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| English Translation at the Bottom |
Habang lumalaki ang mga bata mapapansin ang kaibahan nila sa isa’t isa hindi lamang sa anyo kundi pati na rin sa pag-uugali. Ang panganay na si Ria ay kayumanggi at maganda. Higit sa lahat, ito ay mabait at matulungin sa kapwa. Siya ang gumagawa ng mga gawaing bahay at madalas tumutulong sa kanilang ama upang manghuli ng isda.
Samantala ang bunso na si Uwa ay kabaliktaran ni Ria. Si Uwa ay maputi at may mahaba at mala-mais na buhok. Tiyak na higit itong maganda kaysa sa kanyang nakatatandang kapatid. Wala itong ginawa buong maghapon kundi mag-suklay at tumingin sa salamin habang humahanga sa sariling kagandahan. Hindi ito tumutulong sa gawaing bahay at lalo na sa pangingisda ng ama.
Isang katangiang namana ni Uwa sa kanilang namayapang ina ay ang husay sa pagkanta. Napakaganda ng boses nito. Lahat ng makakarinig dito ay nakakasiguro na isang diyosa ng kumakanta. Si Uwa lang ang may katangian sa pagkanta ngunit hindi naiinggit ang kapatid. Masaya si Ria para kay Uwa at sa mga paghangang tinatamo nito.
Hindi naglaon namatay din ang kanilang ama. Kinailangan nilang maghanap-buhay upang may makain. Ngunit ang panganay na si Ria lamang ang nangingisda samantalang si Uwa ay naiwan sa bahay lamang. Wala ring ginagawa sa bahay ang bunso. Hindi man lang ito malinisan ang bahay o makapagluto ng makakain ng kapatid sa pag-uwi.
Madalas nakiki-usap si Ria na sana tumulong din ang kapatid sa kanya dahil sa nahihirapan na itong mangisda. Hindi naman kasi gawain ng isang batang babae ang mangisda ngunit dahil sa kinakailangan ay ginagawa niya ito. Ang naisip na paraan ni Ria ay kumanta ang kapatid kapalit ng makakain.
Ngunit nagalit si Uwa. Hindi raw para lamang sa kung sino ang kanyang boses at lalo nang hindi daw siya ang may reponsibilidad na maghanap-buhay. Ang panganay daw ang dapat na gumawa nito. Walang nagawa ang panganay na si Ria; hindi niya mapilit ang kapatid na tumulong sa kanya.
Isang araw, may isang matandang babae ang humingi ng pagkain sa bahay ng magkapatid. Agad na pinatuloy ni Ria at binigyan ng pagkain ang matanda. Nakita ni Uwa ang matanda, pinagalitan niya ang kapatid sa pagbibigay ng pagkain sa gayong kapos sila nito. Pati ang matanda ay pinagalitan at pinagtabuyan sa bahay ni Uwa.
Ipinamalas ng matanda ang tunay nitong anyo; ito pala ay isang diwata. Nagulat ang dalawa. Humingi ng paumanhin ang nakababatang kapatid. Ngunit huli na para sa diwata ang hinihinging paumanhin. Nakita na nito ang tunay na ugali ni Uwa.
Si Ria, bilang gantimpala sa kabaitan, ay binigyan ng diwata ng magandang buhay at pinagpatuloy naman nito ang pagiging matulungin sa kapwa.
Samantala, pinarusahan ng diwata si Uwa. Ginawa niya itong isang maitim na ibon na may pagkapangit-pangit na boses. Ang ibon na iyon ay ang tinawag ngayon na uwak.
The Legend of the Crow
The difference between the two daughters became apparent as they grew older. Ria, the elder daughter, was pretty with brown complexion. She was kind and helpful to their neighbors. Ria also helped in doing the household chores and at times would help her father in fishing.
Meanwhile, the younger daughter was named Uwa. She was prettier than her sister. She had fair skin and long golden hair like that of a corn’s. Uwa did nothing but stared at herself in the mirror the whole day. She would comb her hair and admire her reflection in the mirror. She would do no household chores nor would she help in her father’s fishing.
Uwa had a good singing voice, a trait which she inherited from her late mother. Those who would hear her sing believe that a goddess was singing. It was only Uwa who could sing beautifully but Ria was not jealous of her. She was happy for Uwa.
Soon after, their father also died. They had to work in order to live. But it was Ria who took in all the responsibilities of their father. She would go to the sea to fish while Uwa stayed at home. Uwa did nothing at home. She would not even clean the house or cook food for her sister who would surely be hungry when she gets home from fishing.
Ria would beg Uwa to help her in the chores as she was hard up in fishing. It was not something that a little girl should be doing in the first place. Ria thought that they could use Uwa’s voice to earn some money for food.
But Ria’s suggestion only angered Uwa. Her voice was just not for anybody she said and it was definitely not her responsibility to earn a living. It was the eldest who should work for them. Ria could not do anything with Uwa’s reasoning.
One day, an old woman came to their house begging for some food. Ria immediately welcomed the old woman in their house and gave her food to eat. When Uwa saw what her sister did, she got angry at Ria for giving food since they are also scarce of it. After scolding Ria, she turned to the old woman. She pushed the old woman out the door.
The old woman revealed her true identity. The two girls were surprised to find out that the old woman was a fairy. The younger sister tried to make amends to the fairy but it was too late. The fairy had already seen enough of Uwa’s bad attributes.
She rewarded Ria of a good and happy life. Ria, on the otherhand, remained helpful and kind to others.
Meanwhile, Uwa was punished for her bad deeds. The fairy made her into a black and ugly bird. Uwa’s beautiful singing voice had also disappeared. She now has a hoarse, croaking voice that could no longer carry a tune. The bird is what is now commonly known as the crow.
Researched and Rewritten by Lovedy
