PILI, MANGO, ROSE, TREE OF DECREE: WHO WILL YOU BE? UNPACKING THE POWER OF CHOICE IN J. ANTONIO CARPIO’S TREES

 PILI, MANGO, ROSE, TREE OF DECREE: WHO WILL YOU BE?

UNPACKING THE POWER OF CHOICE IN J. ANTONIO CARPIO’S TREES

Written By:  Althea Beatrice V. Chavez, Mitz Julianne G. Gabutan, Nina Franchesca Ibona, Kiersten Laiza Mae Minor, and Danielle Aubrey Parales

As children, we were told we could be anything, and do anything, as long as it aligned with our culture, morality, and spirituality. We were taught to strive not just for our success, but for the betterment of the world around us. Yet, as we grow older, walking through the streets of the Philippines, we are greeted not by progress but by walls plastered with the same tired promises. The bright tarpaulins and posters scream "Vote for..." followed by pledges for reform—most especially environmental reform. But how ironic is it that these very promises of change litter our streets, while the change itself remains elusive? How ironic that those who vow to do good seem disconnected from the moral and civic responsibilities they demand from us? We, as individuals, are expected to be upright citizens, to follow the rules set before us—but how can we honor a system that doesn’t honor its own values? This paper will delve into the fractured and irony-filled system of governance in the Philippines, exploring how it shapes the lives of its people through the lens of J. Antonio Carpio's evocative poem, Trees. Just as trees are rooted in the earth, yet stretch upward in hope, so too must we navigate a society that often fails to nourish the very ideals it plants.

J. Antonio Carpio's poem "Trees" is a sharp political commentary that weaves together themes of environmental responsibility, personal freedom, and societal injustice. In the opening stanza, the speaker questions the directive to plant a tree, feeling that the obligation imposed by law strips away personal freedom, transforming a noble act into one of reluctant duty. This sentiment grows in the second stanza, where the speaker longs for a life free from such burdens, to simply enjoy life’s basic pleasures without being weighed down by external pressures. The third stanza turns the spotlight on the hypocrisy of those in power, as the speaker condemns loggers for cutting down pristine forests—symbolizing not just environmental destruction, but the exploitation of natural resources by the wealthy and powerful, who profit at the expense of the environment and the marginalized. The poem is not merely a reflection on environmental duty, but a broader indictment of political and social systems that exploit both people and nature. "Trees" calls for a deeper connection with the environment and a recognition of the power structures that must be confronted to achieve true justice and freedom.

Antonio Carpio was a strong advocate for justice and human rights, working as a writer, teacher, lawyer, and former soldier. He bravely opposed Ferdinand Marcos' martial law and defended those who suffered under it. His poem "Trees" reflects his fight against oppression and symbolizes his broader struggle against unfair control. Carpio’s commitment to justice is clear in his various roles, including as the Director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), a radio commentator, and a professor. His family was honored as a "model Filipino family" in 1994, showing how his values of justice and integrity were central to his life. His achievements, like fighting the Hukbalahap and ranking fourteenth in the bar exam, highlight his lifelong dedication to defending democracy and helping the oppressed.

In "Trees," Carpio’s views on unfair control and injustice are clear. The poem criticizes the use of force, where the government's "decree" represents the oppressive control of the Marcos regime. By saying, "I just don’t wanna be a slave," Carpio shows his personal resistance to the dictatorship during martial law when he was imprisoned for opposing an unjust government. His refusal to accept force reflects his belief that true freedom cannot exist where fear is used to control people. This mirrors his broader mission to fight against all forms of unfair authority. Carpio’s emotional appeal is strong in the line, "Why should they rob me of the joy I’ve known since I was still a boy?" Here, he taps into readers' feelings of loss and nostalgia for a time before oppression took away basic freedoms. This emotional appeal reflects his personal struggle against human rights abuses during martial law. The trees cut down in the poem symbolize this loss, just as martial law took away people’s rights and dignity. Carpio also appeals to tradition when he criticizes the damage caused by logging. In the line, "Why let the loggers roam at will, denuding every virgin hill?" he regrets the loss of nature and the traditional duty to protect the land. This destruction of natural heritage represents a larger decline under authoritarian rule, where greed and exploitation take priority over caring for the common good. This serves as a metaphor for how martial law replaced traditional freedoms with fear and repression. Just as loggers destroy the land, the dictatorship destroys people’s rights and freedoms. The poem also rejects the false cause fallacy that harmful actions lead to progress. The "greater fools" who made the decree are those who wrongly believe that cutting down trees, like oppressing people, will improve society. Carpio shows that such actions only bring destruction and suffering. His critique of this flawed thinking reflects his belief in the importance of justice and reason. Carpio’s view is that real progress cannot come from exploitation or unfair control, and attempts to justify such actions are wrong. Overall, Carpio’s poem "Trees" reflects his life’s work. Both the poem and his career show a deep commitment to fighting oppression, protecting freedom, and standing up for the marginalized. His critique of authoritarianism, combined with his personal experiences during martial law, reveals a man who not only believed in justice but lived it every day. Carpio’s rejection of force, emotional appeal to the loss of freedom, and insights into the flaws of oppressive rule make his poem a powerful statement on the importance of protecting both human rights and the environment. In both his legal work and his writing, Carpio’s legacy is one of unwavering dedication to truth, justice, and freedom.

The poem “Trees” by J. Antonio Carpio is structured as a parody of the famous poem from Joyce Kilmer’s “Trees” where Kilmer’s poem, celebrates the beauty of trees, while Carpio’s poem, expresses defiance against a mandatory tree-planting decree, which it views as violence on personal freedom. It follows an AABBCC rhyme scheme while it uses first-person singular pronouns—underscoring the personal nature of the protest. There are numerous figurative language used in the poem such as Irony, which points out forcing individuals to plant trees while allowing large-scale deforestation, "Why let the loggers roam at will / Denuding every virgin hill"; slavery is used as a metaphor for forced compliance with the decree, "I just don't wanna be a slave / Of any mortal same as me!"; and symbolism to personal freedom and control as Carpio wanted to plant whatever he likes in the lines, “\The thrill of growing what I chose / – A pili, mango or a rose!” yet there is someone who forces him to grow these trees he does not even want, and accuses them of robbing his joy, ”Why should they rob me of the joy / I’ve known since I was still a boy?” It incorporates Filipino diction such as"pili" and "mango," reflecting the multilingual nature of Filipino society. The speaker objected to the thought of why they should plant a tree, as they felt enslaved by that law, which made their worldview throughout the poem. God made them with freedom like every other person, why would they adhere? 

Throughout the rest of the poem, the speaker exposes the hypocrisy of mandating tree planting while turning a blind eye to large-scale logging. The poem doesn't simply tackle the issue of illegal logging—it amplifies a deeper theme: the glaring injustice embedded within society. The speaker highlights the stark inequality of forcing ordinary people to plant trees while powerful illegal loggers continue their exploitative actions unpunished. For Carpio, the trees symbolize our dwindling freedom, and the loggers represent the oppressive laws that erode citizens' rights. This work serves as a potent critique of the nation's broader systemic failures. Carpio sharpens his point by reworking Kilmer’s famous line: “Poems are made by fools like me / But greater fools made this decree!” The biting twist reinforces the speaker’s contempt for the decree and underscores the deeper issue of misguided governance.

According to Plato, "The worst form of injustice is pretended justice". It’s a profound statement that delves into the nature of morality and the consequences of hypocrisy. It suggests that while overt injustice is harmful, the most pernicious form of injustice occurs when individuals or institutions claim to uphold justice while secretly violating the principles. This kind of “pretended justice” heavily connects on the inhumane traits and orders bestowed on the normal citizens by the people from the higher ranks of society. Though this “pretended justice” was gradually beginning to reveal its true colors, hence the lines in the first stanza; “I think that I shall not plant a tree, I shall not follow this decree, I’m neither cowardly nor brave, I just don’t wanna be a slave, of any mortal same as me!”,  the author slowly realized about the suppression he was under. The corruption happening was slowly being seen and heard by the public, this was mainly due to the bravery of J. Antonie Carpio, his determination and courage to act, through writing this poem despite the martial law currently  happening, it heavily encouraged people to open their eyes and minds. 

Keeping in mind that this poem was made during the Martial Law on September 21, 1972, the decree that they did not agree in, the position they did not agree on. In the second stanza it can be noticed that the author implied his enthusiasm although it did gradually turn into distress; “The thrill of growing what I chose－A pili, mango or a rose!”. The author describes the pili, mango or a rose as something he longs to be, he grew up being told that “you can be anyone you aspire to be” but why, why is he being oppressed to choose something he doesn’t want, this being the tree as described in the second stanza; “That’s why I will not plant a tree, I say－to hell with that decree!”. Upon recognizing that this poem is a physical representation of the effects of capitalism, it really opens a new perspective for us to fully comprehend the author’s purpose in writing this; to fight against injustice and abuse being tolerated. 

This has significantly raised awareness towards the complex issue; corruption which transcends national borders. This poem brings to light that corruption erodes trust in government institutions, as society becomes deceived with the lack of accountability and transparency in the system. The imposing of rules on the powerless while the rich and powerful benefit somewhat connects with the author's argument in the poem, “Why let the loggers roam at will, Denuding every virgin hill, Then let the burden on us fall? Where is the justice of it all?”. The author implied his palpable frustration towards the social injustices happening during this time. Additionally, also from the second stanza, the author also reminisced about his childhood; “Why should they rob me of the joy I’ve known since I was still a boy?”. In the poem, Carpio applied it in a way that can really make us comprehend that those with power can easily brainwash us to the point that we, the people, make it the norm (Schochet, 2004). They say their rules are good for us, for the economy, for the environment, but notice how they don't abide by their rules and laws? Indeed, it is beneficial for us, for the environment, but is it truly worth losing our rights and freedom to? As Wes Fesler said, “Hypocrisy is the audacity to preach integrity from a den of corruption” ; the boldness and brazenness of a hypocrite, who is willing to publicly advocate for integrity despite fully knowing their own wrongdoing. 

Furthermore, as J. Antonio Carpio's last line goes as; “Poems are made by fools like me, but greater fools made this decree!”. In the naked eye it may seem like the author critiques censorship and a defense of the value of poetry, there’s more. It takes into account that the politicians or the powerful try to make us do things, such as following the decree. With them implementing the rules and regulations, ironically, they are the ones not abiding to it, they are the ones who are allowing this type of environmental and social crisis to happen. This type of toleration doesn’t stop here, it extends to several facets in society, such as legal injustice and political injustice. 

We’ve come to understand that determination and perseverance are vital in our struggle against injustice and ignorance. Yet, when we adopt a holistic perspective on this issue, we recognize that some people may disagree. This disagreement often stems from the deep-seated oppression and practices that have long been tolerated—what we call the appeal to tradition. This rhetorical argument suggests that something is better simply because it has always been done that way. Consider this: we’ve been conditioned to believe that as ordinary citizens, we must obey those in power—the higher-ups in our systems. We strive to do good, to give back to our communities, but if that means supporting those who perpetuate harm, we must question the very nature of what we consider "good." Too often, we accept this narrative without challenge, allowing it to paralyze us into inaction. This uncritical adherence to tradition leads many to believe that customs are inherently valuable and should be preserved, even when they perpetuate injustice.

The poem “Trees” by J. Antonio Carpio greatly encapsulates his role in boosting morale during the Martial Law, thus resulting in encouraging people to stand up and speak up. According to Ecclesiastes 4:9, it is stated that “two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor”, I believe that together, we can learn from the poem that indeed, if we all speak up, in unity, we can stand against injustice and fight for equality and in return we can have the sense of freedom we all aim for. At the end of the day, Corruption is expressed in the mind and conscience (I Tim 6: 5, Titus 1: 15) and also in character (I Cor. 15: 33). We do not wish to abide not because we are negligent or disobedient, but because we know that a good conduct with wrong intentions should never foster. It only creates a domino effect of sins and hypocrisy. 

For a country to thrive in all aspects of society and the environment, it must first establish a foundation rooted in justice, integrity, and sustainable governance. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions hold the key to this. When a nation recognizes the critical need for peace and justice, it creates a ripple effect, paving the way for progress in every other area of development. J. Antonio Carpio’s poem "Trees" powerfully illustrates the damage caused by a broken system and how we, as a society, often conform to unnatural norms that compromise not only our well-being but also the environment. The systemic failure highlighted in the poem mirrors the very injustices that Sustainable Development Goal 16 seeks to address—where power structures fail to protect the vulnerable and instead contribute to the exploitation of natural resources. This leads us to  Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land which emphasizes the urgency of protecting our ecosystems, forests, and biodiversity. Addressing environmental injustices and the consequences of corruption in governance must become a shared responsibility. When we take action, not only do we combat deforestation and habitat destruction, but we also foster a culture of accountability that challenges the government’s failures and empowers citizens to demand meaningful change. In essence, Carpio’s poem serves as a stark reminder that achieving peace and justice is not just the cornerstone of societal development—it is the lifeblood of a sustainable future, where both humanity and nature can thrive together.

J. Antonio Carpio’s poem, while seemingly about the act of not planting trees, profoundly critiques corrupt governance and societal conformity. Through its masterful use of irony, satire, and intertextuality, Carpio unveils the deep flaws within environmental and political policies, resonating with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The poem employs the metaphor of trees to symbolize freedom and illegal logging to represent the erosion of rights under oppressive laws. Carpio’s work highlights the stark contrast between political promises and the reality of systemic failures. By parodying Joyce Kilmer’s celebrated poem, Carpio’s poem delivers a sharp criticism, highlighting that while poems may seemingly be the work of "fools," the true fool lies with those who impose unjust decrees. Ultimately, Carpio’s poem calls us to reflect on the true meaning of growth and freedom, urging us to nurture a society where the ideals of justice and integrity take root and flourish as steadfastly as the trees we aspire to plant, no matter what it may be.