man who longing for his
native land. This story focuses on the real score of Filipinos who cannot come back to the
Philippines because of poverty. It reflects the immigrant-character yearning to come back to his
land. And when he sees a fellow Filipino, he was very delighted to introduce himself as well as
his family to him. It is meant to show that not all Filipinos are lucky to go abroad and it is indeed
possible the lives of Filipinos to be miserable and suffer from poverty even in abroad.

One night Mr. Santos met Celestino Fabia, a farmer. He was surprised to see a man
who travelled really long just to make conversation to him. The man asked in a little incorrect
English, how the Filipino women of today were different from the stereotype he was familiar
with. Then, Mr. Santos replied that although they differ in the exterior, both women of different
generation bear the heart and soul of a modest Filipina, God-fearing, faithful and nice. Mr. Fabia
talked about his farm to Mr. Santos. His family invited him to his house where his wife, Ruth, will
be pleased to meet a first class Filipino. He also told him about his son, named Roger with
pride. On the next day, Mr. Fabia picked him up. When they arrived in the farm, the fragrance of
apples was spread in the area. He noticed how Ruth’s hospitality and gracious was almost
Filipino have and how delightful Roger really was.

Each time Fabio smell the scent of the apples, he always remember his country, our
country that has no apples. He has the feeling of loneliness every day because he smells the
scent of the apple every time. He bade farewell to the family and Mr. Fabia took him back to the
hotel. He offered to drop news to his family when he got back to the Philippines but Mr. Fabia
refused, saying that they might have already forgotten him. Thus, the feeling of loneliness, exile
and isolation are the common feelings of immigrant Filipinos, it comes with the fear of no longer
belonging to a culture which itself seems at times to be wasting away, and finds expression in
the rhythm of arrangement provided by the selections in Scent of Apples.

ROLES OF THE CHARACTERS:

 Narrator – the writer of the story who went to Kalamazoo, America for a discussion. Petit
bourgeois expatriate intellectual contrasting with the poor farmer expatriate Celestino.

 Celestino Fabia - An immigrant from the Philippines, a Filipino farmer, who invites Santos
home for a meal. He was longs for home, given the emotionally harsh and divisive family
matters that compelled his departure.

 Ruth - Celestino's wife, an American country girl. Willing to work like a slave, her appearance
roughened by hard labor, displaces the mother and sisters who would have influenced Celestino
if he had remained in the Philippines.
 Roger – the child of Mr. and Ms. Fabia who goes to school in town. He "ate like a little
gentleman", exuding niceness and innocence.

LESSON OF THE STORY:

 Life is a really hard battle, we have to be strong enough in facing many trials and challenge to
be able to win this struggles.

 A person should be thankful in whatever job they have.  Never forget where you came from.
Bear in mind that the country you leave is the country where you should live.
 “Scent of Apples” by Bienvenido Santos is part of a short story collection of the same name
published in 1978 by University of Washington Press. “Scent of Apples” tells the story of one man
and his family’s unique experience as Filipino immigrants to the United States. It’s a unique story, as
Santos himself is a character in it. Santos wrote “Scent of Apples” during the Rebirth of Freedom—a
period of activism following WWII and the restoration of independence to the Philippines.

By appreciating the context, it’s possible to better understand the nostalgia woven through
the story and the difficulties Filipinos face trying to retain a connection to their past while starting a
new life elsewhere.

The story is told from Santos’s point of view. He’s delivering a lecture in Kalamazoo,
Michigan, before a reasonably large audience of mostly college-aged women. The talk centers on
the Philippines, and Santos talks of his people and his country fondly. He’s asked to comment on the
differences between American and Filipino women, which he’s not sure how to answer because he
doesn’t know many American women.

In the audience, someone else speaks—a man, this time. Santos can tell from his
appearance that he’s also Filipino. A farmer who works just outside of Kalamazoo, he left the
Philippines more than twenty years ago. He wants to take the conversation one step further—he
asks Santos whether Filipino women are the same now as they were all those years ago. At this
question, the audience hushes, listening closely for the answer.

Santos feels put on the spot; he doesn’t know how to answer. He’s worried about giving the
man false impressions, but he also doesn’t want to shatter the man’s ideals about his homeland. He
doesn’t want to come across as insincere either. There is a long pause as Santos decides how best
to answer; when he does, he has a strategy.

He asks the man to explain how he remembers the women, so he can draw a proper
comparison. This allows him to see how best to answer the question. The man explains the women
used to be natural, kind, loyal, and modest. He fondly remembers how they used to dress and says
it’s the men who’ve lost their faith and character.

Santos knows now how to answer him. He explains that, while the women have changed on
the outside, they still have the same temperament and strength of religious faith. The man seems
happy with this explanation, and Santos can rest easy knowing he hasn’t disappointed anyone. The
answer is also, to his mind, an honest one. However, the rest of the talk feels less important after the
interruption, and Santos knows he’ll think about it for a while.

When he leaves the lecture, Santos meets the man outside. He learns that his name is
Celestino Fabia, and he labors on farmland thirty miles away. He saw Santos’s name one day in the
local paper and, recognizing a Filipino compatriot, traveled all this way to hear him speak about how
things used to be. Fabia invites Santos to dinner the following day, and he accepts the invitation.

Santos goes to meet Fabia, who is overjoyed to introduce his family to a fellow Filipino who reminds
him of how things—and Filipinos—used to be. Fabia worries over whether his house is messy or
dilapidated, but Santos doesn’t notice. He knows Fabia is a farmer and money is very tight, and he’s
also not a superficial man. He’s looking forward to meeting everyone.

On the way, Santos spots apple trees. They remind him of home, and he’s suddenly filled with
nostalgia and sadness. Sometimes, it seems he can’t balance his memories with building a new life.
Fabia feels the same, and he pours out his thoughts to Santos who feels privileged to hear them.
They both fondly remember their youth, but it’s sad to think everything’s changed.

Santos is embarrassed by how he feels when he meets Fabia’s wife, Ruth. He notices she’s
unattractive and her hands are rough. He knows he shouldn’t notice such things, and he hopes it
doesn’t show on his face. He feels especially bad when he hears everything Ruth has done for Fabia
over the years—including working all hours for very little money just to afford things like healthcare.
She reminds Fabia of Filipino women, and Santos agrees.

Toward the end, Santos tells Fabia he plans on going home and would like to visit Fabia’s town.
Fabia doesn’t want him to, because he knows no one will remember him—and, perhaps, because he
wants to remember it as it was, not as it is now.

“Scent of Apples” reminds us of the struggles Filipinos experienced letting go of their homeland and
trying to make a new life with nothing but memories of how things used to be.
 PLOT

The story opened with a brief introduction

of where the author was.
The author, Mr. Santos, was asked to
INTRODUCTION speak before an audience. He met
Celestino Fabia ("just a Filipino farmer"
as he called himself) the night Mr. Santos
left his hotel.
In the course of the Mr Santos’ discussion,
Mr. Fabia, asked how the Filipino women
of today were different from the stereotype
RISING ACTIONS he was familiar with.
After the lecture, Mr. Fabia told Mr. Santos
about his farm and his family and invited
him over to his house
They finally arrived in the farm, the
CLIMAX fragrance of apples diffusing all over the
place.
Mr. Santos finally met the wife of Mr Fabia
and his son Roger.
They invited Mr. Santos to their humble
home and catered him with food.
FALLING ACTIONS
The author found a picture of an
anonymous Filipina wearing a traditional
costume – another manifestation of how
dire Mr. Fabia’s nostalgia is.
He bade farewell to the family and Mr.
Fabia took him back to the hotel.
He offered to send news to his family
when he got back to the Philippines but
CONCLUSION
Mr. Fabia refused, saying that they might
have already forgotten him.
They shook each other’s hand and said
goodbye.
A character is a person, or sometimes even an animal, who takes part in the action of a short story or
other literary work.

The setting of a short story is the time and place in which it happens. Authors often use descriptions of
landscape, scenery, buildings, seasons or weather to provide a strong sense of setting.

A plot is a series of events and character actions that relate to the central conflict.

The conflict is a struggle between two people or things in a short story. The main character is usually on
one side of the central conflict.

On the other side, the main character may struggle against another important character, against the
forces of nature, against society, or even against something inside himself or herself (feelings, emotions,
illness).

The theme is the central idea or belief in a short story.

What Is a Short Story?

A short story is a work of short, narrative prose that is usually centered around one
single event. It is limited in scope and has an introduction, body and conclusion.
Although a short story has much in common with a novel, it is written with much greater
precision. Any time you are asked to write an essay that is based on a piece of fiction,
the following guide and questions may help you.

Once you examine these narrative elements, you want to look for PATTERNS, or
MOTIFS, in the work. Pay attention to words & images that are related

Setting

Setting is a description of where and when the story takes place. In a short story there
are fewer settings compared to a novel. The time is more limited. Ask yourself the
following questions:

 How is the setting created? Consider geography, weather, time of day, social
conditions, etc.
 What role does setting play in the story? Is it an important part of the plot or
theme? Or is it just a backdrop against which the action takes place?
 Does the setting change? If so, how?

Study the time period, which is also part of the setting, and ask yourself the following:
  When was the story written?
 Does it take place in the present, the past, or the future?
 How does the time period affect the language, atmosphere or social
circumstances of the short story?

Characterization

Characterization deals with how the characters in the story are described. In short
stories there are usually fewer characters compared to a novel. They usually focus on
one central character or protagonist. Ask yourself the following:

 Who is the main character?

 Who or what is the antagonist?
 Are the main character and other characters described through dialogue – by the
way they speak (dialect or slang for instance)?
 Has the author described the characters by physical appearance, thoughts and
feelings, and interaction (the way they act towards others)?
 Are they static characters who do not change?
 Are they dynamic characters who change?
 What type of characters are they? What qualities stand out? Are they
stereotypes?
 Are the characters believable?
 Do the characters symbolize something?

Plot and Structure

The plot is the main sequence of events that make up the story. In short stories the plot
is usually centered around one experience or significant moment. Consider the following
questions:

 What is the most important event?

 How is the plot structured? Is it linear, chronological or does it move around?
 Is the plot believable?

CONFLICT: Conflict or tension is usually the heart of the short story and is related to
the main character. In a short story there is usually one main struggle.

 How would you describe the main conflict?

 Is it an internal conflict within the character?
  Is it an external conflict caused by the surroundings or environment the main
character finds himself/herself in?

CLIMAX: The climax is the point of greatest tension or intensity in the short story. It can
also be the point where events take a major turn as the story races towards its
conclusion.

 When does the climax take place?

RESOLUTION: The resolution is the end of the story. It focuses on how the conflict is
ultimately resolved.

 Are the closing sentences significant? How does the end relate or connect to the
opening?

Narrator and Point of View

The narrator is the person telling the story. Consider this question: Are the narrator and
the main character the same?

By point of view we mean from whose eyes the story is being told. Short stories tend to
be told through one character’s point of view. The following are important questions to
consider:

 Who is the narrator or speaker in the story?

 Does the author speak through the main character?
 Is the story written in the first person “I” point of view?
 Is the story written in a detached third person “he/she” point of view?
 Is there an “all-knowing” third person who can reveal what all the characters are
thinking and doing at all times and in all places?
 Is the narrator trustworthy?

Style

The author’s style has to do with the his or her vocabulary, use of imagery, tone, or the
feeling of the story. It has to do with the author’s attitude toward the subject. In some
short stories the tone can be ironic, humorous, cold, or dramatic.

 Is the author’s language full of figurative language: metaphors, symbols,

personification, etc.?
 What images are used?
 What is the tone or mood of the story?
Theme

The theme is built on a topic, such as death, hope, the American dream, etc. and how
the topic affects the human condition, society, or life. As a reader, focus on what the
story is revealing about the topic. The theme should be expressed as a statement, a
general observation about human nature.

To help you write a thematic statement, consider the following:

 What is the story about – its general topic(s) (IE: money, wealth, death, etc.)?
 How is the topic developed? (Consider how characters change, symbols, climax,
etc.)
 Do you notice any patterns in imagery, diction, etc.?
 Does the title have any significance?
 Does the narrator or character include any statement(s) that reveals a theme or
observation?

What a theme is NOT:

 a word or phrase (topic or subject)

 a command
 a judgment