Alamat ng Mais - Corn Legend

English Version at the Bottom

Noong unang panahon, may isang mag-asawa na ang ikinabubuhay ay ang pagtatanim ng mga gulay. Ito ay kanilang binebenta at kung minsan ay kanila na ring kinakain.

Ang mag-asawa ay biniyayaan ng isang magandang anak na babae. Tinawag nila itong Maita. Ang bata ay may maganda,  madulas at malambot na buhok. Kapag nasisinagan ng araw, ang buhok ni Maita ay naninilaw na parang ginto. Mahilig ang bata na mag-ayos sa sarili. Upang mapanatili nitong maganda at malambot ang buhok ay halos minu-minuto nitong sinusuklay at inaayos ang buhok.

Kadalasan pinagsasabihan si Maita ng kanyang ama na itigil ang sobrang pagsusuklay at tumulong naman sa gawaing bahay. Ngunit natutuwa ang kanyang ina sa pagiging maayos nito sa sarili kaya’t hinahayaan lang niya ito.  Bata pa naman daw si Maita; magsasawa din ito sa kanyang buhok at balang araw tutulong din daw siya sa mga gawaing bahay.

Subalit, nagkamali ang kanyang nanay. Sa halip mas lalo pang tumindi ang paghanga nito sa sarili at sa kanyang buhok. Kung noon ay minuto lang ang ginugugol nito sa pagsusuklay at pag-aayos ng buhok, ngayon ay inaabot siya ng ilang oras kung minsan pa nga ay buong araw.

Isang araw, nagkasakit ang kanyang ama. Kinailangan ng kanyang ina na magbenta ng kanilang pananim na gulay upang sa ganoon ay meron silang pambili ng makakain at ng gamot para sa ama.

Mahigpit na pinagbilinan ng kanyang ina si Maita na gawin ang mga gawaing bahay. Ipinagbilin niyang mag-luto siya ng makakain at siguradong gabi na ito makakauwi mula sa bayan. Bantayan daw siya ang kanyang ama at pakainin na rin ito upang lumukas. Pinaalala din niyang huwag kalimutang diligan ang kanilang mga tanim na gulay sapagkat tigang ang lupa sa kanilang bakuran.  Nayayamot na pumayag ang bata. Siya na raw ang bahala sa kanyang ama at sa kanilang bahay.

Uumpisahan na sanang gawin ni Maita ang mga pinag-uutos ng kanyang ina nang siya ay mapadaan sa kanilang salamin at masulyapan ang kanyang buhok. Napatigil ito at kinuha ang kanyang suklay.  Naisip ng bata na maaga pa. Mag-aayos daw muna siya ng kanyang buhok. Nagsuklay nga ng nagsuklay si Maita. Nawili ito at hindi napansin ang mga nagdaang oras. Maging ang mahinang pagtawag ng kanyang ama na humihingi ng makakain ay hindi narinig ng bata. Abala ito sa pag-aayos ng kanyang magandang buhok.

Lumubog na ang araw at dumating na ang ina ni Maita. Nagtataka ito ng makita ang kanilang mga pananim na gulay na natuyo dahil sa hindi nadiligan buong mag-hapon. Hinanap nito si Maita at nakita nga niya ang anak na abalang nagsusuklay sa harap ng salamin.

Pinagalitan si Maita ng kanyang ina dahil sa wala man lang itong nagawa sa mga pinagbilin sa kanya. Maging ang pakainin ang may sakit na ama ay hindi nagawa ni Maita. Mariing wika ng matanda sa bata na sana ay numipis na lang ang kanyang buhok upang sa ganoon ay hindi na niya ito pag-aaksayahan ng panahong suklayin. Bukas na bukas din ay ipapaputol na raw ng matanda ang buhok ni Maita. Umiiyak na tumakbo palabas ang bata. Ngunit hindi na ito sinundan ng ina, nagpunta ito sa kusina upang ipagluto ang asawang nanghina lalo sa gutom.

Nang mahimasmasan sa galit ang ina ni Maita ay hinanap niya ang bata sa bakuran ngunit hindi niya ito nakita. Ipinagtanong din niya ito sa mga kapitbahay ngunit walang nakakita sa bata.  Matagal na hinanap ng ina si Maita subalit walang may alam kung nasaan ang bata.

Isang umaga nang nagwawalis sa may bakuran ang ina ay may nakita itong bagong halaman na umusbong. Ito ay may mahahabang dahon. Diniligan ito ng matanda. Makalipas ang ilang lingo ay nagkabunga ang halaman. Nang pitasin at balatan ang bunga, nakita ng mag-asawa na ito may butil-butil na kulay dilaw. Ang bunga ay may mga maninipis ding ginituang buhok na ubod ng dulas at ganda. Naluha ang mag-asawa ng makita ang magandang buhok. Naalala nila ang buhok ng anak nilang si Maita na ganoon na ganoon ding madulas at maganda.

Naisip nilang parehas na marahil ito na nga ang nawawalang anak.  Simula noon, tinawag nilang mais ang halaman.

Legend of the Corn

A long time ago, there was a husband and wife whose livelihood was planting vegetables. They would sell their harvest and on other times would eat them if they were not able to sell it.

The couple was blessed with a beautiful baby girl. She was called Maita. The girl had a pretty, long, and smooth hair. Maita’s haire shone like gold whenever light would hit it. She loved to fix herself. She would comb her hair frequently to keep her hair smooth and tangle free.

Her father would usually remind Maita to stop combing her hair and help with the household chores. However, her mother would just let her be as she found her to be cute. Maita was still young, she thought, she would soon outgrow her vanity and help out.

However, her mother was wrong. Maita became even more vain and would not stop fussing about her hair. She would now spend hours combing her hair and trying on different hairstyles.

One day, Maita's father got sick. Her mother needed to go to the market. She needed to sell the vegetables in order for them to have money to buy medicine for her father.

Before going to the market, Maita was reminded be her mother to take care of the household chores. She told Maita to prepare their food as she would surely be late in going home. She was also to take care of her sick father and feed him. Their crops were also to be watered because the earth at their yard was arid. Maita grudgingly nodded with her mother's reminders. She assured her mother that she would do all of what she was asked of.

Maita was about to start her household chores when she happened to pass by their mirror and saw her hair's reflection. She stopped and took out her comb from her pocket and started going through her hair. She thought of spending a few minutes of combing her hair; it was still early she said. Maita did comb her hair however because she was so engrossed with it she didn't notice that hours had passed. She also didn't notice her father softly calling her asking for something to eat. She was too busy with her hair.

The sun had set and Maita's mother soon got home. Her mother noticed their crops wilting due to not being watered for the entire day. She looked for Maita and found her in front of the mirror combing her hair.

Maita was scolded by her mother for not doing any household chore. She got even more angry when she found out that Maita did not feed her sick father anything. She told the girl that she wished Maita's hair would be thinner so that she would not be spending time on it. Tomorrow, they would have Maita's hair cut shorter. Maita cried as she went out of the house. Her mother, however, did not follow her. She went straight to the kitchen to cook food for her sick husband.

When her anger had subsided, the mother went to look for Maita but the girl was nowhere to be found. She was not in their yard nor in the houses of her friends. Nobody knew where Maita had run to.

One day, while cleaning in their yard, the mother saw an unusual plant that grew on their lot. She watered it everyday. A few weeks had passed, the plant had a fruit. It had yellow grains. Furthermore, the fruit had thin golden hair that was smooth and soft to touch. The couple cried when they saw the fruit's hairs. It reminded them of their daughter's beautiful hair.

They both agreed that the plant was their missing daughter. The plant was soon called mais.

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Researched and Rewritten by Lovedy on Google+
Translated and Formatted by Daniel Andrei Garcia

Alamat ng Pagong - Turtle Legend

English Version at the Bottom

Noong unang panahon ang talukab ng pagong ay makinis at walang mga lamat tulad ng sa ngayon. Palaging ipinagmamalaki ni pagong ang kanyang talukab. Araw-araw niya itong nililinis at pinapakintab. Ipinagmamayabang niya sa lahat na sa sobrang kinis at kintab nito ay maaring kang magsalamin dito.

Hindi lamang kilala si pagong dahil sa kanyang makinis at makintab na talukab. Kilala din siya na isa sa mga madadaldal na hayop sa gubat. Hindi nauubusan ng kuwento si pagong. Minsan nang nag-kausap sila ng kaibigan niyang si palaka ay hindi man lamang nakaimik ang madaldal ding si palaka dahil sa dami ng kuwento ni pagong. Halos buong maghapon na nagkuwento si pagong tungkol sa iba’t ibang bagay na nakikita nito sa kagubatan.

Isang araw habang nakikipag-kwentuhan si pagong sa mga kaibigang bibe ay may mga galang tagak ang huminto upang uminom sa may batis. Napagod sila sa kanilang biyahe galing sa ibang lugar kung kayat minabuti nilang huminto panandalian upang makapagpahinga.

Ang mga tagak ay maingay na nag-uusap tungkol sa kanilang mga nasaksihan sa kabilang ibayo kung saan sila nanggaling. Masaya silang nagtatawanan habang inaalala ang kagandahan ng bayan na kanilang binisita.

Narinig ng pagong ang kanilang pinag-uusapan at sa unang pagkakataon ay ito ay napatigil sa pagsasalita. Nakanganga ito habang nakikinig sa mga tagak. Samantalang nagtataka naman ang mga kaibigang bibe kung napano ang madaldal na pagong.

Habang nag-uusap pa rin ang mga tagak ay dali-daling sumabat si pagong. Gusto rin daw nitong sumama at makita ang mga sinasabi nilang mga lugar. Tiyak na maganda raw ito at marami pang masasarap na pagkain. Gusto niyang sumama upang sa ganoon ay maikukuwento rin niya sa mga kaibigan kung ano mga makikita niya roon. Naisip niya na meron na naman siyang bagong maikukuwento sa mga kaibigan lalo na at hindi pa rin nakakapunta ang mga iyon sa ibang lugar maliban sa kanilang tinitirahang gubat.

Nagtinginan ang mga tagak. Gusto man daw nila siyang isama ay hindi naman nila alam kung paano. Hindi naman siya nakakalipad tulad nila. Nag-isip ang mga tagak at si pagong kung paano nila maisasama ang hayop sa kanilang gala.

Nawawalan na nang pag-asa ang pagong ng biglang may naisip ang isa sa mga tagak. Pinag-usapan nila ito at maya-maya ay ipinaalam kay pagong ang plano. Maaari daw nila itong isama kung ito ay kakagat sa isang piraso ng kahoy na kagat-kagat naman ng dalawang tagak sa magkabilang dulo nang sa gayon mabubuhat nila si pagong. Ngunit kinakailangan ni pagong na manahimik at hindi magsalita ng matagal sapagkat malayo ang kanilang lalakbayin at baka ito ay mahulog.

Pumayag ang pagong. Kaya daw nitong hindi magsalita ng matagal kaya’t maya-maya ay lumuwas na nga ang mga tagak kasama siya.

Mahigpit ang kagat ni pagong sa kahoy nang sila ay nag-umpisang lumipad ngunit hindi pa sila nakakalayo ay nayamot na siya dahil sa katahimikang naririnig. Binukas niya ang kanyang bibig at uumpisahan na sanang kuwentuhan ang dalawang tagak na may hawak sa kanya nang bigla siyang bumulusok pababa. Walang nagawa ang dalawang tagak kundi tignan ang pagong ng mabilis na nahulog pababa.

Nahulog si pagong at pagbasak sa lupa ay tumama ang kanyang talukab sa isang malaking bato. Buti na lamang at ang matigas ang talukab at hindi ang kanyang ulo ang tumama sa bato. Sa taas at lakas ng pagbagsak niya ay nagkalamat-lamat ang kanyang talukab. Simula noon ay binawasan na ni pagong ang pagiging madaldal at ang kanyang makinang at makinis na talukab ay nagka-lamat-lamat na.

Legend of the Turtle

A long time ago, the turtle’s shell was smooth and shiny. It had no cracks just as it does now. The turtle was proud of his shell. He would clean and polish it everyday. He was proud that his shell was smooth that one can even use it as a mirror.

Turtle was not only known for his shiny and smooth shell, he was also known for being talkative. He was always full of stories. One time, he and his friend frog were having a conversation. But the talkative frog was not able to utter a single word as turtle talked non-stop. He talked about anything and everything under the sun.

One day, while turtle was chatting with his friend duck, a group of herons flew down the stream to have a drink. The birds were tired from migrating from other land so they stopped to rest awhile.

The herons were discussing rather loudly about the beauty of the different places they have been. They were laughing and happily recalling their experiences.

The turtle was listening intently that he was suddenly silent for the first time in his life. His mouth was gaping while listening to the cranes talk. His friend duck was surprised at turtle’s silence he thought turtle fell asleep.

The birds were still busy chatting when turtle interrupted them. He told them that he would also love to go to the place they were talking about. He was sure that the place was beautiful and that the food there were delicious. He would love to go there so that he too can tell his friends about the place. Then he would have had something new to talk about especially to his friends who have not been anywhere except in the jungle where they lived.

The herons looked at each other and then at turtle. They told him they would love to bring him with them but they don’t know how they would do that. Turtle didn’t have wings so that he can fly with them. The herons and the turtle thought of a plan how they could bring turtle with them.

Turtle was already losing hope when suddenly a heron had an idea. They talked about it and then informed turtle of what they would do. They could bring him if turtle would agree to bite into a piece of wood which two herons would also bite on each end. The plan would work if turtle does not speak for a long time since the place they were going to was quite far.

The turtle said he could do that. He agreed to shut his mouth so that a little later they were off to the place the herons were talking about.

He bit the piece of wood tightly as they were about to take off however after a few minutes he got bored because of the silence he was hearing. He opened his mouth and was beginning to talk to the two herons who were holding the wood when he suddenly dropped down. The birds were unable to do anything but look at turtle as he fell to the ground.

The turtle fell shell first and landed on a big rock. He was lucky that his hard shell broke his fall and his head did not hit any rock. Because of the height and the impact of his fall, his shell was cracked. From then on, turtle avoided talking too much. His once shiny and smooth shell is now crack and rough.

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Researched and Rewritten by Lovedy on Google+

Alamat ng Palong at Tilaok ng Tandang - Legend of the Rooster's Comb and Crowing

English Translation at the Bottom

Noong unang panahon, may isang kaharian sa gawing hilaga ang matatagpuan sa gitna ng dalawang bundok. Ang kahariang ito ay tinatawag na Batalla. Sapagkat pinagigitnaan ng dalawang bundok, ang kaharian ay napalilibutan ng makapal na hamog sa buong umaga, maghapon at maging sa gabi. Maganda ang klima sa lugar; hindi maaraw at malamig maski sa buwan ng tag-init. Dahil dito, masarap kumain at pagkatapos ay matulog ng mahimbing.

Ang mga taong bayan ng Batalla ay malulusog at mababagal gumalaw dahil na rin sa kabigatan ng katawan. Maging ang kanilang hari at mga sundalo ay nanaba. Halos walang mabibigat na gawain ang mga taong bayan dahil sa nakakatamad na klima.

Narinig ng kabilang bayan na ang mga sundalo ng Batalla ay nananaba at mababagal ang galaw. Naisip nila kung sa gayon ay mahina sila. Kaya’t naisip ng kanilang hari na madali nilang masasakop ang Batalla. Naghanda ang bayan at sasakupin nila ang Batalla sa makalawa.

Walang kaalam-alam ang hari at taong bayan ng Batalla sa naka-ambang pananakop ng kabilang bayan. Tuloy pa rin sila sa pagkain ng marami at pagkatapos ay itinutulog nila ng mahimbing. Iyon lang ang tanging inatupag nila. Hindi man lamang sila nagsasanay upang ipagtanggol ang kanilang kaharian sa anumang pananakop.

Madaling araw nang pumuwesto ang mga mananakop sa paligid ng Batalla. Sinamantala nila ang himbing ng pagkakatulog ng bayan. Ngunit bago pa man din masimulan ng mga ito ang pag-atake ay may narinig silang mga sigaw. Inakala ng mga ito na iyon ay hudyat ng taong bayan para atakehin ng pabigla ang mga nanakop. Dahil sa gulat at takot nila sa mga narinig nilang kakaibang sigaw, nagsipagtakbuhan ang mga mananakop pabalik sa kanilang kaharian.

Samantala, ang inakala ng mga mananakop na mga sigaw ay tilaok pala ng mga manok na tandang. Dahil sa maagang nagigising ang mga manok ay nakita nila ang mga mandirigma ng kabilang bayan na nakaambang umatake sa Batalla. Pinilit ng mga tandang na gisingin ang mga taong bayan sa pamamagitan ng pag-tilaok upang maipaglaban nila ang bayan sa mga mananakop.

Sapagkat hindi natuloy ang pananakop dahil na rin sa tilaok ng mga tandang ay binigyan ng hari ang mga ito ng pabuya. Nilagyan niya ang bawat tandang ng korona sa kanilang ulo. Ito ay bilang pasasalamat at pagrespeto sa kanilang kabayanihan.

Simula noon ay ipinangako ng hari at ng taong bayan na magsisikap na sila na magsanay at hindi na rin sila magiging tamad. Simula rin noon ay tumitilaok na ang mga tandang sa tuwing pagsikat ng araw upang gisingin ang buong kaharian upang simulan na ang kanilang gawain sa pang-araw-araw.

The Legend of the Rooster

(English Version)

A long time ago, there was a kingdom in the North which was situated between two mountains. The kingdom was called Batalla. Being surrounded by these mountains it was always covered in dew in the morning, in the late afternoon and even during the night. The climate was favorable and mild. It wasn’t too sunny during the summer months and it wasn’t too cold. Life here was easy, eating and sleeping were very much the activities of the day.



Because of this comfort, the people from Batalla were plump and slow to move. Their bodies were heavy and even their king and soldiers were pudgy. In fact, one might even say that most of the people there were used to an easy life with no real hard work to do because of the idle and comforting climate.

The people from the other kingdom heard about the fat soldiers of Batalla and thought of this major disadvantage. The king then thought that they would easily capture Batalla with very little effort, if none at all. He then ordered for the soldiers to prepare for war.

Meanwhile, life was pretty much the same in the kingdom of Batalla. The king and the people idled their time away completely unaware of the plot against them. They filled their bellies with food as if there was no tomorrow and then they’ll sleep soundly with no thought of ever doing anything else. They didn’t even think about training themselves to prepare for any invasion. They were like fat, sitting ducks.

The soldiers from the neighboring kingdom positioned themselves around Batalla very early in the morning. They knew that the Batallans were still sleeping soundly and made use of this to their advantage. They readied their spears and their weapons, but before they could even attack they suddenly heard loud screams. Startled to hear these shouts, they thought that it was the sound of a thousand Batallans completely aware of their plot and ready for battle. Taken by surprise, the soldiers ran away in every direction to flee the wrath of the Batallans.

Little did they know that the sounds that they heard were actually the crowings of many Batallan roosters. Because these roosters always woke up early, they saw the invaders position themselves around the kingdom. It was them that woke up the Batallans and frightened the hapless invaders.

Upon seeing the heroic act of the valiant roosters, the king of Batalla made sure that they got their reward. Each rooster was given a crown at the top of their heads as a sign of thanks for their bravery and courage.

From then on, the king promised that the Batallans would never let their idle life get the better of them again. He ordered the troops to start training and preparing for battle. He also ordered the citizens to start working and to shun their previously idle lives. The noble rooster as always endeavored to make sure that the king kept his promise by waking everybody up early in the morning.

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Researched and Rewritten by Lovedy on Google+
Translated and Formatted by Daniel Andrei Garcia

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Noong unang panahon, may isang kaharian sa gawing hilaga ang matatagpuan sa gitna ng dalawang bundok. Ang kahariang ito ay tinatawag na Batalla. Sapagkat pinagigitnaan ng dalawang bundok, ang kaharian ay napalilibutan ng makapal na hamog sa buong umaga, maghapon at maging sa gabi. Maganda ang klima sa lugar; hindi maaraw at malamig maski sa buwan ng tag-init. Dahil dito, masarap kumain at pagkatapos ay matulog ng mahimbing.

Ang mga taong bayan ng Batalla ay malulusog at mababagal gumalaw dahil na rin sa kabigatan ng katawan. Maging ang kanilang hari at mga sundalo ay nanaba. Halos walang mabibigat na gawain ang mga taong bayan dahil sa nakakatamad na klima.

Narinig ng kabilang bayan na ang mga sundalo ng Batalla ay nananaba at mababagal ang galaw. Naisip nila kung sa gayon ay mahina sila. Kaya’t naisip ng kanilang hari na madali nilang masasakop ang Batalla. Naghanda ang bayan at sasakupin nila ang Batalla sa makalawa.

Walang kaalam-alam ang hari at taong bayan ng Batalla sa naka-ambang pananakop ng kabilang bayan. Tuloy pa rin sila sa pagkain ng marami at pagkatapos ay itinutulog nila ng mahimbing. Iyon lang ang tanging inatupag nila. Hindi man lamang sila nagsasanay upang ipagtanggol ang kanilang kaharian sa anumang pananakop.

Madaling araw nang pumuwesto ang mga mananakop sa paligid ng Batalla. Sinamantala nila ang himbing ng pagkakatulog ng bayan. Ngunit bago pa man din masimulan ng mga ito ang pag-atake ay may narinig silang mga sigaw. Inakala ng mga ito na iyon ay hudyat ng taong bayan para atakehin ng pabigla ang mga nanakop. Dahil sa gulat at takot nila sa mga narinig nilang kakaibang sigaw, nagsipagtakbuhan ang mga mananakop pabalik sa kanilang kaharian.

Samantala, ang inakala ng mga mananakop na mga sigaw ay tilaok pala ng mga manok na tandang. Dahil sa maagang nagigising ang mga manok ay nakita nila ang mga mandirigma ng kabilang bayan na nakaambang umatake sa Batalla. Pinilit ng mga tandang na gisingin ang mga taong bayan sa pamamagitan ng pag-tilaok upang maipaglaban nila ang bayan sa mga mananakop.

Sapagkat hindi natuloy ang pananakop dahil na rin sa tilaok ng mga tandang ay binigyan ng hari ang mga ito ng pabuya. Nilagyan niya ang bawat tandang ng korona sa kanilang ulo. Ito ay bilang pasasalamat at pagrespeto sa kanilang kabayanihan.

Simula noon ay ipinangako ng hari at ng taong bayan na magsisikap na sila na magsanay at hindi na rin sila magiging tamad. Simula rin noon ay tumitilaok na ang mga tandang sa tuwing pagsikat ng araw upang gisingin ang buong kaharian upang simulan na ang kanilang gawain sa pang-araw-araw.

Ang Alamat ng Lansones - Legend of the Lanzones

English version at the bottom

Noong unang panahon, sa isang bayan sa Laguna matatagpuan ang napakaraming mga puno na may mga bilog-bilog na bunga. Mukhang masarap ang prutas ngunit wala sino man ang mangahas na kumain nito sapagkat ang mga bunga ay lason. Ni lumapit sa nasabing puno ay ayaw gawin ng mga taong bayan.

Napatunayan nilang lason ang mga bunga nang isang araw ay may napadpad na manlalakbay sa kanilang bayan. Dahil sa pagod, naupo ang matanda sa ilalim ng nasabing puno upang makapagpahinga. Nang makita ng manlalakbay ang mga nakasabit na bunga ay bigla niyang naalala ang kanyang gutom at pumitas ng mga ito.

May isa sa mga taong bayan ang nakakita nang isubo ng matanda ang bunga. Tinangka niya itong pigilan ngunit huli na ng naabutan niya ang matanda. Nakain na nito ang lasong bunga at unti-unti na itong nangingisay at bumubula ang bibig. Dahil sa pangyayaring ito, mas lalong natakot ang mga taong bayan na lumapit sa puno.

Sumapit ang isang matinding tagtuyot sa lugar. Namatay ang mga pananim at ang tanging natira ay ang mga lasong puno na hitik na hitik sa bunga. Taimtim na nag-dasal ang mga taong bayan na matapos na sana ang tagtuyot upang sila ay muling makapagtanim at makapag-ani ng makakain sapagkat malapit ng maubos ang naka-imbak nilang pagkain.

Isang araw sa kainitan ng tanghali, isang mahiwagang babae ang dumating at kumatok sa mga pintuan ng mga taong bayan. Nanlilimos ang magandang babae ng makakain. Ngunit walang maibigay ang mga tao sapagkat salat din sila sa pagkain. Isang bata ang lumapit sa magandang babae at nagbigay ng kapiranggot na makakain. Pagpasensyahan na daw niya ito dahil iyon na lamang ang natitira niyang pagkain.

Napangiti ang babae at kinuha ang pagkaing inabot ng bata. Pinanood ng bata ang babae habang ito ay kumakain. Pagkatapos kumain, tinanong ng babae ang bata kung bakit nila nasabing salat sila sa pagkain samantalang marami namang bunga ang kanilang mga punong-kahoy. Ikinuwento ng bata sa babae na lason ang mga bungang ito. Napangiti ang babae at umiling ito.

Pumitas siya ng bunga at pinisil ito hanggang sa lumabas ang laman. Bago pa man napigilan ng bata ang babae ay naisubo na nito ang puting laman ng bunga. Nagtaka ang bata sapagkat walang nangyari sa babae; sa halip nakangiti nitong ibinigay ang prutas sa bata na siya namang tinikman din ang bunga.

Masarap at manamis-namis ang prutas. Sa tuwa ng bata ay napasigaw ito at tinawag ang mga kapitbahay upang matikman din nila ang prutas. Nagsilabasan ang mga taong bayan. Noong una ayaw nilang paniwalaan ang bata ngunit di naglaon ay tinikman din nila ito at napag-alaman ngang matamis ang bunga. Hinanap nila ang magandang babae upang pasalamatan ngunit wala na ito.

Naniniwala silang tinanggal ng mahiwagang babae ang lason sa mga bunga. Simula ang dating "lason" ay naging "lansones".

The Legend of the Lanzones (English Translation)

Once upon a time, in a town called Laguna, there were many trees whose fruits were round and pale. They looked delicious but nobody dared eat its fruits for they were rumored to be poisonous. The people were even afraid of coming near the tree out of fear.

This proved to be true when one day a stranger came to their town. The old and wearied traveler didn’t know that it was poisonous so he sat down under the tree to rest. He was hungry so he picked a fruit and ate it.

One of the townsfolk saw this and tried to stop the old man from eating it but he was too late. The old man had already eaten it and was already shaking and convulsing while his mouth foamed white. This made the townsfolk more afraid of the dreaded tree.



A few seasons have passed and a dreadful drought plagued the area. The crops died and the only trees that didn’t was the much dreaded poisonous one. The people prayed deeply for the drought to pass so that they could start planting and harvesting again since their food stores were already running out.

One day, in a very hot summer afternoon, one mystical woman appeared and knocked at the doors of the townspeople. She was asking for alms and food to eat. A little boy came near the old woman and gave her something to eat. The boy also apologized because it was all that he could give and that it was his food. The boy said that if he had more, he would have given more to the lady.

The lady smiled and thanked the young boy as she accepted his food. She looked intently at the young boy while she ate and then asked him why they think that there’s no food around when they’re surrounded by many fruit bearing trees. The boy then recounted that the fruits of those trees were poisonous and cannot be eaten. The woman just smiled and shook her head.

To the boy’s surprise, the woman got a fruit from the tree and pressed it so hard that the insides of the fruit went out. Before the boy could even stop the woman, she already put the fruit in her mouth. The boy waited and was amazed that nothing happened to the woman. Instead, the woman herself offered him a fruit from the tree where she got it.

Reluctantly, the boy ate it and was pleasantly surprised to know that it was sweet and delicious. He then gleefully went to tell the other townspeople of his discovery. When they came back, the mystical woman was nowhere to be found.

They believed that the mystical woman took off the poison from the fruit. They were very grateful for the miracle. From then on, they called it “lansones”.

Note: The word lansones may have been derived from the word “lason” a Filipino word for poison.

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