LEGEND
Anghel sa Kalangitan
(alamat kung bakit umuulan)
Nooong unang panahon ang mga tao sa mundo ay nagtataka kung bakit umuulan. Umaga hanggang gabi ay nag-iisip sila, subalit wala ni isa sa kanila ang makapagsabi. Ngunit isang araw, ang kanilang katanungan ay umabot sa Diyos. Sabi ng Bathala.” Gabriyel, magtungo kasa mundo at sabihin mo sa mga tao na umuulan dahil ang mga anghel ay naliligo. Dahil dito pumunta si Gabriyel, sa mundo ng mga tao at sinabi sa mga tao na umuulan dahil naliligo ang mga anghel. At pagkatapos noon ay bumalik na si Gabriel sa langit.
ANG DALAWANG BUNBOK
(alamat ng dalawang bundokna nakatayo sa karatagan sa pagitan ng Zamboanga at Jolo.)
Noong unang panahon, may isang mag-asawang bagong kasal lamang. Gustong-gusto nilang bisitahin ang mga magulang sa Zamboanga. Isang araw, nagpaalam sila sa mga magulang ng babae na pupunta sila sa Zamboanga. Nang sila ay payagan, hiniram nila ang vinta at layag ng ama ng babae.Inayos ng lalaki ang vinta at layag. Sinibukan niya ang layag na ito at maayos naman.Pagkatapos nila sa paghahanda ng vinta, pinuno nila ito ng pagkain at sila ay naglayag isang araw ng Biyernes. Umaga pa lamamg ng araw ay nagsimula na silang maglayag. Habang sila ay naglalayag naitulak ng malakas ng hangin ang kanilang vinta patungo sa karagatang ng Sulu hangang marating nila ang Lampinigan sa Basilan. Pagkatapos ng isang lingo ay narating din nila ang Zambaoanga, nagtungo sila sa bahay ng magulang ng lalaki .Masaya ang mga magulang ng lalaki at ang kanilang anak ay nakapangasawa ng mabait at magandang babae.
Isang araw, pagkalipas ng isang taon, nagpaalam naang babae sa kanyang biyenan. Araw din ng Biyernes ng sila ay umalis patungo sa Jolo. Ang dagat ay tahimik at walang makitang alon. Naghintay sila na umihip ang hangin. At nagsimula nga umihip ang hanging amihan. At nang hatinggabi na, ang ihip ng hangin ay nagbago at ang kapaligiran ay dumilim bigla, nagkaroon ng bagyo. Wala na silang masisilungan dahil sila nasa gitna ng karagatan. Hindi nila mapigil ang kanilang vinta
sa lakas ng hagin. Habang hinahampas ang kanilang bangka ng mga alon, sila ay nagdarasal na lamang sa Diyos. “ O Diyos ko pagpalain mo po kami. At kung kami po ay mamamatay, sana po ang katawan namin ay maging dalawang kabundukan”, sabi ng lalaki. Pagkatapos nilang magdasal sa Diyos at sa propeta nilang si Mohammed, nagyakapan silang dalawa. Pagkalipas ng isang sandali tinamaan sila ng malakas na alon at sila ay tumilapon sa dagat. Hindi na sila nakita. Pagkatapos ng bagyo ay lumitaw ang dalawang bundok sa gitna ng karagatan. Ito ang pinagmulan ng dalawang kabundukan na nakatayo sa karatagan sa pagitan ng Zamboanga at Jolo.
FOLKLORE
“Tale of the Dragon and the Three Brothers”
A long time ago, so it is said, in a place far away, there was a reyno-reyno, or, (I) mean to say, a kingdom. There in the kingdom, all the people, they were always happy. And there in the kingdom there was also a king. And this king, he had three princesses—daughters. Uh, those princesses were very beautiful. Of course, isn’t that so, since they were princesses, naturally they were beautiful. Now then, there in the kingdom, they didn’t have many problems. There was plenty of food. As for the people, all of them there were not in the habit of quarreling with one another. But the one—there was just one thing there; they had a difficulty. Because on a certain island there was a dragon. And that dragon had twelve heads. Every year, that dragon, since he could fly, went there to the kingdom and seized one person to take there to his island, and there he ate that person. Now this year, they say, that dragon went, and of all the many people there, he happened to take the princess, the youngest of them, the most beautiful of them. Now the king became very sad indeed. So he said, The fellow who is able to free his child from the dragon, the princess will become his wife. And if he (the king) dies, the husband of that princess will be the one who will become king. That’s how it is. Since all the people knew that the princess was very, very beautiful, they all had an interest in being able to get that girl. Now, what did they do, they went in a group and they went there to the island. But when they saw the dragon, they were afraid. There was nothing they could do. What did they do, they just went back again to the kingdom. And now, that dragon, he was very smart, he didn’t eat that girl yet. He said, If that girl was there in his possession, many people would try to go and get her. Well, if there are many people approaching near to him, those people are the ones he’ll eat. He won’t need to go to the kingdom every year. So, what did they do, what did all the people do, they were trying to find someone who could lead them. But very many weeks passed, they all wanted to go get the girl, but they were all afraid. Now there in the kingdom, there was a father there, a man who was already a widower. His wife was already dead. And this widower had three young bachelor sons. The name of the oldest was Pedro. Next, the second was Pablo. And the third was Juan. Okay? Now, that oldest son of them all, Pedro, his skill—uh, he was a very good marksman. If he had his rifle, even if he was a great many meters away, if he wanted to shoot the eye of a fly, he would hit it precisely. A great marksman this Pedro was. Okay? I mean to say, he was very much a sharpshooter. Wherever he wanted to shoot, right there was where he would hit. Now that Pablo, his profession was tailor. And as a tailor, even if he opened a stomach—the doctor, I mean—before the blood flowed, he could sew it up again. It seems he was pretty quick, he sewed pretty well. Now, as for the profession of that Juan, the youngest of them all, he was a good thief. No matter what he wanted to steal, no matter who was watching him, he could steal it. A chicken is laying eggs, huh? The chicken is laboring right there, huh? The chicken doesn’t feel a thing if he steals the chicken’s eggs. So, those are the skills of the three brothers. Now, they said, it would be better if we three try to go get that girl. So what did they do, they prepared a small boat, but a rubber one, that kind which you just put air in—like a lifeboat, huh? Merely of rubber. Well, okay. They set out there for the island. When they arrived there at the island, they could see that dragon. There he was, watching the girl. As for the girl, she couldn’t get away. That princess, she couldn’t get away, because the dragon, he was there. But that dragon, it so happened, that dragon was sleeping there. Okay, even if six heads were sleeping, the other six heads—uh-oh!—they were awake. But since this Juan, well, he really steals well, right? He’s really an expert thief, right? He said to his brothers, You wait here in the boat, okay? Because I will go steal that girl. Now, since that Juan was a very good thief, even though the six heads were watching, they didn’t manage to see Juan stealing that princess. He was able to get her. Good. He ran carrying that princess toward the boat. When they reached the boat, what did he do—since it took place a long time ago, the boat didn’t have a motor, like a motorlaunch, like that kind of boat, right? They just rowed. But the distance of that island from the kingdom was a little far. For sure it was a few days they would row before they would reach the kingdom. Now, after so many hours had passed, all the twelve heads of that dragon, they woke up. They looked for the girl. She was no longer there. So, what did the dragon do, he flew up into the air and was looking for where the princess had gone, because he did not know where she had gone. One of his twenty-four eyes—since he had twelve heads—chanced to see. Aba! So there they were in the boat. What did the dragon do then, he swooped down because he wated to make them all sink but get the princess back. Juan, since he had already done his work, he had stolen the girl, said to his two brothers, You take care to do your work. I have done my part. Pedro said, Don’t worry. I’ll take care of that dragon. What did he do, he took his rifle, even though the dragon was still far away, he aimed his rifle and snapped off a shot. Oh, straight in the eye he hit. Well, since the one eye of that dragon was blinded, that dragon fell down, but when it fell, it fell right on top of their little boat. Their boat was split in two. But before the water got in, this Pablo because he sewed so well—he was a sastrero, a tailor, right?—the water had not come in before he finished sewing (the boat back together). Now, the dragon flew again. When it was near again, Pedro fired another shot. It fell there again onto their boat. But what happened was just like the other time. Before the water got in such that they would drown, Pablo finished sewing it up. After so many repetitions, all the twenty-four eyes of the dragon, Pedro finished shooting them. Well, the dragon died. Now, they arrived there at the kingdom. When they arrived there at the kingdom, all the people were there and they met them and everybody was happy. And now in that place there was a great problem because of the king’s promise: If someone could free his girl from the dragon, he would marry that girl. Even if he was able to steal the girl, if Pedro had not been there the dragon would have gotten her from them again. Now, even though Pedro shot (the dragon), when it fell on top of their boat, if Pablo weren’t there they all would have drowned. Now, the problem, huh? The problem: Who is to marry the princess? That is the great problem. Well, since many were unable to decide, the king—since he of course was, uh, the equal of Solomon, right? very wise, right? equal to Solomon—he said, We certainly have a solution for this problem. You, Pedro, if you had not been there, (you) would not have been able to get the princess because the dragon would have killed you. But if Juan had not been there, you wouldn’t have been able to get the girl either. And if not for Pablo, you all would have died. Now, since your father is a widower, has no wife, it would be better if your father marries the princess. Well, the three brothers did not quarrel (with this). The father married the princess. For sure, they all were happy. There were no bad feelings one toward the other. They simply had done a favor for their father. In the end, the father became king. Goldish gold, the tale’s been told.
Reunion Almost Undone
“Young man, you have just transgressed the law of my kingdom,” the king declared. “You entered my domain without permission, but worse, you violated the privacy of the princess. You have to defend your life now.”
“Soldiers, get him!” the king command.
But before the soldiers could strike, the cornered Isa I Palad summoned his magical powers. From out of nowhere a swam of bees came and went with their poisonous sting for the eyes of the soldiers, except the king. There was chaos inside the room. The king and the princess stood by speechless, watching the helpless soldiers flailing their arms about, groping and stumbling over each other in blind escape towards the hallway.
At length both king agreed they will be decide their quarrel by single combat. But before they could come to grips, Isa I Palad betrayed a slight limping and hopping as he poised for the fight. Nabi Maldaya looked down and saw the wooden leg of his opponent. Isa I Palad saw the King’s reaction and they both laughed instantly the memory of their common childhood flashing through their minds. Nabi Maldaya was Dua I Palad and the intruder Isa I Palad. They embraced.just then, Sabandal and Gugu arrived, all tired and hungry from their long journey, not knowing they were almost too late. But as they could see, everything had been settled. All they could do was add their confirmations and share the joy of the reunited brothers.
There was jubilation in the whole kingdom that day. The dancing and feasting lasted for several days more. And when life had settled to a more usual pace, Isa I Palad made known his desire to marry the princess. Dua I Palad readily gave his consent and the marriage was solemnized with pomp and splendor unsurpassed in the whole kindom. And the new couple took in Isa I Palkad’s adopted mother Kabayan to keep watch over their household.
Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Mundai Bulawan, the queen had grown old almost giving up for lost her two sons. She was so forlorn thinking about them and feared she wouldn’t see them at all before she dies.
But things didn’t have to turn out as sad as they seemed. One day to her amazement, her two sons appeared at the gates of the palace with their lovely wives.
The old queen could hardly recognize them for they were both grown and handsome.
And she couldn’t believed her happiness until she took them in her arms, the sorrow of all the years vanishing as if it was never there at all.
And to complete the blessings, the queen steadily regained her health until she was almost as hale and hearty as before. and she enjoyed the rest of her life watching over her growing brood of grandchildren and the prosperous and happy kingdoms of her reunited sons.
thus ended the tale of two brothers who, against all odds, never gave each other up for lost.
Indarapatra and Sulayman
A long, long time ago Mindanao was covered with water, and the sea
extended over all the lowlands so that nothing could be seen but
mountains. Then there were many people living in the country, and all
the highlands were dotted with villages and settlements. For many years
the people prospered, living in peace and contentment. Suddenly there
appeared in the land four horrible monsters which, in a short time,
had devoured every human being they could find.
Kurita, a terrible creature with many limbs, lived partly on land and
partly in the sea, but its favorite haunt was the mountain where the
rattan grew; and here it brought utter destruction on every living
thing. The second monster, Tarabusaw, an ugly creature in the form
of a man, lived on Mt. Matutun, and far and wide from that place he
devoured the people, laying waste the land. The third, an enormous
bird called Pah, [142] was so large that when on the wing it covered
the sun and brought darkness to the earth. Its egg was as large as a
house. Mt. Bita was its haunt, and there the only people who escaped
its voracity were those who hid in caves in the mountains. The fourth
monster was a dreadful bird also, having seven heads and the power
to see in all directions at the same time. Mt. Gurayn was its home
and like the others it wrought havoc in its region.
So great was the death and destruction caused by these terrible animals
that at length the news spread even to the most distant lands, and
all nations were grieved to hear of the sad fate of Mindanao.
Now far across the sea in the land of the golden sunset was a city
so great that to look at its many people would injure the eyes of
man. When tidings of these great disasters reached this distant city,
the heart of the king Indarapatrawas filled with compassion,
and he called his brother, Sulayman, begging him to save the
land of Mindanao from the monsters.
Sulayman listened to the story, and as he heard he was moved with pity.
"I will go," said he, zeal and enthusiasm adding to his strength,
"and the land shall be avenged."
King Indarapatra, proud of his brother's courage, gave him a ring and
a sword as he wished him success and safety. Then he placed a young
sapling by his window [145] and said to Sulayman:
"By this tree I shall know your fate from the time you depart from
here, for if you live, it will live; but if you die, it will die also."
So Sulayman departed for Mindanao, and he neither walked nor used a
boat, but he went through the air and landed on the mountain where
the rattan grew. There he stood on the summit and gazed about on all
sides. He looked on the land and the villages, but he could see no
living thing. And he was very sorrowful and cried out:
"Alas, how pitiful and dreadful is this devastation!"
No sooner had Sulayman uttered these words than the whole mountain
began to move, and then shook. Suddenly out of the ground came the
horrible creature, Kurita. It sprang at the man and sank its claws
into his flesh. But Sulayman, knowing at once that this was the
scourge of the land, drew his sword and cut the Kurita to pieces.
Encouraged by his first success, Sulayman went on to Mt. Matutun
where conditions were even worse. As he stood on the heights viewing
the great devastation there was a noise in the forest and a movement
in the trees. With a loud yell, forth leaped Tarabusaw. For a moment
they looked at each other, neither showing any fear. Then Tarabusaw
threatened to devour the man, and Sulayman declared that he would kill
the monster. At that the animal broke large branches off the trees
and began striking at Sulayman who, in turn, fought back. For a long
time the battle continued until at last the monster fell exhausted
to the ground and then Sulayman killed him with his sword.
The next place visited by Sulayman was Mt. Bita. Here havoc was present
everywhere, and though he passed by many homes, not a single soul
was left. As he walked along, growing sadder at each moment, a sudden
darkness which startled him fell over the land. As he looked toward
the sky he beheld a great bird descending upon him. Immediately he
struck at it, cutting off its wing with his sword, and the bird fell
dead at his feet; but the wing fell on Sulayman, and he was crushed.
Now at this very time King Indarapatra was sitting at his window,
and looking out he saw the little tree wither and dry up.
"Alas!" he cried, "my brother is dead"; and he wept bitterly.
Then although he was very sad, he was filled with a desire for revenge,
and putting on his sword and belt he started for Mindanao in search
of his brother.
He, too, traveled through the air with great speed until he came to
the mountain where the rattan grew. There he looked about, awed at
the great destruction, and when he saw the bones of Kurita he knew
that his brother had been there and gone. He went on till he came to
Matutun, and when he saw the bones of Tarabusaw he knew that this,
too, was the work of Sulayman.
Still searching for his brother, he arrived at Mt. Bita where the
dead bird lay on the ground, and as he lifted the severed wing he
beheld the bones of Sulayman with his sword by his side. His grief
now so overwhelmed Indarapatra that he wept for some time. Upon
looking up he beheld a small jar of water by his side. This he knew
had been sent from heaven, and he poured the water over the bones,
and Sulayman came to life again. They greeted each other and talked
long together. Sulayman declared that he had not been dead but asleep,
and their hearts were full of joy.
After some time Sulayman returned to his distant home, but Indarapatra
continued his journey to Mt. Gurayn where he killed the dreadful bird
with the seven heads. After these monsters had all been destroyed
and peace and safety had been restored to the land, Indarapatra began
searching everywhere to see if some of the people might not be hidden
in the earth still alive.
One day during his search he caught sight of a beautiful woman at a
distance. When he hastened toward her she disappeared through a hole
in the ground where she was standing. Disappointed and tired, he sat
down on a rock to rest, when, looking about, he saw near him a pot
of uncooked rice with a big fire on the ground in front of it. This
revived him and he proceeded to cook the rice. As he did so, however,
he heard someone laugh near by, and turning he beheld an old woman
watching him. As he greeted her, she drew near and talked with him
while he ate the rice.
Of all the people in the land, the old woman told him, only a very
few were still alive, and they hid in a cave in the ground from whence
they never ventured. As for herself and her old husband, she went on,
they had hidden in a hollow tree, and this they had never dared leave
until after Sulayman killed the voracious bird, Pah.
At Indarapatra's earnest request, the old woman led him to the cave
where he found the headman with his family and some of his people. They
all gathered about the stranger, asking many questions, for this
was the first they had heard about the death of the monsters. When
they found what Indarapatra had done for them, they were filled
with gratitude, and to show their appreciation the headman gave his
daughter to him in marriage, and she proved to be the beautiful girl
whom Indarapatra had seen at the mouth of the cave.
Then the people all came out of their hiding-place and returned to
their homes where they lived in peace and happiness. And the sea
withdrew from the land and gave the lowlands to the people.
CODE OF DATU KALANTIAW
In the pre-Spanish days of Panay Island, there was a datu who ruled Aklan, one of the three kingdoms in the island. His name was Datu Bendahara Kalantiaw, a descendant of the ten datus of Borneo. In 1433, he issued what was known as the Kalantiaw Code, a set of 18 laws that governed his kingdom and his subjects.
\But the Code of Kalantiaw was debunked and proved to be just a hoax. William Henry Scott, a historian who focused on the Cordilleras and the Pre-Spanish Philippines, successfully defended as part of his doctoral dissertation his findings that the code was a fraud that a certain Jose E. Marco perpetuated. Don Marcelino Orfila of Zaragoza, Spain obtained the original manuscript of the Code from an old chief of Panay and was later translated into Spanish by Rafael Murviedo y Zamaney. - On June 1, 1956, acting upon the request of the Municipal Council of Batan, the Philippine Historical Committee installed a marker in a tract of land near the bay.On February 11, 1957, President Ramon Magsaysay approved Executive Order No. 234 declaring the site as a national shrine. Then January 24, 1973, President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed Presidential Decree No. 105 declaring national shrines such as as sacred (hallowed) places and prohibiting desecration thereof.In 2004, the Committee’s successor agency the National Historical Institute issued Resolution No. 12, “Declaring that Code of Kalantiao/Kalantiaw has no valid Historical Basis”.The resolution called for: (1) the official affirmation that the Kalantiaw Code is a twentieth-century fraudulent work by Jose Marco, (2) the President of the Philippines cease to honor retiring Supreme justices and other international dignitaries with the ‘Order of Kalantiaw‘, and (3) the revoking of Executive Order No. 234, which declared the municipality of Batan, Province of Aklan as a national shrine. In 2005, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved the NHI resolution.
Anghel sa Kalangitan
(alamat kung bakit umuulan)
Nooong unang panahon ang mga tao sa mundo ay nagtataka kung bakit umuulan. Umaga hanggang gabi ay nag-iisip sila, subalit wala ni isa sa kanila ang makapagsabi. Ngunit isang araw, ang kanilang katanungan ay umabot sa Diyos. Sabi ng Bathala.” Gabriyel, magtungo kasa mundo at sabihin mo sa mga tao na umuulan dahil ang mga anghel ay naliligo. Dahil dito pumunta si Gabriyel, sa mundo ng mga tao at sinabi sa mga tao na umuulan dahil naliligo ang mga anghel. At pagkatapos noon ay bumalik na si Gabriel sa langit.
ANG DALAWANG BUNBOK
(alamat ng dalawang bundokna nakatayo sa karatagan sa pagitan ng Zamboanga at Jolo.)
Noong unang panahon, may isang mag-asawang bagong kasal lamang. Gustong-gusto nilang bisitahin ang mga magulang sa Zamboanga. Isang araw, nagpaalam sila sa mga magulang ng babae na pupunta sila sa Zamboanga. Nang sila ay payagan, hiniram nila ang vinta at layag ng ama ng babae.Inayos ng lalaki ang vinta at layag. Sinibukan niya ang layag na ito at maayos naman.Pagkatapos nila sa paghahanda ng vinta, pinuno nila ito ng pagkain at sila ay naglayag isang araw ng Biyernes. Umaga pa lamamg ng araw ay nagsimula na silang maglayag. Habang sila ay naglalayag naitulak ng malakas ng hangin ang kanilang vinta patungo sa karagatang ng Sulu hangang marating nila ang Lampinigan sa Basilan. Pagkatapos ng isang lingo ay narating din nila ang Zambaoanga, nagtungo sila sa bahay ng magulang ng lalaki .Masaya ang mga magulang ng lalaki at ang kanilang anak ay nakapangasawa ng mabait at magandang babae.
Isang araw, pagkalipas ng isang taon, nagpaalam naang babae sa kanyang biyenan. Araw din ng Biyernes ng sila ay umalis patungo sa Jolo. Ang dagat ay tahimik at walang makitang alon. Naghintay sila na umihip ang hangin. At nagsimula nga umihip ang hanging amihan. At nang hatinggabi na, ang ihip ng hangin ay nagbago at ang kapaligiran ay dumilim bigla, nagkaroon ng bagyo. Wala na silang masisilungan dahil sila nasa gitna ng karagatan. Hindi nila mapigil ang kanilang vinta
sa lakas ng hagin. Habang hinahampas ang kanilang bangka ng mga alon, sila ay nagdarasal na lamang sa Diyos. “ O Diyos ko pagpalain mo po kami. At kung kami po ay mamamatay, sana po ang katawan namin ay maging dalawang kabundukan”, sabi ng lalaki. Pagkatapos nilang magdasal sa Diyos at sa propeta nilang si Mohammed, nagyakapan silang dalawa. Pagkalipas ng isang sandali tinamaan sila ng malakas na alon at sila ay tumilapon sa dagat. Hindi na sila nakita. Pagkatapos ng bagyo ay lumitaw ang dalawang bundok sa gitna ng karagatan. Ito ang pinagmulan ng dalawang kabundukan na nakatayo sa karatagan sa pagitan ng Zamboanga at Jolo.
FOLKLORE
A long time ago, so it is said, in a place far away, there was a reyno-reyno, or, (I) mean to say, a kingdom. There in the kingdom, all the people, they were always happy. And there in the kingdom there was also a king. And this king, he had three princesses—daughters. Uh, those princesses were very beautiful. Of course, isn’t that so, since they were princesses, naturally they were beautiful. Now then, there in the kingdom, they didn’t have many problems. There was plenty of food. As for the people, all of them there were not in the habit of quarreling with one another. But the one—there was just one thing there; they had a difficulty. Because on a certain island there was a dragon. And that dragon had twelve heads. Every year, that dragon, since he could fly, went there to the kingdom and seized one person to take there to his island, and there he ate that person. Now this year, they say, that dragon went, and of all the many people there, he happened to take the princess, the youngest of them, the most beautiful of them. Now the king became very sad indeed. So he said, The fellow who is able to free his child from the dragon, the princess will become his wife. And if he (the king) dies, the husband of that princess will be the one who will become king. That’s how it is. Since all the people knew that the princess was very, very beautiful, they all had an interest in being able to get that girl. Now, what did they do, they went in a group and they went there to the island. But when they saw the dragon, they were afraid. There was nothing they could do. What did they do, they just went back again to the kingdom. And now, that dragon, he was very smart, he didn’t eat that girl yet. He said, If that girl was there in his possession, many people would try to go and get her. Well, if there are many people approaching near to him, those people are the ones he’ll eat. He won’t need to go to the kingdom every year. So, what did they do, what did all the people do, they were trying to find someone who could lead them. But very many weeks passed, they all wanted to go get the girl, but they were all afraid. Now there in the kingdom, there was a father there, a man who was already a widower. His wife was already dead. And this widower had three young bachelor sons. The name of the oldest was Pedro. Next, the second was Pablo. And the third was Juan. Okay? Now, that oldest son of them all, Pedro, his skill—uh, he was a very good marksman. If he had his rifle, even if he was a great many meters away, if he wanted to shoot the eye of a fly, he would hit it precisely. A great marksman this Pedro was. Okay? I mean to say, he was very much a sharpshooter. Wherever he wanted to shoot, right there was where he would hit. Now that Pablo, his profession was tailor. And as a tailor, even if he opened a stomach—the doctor, I mean—before the blood flowed, he could sew it up again. It seems he was pretty quick, he sewed pretty well. Now, as for the profession of that Juan, the youngest of them all, he was a good thief. No matter what he wanted to steal, no matter who was watching him, he could steal it. A chicken is laying eggs, huh? The chicken is laboring right there, huh? The chicken doesn’t feel a thing if he steals the chicken’s eggs. So, those are the skills of the three brothers. Now, they said, it would be better if we three try to go get that girl. So what did they do, they prepared a small boat, but a rubber one, that kind which you just put air in—like a lifeboat, huh? Merely of rubber. Well, okay. They set out there for the island. When they arrived there at the island, they could see that dragon. There he was, watching the girl. As for the girl, she couldn’t get away. That princess, she couldn’t get away, because the dragon, he was there. But that dragon, it so happened, that dragon was sleeping there. Okay, even if six heads were sleeping, the other six heads—uh-oh!—they were awake. But since this Juan, well, he really steals well, right? He’s really an expert thief, right? He said to his brothers, You wait here in the boat, okay? Because I will go steal that girl. Now, since that Juan was a very good thief, even though the six heads were watching, they didn’t manage to see Juan stealing that princess. He was able to get her. Good. He ran carrying that princess toward the boat. When they reached the boat, what did he do—since it took place a long time ago, the boat didn’t have a motor, like a motorlaunch, like that kind of boat, right? They just rowed. But the distance of that island from the kingdom was a little far. For sure it was a few days they would row before they would reach the kingdom. Now, after so many hours had passed, all the twelve heads of that dragon, they woke up. They looked for the girl. She was no longer there. So, what did the dragon do, he flew up into the air and was looking for where the princess had gone, because he did not know where she had gone. One of his twenty-four eyes—since he had twelve heads—chanced to see. Aba! So there they were in the boat. What did the dragon do then, he swooped down because he wated to make them all sink but get the princess back. Juan, since he had already done his work, he had stolen the girl, said to his two brothers, You take care to do your work. I have done my part. Pedro said, Don’t worry. I’ll take care of that dragon. What did he do, he took his rifle, even though the dragon was still far away, he aimed his rifle and snapped off a shot. Oh, straight in the eye he hit. Well, since the one eye of that dragon was blinded, that dragon fell down, but when it fell, it fell right on top of their little boat. Their boat was split in two. But before the water got in, this Pablo because he sewed so well—he was a sastrero, a tailor, right?—the water had not come in before he finished sewing (the boat back together). Now, the dragon flew again. When it was near again, Pedro fired another shot. It fell there again onto their boat. But what happened was just like the other time. Before the water got in such that they would drown, Pablo finished sewing it up. After so many repetitions, all the twenty-four eyes of the dragon, Pedro finished shooting them. Well, the dragon died. Now, they arrived there at the kingdom. When they arrived there at the kingdom, all the people were there and they met them and everybody was happy. And now in that place there was a great problem because of the king’s promise: If someone could free his girl from the dragon, he would marry that girl. Even if he was able to steal the girl, if Pedro had not been there the dragon would have gotten her from them again. Now, even though Pedro shot (the dragon), when it fell on top of their boat, if Pablo weren’t there they all would have drowned. Now, the problem, huh? The problem: Who is to marry the princess? That is the great problem. Well, since many were unable to decide, the king—since he of course was, uh, the equal of Solomon, right? very wise, right? equal to Solomon—he said, We certainly have a solution for this problem. You, Pedro, if you had not been there, (you) would not have been able to get the princess because the dragon would have killed you. But if Juan had not been there, you wouldn’t have been able to get the girl either. And if not for Pablo, you all would have died. Now, since your father is a widower, has no wife, it would be better if your father marries the princess. Well, the three brothers did not quarrel (with this). The father married the princess. For sure, they all were happy. There were no bad feelings one toward the other. They simply had done a favor for their father. In the end, the father became king. Goldish gold, the tale’s been told.
Reunion Almost Undone
“Young man, you have just transgressed the law of my kingdom,” the king declared. “You entered my domain without permission, but worse, you violated the privacy of the princess. You have to defend your life now.”
“Soldiers, get him!” the king command.
But before the soldiers could strike, the cornered Isa I Palad summoned his magical powers. From out of nowhere a swam of bees came and went with their poisonous sting for the eyes of the soldiers, except the king. There was chaos inside the room. The king and the princess stood by speechless, watching the helpless soldiers flailing their arms about, groping and stumbling over each other in blind escape towards the hallway.
At length both king agreed they will be decide their quarrel by single combat. But before they could come to grips, Isa I Palad betrayed a slight limping and hopping as he poised for the fight. Nabi Maldaya looked down and saw the wooden leg of his opponent. Isa I Palad saw the King’s reaction and they both laughed instantly the memory of their common childhood flashing through their minds. Nabi Maldaya was Dua I Palad and the intruder Isa I Palad. They embraced.just then, Sabandal and Gugu arrived, all tired and hungry from their long journey, not knowing they were almost too late. But as they could see, everything had been settled. All they could do was add their confirmations and share the joy of the reunited brothers.
There was jubilation in the whole kingdom that day. The dancing and feasting lasted for several days more. And when life had settled to a more usual pace, Isa I Palad made known his desire to marry the princess. Dua I Palad readily gave his consent and the marriage was solemnized with pomp and splendor unsurpassed in the whole kindom. And the new couple took in Isa I Palkad’s adopted mother Kabayan to keep watch over their household.
Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Mundai Bulawan, the queen had grown old almost giving up for lost her two sons. She was so forlorn thinking about them and feared she wouldn’t see them at all before she dies.
But things didn’t have to turn out as sad as they seemed. One day to her amazement, her two sons appeared at the gates of the palace with their lovely wives.
The old queen could hardly recognize them for they were both grown and handsome.
And she couldn’t believed her happiness until she took them in her arms, the sorrow of all the years vanishing as if it was never there at all.
And to complete the blessings, the queen steadily regained her health until she was almost as hale and hearty as before. and she enjoyed the rest of her life watching over her growing brood of grandchildren and the prosperous and happy kingdoms of her reunited sons.
thus ended the tale of two brothers who, against all odds, never gave each other up for lost.
MYTHS
Indarapatra and Sulayman
extended over all the lowlands so that nothing could be seen but
mountains. Then there were many people living in the country, and all
the highlands were dotted with villages and settlements. For many years
the people prospered, living in peace and contentment. Suddenly there
appeared in the land four horrible monsters which, in a short time,
had devoured every human being they could find.
Kurita, a terrible creature with many limbs, lived partly on land and
partly in the sea, but its favorite haunt was the mountain where the
rattan grew; and here it brought utter destruction on every living
thing. The second monster, Tarabusaw, an ugly creature in the form
of a man, lived on Mt. Matutun, and far and wide from that place he
devoured the people, laying waste the land. The third, an enormous
bird called Pah, [142] was so large that when on the wing it covered
the sun and brought darkness to the earth. Its egg was as large as a
house. Mt. Bita was its haunt, and there the only people who escaped
its voracity were those who hid in caves in the mountains. The fourth
monster was a dreadful bird also, having seven heads and the power
to see in all directions at the same time. Mt. Gurayn was its home
and like the others it wrought havoc in its region.
So great was the death and destruction caused by these terrible animals
that at length the news spread even to the most distant lands, and
all nations were grieved to hear of the sad fate of Mindanao.
Now far across the sea in the land of the golden sunset was a city
so great that to look at its many people would injure the eyes of
man. When tidings of these great disasters reached this distant city,
the heart of the king Indarapatrawas filled with compassion,
and he called his brother, Sulayman, begging him to save the
land of Mindanao from the monsters.
Sulayman listened to the story, and as he heard he was moved with pity.
"I will go," said he, zeal and enthusiasm adding to his strength,
"and the land shall be avenged."
King Indarapatra, proud of his brother's courage, gave him a ring and
a sword as he wished him success and safety. Then he placed a young
sapling by his window [145] and said to Sulayman:
"By this tree I shall know your fate from the time you depart from
here, for if you live, it will live; but if you die, it will die also."
So Sulayman departed for Mindanao, and he neither walked nor used a
boat, but he went through the air and landed on the mountain where
the rattan grew. There he stood on the summit and gazed about on all
sides. He looked on the land and the villages, but he could see no
living thing. And he was very sorrowful and cried out:
"Alas, how pitiful and dreadful is this devastation!"
No sooner had Sulayman uttered these words than the whole mountain
began to move, and then shook. Suddenly out of the ground came the
horrible creature, Kurita. It sprang at the man and sank its claws
into his flesh. But Sulayman, knowing at once that this was the
scourge of the land, drew his sword and cut the Kurita to pieces.
Encouraged by his first success, Sulayman went on to Mt. Matutun
where conditions were even worse. As he stood on the heights viewing
the great devastation there was a noise in the forest and a movement
in the trees. With a loud yell, forth leaped Tarabusaw. For a moment
they looked at each other, neither showing any fear. Then Tarabusaw
threatened to devour the man, and Sulayman declared that he would kill
the monster. At that the animal broke large branches off the trees
and began striking at Sulayman who, in turn, fought back. For a long
time the battle continued until at last the monster fell exhausted
to the ground and then Sulayman killed him with his sword.
The next place visited by Sulayman was Mt. Bita. Here havoc was present
everywhere, and though he passed by many homes, not a single soul
was left. As he walked along, growing sadder at each moment, a sudden
darkness which startled him fell over the land. As he looked toward
the sky he beheld a great bird descending upon him. Immediately he
struck at it, cutting off its wing with his sword, and the bird fell
dead at his feet; but the wing fell on Sulayman, and he was crushed.
Now at this very time King Indarapatra was sitting at his window,
and looking out he saw the little tree wither and dry up.
"Alas!" he cried, "my brother is dead"; and he wept bitterly.
Then although he was very sad, he was filled with a desire for revenge,
and putting on his sword and belt he started for Mindanao in search
of his brother.
He, too, traveled through the air with great speed until he came to
the mountain where the rattan grew. There he looked about, awed at
the great destruction, and when he saw the bones of Kurita he knew
that his brother had been there and gone. He went on till he came to
Matutun, and when he saw the bones of Tarabusaw he knew that this,
too, was the work of Sulayman.
Still searching for his brother, he arrived at Mt. Bita where the
dead bird lay on the ground, and as he lifted the severed wing he
beheld the bones of Sulayman with his sword by his side. His grief
now so overwhelmed Indarapatra that he wept for some time. Upon
looking up he beheld a small jar of water by his side. This he knew
had been sent from heaven, and he poured the water over the bones,
and Sulayman came to life again. They greeted each other and talked
long together. Sulayman declared that he had not been dead but asleep,
and their hearts were full of joy.
After some time Sulayman returned to his distant home, but Indarapatra
continued his journey to Mt. Gurayn where he killed the dreadful bird
with the seven heads. After these monsters had all been destroyed
and peace and safety had been restored to the land, Indarapatra began
searching everywhere to see if some of the people might not be hidden
in the earth still alive.
One day during his search he caught sight of a beautiful woman at a
distance. When he hastened toward her she disappeared through a hole
in the ground where she was standing. Disappointed and tired, he sat
down on a rock to rest, when, looking about, he saw near him a pot
of uncooked rice with a big fire on the ground in front of it. This
revived him and he proceeded to cook the rice. As he did so, however,
he heard someone laugh near by, and turning he beheld an old woman
watching him. As he greeted her, she drew near and talked with him
while he ate the rice.
Of all the people in the land, the old woman told him, only a very
few were still alive, and they hid in a cave in the ground from whence
they never ventured. As for herself and her old husband, she went on,
they had hidden in a hollow tree, and this they had never dared leave
until after Sulayman killed the voracious bird, Pah.
At Indarapatra's earnest request, the old woman led him to the cave
where he found the headman with his family and some of his people. They
all gathered about the stranger, asking many questions, for this
was the first they had heard about the death of the monsters. When
they found what Indarapatra had done for them, they were filled
with gratitude, and to show their appreciation the headman gave his
daughter to him in marriage, and she proved to be the beautiful girl
whom Indarapatra had seen at the mouth of the cave.
Then the people all came out of their hiding-place and returned to
their homes where they lived in peace and happiness. And the sea
withdrew from the land and gave the lowlands to the people.
CODE OF DATU KALANTIAW
In the pre-Spanish days of Panay Island, there was a datu who ruled Aklan, one of the three kingdoms in the island. His name was Datu Bendahara Kalantiaw, a descendant of the ten datus of Borneo. In 1433, he issued what was known as the Kalantiaw Code, a set of 18 laws that governed his kingdom and his subjects.
\But the Code of Kalantiaw was debunked and proved to be just a hoax. William Henry Scott, a historian who focused on the Cordilleras and the Pre-Spanish Philippines, successfully defended as part of his doctoral dissertation his findings that the code was a fraud that a certain Jose E. Marco perpetuated. Don Marcelino Orfila of Zaragoza, Spain obtained the original manuscript of the Code from an old chief of Panay and was later translated into Spanish by Rafael Murviedo y Zamaney. - On June 1, 1956, acting upon the request of the Municipal Council of Batan, the Philippine Historical Committee installed a marker in a tract of land near the bay.On February 11, 1957, President Ramon Magsaysay approved Executive Order No. 234 declaring the site as a national shrine. Then January 24, 1973, President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed Presidential Decree No. 105 declaring national shrines such as as sacred (hallowed) places and prohibiting desecration thereof.In 2004, the Committee’s successor agency the National Historical Institute issued Resolution No. 12, “Declaring that Code of Kalantiao/Kalantiaw has no valid Historical Basis”.The resolution called for: (1) the official affirmation that the Kalantiaw Code is a twentieth-century fraudulent work by Jose Marco, (2) the President of the Philippines cease to honor retiring Supreme justices and other international dignitaries with the ‘Order of Kalantiaw‘, and (3) the revoking of Executive Order No. 234, which declared the municipality of Batan, Province of Aklan as a national shrine. In 2005, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved the NHI resolution.
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