The Turtle and the Monkey

The Turtle and the Monkey (Tagalog: Ang Pagong at ang Matsing or Si Pagong at si Matsing) also known as The Monkey and the Turtle is a Philippine fable.

The story was popularized by Jose Rizal, who made a publication of the story in English in the July 1889 issue of Trübner's Oriental Record in England, which is considered to be the formal beginning of Philippine children's literature.

[4] The Ilocano version of the story offers an explanation on why monkeys don't eat meat.

Versions of the story have a common theme of a weaker but cunning character (the tortoise or turtle) winning over a stronger adversary (the monkey).

Rizal is considered as the first Filipino cartoonist for this feat and for illustrating five tales by Hans Christian Andersen.