Abadeha, Filipina Cinderella

Abadeha is the Philippine version of Cinderella. She is a kind and hardworking young woman. Her wicked stepmother and stepsisters abuse her and ask her to carry out impossible tasks. Abadeha asks for the help of Bathala (the creator God), her ancestors and her dead mother. At the river, her cries for help are heard by the Spirit of the Forest (counterpart of the fairy godmother). With her guidance, Abadeha is able to accomplish all that her step-family demands of her. One day, a prince out hunting in the forest comes upon the enchanted tree by the grave of Abadeha's mother. He sees a ring among the branches and puts it on. By the time he returns to the palace, his finger has become swollen and painful. The king calls for the Babaylan, the priest-healer of the land, but even he cannot take the ring off. That night, the Prince learns in a dream that only a girl can remove the ring from his finger. Upon hearing this, the king announces to his people that any girl who can take the ring off his son's finger will be offered marriage to the prince. Of all the maidens who tried, only Abadeha was successful. And that's how she became a princess!

She was a beautiful young girl who worked very hard. However her mother was dead, and her wicked step-mother was mean to her. One day when Abadeha was crying at the river, and the Spirit of the Forest (fairy godmother) heard her cries. The Spirit helped Abadeja and told her not to give up. Then she gave Abadeha a chicken. Abadeha thanked her for her help and her gift, and hurried home. The next day when Abadeha was away from the house, her cruel step-mother took the chicken, killed it, and cooked it. When the girl returned, only the feet of her chicken were left. She cried over her loss, and ran to the river. When the Spirit of the Forest heard what had happened, she told Abadeha to take the chickens feet and plant them in the forest. Abadeha went home, took the feet, and carried them with her to the forest. There she made a little garden, and planted the feet. A month later, she visited her garden in the woods, and was amazed to see that the feet had grown up into the air, and had pearls, diamonds, and gold rings on the branches. Abadeha did not tell her step-mother about the garden. One day the son of the richest man in town came across the little garden in the forest. He picked off a ring and put it on his finger. When he reached home, his finger began to swell. His father called in all the best doctors, but they could not remove the ring. Then he called in all the girls of the town, and said that the one who could take the ring from the finger of his son should be his sons wife. All the girls of the town tried except Abadeha. She did not try, because her step-mother would not allow her to go. At last some one told the rich man that there was still one girl who had not tried. Now, her step-mother was forced to let her go. Abadeha went to the rich mans house. As soon as she touched the ring, it slid off. The next day Abadeha was married to the son of the rich man. The young couple lived happily for many years.