The story "Scent of Apples" is about Celestino Fabia, a Filipino immigrant farmer living in America. He feels lonely and longs for the Philippines. One night, he meets the narrator and invites him to his farm, where the narrator experiences Fabia's hospitality but also sees how the scent of apples reminds Fabia of his homeland. The story illustrates the isolation, loneliness and loss of identity that immigrant Filipinos often feel living in a new country.

1. REYNAN T. OLA
BPG 4-1
TITLE: SCENT OF APPLES
AUTHOR: BIENVENIDO N. SANTOS
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.

2. 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.