Alamat ng Palaka - Frog Legend

English Version at the Bottom

Alamat ng Palaka

Noong unang panahon, may isang bayan na biniyayaan sa likas na yaman. Sa bayang ito, ang mga pananim ay matataba at hitik sa bunga. Ang kanilang mga gubat ay puno ng mga mababangis na hayop at iba’t ibang klase ng punong kahoy. Ang mga alagang hayop ay matataba at malulusog. Maging ang kanilang mga ilog at batis ay hitik sa mga isda na puwedeng makain. Napakaganda ng lugar at masasabi ng sinumang makakita sa bayang ito na sadya ngang pinagpala ang lugar.

Subalit kung gaano kaganda ang lugar ay ganoon naman kapangit ang ugali ng mga naninirahan sa bayang iyon. Ang mga taong bayan ay sakim at mapagmataas. Madalas nagkakaroon ng mga away sa pagitan ng mga magkakapitbahay sapagkat ayaw nilang magbigayan. Sa halip na tumulong sa kanilang kapwa ay pulos ang pansariling kapakanan ang iniisip nila.

Maging ang mga nagagawing bisita sa kanilang bayan ay hindi ligtas sa kanilang pagmamalabis. Hindi nila tinatanggap ng malugod ang kanilang mga bisita sa halip ay pinalalayas nila ang mga ito lalo na ang mga sa tingin nila ay walang pakinabang sa kanila. Sa isip nila, ang mga taong dumadayo sa kanilang lugar ay nais lamang na nakawin ang kanilang mga likas na yaman kaya’t pinagtatabuyan nila ang lahat.

Isang araw, may dalawang bata ang naligaw sa bayan. Mukhang pagod na pagod ang mga bata at tipong malayo pa ang pinanggalingan. Naghanap ang mga bata ng masisilungan. Nagawi sila sa may batis. Nang makita ng mga bata na malinis ang tubig ay iniunat nila ang kanilang mga kamay upang makainom.

Ngunit bago pa man din umabot ang kanilang mga kamay sa tubig ay may narinig silang mga boses na sumisigaw. Lumingon ang mga bata at nakita ang mga taong bayan na nanlilisik ang mga mata sa galit. Pilit na pinalalayas ng mga ito ang dalawa.

Nakiusap ang mga bata na kung puwedeng maka-inom ng tubig dahil sa nanunuyo na ang kanilang mga lalamunan sa uhaw. Ngunit nagmatigas ang mga taong bayan. Hindi nila pinainom ang mga bata. higit pa roon, tumalon sila sa batis at hinalo sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mga paa ang tubig nang sa gayon ay naging putikan ito at tiyak na hindi makakainom ang dalawang bata.

Sa ginawa ng mga ito ay biglang nagliwanag ang paligid at nag-iba ang anyo ng dalawang bata. Sila pala ay tunay na mga diwata na nagpanggap lamang na mga bata.

Nagalit ang mga diwata sa kasakimang pinakita ng mga taong bayan. Pinarusahan ng mga diwata ang mga ito na manatili sa putikang iyon at doon manirahan. Ang kanilang bayan ay maglalaho dahil sa hindi sila karapatdapat sa kayamanang kanilang tinamasa.

Hindi pa man natatapos sa pagsasalita ang mga diwata ay nagbago na ang anyo ng mga tao. Bigla silang lumiit at nagkaroon ng mga mahahabang binti. Lumaki din ang kanilang mga mata at humaba ang mga dila.

Simula noon ay sa putikan na nga naninirahan ang mga ito. Binabantayan ang sa akala nila ay ang dating mayaman nilang bayan. Sa ngayon tinawag silang mga palaka at napakaingay na nagmamando sa lahat na lumayas.

The Legend of the Frog

Once upon a time, there was a prosperous village that's been blessed with a lot. The fruit bearing trees are always bountiful and the yields of the crops, rich. Their jungles were thriving with wild animals that are healthy and robust. Even their rivers and streams were filled with fish that can satisfy all. The place is truly blessed and beautiful and they were the envy of many villages.

Yet the beauty of the village reflects something else. Its inhabitants are crass, high minded, arrogant and greedy. The neighbors in the village also didn't get along with each other because nobody would just give way to one another. They each only thought about themselves.



Even visitors from distant lands are not safe from their greed and opportunism. They don't accept their visitors and make them go away specially if they think that they have no use of them. In their minds, they only think that their visitors only want to steal what they have and take advantage of them.

But all of these are about to change.

One day, two little children got lost in their village. They looked really tired and seemed to have come from a distant land. They tried looking for shelter and happened upon a stream along the periphery of the village. When they saw that the stream was clean, they bent down and opened up their hands so that they could get water and drink.

But before their hands even reached the stream, they heard loud shouts. They turned around and saw people who are very angry. The two children were made to go away.

They tried to reason with the villagers because they were really thirsty. Their throats are parched and they only wanted to drink from the stream. Yet, the people from the village didn't let them drink.

They even jumped on the stream and waddled in the mud to make it dirty so that the children would not be able to drink.

Suddenly, a bright shining light enveloped the villagers. The two children changed forms and became "diwatas".

The two angry spririts then cursed the villagers and bound them to the mud that they were standing on. From then on, they would dwell in the mud and their prosperous village would be no more.

Before the diwatas could even finish what they were saying, the villagers felt that they were changing into something else. They found themselves growing smaller yet with longer limbs. Their eyes began to bulge and their tongues grew longer.

They were then bound to the mud that they used to muddle up the waters. These frogs, are then the guardians of their inexistent village, croaking everyone away from what was once their precious home.

---

Researched and Rewritten by Lovedy
Translated and Formatted by Daniel Andrei Garcia

Alamat ng Ahas - Snake Legend

TAGALOG VERSION

English Version at the Bottom

Bago pa man gumagapang ang mga ahas ay dati na silang may mga paa. Tulad ng iba pang mga hayop, ang mga ahas ay may apat na paa na kanilang ginagamit upang makalakad.

Sa gubat, tinuruan ng isang guro ang mga magkakaibigang kobra, sawa at dahong palay ng pagtatanggol sa sarili. Ang mga ito ay tinuruan ng guro sapagkat napansin nito na ang mga ahas ay maliliit at palagi silang kinakawawa ng mga mas malalaking hayop.

Matapos ang kanilang pagaaral, natuto nga ang mga ahas ng kakayahang ipagtanggol ang sarili. Mahigpit na ipinagbilin ng guro sa mga ito na wag gamitin ang natutunang kakayahan sa paghahambog lamang. Ito ay gagamitin lang nila kung kinakailangan at sa mabuting layunin lamang.

Ngunit dahil sa bagong natutunan, naging mataas ang tingin ng mga ito sa sarili. Saan man sila magpunta ay pinagyayabang nila na itinuro sa kanila ng guro ang kakayahan na ipagtanggol ang sarili maski mas malaki pa ang kalaban.

Isang araw, ang mga ahas ay nagkatuwaan at nagpustahan kung sino sa kanila ang pinakamagaling. Nagpatagisang gilas silang tatlo. Dahil dito, ang lahat ng mga hayop sa gubat ay nagkagulo. Sumakit ang katawan ni Leon ng pilipitin ni kobra. Iika-ika si elepante matapos sipa-sipain ni sawa ang kanyang mga binti. Si matsing naman ay napagod at hinihingal sa katatakbo upang maiwasan ang mga suntok ni dahong palay.

Narinig ng guro ang ginawa ng mga tinuruan niyang ahas. Napa-iling ito at nag-isip kung paano niya tuturuan ng leksiyon ang mga hambog at malilikot na hayop. Matapos mag-isip ay hinanap niya ang mga ahas.

Nang makita ng guro ang mga ahas, ito ay nagdasal. Napatulog niya ang mga ito. Itinali niya at inipit ang mga paa ng malilikot na ahas at pinutol ang mga ito.

Nagising ang tatlo at nakita ang putol nilang mga paa. Nasa tabi nila ang kanilang guro. Pinaunawa ng guro na kaya niya pinutol ang mga paa nito ay dahil sa naging hambog ang mga ito dahil sa panibagong natutunan. Pinagsabihan niya ang mga ahas na simula noon ay wala na silang paa at gagapang na lamang sila para makalakad. Hindi na rin nila magagamit ang kakayahan sa pagtatanggol dahil hindi sila karapat-dapat para dito.

Simula noon ay gumagapang na lang ang mga ahas. Dahil hindi na rin nila magamit ang kakayanan ng pagtatanggol at sa hiyang dinulot ng pagkakaputol ng paa, sila ngayon ay naging mailap sa ibang mga hayop. Nagtatago sila at nag-aantay ng tamang pagkakataon upang umatake sa kanilang biktima.

ENGLISH VERSION

THE LEGEND OF THE SNAKE

Before the snakes ever crawled this earth, they used to have feet. They were like the other animals and as a matter of fact, were very closely related to the large lizards that you might find today. The only difference that they had was that they can stand up on their hind legs or use four at the same time. 

They were very shy and meek creatures. They liked staying in the cooler and darker portions of the forest. When they did venture out, they'd get trampled upon by larger animals since they were not particularly smart and aware of their surroundings. The monkey made fun of them and the carabao laughed at them.  

Seeing that the snakes were always at the mercy of bigger creatures such as the carabao, a wise teacher appeared and took them under his care. The teacher taught them how to defend themselves in a way that would befit their stature. 

The cobra, the boa and the viper were the most avid students in fighting and learned fairly quickly.

Pretty soon, their confidence began to rub off on the others. They were no longer the weaklings of the jungle and were the masters of fighting. 

The teacher sensed this growing confidence and began to feel alarmed. One day, he decided to talk to them and warn them that they shouldn't use their new skills in harming others. 

He reminded them that their abilities should only be used to protect themselves that they may also live good lives in the jungle. The balance must be maintained. 

Yet, the three friends didn't pay attention to their teacher. One night, they secretly talked amongst themselves and decided that it was their right to use their new skills. In fact, they should use them to get their vengeance on those who made their lives difficult before. 

With their new abilities, they believed that they must rule the animal kingdom. 

They ventured out and bravely walked among the carabaos bragging and teasing them. They told them that they smelled terrible and looked funny whenever they took their mud baths. 

The carabaos, though usually kind creatures, were not one to be pushed around in their own land. Their infamous tempers got the better of them which was exactly what the snakes wanted. 

The snakes, agile creatures as they are leaped around and fought in tandem. The carabaos may be strong, but the snakes were quicker and faster. Soon, all of the carabaos were lying down on their own land, beaten and exhausted. 

It was the snakes' first victory 

They marched along wherever they could and beat whoever dared fight them. They were unbeatable and a force to reckon with. 

They grew arrogant, believing that each one was the best. So much so, that they made a wager amongst the three of them on who could hurt the most number of animals in the jungle. 

What happened next, was unfathomable. Chaos and destruction ensued. Boa killed all the elephants and viper poisoned the tigers. Cobra chased all the horses away.

(Note: If you've ever wondered, there are no native elephants in the Philippines. The animals in the zoo that you see have all been brought from other countries such as Thailand and Africa. Or maybe there were, 10,000 years ago. Go and check the elephant bones in the Ayala Museum and tell us what you'll find. We'd like to hear from you ~Dan)    

The teacher found out about this and was dismayed at what he saw. There was bloodshed, death, pain and destruction everywhere he looked. 

The balance has been broken. 

He sought out the three belligerent snakes and whispered a 'sleeping prayer'. The three abruptly fell into a deep sleep wherein they could not hear or feel anything. Even as they slept, their feet and legs would move about so the teacher bound them. 

The teacher never wanted to hurt the creatures even though they wrought havoc in the forest but there was no other choice. He knew that they would continue to cause destruction and pain when they woke up.

He cut off all their legs so that they would no longer be able to make use of them to hurt others. The teacher snuck quietly away while the snakes slept soundly, unmindful of their missing legs. 

When they woke up, they found out that they no longer had legs. They writhed and struggled as they tried to move from one place to another. This was when they became acquainted with fear again. They were afraid that the other animals would take revenge against them while they were weak. 

They knew that they would be helpless, accursed as they are. They can't fight in this way, not without their feet. Thus they parted ways with each snake choosing his own hiding place. The boa chose the deepest parts of the jungle where nobody would find him. 

The viper snuck in between the small rocks and crevices, moving from one small hole to the other. While the cobra wandered from one spot to another.

Eventually, they'd learn to fight again. But this time, they'd rather fight like cowards, striking from places where nobody can see them and slithering away.

---

Researched and Rewritten by Lovedy
Translated and Formatted by Daniel Andrei Garcia

Alamat ng Uwak - Crow Legend

English Translation at the Bottom

Maraming maraming taon na ang nakalipas, may isang mag-asawa ang biniyayaan ng dalawang anak na babae. Masaya ang buhay ng mag-anak kahit simple lang ang pamumuhay. Ngunit maagang namatay ang asawang babae kaya’t ang lalaki lamang ang naiwan upang magpalaki sa dalawang bata.

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

Many years ago, there was a couple who was blessed with two daughters. The family lived a simple but happy life. But the mother passed away early and so the father was left to tend to his two daughters.

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

Alamat ng Ylang-Ylang - Flower Legend

English Translation Below

Noong unang panahon, ang mga diyosa ang pumipili kung anong puno ang bibigyan nila ng katangian upang mamulaklak. Ilan sa mga punong nabigyan ng ganitong kakayahan ay ang mga punong kalachuchi, katuray, adelfa, manga at iba pa. Ngunit isa sa mga hindi pinagpala upang mamulaklak ay ang puno ng Ilang-ilang.

Nalungkot si Ilang-ilang sapagkat gusto rin niyang magkaroon ng mga bulaklak. Narinig niya ang kanyang mga katabing puno na pinagmamalaki ang kanilang mga magagandang bulaklak. Naging mayabang ang mga ito na kesyo mas maganda sila. Ang mga puno daw na hindi namumulaklak ay mas mabuting putulin na lamang upang gamitin sa paggawa ng bahay o di kaya’y gawing panggatong para may pakinabang.

Mas lalong nalungkot si Ilang-ilang. Sa gabi ito umiiyak upang sa gayon ay walang makarinig sa kanyang mga hikbi. Walang magawa si Ilang-ilang kaya’t hinayaan na lamang niya ang mga mayayabang na mga kapitbahay.

Isang araw, umulan ng malakas at tila babagyo pa ata. Ang lahat ng puno ay nagsipaghanda. Ang mga may bulaklak ay hinigpitan ang kapit upang hindi matangay ng hangin at ulan ang kanilang pinaka-iingatang mga bulaklak. Dahil sa wala namang bulaklak si Ilang-ilang, ito ay kampante na makakaraos sa bagyo.

Sa di kalayuan, dalawang higad ang naghahanap ng masisilungan mula sa ulan. Naka-ilang tanong na ang mga ito, nakikiusap sa mga puno na sila ay patuluyin pansamantalang may bagyo. Ngunit lahat ng mga puno ay tumanggi sa kanila, lalo na ang mga bulaklak. Siguradong ubos hindi lamang ang mga dahon kundi pati na rin ang kanilang mga bulaklak ani nila.

Walang magawa ang mga kawawang higad. Umalis sila na nangangamba na anomang oras ay tatangin sila ng baha.

Narinig ni Ilang-ilang ang pagpapalayas ng mga ibang puno sa dalawa kaya’t pasigaw nitong tinawag ang mga higad. Inialok nito na sa kanya na lamang tumuloy ang dalawa. Total, aniya, wala naman siyang mga bulaklak at di hamak na mas mahalaga ang buhay ng mga higad kaysa sa kanyang mga dahon. Kumain lang daw sila ng maski ilang dahon ang gusto nila.

Matagal bago natapos ang unos. Nang sumikat ang araw hinanap ni Ilang-ilang ang mga kaibigang higad ngunit wala na ang mga ito. Nalungkot siya na baka nahulog ang mga ito dahil sa malakas na hangin at ulan.

Sa halip, may nakita si Ilang-ilang na parang mga bulaklak na nakasabit sa kanyang mga sanga. Ito na nga ang dalawang higad na sa gitna ng unos ay naging mga ganap na paru-paro.

Nalaman ng mga diyosa ang kagitingang ginawa ni Ilang-ilang. Binisita nila ang puno na may dalang magandang balita. Pagkakalooban si Ilang-ilang ng pabuya dahil sa inisip muna niya ang kapakanan ng iba bago ang sarili.

Simula noon ay magkakaroon na siya ng mga bulaklak na katulad ng mga naka-tiklop na pakpak ng mga kinalinga niyang paru-paro. Hindi lamang yun, ang kanyang mga bulaklak ay magkakaroon ng bango na hahalimuyak sa buong kakahoyan. Natuwa si Ilang-ilang, sa wakas magkakaroon na rin siya ng bulaklak.

The Legend of the Ylang-Ylang Flower

Once upon a time, the ability of trees to bear flowers was assigned by the gods and goddesses. Some of the trees who were given this ability were calachuchi, adelfa, mango, etc. Ylang-Ylang was not among those given this gift.

Ylang-Ylang was sad because she was not able to bear flowers. She would hear the other trees bragging about how beautiful their flowers looked. The other trees would also say that it would be better for those who had no flowers to be cut down and made into firewood since they had no use.

At night, Ylang-Ylang would cry because of this. But because she knew that there was nothing she could do she let it go.

One time, a storm seemed to be brewing. The rain was falling hard and the wind was gusty. The other trees held tight to their flowers so that it would not fall down the ground. Ylang-Ylang was confident that she would make it through the storm. Since she had no flowers to hold on to, she was less worried than the others.



During the storm, there were two caterpillars that were looking for a place to stay in. The caterpillars had asked most of the trees to let them stay in until the storm is over. But the trees shooed them away, saying the caterpillars would surely eat not only their leaves but their flowers as well.

The caterpillars could do nothing but leave. They braced themselves for what could happen to them during the storm.

Ylang-Ylang heard everything that was said to the two caterpillars. She asked them to stay with her through the storm. Furthermore, she told them to eat all the leaves that they needed; their safety was far more important than anything else.

The storm proved to be strong and it lasted longer than anyone had anticipated. After the storm passed, Ylang-Ylang tried to look for the caterpillars but they were nowhere to be found. She was sad thinking that they were taken away by the rain and wind.

Instead of two caterpillars, Ylang-Ylang saw two strange things that looked like flowers hanging by her branch. Upon further inspection, it was the two caterpillars which had metamorphosized into butterflies.

The gods and goddesses learned of Ylang-Ylang’s heroic deed. They visited the tree to bring good news. Ylang-ylang was to be rewarded because she thought more for others’ sake than hers’.

Since then, Ylang-Ylang had flowers which looked like the wings of the two butterflies which she took in. furthermore, her flowers had a sweet smell which lingered through the woods. Ylang-Ylang was finally happy she now had sweet-smelling flowers.

---

Researched, Rewritten and Translated by Lovedy

Alamat ng Gagamba - Spider Legend

English Translation at the Bottom

Noong unang panahon, may isang mag-asawa na biniyayaan ng isang magandang anak na babae. Ang kanilang anak ay tinawag nilang Amba.

Ang mag-asawa ay may hanapbuhay na paghahabi ng mga tela. Parehas na galing sa angkan ng mga mahuhusay humabi ang mag-asawa. Kaya’t tama lamang na ito rin ay kanyang ipapamana sa nag-iisang anak.

Habang maliit pa ang bata ay itinuro na ng mag-asawa kung paano ang humabi. At habang lumalaki na nga ang bata ay unti-unti itong naging bihasa sa paghahabi ng mga tela. Maging ang mga mahihirap na disenyo ay kaya ng gawin ng bata sa murang edad. Nahigitan na nito ang kakayanan ng kanyang ama at ina.

Dahil sa kanyang natatanging kakayanan, naging tanyag ang bata sa iba’t ibang lupalop. Marami ang dumarayo hindi lamang para bumili ng mga disenyo kundi upang makita rin ang paggawa ng bata. Naging mayaman din ang mag-anak dahil sa mga bentang tela na ginagawa ng bata.

Ngunit ang bata ay naging mayabang. Dahil sa alam nito na magaling siya sa kanyang kakayanang paghahabi hinamon nito ang sino man na magkipagtagisan sa kanya. Maraming mga mahuhusay na maghahabi ang tumaggap sa hamon ng batang si Amba. Gusto rin nilang patunayan kung siya nga ay magaling tulad ng napabalita.

Nagtagisan ng galing ang mga maghahabi. Napakahusay nga ang bata. Lahat ng magagaling na maghahabi ay napakahanga sa kakayanan ni Amba. Nilaos sila ng bata at dahil dito, mas lalong yumabang ang bata.

Ani niya, wala nang makakatalo sa kanyang kakayanan. Maging ang mga diyosa ay kanyang hinamak na wala na ngang makahihigit pa sa galing niya. Narinig ng mga diyosa ang kayabangan ng bata. Hindi na sila nasisiyahan sa nagiging asal ng bata.

Isang araw, isang matanda ang nagpunta sa bahay ng bata at hinamon niya ito. Natawa ang bata ngunit pumayag din ito. Mukha namang pangkaraniwan lang ang matanda at baka nga hindi pa nito alam kung paano humabi. Sigurado na siyang walang panalo sa kanya ang matanda.

Nag-umpisa ang paligsahan. Maraming tao ang dumalo upang manood kung mananalo ang matanda sa batang si Amba. Naging napakaganda ng telang hinabi ng matanda. Maging si Amba ay natulala sa mahirap na disenyong nagawa ng matanda. Ang pasya nang pagkapanalo ay sa tela ng matanda.

Nagngingit-ngit ang bata. Paano daw siya natalo ng isang matanda na mahina na ang mata at uugod-ugod pa. Pinagalitan niya ang matanda at tinulak-tulak ito. Igigiit nito na ang matanda ay nandaya at baka ipinalit lamang ang isang nagawa nang tela sa ginagawa nito. Baka nga si Amba pa gumawa ng tela aniya.

Tangka na niyang pagbubuhatan ng kamay ang matanda nang biglang lumiwag ang damit ng matanda at nagbago ang kanyang anyo. Iyon pala ay isang diyosa na nagpapanggap lamang.

Hindi na maganda ang asal ng bata ayon sa diyosa. Naging masyadong mayabang ang bata at nararapat daw itong parusahan. Nagbago ang anyo ng bata. Lumiit ito at nagkaroon ng mga mahahabang paa. Umiiyak ang kanyang mga magulang ngunit alam nilang wala na silang magawa para sa bata.

Simula noon ang batang si Amba ay naging unang gagamba. Sa ngayon, makikita pa rin ang kahusayan ng mga gagamba sa paghahabi ng kanilang mga bahay.

The Legend of the Spider

Once upon a time, there was a couple who had been blessed with a beautiful baby girl. They named their child Amba.

Weaving was the main livelihood of the couple. They make beautiful and intricate designs of cloths. The couple both came from a family of great weavers. It didn’t come as a surprise that Amba was taught how to weave and she excelled in it.

Even as a young girl, Amba was very good at the craft her parents have taught her. As she grew up, she explored and experimented on how to make different designs. Because of this, she was a master weaver even at a young age. She has even surpassed her parents’ ability.

Amba became famous because of her talent in weaving.  She was known throughout the land. Many would come to their place not only to buy the cloths that Amba had made but also to look at her weave. Many wonder at the magical way her hands work. The family became rich because of this livelihood.

But due to her new found fame, the girl became arrogant. She knew she was good at weaving that she challenged anyone who would like to go against her. Many great weavers heeded Amba’s challenge. They too would like to prove Amba’s talents.

The challenge was set and the weaving begun. Amba fascinated all her challengers at how easily she weaved intricate patterns. There was no doubt that the girl outdid all the other weavers. Because of this, she became even more arrogant than before.

Amba claimed that she was the best weaver there is. She even said that no goddess can surpass her ability to weave beautiful designs. The goddesses heard Amba’s taunts against them. They had noticed how proud Amba had become. They were not happy with Amba’s arrogance.

One day, an old woman had come to challenge Amba. The girl agreed to the match. She laughed to herself thinking that the woman looked as if she doesn’t even know how to weave. It would definitely be easy for Amba to beat her. Plus, it’s a chance to show off her skills.

The weaving started and the old woman proved to be a great adversary to Amba. The old woman made a complicated and beautiful design that left everyone, even Amba, in awe. The old woman won the challenge.

Amba could not believe that she was beaten by an old woman. She mocked the woman saying that she had cheated. The cloth could have been swapped by the old woman. It could even have been a cloth that Amba had made beforehand.

Before Amba could have pushed the old woman, the whole place suddenly lit up. The old woman was suddenly transformed into a beautiful goddess. She saw how arrogant Amba had become. The girl was to be punished for her pride.

At the wave of the goddess’ hand, Amba’s appearance changed. She became smaller and her legs grew longer. Her parents could not do anything for they knew that their daughter had indeed become very proud of herself.

Amba was the very first spider. Up to this day, one can still see the spider’s skills in weaving in the complicated designs they make their houses of.

---

Researched and Rewritten by Lovedy
Translated and Formatted by Daniel Andrei Garcia

Alamat ng Munting Loro - Lovebirds

Ito ay kuwento ng dalawang magkasintahan na pilit pinaglalayo ng kani-kanilang mga magkaaway na angkan.

Noong bata pa ang mundo, sa isang bayan ay may isang dalawang makangayarihang angkan ang nag-aaway kung sino ang mas karapat-dapat na mamuno sa taong bayan. Parehas na makapangarihan ang bawat pamilya kung kaya’t hindi sila magkasundo. Ito ay ang angkan nila Datu Dinaganda at Datu Manoo.

Ang angkan ng mga Dinaganda ay may nag-iisang anak na dalaga na nagngangalang Marikit. Ang dalaga ay maganda at mabait. Mahal siya ng kanilang nasasakupan sapagkat siya ay matulungin at masayahin. Marami ring mga kalalakihan ang nanliligaw kay Marikit.

Samantalang sa angkan naman ng mga Manoo, pinagmamalaki nila ang kanilang panganay na anak na si Maksil. Ang binata ay makisig at matapang. Siya ay isang tunay na mandirigma. Dahil sa mga katangiang ito, maraming babae at maging mga lalaki ang humahanga kay Maksil.

Isang araw nang nangangaso ang magiting na binata ay nakita niya sa may talon ang magandang dalaga. Nagustuhan ni Maksil si Marikit kaya’t nilapitan niya ito at nagpakilala. Matapos noon ay hindi na nilubayan ng lalaki ang babae. Hindi naglaon naging magkasintahan ang dalawa.

Ngunit dahil nga sa mortal na magkaaway ang kani-kanilang angkan, sila ay palihim na nagkikita sa kung saan una silang nagkakilala.

Isang araw, pinasundan ni Datu Dinaganda si Marikit sa isang alipin. Nakita ng alipin na ang dalaga ay nakikipagtagpo sa anak ng mortal nilang kaaway. Isinumbong ng alipin si Marikit sa kanyang ama.

Nagalit si Datu Dinaganda at pinagbawalan ang dalaga na makipagkita sa kasintahan. Ngunit hindi papipigil ang dalaga sa kanyang nararamdaman para sa binata. Nag-isip ito ng plano upang makatakas sa palasyo at makipagkita sa iniirog upang yayain itong lumayo sa kanilang nag-aaway na angkan.

Isang tapat na alipin ni Marikit ang lihim na nagbigay ng mensahe kay Maksil upang makipagkita sa dalaga sa dati nilang tagpuan. Pumayag ang binata.

Nang gabing magkita ang magkasintahan, sila ay nagsumpaan na walang sino man ang makapaghihiwalay sa kanila. Subalit lingid sa kanilang kaalaman ay sinundan silang parehas ng kanilang mga angkan.

Pilit silang pinaglalayo sa isa’t isa ngunit nagpumiglas ang dalawa. Inilabas ni Maksil ang kanyang sandata at naghamon sa sino man ang lalapit.

Nang nakatakbo at nakapagtago ang dalawa mula sa mga humabol sa kanila. Inulit nila ang sumpaan na wala nang makapaghihiwalay sa kanila.Napag-isipan nila na ang tanging paraan upang hindi sila mapaglalayo ay kung parehas na silang walang buhay. Sa gayon wala nang magagawa ang kani-kanilang angkan.

Sa oras ding iyon ay kinitil ng magkasintahan ang kanilang buhay habang magkahawak pa rin sa isa’t isa.

Narinig ng mga diyosa ang sumpaan ng dalawa. Humanga ang mga ito sa kanilang pagmamahalan at nanghinayang na hindi nabigyan ng pagkakataon ang dalawa na magsama. Dahil dito, ginawa nilang munting mga loro ang magsing-irog.

Tulad ng sumpaan ng dalawa, ang mga munting loro (lovebirds) ay hindi puwedeng paghiwalayin kung hindi mamamatay ang mga ito dahil sa lungkot na mawala ang kasintahan.

Legend of the Lovebirds 
English Version

This is the story how two lovers from two warring families fought for their love and right to be together.

When the world was young, in a faraway town, there were two families who were fighting for the right to govern the people. Both families were rich and powerful, which is why nobody would back down in the struggle to claim power over the town. These were the tribes of Datu Dinaganda and Datu Manoo.

The Dinaganda family had an only daughter named Marikit. The girl is loved by their servants because she is kind-hearted and helpful. She is also beautiful and cheerful which is why a lot of men wooed her to be their wife.




Meanwhile, the Manoo family also boasts of their eldest son, Maksil. He is a true warrior, being strong and brave. Many women as well as men admire Maksil for his characteristics.

One time, while Maksil was in the woods hunting, he spotted the beautiful Marikit by the falls. Maksil instantly fell in love with her. He introduced himself to the lady. Soon after, the two became a couple and were inseparable.

The two lovers had to keep their relationship a secret; they coming from families who were mortal enemies. They would sneak from their families to meet clandestinely.

One day while Marikit sneaked out of their house to meet Maksil, her father Datu Dinaganda, had her followed by a trusted servant. After seeing the lovers together, the servant rushed back to the Datu and reported what he saw.

Datu Dinaganda was angered by what he learned. He scolded Marikit and forbade her to see Maksil. But the girl was determined to continue the relationship. She devised a plan to meet up Maksil. She would ask him to take her away from their warring families.

Marikit asked her trusted servant to give Maksil her letter. He agreed to meet her in their usual meeting place.

That night when the two met up, the lovers promised that they would not let anyone get in the way of their love. However, unknown to them, they were both followed by their families.

Their fathers tried to separate the two but Maksil would not let them without a fight. He took out his machete and promised to strike anybody who would go near them.

The two were able to run away from the crowd and managed to hide themselves under a big tree. They repeated their promise to stay together. Suddenly, they realized that the only way to keep this promise is if they took away their lives together. Then their families could no longer do anything to separate them.

The lovers had already decided and they killed themselves while holding on to each other’s hands.

While the lovers were pledging their love to each other, the gods and goddesses had heard what they had promised to each other. They admired their pledge for each other. They were sorry that the lovers had to resort to death just so they could be together. Because of that, the gods and goddesses decided to make the lovers into birds so that they will have a chance to be together.

The birds were then called lovebirds. Just as the two had promised not to separate from each other, lovebirds cannot be separated from each other or else they would die from extreme loneliness.

---

Researched and Rewritten by Lovedy
Translated and Formatted by Daniel Andrei Garcia

Alamat ng Matsing - Monkey Legend

English Translation at the Bottom

Noong unang panahon, may isang mag-asawang magsasaka. Sila ay biniyayaan ng isang dosenang anak na lalaki. Ang mag-asawa ay hindi mayaman ngunit sila ay mapagmahal sa kanilang mga anak.

Natutuwa noon ang asawang lalaki, ipinagmamalaki niya sa kanyang mga kaibigang mag-sasaka na meron na siyang katuwang sa pagsasaka sapagkat pulos lalaki ang kanyang naging mga anak. Ngunit ang mga anak na lalaki ay ubod ng tamad at malilikot. Wala silang ibang ginawa kundi mag-laro buong maghapon.

Madalas, ang mga bata ay wala sa bahay buong araw. Mahahanap mo sila sa kakahoyan nagtatakbuhan. Libangan nila ang umakyat sa mga puno, mag baging-baging at maghahabulan. Magkukulitan ang mga ito hanggang sa abutin ng gabi at hanapin na ng kanilang mga magulang.

Kung hindi man sila mapunta sa kakahoyan, sila ay nasa kanilang bakuran at mamimitas ng mga tanim na prutas ng kanilang ina. Paborito nila ang tanim na saging na namumunga ng madami.

Nagugulo naman ang buong kabahayan kapag sila ay nasa loob ng bahay. Nawawala ang mga gamit ng kanilang ina sa pagluluto sapagkat kanila itong itinatago. Ang mga upuan at mga kagamitan ay nasisira dahil sa pagtatalon-talon ng mga ito dito. O di kaya ay pinag-papasapasahan nila ang mga ito na parang bola.

Ngunit mapasensya ang mag-asawa sa kanilang mga malilikot na mga anak. Naisip nila na tatanda rin ang mga ito at mawawala din ang pagkapilyo ng mga bata. Magkakaroon din sila ng katuwang sa gawaing bukid at bahay.

Nagkamali ang mag-asawa sapagkat habang naglalaon ay lalong gumulo ang mga bata. Madalas na kundi sira ang mga gamit sa bahay ay hindi mahanap ang mga ito dahil sa kalalaro ng mga bata. Ang kanilang mga pananim ay kadalasan ding ubos ang prutas at ang mga punong-kahoy ay putol-putol ang mga sanga

Isang gabi, pag-uwi ng mag-asawa galing sa bukid, dinatnan ng mga ito ang gulo-gulong bahay. Sira-sira ang kanilang kagamitan at higit sa lahat ay wala pang nakahandang pagkain para sa pagod na mag-asawa. Wala ring batang andun sa bahay.

Tinawag ng ama ang kanyang mga anak ngunit wala ni isa ang sumagot o nagpakita. Lumabas siya sa bakuran at nakita ang putol-putol na mga puno. Ngunit ala pa ding mga anak ang nakita. Nagpunta sa kakahoyan ang mag-asawa, sigurado silang andun ang mga bata.

Sa kakahoyan nga nakita ng mag-asawa ang mga bata na nag-lalambitin at nag-babaging sa mga sanga-sanga. Meron ding mga bata na nag-aaway at walang pakialam na tinatawag na sila ng magulang. Umabot sa sukdulan ang pasensya ng mag-asawa ng makita ang mga tamad na anak na walang ginawa kundi maglaro.

Pinulot ng mag-asawa ang sanga na nahulog mula sa puno at ng tangkang papaluin na ang mga bata, ang mga ito ay nagsipag-takbo ng mabilis. Hindi mahabol ng mag-asawa ang kanilang mga anak kung kaya’t itinapon nalang nila ang mga sangang nahulog mula sa puno. Ang mga sanga ay dumikit sa puwet ng mga bata. Hindi na ito matanggal sa puwetan ng mga bata at naging buntot ang mga ito. Ang mga bata ay tinubuan din ng mahahabang mga balahibo.

Simula noon ay hindi na umuwi ang mga bata. Sa mga puno na lang sila tumira, naglalambitin at masayang naglalaro. Sila ang mga unang matsing.

The Legend of the Monkey

Once upon a time, there lived a couple who had been blessed with twelve sons. The family was not wealthy but the parents loved all of their boys and tried hard to provide for them. 

The father was especially proud that he had a dozen sons. He would tell his friends that he would have a lot of help in tilling their farmland. But to his dismay, his boys were lazy and carefree. They did absolutely nothing but play the whole day.

The boys are often in the woods where they love to play and climb the vines and branches of the trees. They would spend the whole day there playing hide and seek and tag until night comes and their parents would come looking for them.

If the boys were not in the woods, they can be found in their backyard eating the fruits from their trees. Their favorite is the banana which they would pick from their mother’s plant. 

The family’s house is a mess due to the boys’ playfulness. They would hide their mother’s cooking utensils. The boys would jump up on their chairs and furniture and would throw these around like a ball. Their house is a complete chaos because of the naughty boys.

The boys’ parents are patient with their naughty children. They thought that the boys would soon outgrow their childish ways and help out in the chores.

But they were wrong. Instead of maturing, the boys grew even more playful. Their house is a mess. The whole furniture is destroyed and even their fruit trees were dying because the boys would play among them.

One night, when the parents came home tired and hungry from tilling their rice fields, they found their house in the usual topsy-turvy state. There was no food for them to eat and no boys to be found as well

The father called out his sons but there was no answer. He went out in their backyard and saw the branches of their fruit trees on the ground. But still, the boys were nowhere to be found. The couple decided to go to the woods to look for their children. Surely they would find them there.

In the woods, the parents saw their children playing on the trees. There were some who were hanging on the branches; while some were playing tag; the others were fighting. All were not mindful of their parents shouting to make them stop. 

The parents reached their boiling point. They picked up the branches that had fallen on the ground and were about to spank the naughty little boys but they managed to ran away. The parents then, threw the sticks at the boys. The sticks reached their butts and stuck on them. 

The boys tried to remove the branches sticking form their butts however it’s as if it was glued and could not be removed. Soon, hair began to cover the boys’ faces and bodies. 

From then on, the boys no longer went home. They lived on the trees happily swinging and playing on the branches. They became the very first monkeys.

---

Researched and Rewritten by Lovedy
Translated and Formatted by Daniel Andrei Garcia

Paano Humaba ang Leeg ng Gansa? - Goose

Ang mga gansa ay may hawig sa ng mga pato ngunit sila ay may mahahabang mga leeg. Subalit noon ang mga gansa ay kahawig na kahawig ng mga pato. Ang kanilang mga leeg ay maliliit din. Ito ang kuwento kung paano nakuha ng gansa ang kaniyang mahabang leeg.

May isang gansa ang bagong kasal. Ang dalawang mag-asawa ay nagpasya na itayo ang kanilang pugad sa malapit sa ilog upang sa gayon, paglabas ng kanilang mga bibe ay maturuan agad ang mga ito na lumangoy.

Masayang-masaya sa napiling lugar ang mag-asawa. Tago ito upang hindi agad mahanap ng mga maaaring kumain ng kanilang itlog. Isa pa, ,ababait ang kanilang mga kapit-bahay. Agad na nakahanap ang lalaking gansa ng kaibigan. Ito ay ang isa pang lalaking gansa, isang pato at isang maingay na palaka. Tuwing gabi sila ay nagsasama-sama upang mag-usap usap tungkol sa nangyayari sa paligid hanggang sa mag-sawa ang lahat at wala nang maikwento.

Minsan, nang magkita ang magbabarkada, masayang ikunuwento ng lalaking gansa na nangitlog na nga ang kanyang asawa at ano mang araw malapit na rin siyang maging tatay. Binati nila ang kaibigan at sinabi sa kanya na mababawasan na kung gayon ang kanyang paglabas-labas sa gabi. Siyempre, ani nila, kinakailangan niyang tulunganng bantayan ang kanilang mga itlog. Ngayon lang naisip ng lalaking gansa na kinakailangan nga rin naman niyang bantayan ang mga itlog. Umuwi siya na iyon pa rin ang nasa isipan.

Isang gabi, nakita ng lalaking gansa ang kanyang asawa na pagod at inaantok na. Buong maghapon itong nakaupo at nakalimlim sa mga itlog upang masigurong naiinitan ang mga ito ng pantay-pantay. Naawa ng lalaki at sinabi sa asawa na pwede na itong mag-pahinga ngayong gabi. Siya daw muna ang bahalang mag-babantay at maglilimlim sa mga itlog. Natutuwang pumayag ang babae. Dali-daling tumayo ang babae mula sa pugad. Maganda daw ang naisip ng asawa at namamanhid na ang kanyang puwetan.

Naupo na nga ang lalaking gansa at nang unang oras ay masaya pang naglilimlim sa kanilang pugad. Ngunit bigla siyang may narinig mga boses na kilalang-kilala niya. Iyon nga ang boses ng kanyang mga kaibigan na malakas na nagkukuwentuhan at nagtatawanan. Biglang naiingit ang lalaking gansa. Naisip niya na sana ay kasama siya dun na nakikipagkuwentuhan

Ninais nitong makisalamuha o kahit man lang ay marinig ang mga pinagkukuwentuhan ng mga kaibigan. Muntik na itong napatayo mula sa pugad ngunit naalala niya ang mga itlog. Kung kaya’t iniunat na lamang nito ang kanyang munting leeg upang makita ang barkada. Dahil sa mataas ang talahib kung saan natago ang pugad, hindi pa rin niya nagawang makita ang mga maiingay na nagkukuwentuhan.

Hindi pa rin sumuko ang lalaking gansa. Iniunat niya ng iniunat ang kanyang munting leeg hanggang sa nakita niya ang ulo ng mga kaibigan. Subalit tapos ng mag-usap ang mga ito at papauwi na sa kanilang mga bahay. Pilit niyang binaba ang kanyang ulo subalit napansin nitong hindi na maibalik sa dati ang anyo ng kanyang leeg.

Kinaumagahan ng bumalik ang babaeng gansa upang humalili sa asawa, nakita niya ang munting leeg ng asawa na humaba sa kaka-unat nito upang makinig sa usapan ng kanyang mga kaibigan. Simula noon ay naging mahaba na ang leeg ng mga gansa.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

A goose may bear a striking resemblance to a duck except for one thing – they have longer necks. But that wasn’t always the case, the geese used to look like the ducks and their necks were also small. Do you want to know why the goose’s neck became longer?

Once there was a goose couple who was newly wed. The couple decided to put their nest near the riverbank so that once their goslings hatched from their eggs, they could teach them right then and there. It sounds convenient right? After all, they’d be spending most of their lives in the riverbanks so they’d better learn to swim or wade as quickly as they can!

The couple looked around for a suitable nesting place and found one that delighted them to no end. It was hidden carefully so that no predator could find the little eggs. Some nasty animals liked goose eggs for breakfast and it was wise for the couple to find a safe place. They also chose the spot where they’d know that the neighbors are kind and respectful.  

The male goose was quickly able to find some friends. They were an odd bunch: another male goose, a duck and a very noisy frog. Every night they came together and happily chatted about what’s happening in the neighborhood. They enjoyed each other’s company and went home when they’ve talked all that they could.

One day, when the friends came together, the male goose happily recounted that his wife finally laid some eggs. They’re going to hatch anytime soon. He was happy to know that he was going to be a father really, really soon. He also sadly told them that he won’t be able to hang out with his buddies as much as he would like to since he’d have to take care of his family and watch over their eggs. It was also at this time that he remembered that he has to take care of his eggs! So he rushed home.

One night, the father goose saw that the mother goose was really tired and sleepy. After all, which goose wouldn’t be tired after sitting on all those eggs day in and day out. A mother goose is entitled to a little rest right? 

The father goose told the momma goose that she could rest for the night and that he would be the one to sit on the eggs. The mommy goose was very elated and relieved specially since her bottom was getting numb from all the sitting!

The father goose then happily sat on the eggs for an hour or so. But then he heard some familiar voices. It was his friends. They were boisterous and happily joking around. The father goose suddenly felt that he wanted to be with his friends and was envious because he can’t. He wanted to know what was going on and felt that he really wanted to go. He almost stood up from his nest but then remembered the eggs. So he tried to stand up with his short little legs to try and see and hear what his friends were up to. But the tall grass made it impossible for him to see anything. What he did instead was try to stretch his neck way out so that he could see them. He stretched and he stretched his neck just so he could hear his friends. Finally, he could see their smiling faces and hear their conversation. 

When his friends were finished talking, they finally left. The father goose then tried to stretch his neck back down. He can’t!

In the morning when his wife came home to see how he was doing, she found that his neck was now very long. And that’s how the goose’s neck became very long.

Researched and Rewritten by Lovedy
Translated and Formatted by Daniel Andrei Garcia

Alamat ng Mirasol - Legend of the Mirasol

FILIPINO VERSION

Scroll Down for English Version

Noong unang panahon, may isang mag-asawa na ubod ng bait. Napamahal sa mga kapitbahay ang mag-asawa sapagkat ang mga ito ay matulungin sa lahat. Nakita rin ng diyosa ng araw ang lahat ng mabuting gawain ng mag-asawa at ito ay labis na natuwa sa kanila.

Subalit ang mag-asawa ay hindi lubusang masaya sapagkat sila ay hindi biniyayaan ng supling. Matagal nang nagsasama ang dalawa ngunit hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin silang anak. Tumatanda na ang mag-asawa at sila ay nalulungkot sa tuwing naiisip nila kung kanino nila iiwanan ang kanilang ari-arian. Naisip ng mag-asawa na ipamana na lamang ito sa isang malayong kamag-anak sakaling hindi talaga sila mabigyan ng anak.

Ngunit taimtim pa rin silang nagdarasal na sana’y bigyan din sila ng batang aalagaan. Narinig ng diyosa ng araw ang panalangin ng mag-asawa. Dahil nakita niyang mabait sa kapwa ang dalawa, ipinagkaloob niya ang kanilang hiling. Ang mag-asawa ay nagkaroon ng isang anak na babae na kanilang pinangalanang Mirasol.

Mahal na mahal ng mag-asawa ang kanilang anak na si Mirasol. Dahil sa siya ay ang nag-iisang anak, lahat ng magagandang bagay ay binibigay ng dalawa sa bata. Lumaking mabuti at matulungin ang bata katulad ng kanyang mga magulang.

Isang araw, nagkaroon ng malubhang sakit sa bayan at sa kasawiang palad. ang mag-asawa ay kasama sa nadapuan nito. Dahil sa matanda na, alam ng dalawa na mahirap na silang gumaling mula sa sakit. Naging malubha ang kalagayan ng dalawa at walang magawa si Mirasol.

Bago namatay ang mag-asawa, inihabilin nila ang kanilang nag-iisang anak at ari-arian sa pangangalaga ng kanilang malayong kamag-anak.

Pumayag ang kamag-anak ngunit alam niya na pag umabot sa tamang gulang ang bata, kay Mirasol mapupunta ang lahat ng ari-arian. Naging sakim ang kamag-anak. Ninais nitong mapasakanya ang lahat ng ari-arian kaya’t si Mirasol ay ginawa niyan alipin habang siya ay nagpapasarap sa yamang naiwan ng mag-asawa.

Si Mirasol ang pinag-lilinis niya ng bahay, pinag-lalaba, pinag-papakain ng mga alagang hayop at iba pang gawaing bahay. Madalas ding pinapagalitan at pinaparusahan ng kamag-anak ang bata. Ilang ulit din siyang hindi pinapakain. Natutulog na lamang itong pagod at walang laman ang tiyan.

Isang araw, hindi na naman nakakain si Mirasol. Habang naglilinis sa bakuran ay umiiyak ito na nagdarasal na sana’y matigil na ang kalabisang ginagawa ng kamag-anak sa kanya.

Narinig ng diyosa ng araw ang hinagpis ng bata. Ito ay nagsalita at sinabing simula sa araw na iyon ay hindi na siya masasaktan ng kamag-anak. Habang maliwanag at naririyan ang diyosa ay may magbabantay sa kanya.

Pagkatapos magsalita ng diyosa, nagpasalamat si Mirasol at nakita niyang unti-unting nagbabago ang kanyang anyo. Si Mirasol ay naging isang halaman na may maganda at kulay dilaw na bulaklak. Simula noon, tinawag ng taong bayan ang halaman na Mirasol.

Sa ngayon, makikita natin ang halaman na Mirasol na nakatingala sa araw na waring nagpapasalamat sa pagliligtas ng diyosa. Sa gabi, pag wala na ang liwanag ng araw, ito ay yumuyuko upang hindi mapansin ng mapang-aping kamag-anak.

ENGLISH VERSION

Back in the ancient days, there was once a good and generous couple who were loved dearly by their neighbors. The neighbors loved them since they helped all of them whenever they could. Everybody was fond of them because of their giving nature and the goddess of the sun was very pleased with their work.

But despite this, there was something that was lacking because they couldn't have a child of their own. The two have been together for quite some time now and were getting old. They thought about the future and and worried about who would take care of their property when they are to pass. They pondered on just giving their property to their distant relatives if they aren't able to conceive.

Yet they remained hopeful and prayerful that they would still be given that chance to have a child of their own to take care of and love. The goddess of the sun heard their prayers and because she saw that they were very kind to their neighbors she granted them their desires.

The couple was very elated to find out that the wife was pregnant and after a few months she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Her name was Mirasol.


The couple loved their only daughter Mirasol dearly. Since she was their only child, they showered her with gifts and beautiful things to play with. She grew up just as helpful and benevolent as her parents and they were very happy.

It would seem that this happiness would not last long for darkness was soon to overcome their small town. A plague swept from out of nowhere ravishing their little barrio, decimating the populace to a fraction of what it was.

Mirasol's father and mother were among those who died.

Try as she might to revive them, there was nothing the little girl can do. She was all alone. Before her parents died, they gave their relatives one dying wish, to take care of Mirasol until such time that she can take care of herself.

But these relatives, long envious of the fortune of the family, carried within them the poisoned seeds of envy. They knew that when the time comes when Mirasol is of age, she would be the one who would partake of it. They became greedy and plotted on how they could seize it from the little girl.

They treated her shabbily and made her live as a slave while they enjoyed the fruits of the couple's hard work and fortune.

Every day, they would make Mirasol clean the house, do the laundry and feed the animals and do the other difficult chores. Mirasol was always scolded harshly and punished horribly. At times, they wouldn't even feed her and she became accustomed to starving as she slept in a tiny and dirty corner of the house.

One day, as the starving child was cleaning the fence, she remembered her parents and cried. She missed them horribly and prayed that the harsh treatment given to her would end.

Unbeknownst to her, the goddess of the sun was watching her plight. She made herself known, came forward and consoled the little girl. She promised that she would never again be hurt by them. For as long as sunlight is there then the goddess of the sun will also be there to protect her.

Mirasol managed to give her thanks to the goddess and as she was looking in the goddess eyes, she began to feel her body changing. It felt like sunlight was coming out of her and her hunger disappeared. When the brightness has gone, she realized that she has turned into a plant with a beautiful yellow flower.

The townsfolk tried looking for the girl but she was nowhere to be found. They searched in vain but all that they could find was the yellow flower who raises its head to the sun whenever it appeared. At night, it would bow its head so as to hide itself from the abusive relative.

---

Researched and Rewritten by Lovedy
Translated and Formatted by Daniel Andrei Garcia

Alamat ng Arbol de Fuego - Firetree Legend

Alamat ng Arbol de Fuego
English version at the bottom

FILIPINO VERSION

Noong unang panahon, noong bata pa ang mundo, ang mga diyos at diyosa ay nakikisalamuha pa sa mga tao sa lupa. Isa sa mga ito ay si Haring Araw.

Si Haring Araw ay tanyag, hindi lamang dahil sa kanyang kapangyarihan, kundi pati na rin sa kanyang nag-iisang anak na dalaga na ubod ng ganda. Maraming kalalakihan ang pumipila upang hingiin kay Haring Araw ang kamay ni Sinag upang mapangasawa. Ngunit, ang hari ay sadyang mapili. Ang nais niyang mapag-isang dibdib ng kanyang nag-iisang anak ay ang anak ng tulad din niyang diyos o di kaya’y isang dugong bughaw.

Subalit tulad ng kanyang amang mapili, si Sinag ay walang magustuhan sa mga nais ng ama niya na manligaw sa kanya.

Isang araw, habang namamasyal ang dalaga sa kanilang kaharian ay nakita nito ang isang matipuno at guwapong binata. Inatasan niya ang kanyang alipin na alamin kung sino ang lalaki. Inanyayahan ng alalay ang lalaki at ito ay nagpakilala kay Sinag.

Mula noon araw-araw nang nagpupunta sa bahay ni Poy ang magandang dalaga. Di naglaon naging magkasintahan ang dalawa.

Nalaman ni Haring Araw na ang kanyang anak ay umiibig sa isang pangkaraniwang tao. Nagalit ito at pilit na pinaglalayo ang dalawa. Pinagbawalan niya ang kanyang anak na lumabas ng kanilang palasyo. Dali-dali rin niyang pinagkasundo na ipakasal ang dalaga sa anak ng kaibigan niyang si Haring Buwan.

Ngunit sa pamamagitan ng tapat na alipin ng dalaga, ang dalawa ay palihim na nakakapag-usap. Napagkasunduan ng magkasintahan na sila ay tatakas at magtatanan.

Nang isang araw na magpasyang magpahinga si Haring Araw at ang mga ulap ay unti-unting pumaligid sa mundo, sinamantala ni Sinag ang makulimlim na panahon upang tumakas mula sa palasyo. Dali-dali siyang nagpunta sa bahay ng binatang iniirog. Subalit nagising ang hari at nang malamang umalis ang kanyang anak ay mabilis niya itong sinundan.

Nagliwanag ang buong mundo at nahuli ni Haring Araw ang tangkang pagtatanan ng dalawang magkasintahan. Sa galit ng hari sa anak, nasambit nito na ang dalaga ay hindi na muling makakatuntong sa lupa. Mananatili na lamang si Sinag sa kalangitan kung saan hindi na siya maabot ng binata. At para sa mapangahas na binata na umibig sa anak ng hari ng araw, ito ay sinumpa ng hari na manatili sa kinatatayuan upang hindi masundan ang dalaga.

Pagkasambit ng hari ay unti-unting umangat ang dalaga at habang pumapalangit ay umiiyak na nagpapa-alam sa kanyang kasintahan. Samantalang ang mga paa ni Poy ay parang napako sa lupa at siya ay dahan-dahang naging isang puno. Siya ang pinaka-unang puno na tinatawag ngayong Arbol de Fuego.

Sa kasalukuyan, mapapansin na ang punong Arbol de Fuego ay namumulaklak na parang kulay apoy lalo na tuwing pinakamainit ang panahon. Ito ay ang binatang si Poy na nagpapahiwatig ng kanyang taimtim na pagmamahal sa kasintahang si Sinag.

ENGLISH VERSION

THE LEGEND OF THE FIRETREE

A long time ago, when the world was still young and the gods and goddesses roamed amongst mortal men and women, one of the more renowned gods was King Sun.

King Sun was well known not only because he was a very powerful ruler but also because of his beautiful daughter, Sunshine. Many mortals from all over the world would come and pay tribute to the king, just so they could bask in the light of beauty emanated by Sunshine. All of them wanted to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage and yet the king was very fastidious. He wanted his daughter to marry the son of a fellow god or a mortal of noble blood. The king was never satisfied.

Like her father, Sunshine was just as picky. None of the young gods or noble mortals that came interested her, much to the consternation of her father.



One day, as Sunshine was walking around their kingdom, she saw a handsome and well-built lad. She gazed at him from afar and asked her servant to find out who the fellow was. The slave bowed her head and readily went to the young man. She told him that her master wanted to know who he was and that he was invited to be in her presence. He then strode over to the group of the princess and introduced himself as Fire.

The two became good friends and got to know each other better.

From then on, the princess would visit Fire’s neighborhood where they would then chat for hours and hours as they walked around. Soon, they fell in love.

The king eventually found out about the romance between his daughter and the ordinary mortal. He became angry and ordered his soldiers to separate the two. The princess was then ordered to stay within the palace. It was then that the king decided that Sunshine should be betrothed to the son of King Moon, who was his long time friend and ally.

Though Sunshine was imprisoned within the palace walls, her loyal servant was able to secretly arrange a rendezvous between her and her paramour. They met each other under the cover of darkness and planned on escaping the palace to later on wed each other without the knowledge of her father. Sunshine then bade farewell to Fire as he slipped away into the night.

Meanwhile, King Sun was very tired the after having overseen the farmers plant during the summer season. Dark clouds covered the sky which then made it dark for quite some time. Sunshine then took her chance to escape while it was still dark and then proceeded to go to Fire’s house. Unbeknownst to Sunshine, her father was following her having awoken from his deep slumber.

When Sunshine reached Fire’s house, her father emerged from the darkness and unleashed his fury. The world was engulfed in light and the searing heat of King Sun’s anger made that day, the hottest one for the rest of eternity. He cursed his daughter that she will never again walk on the soil that mortals tread on and would be confined to the sky where Fire would not be able to reach her.

The king then turned his anger towards Fire and banished him to the ground where he was standing on, never again to reach Sunshine.

As King Sun said this, Sunshine began to float into the air while trying to reach out with her hand towards Fire. Fire can do nothing as he watched her cry and bid farewell. He felt as if his feet were growing heavier and heavier like they were being planted on the ground. He then slowly became a tree which is now known as the Arbol de Fuego or the Fire Tree.

The Arbol de Fuego, or the Fire Tree as it is commonly known nowadays, has flowers that bloom like flames during the hottest months of summer. With its arms reaching out to the sky and its flowers all abloom, we are reminded of the love that Fire once had for Sunshine.

---

Researched and Rewritten by Lovedy
Translated and Formatted by Daniel Andrei Garcia

Alamat ng Dahlia - The Legend

TAGALOG VERSION

English Version at the Bottom

Noong unang panahon, may isang babaeng naging tanyag dahil sa kanyang angking kagandahan. Ang dalagang ito ay nag ngangalang Dahlia.

Sa buong sulok ng bayan at maging sa mga ibayong dako ay rinig ang tungkol sa kagandahan ng dalaga. Si Dahlia ay may mapupungay na mga mata, mahaba at itimang buhok, mapupulang mga labi at makinis na kutis. Dahil sa kanyang angking kagandahan, maraming mga binata ang naglalayong makuha ang kamay ng dalaga upang mapangasawa.

Ngunit si Dahlia ay mailap sa mga tao. Siya ay naninirahang mag-isa malayo sa kabahayan ng mga taong bayan. Tuwing may mga binatang umaaligid sa kanya at nais magtapat ng kaninlng pag-ibig, siya as nagtatago sa kanyang bahay. Hindi ito lalabas hanggang sa ang mga binata ay mawalan ng gana sa pag-aantay at mag-kusang umalis ng hindi nasisilayan ang dalaga.

Kadalasan, si Dahlia ay nagpupunta sa kakahuyan at doon namimitas ng mga ligaw na halaman na may mga magagandang bulaklak. Sa pag-uwi nya, itinatanim niya ang mga halaman sa kanyang hardin, kaya ang kanyang hardin ay puno ng mga magagandang bulaklak.

May isang binatang nakarining tungkol sa kagandahan ng dalaga at ng masilayan nya ito, si Juan ay nahalina kay Dahlia. Naging masugid si Juan sa panliligaw sa dalaga. Bagamat hindi siya hinaharap ng dalaga, hindi siya sumuko na kausapin at ipahayag ang kanyang pag-ibig. Alam ni Juan na naririnig ni Dahlia ang kanyang mga sinasambit.

Araw-araw dinadalaw ni Juan si Dahlia. Dahil napansin nito na mahilig ang dalaga sa mga bulaklak, araw-araw din itong may dalang mga bulaklak para sa kanya.

Ito ay nagpatuloy hanggang sa, dahil na rin sa mga bulaklak, unti-unting lumabas si Dahlia at nakipag-usap sa binata. Nahulog rin ang loob ng dalaga sa binata, hanggang sa sila ay naging magkasintahan at di nagtagal sila ay nagpasya sa pag-iisang dibdib.

Ngunit bago ang kanilang kasal, nag-paalam si Juan kay Dahlia na ito ay umuwi sa kanyang bayan upang mag-paalam ng maayos sa kanyang mga magulang. Kahit ayaw ni Dahlia na magkahiwalay sila ng matagal ni Juan, pumayag na rin ito. Ipinangako ni Juan na kaagad itong babalik kay Dahlia upang ituloy ang kasal.

Araw-araw na inantay ni Dahlia ang kasintahan. Lumipas ang mga araw at mga buwan, ngunit walang Juan ang bumalik.

Hanggang sa ang pag-aantay ay umabot ng isang taon, hindi na nakayanan ng dalaga ang kanyang hinagpis. Lumabas siya ng kanyang bahay sa kanyang magandang hardin. Lumuhod siya sa tabi ng kanyang mga tanim na bulaklak, nag-iiyak at maya-maya ay kinitil ang kanyang buhay sa pamamagitan ng pagtaga sa sarili ng isang tabak. Dumaloy ang dugo ni Dahlia sa mga bulaklak na nakapaligid sa kanya. Habang unti-unting nalalagutan ng hininga ang dalaga ay may isang anino ang nakitang parating. Si Juan ay nagbalik.

Ngunit huli na ang lahat, ang dalaga ay wala ng buhay. Nag-sisi si Juan pero hindi na nya maibabalik ang buhay ng magandang si Dahlia. Inilibing ang dalaga sa kakahoyan kung saan madalas siyang naglalagi.

Matapos ang ilang araw, ang mga bulaklak na dinaluyan ng dugo ni Dahlia ay nanatiling kulay pula. At kahit na maulanan ang mga ito, hindi pa rin mahugasan ang kulay ng mga ito. Mag mula noon, ang mga umusbong na mga bulaklak ay ganoon na ang naging kulay. Dahil sa napakaganda ng mga bulaklak at hindi matanggal ang pulang kulay na mantsa ng dugo ng dalaga, ang mga ito ay tinawag na Dahlia.

ENGLISH VERSION

THE LEGEND OF THE DAHLIA

A long time ago, there once was a damsel who was well known because of her exceptional beauty. Her name was Dahlia.

Her beauty was renowned in all the towns, barrios and even far beyond the shores of the Philippines. Her eyes captured the gaze of many admirers whenever they saw her. Her long flowing black hair, blood red lips and fair skin has made many a young man swoon and desire her even just in their dreams. 

But there was something strange about Dahlia. She was not quite keen on mingling with other people. She lived far beyond the edges of her barrio and lived on her own. Whenever a young man tried to approach her, she went inside her home with nary a glance to leave back at the young man. She would not come out until the young men left, disappointed upon not having seen her.

She spent most of her time in the fringes of the woods where she'd pick up stray plants that have beautiful flowers. She'd bring them back to her garden and plant them with care. Her garden of flowers could make any gardener quite envious. Everywhere you looked, were dazzling colors and rainbows of flowers. The morning dew drops made tiny little prisms that made the sunlight dance and the flowers sway.

A young man heard of Dahlia's beauty and his name was Juan. Once, when Dahlia went to the market to buy food, Juan chanced upon her and was immediately captured by her beauty. He wasted no time in courting her and sending her flowers for he knew that she loved them all too dearly.

Unfortunately, Dahlia always ignored him and pretended that he was not there whenever he tried to speak to her. But he never gave up and patiently tried to come up with ways to get her attention. He'd muster up all of his courage for he was a shy young man, and approach her even though he knew that she would not talk to him. 

Nevertheless, she liked the flowers and accepted them. Once, he thought that she'd steal a glance at him. Though when he tried to look back to see if she was looking at him, she'd quickly look the other way. 

He smiled as he saw her cheeks turn pink. 

His persistance and sensitivity rubbed off on Dahlia and she eventually gave in to his persistent monologues. He was reciting a poem whilst Dahlia was going over her flowers in her garden, when she corrected him about the words.

He was very surprised to hear her speak to him and couldn't hold back his glee.

From this moment on, Juan had the distinct privilege of being the only man that Dahlia would talk to other than the baker and the fish monger.

She found his witty charm and patient demeanor to be comforting and somewhat easy to be with unlike the other men who did nothing but brag about their prowess in hunting or chopping wood. 

Eventually she also fell in love with Juan.

One starry night, Juan decided to surprise Dahlia by proposing to her. Dahlia was elated and said yes to Juan with no qualms at all. 

But before they are to be wed, Juan needed to ask for his parents approval. His parents lived in the next barrio which was quite a long way from Dahlia's and the journey could take a few days. Having been with Juan for some time somewhat made Dahlia reluctant to part with him, even for just a little while. Juan promised that he'd go back as soon as he can after he got his parents approval. 

Days and nights passed by with no Juan walking to Dahlia's home. Every morning, she'd wake up to open her window and try to see whether there was a new bouquet of flowers lying around near her porch. There was none.

Days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months and finally a year. Still, there was no Juan who came back. 

Dahlia was distraught for she knew not what happened to Juan. In her intense longing she walked around her garden with no direction and cried endlessly. She fell on her knees to the ground amongst the now wilted flowers which she has not tended to for a long time. She sobbed and cried and took her own life with a knife. 

As she breathed her last breath, she sensed that there was a shadow of a man nearby. It was Juan. He came back but he was too late. Dahlia was able to get a last glimpse at Juan before her eyes then stared blankly into space. 

Juan could not hold his pain and cried shamelessly before the lifeless body of Dahlia. Her blood flowed from her veins to the wilted flowers which made them blood red. Then the rain started to pour as Juan carried Dahlia away to bury her. 

But the flowers that were stained with Dahlia's blood were still red. Even the rain was not able to wash off the color of Dahlia's love. 

The next day, new buds began to appear beside the old ones. But unlike the others, these were far redder and more vibrant looking. To this day, the Dahlia remains vibrant and colorful, perhaps signalling the intense love that Dahlia had for Juan.

---

Researched and Rewritten by Lovedy
Translated and Formatted by Daniel Andrei Garcia