Legends
The Legend of Apo Lakay-Lakay
One day, the father coming home from an abundant catch came across an old man. The old man asked if he could spare a bite from one of the fishes he would cook as he was starving. The father laughed off his request. The old man said “You’ll regret it if you will not!” but he continued on.
That evening while the couple were cooking, an old lady came knocking at their door and pleaded for a bite of fish they were cooking. The wife yelled at her exclaiming they have nothing tho give her. She gave a warning that they would regret it if they won’t give here even a bit. She went away empty handed.
By dinner time, they found out their son was missing. They searched out of the house and asked their neighbors for help. It was during sunrise when they found their son across the waves in the east. They ran despite the tiring night long search but was heart broken to find their beloved son turned to stone.
The couple went back to their home weeping. The wife blamed her husband for being greedy and useless. Suddenly her husband turned into a stone in front of her. Slowly she noticed the waves caught her feet and slowly she turned to stone as well.
On this day the the Two towering rock formations at Taggat Lagoon are known as Apo Lakay-lakay (Old Man) andApo Baket-baket (Old Woman). Their son Ubing-ubing (Child) is found of Sentinela Beach across Claveria Bay.
To make up for their mistakes, the mountain and the rocks there has been protecting their village from storms and always have abundant catch. But whenever boats pass by these rock formations, they would give offerings to the sea or else their boats would be wrecked by the rocks and the waves
The Legend of the Magat River
A long time ago, there lived in Bayombong a tall, handsome man called Magat. He was young and strong, and fast as a hunter and sure in his spear shot. He could run as fast as a deer and strong as he was, he could down a bull with ease. He was strong-willed and obstinate but he was also kind and gentle. Except for a few who envied him his prowess, everybody in the village loved and respected him. Magat loved outdoor life, and roamed in the forest surrounding the struggling settlement.
One day, fired by adventure he wandered farther than usual. Soon night came. Being far from home, he kindled a fire in his crude, primitive way. he lay beside the fire and fell asleep.
Early the next morning, he pursued his solitary way. Finally he came upon the largest stream he had ever seen. He stopped and crawled noisily to the bank of the river near the fall. Upon parting the tall grasses he beheld a lovely sight just across the stream-beneath the shade of the outspreading branches of the big balete tree was a very beautiful maiden. She was bathing and was nude from the waist up. She was the most beautiful woman Magat had ever seen and he fell in love with her at first sight.
From where he was hiding, Magat's attention was attracted by a silent movement on a spreading branch; Magat saw a great python, coiled around the branch, which was ready to attack the beautiful woman. He jumped backward. The noise he made drew the attention of the maiden, who, turning around, saw him poise a spear. She mistook his attitude for hostility and ducked under water. Just as the python sprang, the spear flew from Magat's hand. The snake was struck right through the eyes and brain.
The next moment, Magat was in the water and carried the beautiful Maidenashore. She struggled a little but did not scream, as she modestly tried to cover her body with her long dark hair.
Magat pointed to the writhing python. Upon seeing it, she screamed instinctively and drew close to Magat, who put a protecting arm around her lovely shoulders.Gratitude and admiration were all over her pretty face.
Magat picked up his broken spear and went back to the young woman. They wandered about in the forest. Under the spell of nature, Magat asked the woman to be his wife; the woman, after making Magat promise in the name of the great Kabunian not to see her at noon, consented.
He brought her home and made a cozy room for her. Everything went well and happily for a while. But the passing days, his curiosity mounted more and more and at last, it grew out of bounds.
One noon, he broke his promise and broke into his wife's seclusion. In his wife's bed of soft leaves and grasses he beheld a sight that chilled his heart. A great crocodile was lying on his wife's bed. Believing that his wife had met a horrible death, he rushed to the kitchen, fetched an ugly weapon and returned to his wife's room. He raised his weapon to kill the crocodile when suddenly he saw his wife on the bed instead of the crocodile. His wife was dying. "You broke your promise. I can no longer be happy nor live any longer. I must die." his wife sobbed. Slowly life ebbed from her. On her beautiful skin, scales appeared, as she turned into a crocodile before his very eyes. That was his punishment for having broken his promise made in the name of Kabunian.
Sadly, Magat buried the dead crocodile in his front yard. worn out by grief for his lack of fidelity to his word and over the death of his lovely wife, he drowned himself and his miseries in the same stream grew into the mighty troublesome Magat River.
Myths
What Causes Earthquakes
(Y Paggafuanan na Lunig)
Once upon a time, there was a very poor couple who had only one son. He’s name was Bernardo Carpio. Since this family led only a hand to mouth existence, both husband and wife had to work for a living. Whenever the mother went out to work, she would lock up the baby in the house. She would just give him some things to play with. Upon coming home, she would find all the toys of the baby broken into small pieces. This happened everyday until the mother could no longer give the baby anything to play with. So the baby was left in the house without any toy. When she came home to feed him, the mother was surprised that the walls and studs of their house were either broken or destroyed. She remained silent but observant. As soon as these parts of the house had been repaired, she again left Bernardo Carpio alone. When she came home, she found the same in shambles. Next time, the mother deliberately gave her son an iron rod to play with. Again he broke this rod into pieces. Now the parents were growing alarmed over the extraordinary strength of Bernardo. News of it also spread in the neighborhood.
As the child grew up, he was recognized as the strongest boy in the village. He challenged to fight those who dared him and defeated them all. As a man, his prowess was also acclaimed in the whole country. This popularity made him very proud. He was so proud that he even dared challenged God. At first, God gave him the upper hand. But on the third trial, when God asked him to stop the quarrel between the two big mountains, Bernardo failed. In a conceited gesture, he impulsively went between the warring mountains. He extended his arms to stop them but instead, he got caught between the two mountains and was buried alive with only his head out.
Today, it was believed that whenever Bernardo Carpio struggles to free himself from the grip of the mountains, the earth quakes. The old folks also say that when he finally frees himself, that will be the end of the world.
Source: Edna Bangan, Ibanag Folk Literature, pp. 262- 263 Narrated by Mauricio Baggay, 43 years old, Macubacubac, Penablanca, Cagayan, who heard it from his mother.
Why There Is High Tide During Full Moon?
Long, long ago only gods lived in this world. The earth, the sea, and the sky were ruled by three different powerful gods.
The sun god who ruled the sky had a very beautiful daughter, Luna, the moon. Luna enjoyed going around the heavens in her golden chariot. One day she found herself taking another path which led her outside her kingdom. She wandered on until she reached the place where the sky met the sea. Beautiful and unusual sights greeted her eyes. As she was admiring the beautiful things around, a voice startled her. It asked, Where has thou come from, most beautiful one?"
Turning around she saw a young man who looked much like her father though fairer. She wanted to run away but when she looked at him again, she saw that he was smiling at her. Taking courage she answered, I am Luna, daughter of the sun god."
The young man smiled at her and answered, "I am Mar, the son of the sea god. Welcome to our kingdom." Soon the two became good friends. They had many interesting stories to tell each other. When it was time for Luna to go, they promised to see each other as often as they could for they had many more tales to tell. They continued meeting at the same spot until they realized that they were in love with each other.
One day after one of their secret meetings, Luna went back to the heavens full of joy. She was so happy that she told her secret to one of ha cousins. The cousin, jealous of her beauty and her happiness, reported the affair to the sun god. The sun god was angered at his daughter's disobedience to the Immortal Laws. He shut her in their garden and did not allow her to get out. Then he sent a messenger to the sea god informing hi n that his son Mar has disobeyed the Immortal Laws. The sea god, when was also angered by his son's disobedience, imprisoned him in one of his sea caves.
Luna stayed in the garden for sometime. She was very sad at not being able to see Mar. She longed to be with him again. Feeling very restless one day, she escaped from the garden. She took her golden chariot and rushed to their meeting place. Mar, who was imprisoned in the sea cave, saw her reflection on the water. He wanted to get out to meet her. He tried hard to get out of the cave, but he could not. He struggled so hard that he shook the walls of his cave causing unrest in the sea. Luna waited for Mar to appear, but he did not come. Then she went back home very sad. Each time she remembered Mar she would rush out in her golden chariot to the meeting place in the hope of seeing him again.
The fishermen out in the sea believe that each time Luna, the moon, appears, the sea gets troubled. "It is Mar trying to escape from his cave," they say.
Folktales
Biuag and Malana
Biuag was from Enrile, the southern most part of Cagayan. When he was born, his mother was visited by an exceptionally beautiful woman who silently admired the baby. When it dawned on the child's mother that her visitor was a goddess, she knelt and implored her child with long life.
The goddess made no reply. Instead, she placed three small stones around the neck of the baby where one stone protected him from any bodily harm. When he was big enough to swim across the wide river, the crocodiles created a path for him. The other two stones gave him supernatural powers and prowess. He could go faster than the wind. He could throw easily a carabao across the hills when he was only at the age of twelve. He could uproot a big beetle nut as if it were a wood. On account of this display of extraordinary strength, people from far and wide places came to see him.
Despite all these powers, Biuag seemed troubled and unhappy. In the town of Tuao, he fell in love with a young lady with unsurpassed beauty. No one could tell where this lady came from nor could anyone say who this lady was. Biuag wanted to find her. His waking hours were thoughts of her.
There was another young man from Malaueg, called Malana who was gifted with powers similar to that of Biuag. When Malana was eighteen, a devastating typhoon destroyed all the crops of Malaueg. The people were in grip of appalling famine. Their only hope of starving off came from a very distant place, Sto. Niño. It was very difficult and dangerous to journey the place, because the river to cross was wide and full of crocodiles. Malana understood the hazards of the journey but finally volunteered to take the journey. He loaded cavans of palay to seven bamboo rafts.
The people eagerly waited Malana's return. Prayers were offered for his safety. When they saw him back, everyone was overjoyed. He distributed the rice to the people and went home.
Upon reaching his home, he found a bow and arrow on the bench. He presumed these were made for him by his father who knew how fond he was of them. Fitting the arrows, he found two tiny stones just like those around Biuag's neck.
Meanwhile, Biuag was unmindful of the people's open admiration for Malana. The lovely lady occupied his thoughts. One day, he paid her a visit and found out that Malana was also there. Biuag became furious. He told the lady he will prove to her that Malana was unworthy of her love. He grabbed his famous spear and hurried to the window towards Malana. Malana recognized Biuag's spear and read it as a challenge. He hurled it back with the message that his powers were not meant for such feats.
Biuag laughed decisively and interpreted Malana's message in a different manner. He said to the lady: "Your suitor is very strong but he is a coward."
One afternoon, Biuag was taking lift of the young woman when he heard sounds of a thousand bamboo tubes. He saw approaching from a distance great number of people from Malaueg. Leading the group was Malana - tall, broad-shouldered, and handsome, Biuag quivered at the sight of Malana.
The latter spoke first: "Now I know why you challenged me. You covet the woman I love."
The gods forbid anyone from taking anything that belongs to the other, but I am ready to give you a chance. If the lady would allow us, we shall fight for her hand.
The day of the duel was controversial. The news spread fast and by mid-afternoon, the two mountains and the outlaying hills were blanketed with men, women and children who had come to witness their heroes fight each other. Biuag arrived accompanied by the people of Enrile. He climbed the mountain on the eastern part of the river, carrying a big coconut tree and a sharp spear. Upon reaching the peak, he heard the natives cheering Malana. He felt like barking a command to his followers to kill Malana's people.
Malana went up the opposite mountain. From their position, they saw some rafts being pulled up. As these drew near, Biuag and Malana saw the beautiful lady on one of the rafts. Sadness was clearly etched on her face but this only heightened her ethereal beauty. When she was near, Biuag shouted at Malana, "the woman we both cherish is before us. If you are as brave as you claim to be then, receive this gift of mine from Enrile."
Without thinking, he hurled the coconut tree at Malana. Everyone held his breath. The river stood still. The coconut tree flew like an arrow into the air. Malana caught it and unlike Biuag, he hurled it at the direction of Yeluru. Today, thick coconut grooves abound in that place.
Biuag became more insane. He plucked the spear from the ground where he thrust it. He aimed it at Malana's heart. The people were troubled. They knew too well the accurate deadliness of this terrible spear. Malana's chest was hit but his heart was not pierced. Instead the spear broke into two when it reached the bottom of the river.
Malana shouted: "There you are, Biuag, with no weapons whatsoever. It is now my turn!"
Before Malana would finish uttering the warning, Biuag leaped into the river. Gigantic waves dashed against the rocks and shook the mountain where Malana stood. Biuag emerged with the biggest crocodile under his arm. The crocodile opened wide its jaws. Malana accepted the challenges as he leaped from the mountain. The hundreds of people watching the fight suddenly fell on their knees.
They saw a dazzling light that sparkled.
She rose into the air and checked Malana's fall upon meeting him in mid-air. The woman looked down at Biuag and said: "You have shown yourself a coward by getting the help of a crocodile. I am the daughter of the goddess who gave you your supernatural powers. You do not deserve the gift." With the magic wand, the beautiful woman gave her blessings to the people below and then flew with Malana in the kingdom of the air and the clouds where she reigned.
An Ivatan Folktale: “Duch’narbaan” / “Where Someone Fell”
From Itbayat Folktales, collected by Professor Yukihiro Yamada and introduced by Celerina Mirabueno Navarro
A long time ago, during the time when my grandfather Aplakati was still a little boy, there was an old man who lived in the fields of Kagawran. This old man was so kind that when he saw dead snakes under the heat of the sun, he would take them to a shady place.
Although he was already very old and weak, he still would go to his farm. One day he went to look for food. There was a slope at the end of his farmhouse and there the old man slipped and fell due to his age. The old man was very big and tall.
While he was lying down helpless, a man came who tried to lift him up, but he could not carry him. So he sat down and thought about what he could do. Suddenly, a snake appeared with leaves in his mouth. The man thought that the snake would wind itself around the old man and squeeze him to death. He observed what the snake would do.
When the snake was near the head of the old man, it rubbed the leaves on his forehead and he immediately sat up, revived. Then the snake left quietly.
The place is now called “Duch’narbaan” (where someone fell) because it was the place where the old man fell.
Note: Itbayat is a northern island of the Batanes, and people there speak a different dialect of Ivatan (called Itbayaten) from the Ivatans of Basco and Sabtang islands. It is this language that “Duch’narbaan” was told in.
Reference
http://www.ironwulf.net/2011/08/08/cagayan-the-legend-of-apo-lakay-lakay-in-claveria/
http://compilationofphilippineliterature.blogspot.com/2011/04/legend-of-magat-river.html
http://literarycompilationbyrejean.weebly.com/region-ii.html
http://www.oocities.org/heartland/ridge/5484/myths04.htm
http://cagayano.tripod.com/arts/epic.html
http://sarisaristorybooks.com/2014/03/07/201437an-ivatan-folktale-duchnarbaan-where-someone-fell/
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