Once upon a time there lived a farmer who had no son. He had a small
farm that produced good vegetables for market and provided the farmer
with a meager income.One day an older farmer suggested that he add some
burnt coconut husks to his fertilizer, so he tried it and the
vegetables grew bigger. But he was a good farmer and soon he had a full
garden. People came to the farmer because of his special vegetables.
Word got out that the farmer was very good at raisng vegetables. One
day a young man came to see the farmer and asked to learn the secrets
of the growing. The farmer agreed and took the young man into his home
and showed the young man how he made special fertilizer to feed his
vegetables. For many years the young man helped the farmer grow his
vegetables and even helped the farmer expand his garden. Soon all the
tending of the garden fell to the young man.
People
would come from miles away to buy these delicious vegetables. The old
farmer would smile and thank them while counting his earnings. He would
tell all that this was his family secret passed down for years. The
young man would soon not only tend to the garden but also sell the
vegetables because the old Farmer started to spend more time playing
chess and chatting with the vendors at the market. The young man still
did all his chores and learned to make the fertilizer a little better
and soon the vegetables were doing better and growing bigger.Yet the
young man was never paid for his efforts.This went on for years.
One
day a customer came up to the young man and said "you have done a fine
job raising these vegetables" The old farmer overheard this compliment
and yelled at the young man, how can you take a compliment for my
vegetables? The young man just said he laid no claim to the vegetables
and did not solicit the compliment. The old farmer was infuriated he
said " I teach you to care for the plants and you ride on my
reputation!" The young man said " if you no longer need me I will
leave" "Fine!" said the old farmer.
A few weeks later
the farmer learned that the young man had bought some property and was
cultivating a vegetable patch. Customers would come to the farmers
garden and ask where the young man went. " He stole my fertilizer and is
trying to grow his own vegetables. " he would rant. The young man just
continued to til away and set up a nice garden.
Soon the young
man's garden was producing vegetables and they were larger than they
were before. People started to buy his vegetables. The old farmers
vegetables were not doing as well because they were not tended as they
were before. The old farmer had forgotten his fertilizer formula. Soon
his regular customers would not come to him and those that did he would
tell how the young man had robbed him and how his garden was failing
because of the young man.
But the young man , used to
tending the other garden, continued to work every day. He was doing
quite well and making a nice living. The old farmer cussed and accused
the young man, but the young man kept quiet about learning of the gift
that was given to the old farmer that he now claimed as his own.
What
you give away cannot be taken back. What you cultivate becomes yours,
because it is a part of you. Do not become greedy with your knowledge or
use others to bring you fame. For one day, it will come back and bite
you.
This is the story of Kuntaw, how it was formed, and how it fell.
