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Legend of the Philippines
A long, long time ago, when the world was still young our country was one long island. The old people say that only higantes or giants lived here. The higantes didn’t like each other. They were always fighting. Everyday you could feel the ground shake and the trees tremble with their fighting.
One day, two higantes living at the opposite ends of the island began arguing. It started when one of them threw away bad coconut one giant was about to eat. The coconut hit the other giant’s head. This giant got very angry. “Hoy, why did you hit me with this coconut?” he shouted. The first giant shouted back, “How do you know I threw that coconut?”
Their shouts became louder and louder. The animals hid in the forest in fear. Even the other giants stopped at what they were doing and watched. The second giant scooped handfuls of soil and threw them at the other. But the giant ducked and he missed. The huge mounds of soil became the tall mountains and hill of our country. The first giant got very angry. He picked up some big rocks and threw them at his enemy. The rocks made holes in the land. The holes became filled with water and they became lakes and small seas.
Why Filipinos Have Flat Noses
Long ago people on earth did not have noses. They breathed through two small holes in located at the middle of the face. One day while Juan was playing with his friend, he fell into a muddy place and bumped his face. When he stood up, he noticed a handful of mud sticking to the middle of his face. But nobody could remove it so he gave up. From that time on Juan became more handsome on account of piece of mud on his face. Soon his friends began to envy him and they asked Juan about its cause. So he told them everything. Juan's friends followed what he had done. But alas, they were not able to have that piece of mud on their face. One time Juan was asked by his mother to go on an errand. On his way he fell to the ground and the piece of mud was thrown away. He tried all means to return the piece of mud on his face but all his efforts were in vain. One day Juan and his friends saw a boat anchoring near the shore not far from the village. At first they didn't mind what they saw, but when they heard that sailors carried with them plenty of noses, Juan and his friends and everyone rushed to the boat. Each one got a nose for himself. Of course, people from surrounding areas also came and made a scramble for the noses that were being given free. But, as the story goes, because Filipinos were short and could not run fast, they were the last to get their share of the noses. Unfortunately, the left-over noses were the flat ones. And it was the flat noses with the Filipinos, including Juan and his friends, were able to get. And that’s the reason why Filipinos have flat noses.
Legend - Why the Lanzones Are Sweet?
Today the lanzones are among the sweetest fruits in our country. Because of their rare sweetness, they are called the "Queen of Philippine Fruits."
Long, long ago, however, the lanzones were not sweet, as they are today. In fact, they were very sour, like vinegar. During those early years they grew in wild abundance in our town and in other towns in the Baybay region. Nobody cared to gather them, much less eat them because of their sour taste. Even the pigs, carabaos, and birds refused to eat them.
One sunny morning a beautiful lady arrived in Pagsanjan. She rested at a little tienda (sari-sari store) near the western entrance of the town. Seeing numerous ripe lanzones hanging from the branch of trees growing around the store, she asked the old woman who was the store owner: "What is the name of those beautiful fruits? They must be nice to eat."
"Lanzones po, señora," replied the old woman, "but they are not good to eat. Nobody eats them."
"Why?"
"Because they are sour."
"That cannot be true," answered the beautiful lady. "With such pretty skin with the color of gold, they must be delicious."
"My dear lady," said the woman, "if you doubt my word, eat them yourself."
During the conversation between the beautiful lady and the store owner, many curious spectators, men, women, and children, came to the store. They were attracted by the beauty of the mysterious lady. They all laughed when they heard the lady said that the lanzones must be delicious to eat. The beautiful lady approached the nearest tree and plucked a bunch of ripe lanzones. She took out one fruit, pinched it, removed its skin, and ate it. Smilingly, she turned to the crowd at the store saying: "Very delicious." She continued eating, to the great amazement of the gaping people who expected her to throw away the sour fruits.
After getting more bunches of lanzones, the beautiful lady said good-bye to the surprised people and merrily continued walking towards the town of Lumban. The Pagsanjeños were spellbound. They could hardly believe what they had seen and heard.
No sooner had the strange lady gone away than they rushed to the lanzones tree. They ate the fruits and lo! The lanzones tasted very sweet. The lady was right. "But how come that the sour lanzones suddenly became sweet?" they asked each other. A young woman, the prettiest belle of the town, happened to examine the sweet lanzones she was eating and cried in great joy: "Look! Look at the lanzones! There's an imprint of the lady's finger-mark in them!"
The people pursued the lady to thank her for the miracle. They ran up to the town of Lumban, but saw no trace of the beautiful lady. They asked an old boatman who was sitting at the river bank if he had seen a beautiful lady. "What beautiful lady?" he answered. "I've been sitting here all morning. The only woman who crossed the river was my termagant wife. And she's neither beautiful nor a lady."
The Pagsanjeños returned to their town very much mystified. They asked every one they met in town: "Who was that beautiful lady who miraculously made the lanzones sweet? And why did she disappear before we can thank her?" Suddenly, a little girl twelve years old jumped in joyous excitement, screaming: "Yes, I know. She's Our Lady of Guadalupe! I remember now she looks exactly like our beautiful patroness."
"Yes," everybody said in unison. "She must be our miraculous Virgin of Guadalupe!"
Thus it came to pass that by pinching the sour lanzones and leaving her fingerprint on them, the Virgin had transformed the sour lanzones into one of the sweetest fruits of the Philippines.
Legend of Pagsanjan Falls
The Pagsanjan Falls, which foreign visitors acclaim as "enchanting" and "gorgeous", is rich in legendary lore. Long, long ago, recounts one legend, there were no falls. There were only the foliaged highlands, the twin rivers, called Bumbungan and Balanac, and the alluvial delta (where the town of Pagsanjan now nestles). On the eastern bank of the Bumbungan River lived two old brothers named Balubad and Magdapio.
For many years, the two brothers enjoyed a rustic life of peace and happiness. But one day calamity struck. A terrible drought brought ruin and death. No rains came for successive months. The soil became dry as tinder. The blooming flowers and food plants withered and died. The birds, deer, wild hogs, monkeys, and other animals disappeared. The rivers, creeks, and mineral springs dried up. Not a single drop of life-giving rain fell from heaven.
Balubad and Magdapio suffered immensely. Day and night, they prayed for rain, but the gods did not heed their prayers. The older and weaker of the two brothers, Balubad, died of thirst. Magdapio, with a sorrowing heart, buried him on the slope of the mountain overlooking the river delta. This mountain is now called Balubad.
Left alone in a waterless world, Magdapio agonizingly trekked to the upper region of the arid riverbed. He reached the high rocky cliffs, after an arduous journey. To his utter disappointment, he found no water.
"Ye gods!" he sobbed bitterly, "Where is the water?" In despair, he angrily hurled down his big cane among the rocks.
Suddenly, a spring bubbled on the spot where the cane fell. Rapidly it grew bigger. The fresh waters roared down the canyon walls, soon becoming a booming waterfall. Amazed at the miracle, Magdapio fell on his knees and thanked the gods. He drank the cool water until he felt new energy surging in his blood. Thus emerged the world famous Pagsanjan Falls.
Legend of Bunot Lake
During routine patrol work some Spanish soldiers came upon a quiet lagoon and would wish to know its name for record purposes. They inquired from a man husking coconuts by the side of the lake. Thinking that the soldiers were asking for the native name of the coconut husk the man replied “Bunot”. The Spanish soldiers left thinking that it was the name of their newly discovered lake.
Legend of Lake Kalibato
A former rich valley criss-crossed by rocky pathways to enable hunters to catch up with their wild prey as well as to facilitate their homeward trek, this little lagoon is now known as Lake Kalibato. It appeared that this rich valley use to be the domain of a diwata who had wanted to keep her realm free from intrusion of mankind. She did not want her wild game and her fruit trees to be molested by mortal man. Thus she was angered when they built rocky pathways that criss-cross her valley. She caused a strong earthquake and a severe storm that transformed the valley into a lagoon. The villagers living on the other side of the surrounding hills, gaping at the sight they beheld the following morning, named it Lake Kalibato. The name was taken from the criss-crossing pathways of the valley, Kali must have been a corruption of the Spanish Calle or street, while bato means rock or stone.
Legend of Twin Lakes Yambo and Pandin
Once upon a time there lived a very rich couple in a beautiful house surrounded by a widespread fruit orchard and a beautiful flower garden. They had all that money could buy. Despite the rich comfort and conveniences of life that they had been heir to, the couple were still very lonely and childless. They had prayed continuously that if they would be favored with a child they would do anything they might be asked to do.
After twenty years of married life their prayer was answered. A fair lady showed up to inform them that their prayer would be granted provided that the baby to be born should not be allowed to set foot on Mother Earth. If it should happen something terrible would befall the family. A daughter was born to the rejoicing couple and they named her Pandin. She grew up to be a beautiful girl and all these years she had never set foot on Mother Earth.
One day an ardent suitor named Yambo came along at the time when the girl was sewing. Yambo invited her to come down from the house and promenade with him about the green orchard but the girl objected. Suddenly the man grabbed the ball of thread and threw it out the window and would not listen to the pleadings of the girl to retrieve the ball for she could not get it herself. Angrily, the girl forgot her parent’s instruction and got out of the house to get the ball of thread. She had hardly stepped on Mother Earth when a terrible noise followed by the cracking of the earth and the ground was broken into forming twin lagoons separated from each other by a bare strip of land. Learning about the fate of the two lovers, the people of the nearby village named one lagoon Pandin and the other Yambo.
Legend of Lake Muhikap
Once upon a time there was a couple who had a very sickly daughter named Munica. The couple was very religious and prayed unceasingly to God for the good health of their only child. They made a promise to do anything if God would answer their prayer. God granted the prayer on condition that Munica must not set her feet on Mother Earth.
One day Munica was sewing and the ball of thread she was using fell to the ground and Munica recovered it. She suddenly sank with the entire neighborhood and a lagoon was formed. The lake was called Muhikap in honor of the unfortunate and industrious girl. The name was taken from Munica and Mahikap meaning industrious.
Legend of Palakpakin
A few kilometers north of San Pablo proper was a village which had become know for its ancient tree which had a hollow trunk. The villagers had it that on moonlit nights they could see a beautiful red-haired lady washing her long hair with the hollow trunk serving as her wash basin. The tree was called Palakpak. There was a river nearby where a big fish appeared each night that the beautiful lady was around. The villagers would not dare catch the fish believing that it must be her pet. One day stranger came to the village. He tried to solve the mystery about the red-haired lady and the big fish. And so one moonlit night he waited for her appearance. Seeing the lady in her pristine glory, the stranger approached her. All of a sudden there was a thunder and lightning. The earth quaked with terrible intensity while the river swelled alarmingly into a lake. Both the beautiful lady and the fish were gone but in their place was a lake nurtured with large quantities of shrimps which when cooked turned red. The material well-being of the villagers having been uplifted, they since had affectionately called their village Palakpakin and their principal source of livelihood was Hipong Palakpakin.
Legend of Sampaloc Lake
San Pablo, a picturesque and progressive city in Southeastern Luzon, is sometimes known as the City of the Seven Lakes. All of the seven lakes are rich with tales of their respective origins. A favorite story is that of Sampaloc Lake -- the largest and most beautiful of the seven lakes.
Once upon a time there lived in the northern side of San Pablo, a well-to-do but childless couple. They had a large garden of tamarind trees that bore the sweetest fruit in all the land. Many people from far and wide heard of the tamarind trees. And many of them wanted to taste the sweet tamarind fruit. The couple felt very proud of their rich possession. They built a fence around their yard so that no stranger can pick any of the tamarind fruit. Just to make sure that no one could enter their yard, they had a big watchdog to guard the yard.
God wanted to test the hospitality of the couple. And so, one day a fairy, disguised as an old beggar bent and wrinkled with age, approached the couple's garden and begged for some fruit. "Please give me some tamarind fruit. I am hungry," the old woman pleaded. The old couple did not even look at the old woman. "Begone! We don't want to give any of our tamarind fruit away!" replied the couple angrily. "Please, I am so hungry, and a fruit or two will satisfy me," the old beggar pleaded. "I know your tamarind trees are laden with the most delicious fruit." Then, without any further ado, the old woman came near one of the large trees. She stretched out her wrinkled, skinny hand to pluck a curly thick pod hanging from one of the lower branches.
Upon seeing what the old beggar had done, the couple grew angry. They became so angry that they hurried back to their house, let their big dog loose, and set it on the poor woman. Alas, the poor woman was badly bitten. Patiently, the old beggar bore her pains. But before turning away from that inhospitable spot, she touched the tamarind tree and, looking at the couple, said, "You shall be punished for your selfishness." Then she went slowly on her way. Even before the old woman was out of sight, the sky became overcast. In a short while a terrible storm broke out, and heavy rain fell through the night.
The following morning all was peaceful. The man and his wife went out for their daily round as usual. They had hardly taken a few steps when, to their surprise, instead of the tall and green tamarind trees, there stretched before their unbelieving eyes a vast expanse of water shining in the morning sun.
Still unconvinced about what had happened, the couple went forward up to the bank of what now appeared to be a natural lake. And, wonder of wonders, they saw through the transparent water the dark mass of tamarind trees still rooted to the sunken ground!
From that day on, the place became known as "Sampaloc Lake" -- "sampaloc" being the Tagalog word for "tamarind".
Legend of Maria Makiling
Makiling is one of the most famous mountains in the archipelago and with that comes a lot of folklore and legends about the mountain and the goddess that lives in the mountain, Mariang Makiling. In fact people living within the towns under the shadow of the mountains have always described the silhouette of the mountain peak as that of Makiling lying down.
One of the famous stories is about an enchanted woman who lived in the quiet woods at the foot of Mt. Makiling. The people named her Maria Makiling because of where she lived. She was a young and beautiful woman. The beauty abundance and serenity of this enchanted place complimented her rare qualities. She was kind and compassionate to the town people. She shared the full and rich abundance of her enchanted places; fishes in the lake, food and crops, fruits and trees. All were for free. People could borrow from her whatever they need, whatever they wanted. Her kindness was known far and wide. One afternoon, a hunter came by and wandered into her kingdom. When he saw her beauty, he fell in love with her and she too felt the same way for him. They met and talk everyday and promised to love each other forever. Until one day Maria waited for him but he did not come. Maria discovered that he found a real woman and got married. She was very sad and frustrated. She felt deeply hurt and realized that the town people could not be trusted because she was different from them and they were just using her. Forgiving was really difficult. Her sadness and frustration turned into anger that she refused to give fruits to the trees. Animals and birds were no more. Fish no longer abound the lakes. People seldom saw her. It was only during g pale moonlit nights that they sometimes see her.
Another story is about three suitors who intensely battled for the heart of Makiling. One was a Spanish soldier, another, a Spanish-Filipino mestizo and the third, a Filipino farmer named Juan. In the end the Filipino won the heart of Maria Makiling which angered the two other suitors. They have plotted to kill him through a fire that broke down on the garrison, which they blamed against Filipinos including Juan. They shot Juan as punishment and before dying he shouted the name of Maria. Maria went down in the mountain and cursed the two as well as the other men who cannot accept failure in love then she went back in the mountains never to be seen again. The Spanish soldier died during the revolution while the mestizo died of illness. When somebody gets lost in the mountains, people attribute it to the curse on Makiling.
The Makahiya
Once there lived a rich couple, Mang Dondong and Aling Iska. They had a twelve-year-old daughter whose name was Maria. They loved their daughter so dearly.
Maria was a dutiful and obedient daughter. Industrious and kind, she made herself endeared to everybody.
But shyness was also one of maria's distinct characteristics. She was also shy that talking to people posed a great burden to her. In order to avoid encountering people, she usually locked herself in the room.
Maria had a flower garden. The flowers were beautiful and known all over the town. She took care of the plants patiently and tenderly. For the flower plants were her source of enjoyment and happiness.
One day a group of bandits raided a nearby village. The bandits killed every man they found at took the money of the residents.
The next day the bandits came to the village where Mang Dondong and Aling Iska and their daughter Maria lived. Mang Dondong noticed at once the arrival of the bandits Fearing for Maria's safety, he decided to hide Maria in the garden, which he did.
Aling Iska hid herself in the house. She trembled with fear when she heard the bandits forcing their way to the gate. Then she prayed, preparing for whatever would happen.
"Oh my God!" prayed Aling Iska. "Save my daughter."
Suddenly the door opened. The bandits enered the house and hit Mang Dondong on the head. Mang Dondong lost consciousness and fell on the floor. Aling Iska tried to escape but was also hit in the head.
The bandits ransacked every place in the house. After taking the money and jewelry, they searched for Maria. But Maria was nowehere to be found. So the bandits left th house to plunder another village.
When Mang Dondong and Aling Iska regained consciousness, the bandits had left already. THey quickly ran to the garden to look for Maria. But maria was not there. Again and again, they searched every corner in the garden but poor Maria could not be found.
"My poor daughter! They took my poor daughter!" wept Aling Iska.
All of a sudden felt something that pricked his feet. To his surprise, he saw a tiny plant quickly closing its leaves. It was the first time he saw that kind of plant. He knelt on his knees and took a close look at the plant. Aling Iska did the same. After looking at the plant for a long time, the couple came to the belief that the plant was Maria. For indeed Maria has been transformed by God into a plant to save her from the bandits.
Aling Iska wept uncontrollably and to Mang Dondong's amazement, every tear was transformed into a small and rosy flower of the new plant they found in the garden.
Since then Mang Dondong and Aling Iska tended the plant with utmost care. They knew what the plant was, in reality, their child Maria. And, like their child, the plant was very shy. So they called the plant "makahiya" because it showed it showed an important characteristic of Maria -shyness - which in Tagalog means "makahiya".
The Legend of Sapang Bato
Many many years have passed but the beautiful story of Sapang Bato is still unknown to most people. The time has come for everyone to know the story and the secret of Sapang Bato.
There once lived in a place called Sapang Bato a beautiful maiden named Claudia. She had many suitors, but she liked Badillo most of all. Badillo was a farmer. He was kind, thoughtful, and industrious.
The love of the two for each other knew no bounds. They were faithful to each other, and they vowed that they would love each other till the end of time.
Unfortunately, Claudia's father, Mang Borong, did not look with favor on Badillo's courtship. For he had another suitor of Claudia in mind as the better son-in-law. Anselmo was the name of the suitor who, by the way, Claudia did not like, much less love.
One day before sunrise, Badillo, as usual, went to the farm to work. Before leaving, he left word with his younger brother to take his breakfast to the place of work. Badillo worked for sometime.
Later that morning, Badillo's brother came carrying Badillo's meal. After eating, Badillo noticed his brother crying.
"Why are you crying?" asked Badillo.
The brother hesitated at first, but Badillo prodded him on and soon the former wass relating what he had discovered which was the reason why he was crying.
"This morning, Anselmo's parents went to see Claudia's parents," the brother began. "They asked for Claudia's hands in marriage to their son Anselmo."
"How did you come to know about this?" Badillo asked.
"Happened to be passing by Anselmo's house," the boy replied. "I heard everything because they talked very loud. I even heard Claudia's voice - alas, sge was crying."
"Did Claudia refuse?" asked Badillo this time.
"Yes, she refused," the boy said. "But what could she do? You know how cruel her father is. Her pleas were all in vain. In short, she had to follow Mang Borong's wish, whether she liked it or not."
"And what was Mang Borong's wish?"
"To have Claudia get married to Anselmo tomorrow morning, at 6 o'clock," the boy answered.
The preparations of the wedding were elaborate and quite expensive. Many of Claudia's friends came to help to decorate the house and do many things. In order to be sure that Claudia's wedding gown would turn out to be more elegant, the town's four best dressmakers joined hands in preparing it.
Amidst the busy preparations, Claudia managed somehow to be left alone in her room. Then from her trunkk she took a small box.
It was late in the evening when it was discovered that Claudia was nowhere to be found. She could not be found in her room. She could not be found elsewhere in the house. Everybody became jittery. Even Claudia's father collapsed when he learned of his missing daughter. He had to be given first aid treatment.
Afterwards, a young maiden, one of Claudia's close friends, came upon a letter under Claudia's pillow. She gave the letter at one to Mang Berong. The letter reads as follows:
"Father, it is sweeter to die than to marry a man I don't love. Maybe in death, I shall find happiness. I will wait for my one and only love, Badillo, in heaven. Goodbye and forgive me. Claudia."
Without any further delay, Mang Berong left the house to look for her daughter. Just a little beyond the house, he saw Anselmo coming. He was riding in a cart.
"Where are you going, Mang Berong?" asked Anselmo.
"To look for Claudia," replied Mang Berong.
Anselmo turned pale. Turning to some of the men, he asked them to join him in the search for Claudia. They immediately followed Mang Berong who had already left. Other search parties were organized. The search went on in the dark of night.
It was Anselmo's group which found the dead bodies of Claudia and Badillo. With a sad and heavy heart, he ordered the men to take the bodies to Claudia's home. It was a night of sorrow and tears.
The next morning on the spot where the bodies of Claudia and Badillo were found, there was discovered a rock bearing the form of a man and that of a woman. THe people could not help uttering the names of Claudia and Badillo.
Later on, barrio folks started to build their homes near the spot. The place soon grew into a village and the residents also grew in number. This place is now called Sapang Bato.
The Legend of the Upo Plant
Once upon a time a wild specie of the upo plant grew in the garden of Tandang Teban. When the old man saw the growing plant, he carefully entwined the stem around a small bamboo post to make a trellis for the plant.
The plant did not like the idea of the old man. It wanted to grow freely like any other plant. So the plant talked to the wind.
"My friend, look at me," the plant preaded. "I am a mere slave of mang Teban. I need your help. I want to frow freely like the grasses and the plants around me. Look at the banana, the rose, the sampaguita, and the other plants in this yard. They are free. So my friend, I beg you to blow hard and loosen the tie around my body till it breaks."
"Your request is not just," replied the wind, "but if that is what you like, I will do what you please." So the wind blew hard. It blew hard some more, thus breaking the knot around the body of the upo.
"Thank you," said the upo gratefully. The vine then crawled freely on the ground.
Just then a dog that was looking for a piece of bone came along. The dog stepped heavily on the small vines and was able to find the bone. In taking the bone away, the dog also carried a part of the vine to a far distance. The poor plant not only became short; every part of it was damaged.
When Tandang Teban visited his upo plant next morning, he saw the poor state of the plant. At once he tied the plant to a thin bamboo post. The plant drew a deep sigh of relief.
After a few days, Mang Teban arranged a trellis for the upo to sling its vines on. The plant blossomed. The leaves gave shade while the flowers and fruits gave joy to those who saw them.
One time the wind blew hard and played with the leaves of the upo. The plant requested the wind to blow softly so that the plant would not fall down.
"When you were still a small plant, you asked me to set you free from the bamboo post so you may crawl freely on the ground," the wind replied. "Now you request me to spare you. YOu sound funny indeed."
"I had an unforgettable experience," said the upo. "I know now that all creatures have their own ways of living on earth. Experience is the best teacher."
Legend of the Black Cat
A long time ago, in a village, was a boy that had a very dark skin. This boy was always in trouble and he was not very popular with the villagers for this, specially because he ued to steal from them all of their possessions.
No one in the village knew nothing about the boy, all they knew was all of their items started to disappear when he came into the village. The villagers grew tired of the boy's actions, so they decided to get together and punish him.
The whole village agreed to punish him with a spell and make him crawl in his four, so he would beg for forgiveness, but not to get any. But for the villagers to know that this new creature is the boy, had to be unsightly and would carry the stigma of being a bad luck charm.
After a few days when the spell was done, all the people started to see a black cat walking around, and everyone knew that saw it, would shooed the black cat off.
Another superstition in the Phillipine, says that if you kill a black cat on a Good Friday at midnight, bury it, and in the following year, you have to exhume it at that same day and time, the remains of the cat will have magical powers.
Legend of the First Butterflies
The legend of the first butterflies say that there was upon a time in a village, an old woman used to have a beautiful flower garden by the shore of a lake. The fishermen from around the nearby villages were in love with her and used to come to her and exchange their fishes from flowers.
Everyone in the village noticed something magical about her, because at night her house had a magical glow and once in a while some dwarfs were seen helping a beautiful young woman work in the garden. One day a young couple, very proud I must add, visited the village were the old woman lived, and while walking around, noticed the old woman's beautiful flower garden.
The couple decided to get inside the garden and grab some bouquets, when the old woman sees this, walks out of her house and ask the couple to leave, when they turn around to see who was talking to them, they make fun of her and ignore her. Then the old woman, insulted, touches the couple with her cane saying:
"Since you love beautiful things, you will live from now on as beautiful insects".
And that day was created the butterflies came to be, who always are found near beautiful flowers.
Legend of the First Monkey
The First monkey legend from the Philippines says that a long time ago, a young girl lived in a forest who was an apprentice of the Goddess Of Weaving, who always looked over the young girl.
One day the Goddess called the girl and ask her to make a dress made of cotton. The young girl had no idea in how to make this, and so the Goddess explain it to her: Clean the cotton, beat it, spin it, weave it into cloth, cut it and finally sew it.
What the Goddess didn't know it was that the girl was lazy and thought that making a dress was a lot of work. Believing it would be easier, she just took the leather cloth used to beat the cotton and wore it, plus also it would last longer than the cotton.
When the Goddess asked the girl to show her the dress, she got furious to find out what the girl didn't do what she was asked. As punishment the Goddess made the leather stick to the poor girl's skin and the beating stick became her tail.
Legend of the First Spider
The Philippine legend of the first spider gives an explanation in how spiders are well know for various tings, for example, always climb high heights, or why they are usually weaving their webs pretty much everywhere.But how is that spiders began to start weaving webs?.
The myths says that a long time ago, a young woman named Gamba was very good spinning threads to turn them into cloth, weaving it to create dresses. She would finish the dress in no time, always being of a stunning quality, and take more orders right away.
Gamba never stopped working and weaving, lots of nights she stayed awake working and weaving, to the point that even her mother was worry about her. Gamba was so absorbed with her weaving tools, that even seems that she worship them.
The myth of the first spider says that one day, Gamba went to town to get new threads, when her mother noticed that one of the curtains had a tear, and the mother realized that was the same curtain she asked Gamba to repair. Feeling that Gamba neglected her request, she took a needle and thread from her daughter to fix it herself.
When Gamba came back and saw what her mother did, she got really upset and confronted her mother, showing no respect at all. The mother was offended for this, and full of anger told Gamba:
"If all you care about is weaving, but not your own mother, be damned with an eternal life of weaving!"
As soon as her mother told her this, Gamba turned into a weaving insect, the mother, on the memory of her daughter, called the insect "Gagamba" (Spider in the vernacular).
Legend of the Coconut Tree
The coconut tree or palm is consider on the Philippines the second national tree, also is the only one that is 100% usable (people use the fruit, leafs and the trunk). Let me tell you the Coconut tree legend.
One legend says that a long time ago, in the kingdom of Bangonansa Polangui (Kingdom by the River), used to have a kind Ruler, but the kingdom was better know for her beautiful daughter Putri Timbang-Namat.
From all over the seven seas admirers came to see Putri, but she wanted no one. When the Ruler saw all the pretenders, but not interest from her daughter, he told her:
"I want a baby boy to take my place when I die, I would love to carry him and see him before I'm gone". And so, he decided to create a contest to decided who would marry Putri.
But what the Ruler didn't know, it's that Putri met a young gardener in the Palace garden with the name of Wata-Mama. One day Wata told his past to Putri, that he was a royal descent, but that his father was killed by his uncle and he was vanished out of his kingdom when he was three. Putri answered: "We love each other, that's all matters".
One of Putri's pretenders saw her with wata and got jealous, so one night he hid on a dark corner and waited for the lovers, when he saw them walking near him, he struck Wata's head, cutting it off. Putri, fearless, picked up his lover's head.
Putri buried Wata's head and aftewr a few days she noticed a tiny plant growing on the spot the head was buried, and suddenly grew into a big tree, reaching Putri's window, also it produced a fruit of the size of a man's head.
Legend of the Dama de Noche Plant
The Dama de Noche says that there was upon a time, a nobleman who was used to live careless, going to parties every night, drinking and eating and spending his nights with different women.
One night while sitting on his luxurious mansion, the nobleman started to realize that his life was empty, and all of those crazy nights were growing old. With this in mind, embarks in a journey in look for a woman to spend the rest of his life with. After visiting a lot of villages, he finds the perfect woman, and it's called Dama.
Dama and the nobleman get married and live happy... At first. Dama used to cook and clean for him, but this was not enough for the nobleman anymore. One night the nobleman told Dama she was not good enough for him and went back to his old life. Dama was devastated, crying, went back to the bedroom, and looking to the sky through the window, asked the spirits for help so she won't lose her husband.
Later that night the nobleman came back to his house calling Dama to fix his nightclothes, but she was nowhere to be found. After looking for all over the mansion, he came back to the bedroom, when a sweet smell coming from the window grabbed his attention, he walked to check the window and saw a bush growing in the window, with lots of small white flowers spreading that sweet smell, capturing the nobleman with it.
Dama never came back and the nobleman waited for her return in that window, with only the smell of the flower as company.
Another version of the legend of Dama de Noche says that a beautiful princess used to live a long time ago. Since she was a baby, she could connect with people's emotions. If someone was happy in the house, she would laugh, if there was a sad person, then she would cry.
This beautiful baby was named Dama (in the dialect, mean "Feel", making referencer to her gift of feels other people's feelings).
Also, Dama loved perfumes, when she was a teenager, she would play with different flowers to create various perfumes, and the legend says that Dama even had her own fresh smell, specially at night, which made her have lots of suitors.
One day, Dama got really sick, as days went by, her health was deteriorating, not even the best medics of the Barangay could do something, finally dying. Her funeral was full of garlands of flowers, and her body bathed in perfume, being buried on her vast garden.
The legend says that one night a unique flower started to grow from Dama's grave that had a really sweet fragrance at night. People started to say that the flower was Dama's paying a visit to them, as time went by, the flower was know as Dama De Noche (Dama of the Night).
Legend of the First Garlic
The legend of the first garlic says that there was upon a time, a Maiden with beauty never seen before. When she was old enough, her mother arrange her wedding with the richest Datus in the village. So beautiful she was that she had a few men after her, and one of them murderer her fiance, who also was killed by the fiance's loyal slave.
When the Maiden knew about this deaths, sad and broken hearted ran to the very top of the Sacred Mountain, where she prayed on her knees to Bathala to take her with him,so her beauty would not be reason for any more deaths. Bathala listening to her prayers, decided to call her forth, and with a lightning, she was killed.
With pain in her soul, her mother buries her, watering the tomb of her beloved daughter with her tears. Then one day the Mother notices some grass-like plants growing on her daughter's grave. Trying to clean it, she pulls them out and realize that the seeds looked like her daughter's teeth. While she was admiring them, a voice out of nowhere said to her:
"Those are your daughter's teeth"
In her heart, the Mother knew it was Bathala giving her a memento to remind her of her daughter. The next day the Mother plants the seeds all over the land, in a way to spread the memory of her daughter.
Legend of the Pineapple
The Origin of Pineapple will give you the answer of why the pineapples have many dots that look like human eyes, please read it and share it with your friends:
The legend says that a long time ago on a fruit plantation there was a pretty little girl called Pina, who lived with her hard working mother. Pina was a spoiled girl who got everything she wanted, and never did any chores, and just used to play all the time.
Every time Pina's mother asked her to do a chore, she started but stopped halfway and laid it aside for tomorrow, but tomorrow never came, instead she started to play, using excuses for not finish what she was asked to.
Now, there are two versions of the origin of pineapple, one version says that her mother asked her to get some shoes from under the hut. When Pina went down to look for the shoes, she found a doll and started to play with it.
When her mother asked her again for the shoes, Pina replied: "I can't see them!", making her mother upset, so after shouting invectives, she said: "May you grow dozens of eyes!". After saying that Pina was nowhere to be found.
Trying to find Pina, everyone on the fruit plantation looked for her, having no luck. When her mom was losing hope, she was sitting on her backyard crying, when she noticed a very special plant growing in there. She looked closer and noticed that it was covered with eyes, which made her realized that this plant was Pina, who was transformed thanks to her own curse. The the mother called this plant Pinya (pineapple).
The other version of the origin of pineapple says that one day the mother was very sick, and could not do anything, so she asked Pina to cook some rice for her, but when Pina went to the kitchen, she couldn't find the utensils, at some point even stop looking, her mother then yelled at her: "I hope you grow a thousand eyes so you can find whatever I ask you to find!".
After a long time, the mother noticed that Pina never replied and the house was really silent, and she started to cry for her daughter, but only the neighbors were the ones that responded.
After some days passed by, Pina's mother asked everyone on the fruit plantation about her daughter, but no one knew where she was. One day while cleaning the backyard, the mother noticed a fruit of the size of a kid's head that sprung from the ground, and thought it was funny that this fruit had a thousand black eyes.
When she saw it a little bit closer, she that it was Pina, who was transformed for the curse she put on her that day. And so, to honor her memory, the mother decided to take the seeds of the fruit and planted them, and when there was a lot of this fruit, she gave them away to everyone.
Legend Why the Sea became Salty
The legend of why sea became salty says that a long time ago, there was a giant that used to live in one of the islands next to the nice people, this giant was very generous and always gave them salt to prepare very tasty meals.
One day, the ocean was very agitated and the people could not go to the giant's island for some salt, the days passed by and the sea was still very rough, eventually they ran out of salt for their food and started to find a way to go and get it. A child gave them the idea to ask the gentle giant to stretch one of his legs so they could cross the ocean and get the salt they needed.
The giant accepted the idea, but when he stretched his leg, he didn't notice that landed on an anthill. This made the ants furious and started to bite the poor giant's leg, the giant, in pain, asked the people to hurry.
As soon as the people made it to the other side, the giant gave them sacks full of salt. When they were done the giant stretched his leg one more time, landing, again on the anthill.
The giant in more pain than before, begged to the people to hurry because the ants were biting him again, but the sacks were so heavy that slowed down the people. Sadly before the people were able to reach their own village, the giant in a scream of pain moved his leg to the ocean so the ants won't bite him anymore, throwing the people and the sacks of salt in it.
The giant saw the people drowning and in a quick move save them, but the salt melted in the ocean, that at that time didn't have any taste, making it salty.
Legend why the Sun follows the Moon
The legend of why Sun follows moon from the Philippines says that a long time ago, before even humans lived in the land, the sun and the moon were married and shared the sky.
The moon decided to go and pick up some vegetables to the forest, leaving the sun in charge of their children, but not before warning him not to get close to them, or they would get burned.
The sun, at a safe distance, look over the children, that were sleeping, but he had the urge to kiss them, that he forgot the moon's warning and bended over to kiss them, and when he got close, horrified, sees how they started to melt.
When his wife the moon came back from the forest, she found out that all of her children melted, with the sun nowhere to be found. Time went by and finally the sun decided to come back home, what started as an apologize, ended up in a fight, finishing with the sun throwing the vegetables at the moon's face, who left him forever.
Now even after a lot of years has passed, you can see on the moon's face some vegetables from that fight, all of her children became stars, and still in an attempt to be together again, the sun follows the moon.
The First Rainbow Legend
The Rainbow legend says that a long time ago, there was a farmer that had a small farm. One day he realizes that one of the walls he built a couple of days ago keeps getting knocked down by someone or something, tired of this happening he decided to wait and catch the responsible.
One evening while he was in guard he heard something strange near that wall, then he ran and surprises three star maidens. When they saw the farmer they ran trying to escape, two were able to do it while one was left behind.
The farmer then got a hold of the star maiden and felt in love with her, afraid that she would run away from him, he thinks in a way to stop this from happening, which is hide her magical wings.
Time went by and the farmer and star maiden got married and were blessed with the birth of a beautiful baby boy. They were happy for a long time, until one day that in one of the star maiden's walk she found her magical wings near their house. She then thinks on her sisters and how much fun they use to have, and with this in mind she wears her wings back and with her son next to her, she flew back to her sisters leaving the farmer heart broken.
The gods saw this and felt pity for the tears of the farmer, so they decided to build a way for him to climb to the sky and see his son and wife, making a bridge of different colors.
Another version of the rainbow legend says that one day Bathala planned a journey to Earth to visit his faithful people. He called his children to bid them farewell. All of them came but Bighari, the Goddess of Flowers.
Bathala, who valued promptness, became angry because this was not the first time that Bighari missed their gathering. Thus, he banished her from their heavenly kingdom.
Bighari, at that time, was at her garden on Earth. She wept bitterly when she was told of her banishment. But she sought to cope with her sorrow by causing her garden to bloom profusely.
The legend of the rainbow says that the people that used to live around her garden grew to love her more and more for bringing beauty to their lives. They resolved, after a time, to build her a bower so that they could see her garden even from a long distance.
And so they built it, and decked it all over with colorful blooms. Thereafter, whenever Bighari would travel, people would see her colorful bower against the sky.
Mayon Volcano Legend
The legend of the Mayon volcano says that a long time ago, there used to live a beautiful girl called Darang Magayon, who had many guys after her from various tribes, one of them was Pagtuga, the tribal chief from Iriga, who was also a great hunter. But Darang Magayon was not interested on him.
One day, Darang Magayon was bathing in the Yaw river, and she slipped on the rocks. She did not knew how to swim, but then Panganoron, son of Rajah Karilaya, from the Tagalogs, saved her while he was walking by the river.
After saving her life, Panganoron started to court her, and after some days she finally accepted his proposal, and so Panganoron decided to ask Darang Magayon's father, Rajah Makusong for her hand in matrimony. The father accepted him.
The legend says that when Pagtuga heard of the news he got very angry, so he decided to kidnapped Rajah Makusong and took him to the mountains, then he told everyone that he would release him if Darang Magamon would marry him. Afraid that Pagtuga would hurt her father, she accepted to be his wife.
When Panganon knew about the situation , he asked to his warriors to follow him to the mountains to fight against Panganoron. The battle was fierce. Panganoron killed Pagtuga, but later he was killed by an arrow thrown by one of Pagtuga's warriors. Sadly another arrow pierced Darang Magayon when she was running to the arms of his love, killing her.
After the battle was over, Rajah Makusong dug a grave and laid the bodies of both lovers in it. As days passed by, people who went to the grave to pay respect, saw that the grave was rising, turning into a land form and they started to call it Mayon (short for Mayon).
While some says that the eruptions on the Mayon volcano, are the sings of the love between the lovers. Other says that the spirit of Darang Magayon lives on the volcano, and the spirit of Panganoron lives on the clouds above, and all year long disperse rain to keep the flowers and plants fresh, so it stays beautiful.