Ma|akas at Maganda

hlllpplne lolklore
Malakas and Maganda ls abouL Lhe orlgln of Lhe naLlve llllplnos
When 8aLhala (Cod) was done creaLlng Lhe world he was bored Pe looked down over Lhe earLh
and senL a blrd lnLo Lhe world 1he blrd was flylng around when lL heard some sounds and Lapplng
somewhere ln Lhe foresL1he blrd landed and found ouL LhaL Lhe sound ls comlng from a huge bamboo
Pe sLarLed pecklng on lL and preLLy soon lL spllL ln Lhe mlddle where a man came ouL of lL Pls name was
Malakas whlch means sLrong and he Lold Lhe blrd My maLe ls ln Lhe oLher plece of wood 1hey goL
her ouL and her name was Maganda whlch means beauLlful 1he Lwo goL on Lhe blrds back and flew
away Lo flnd some place Lo llve 1hey wenL flylng around Lhe world and Lhen flnally Lhe blrd saw a land
and leL Lhe Lwo glanLs seL fooL and llve on lL When Malakas and Maganda sLepped on Lhe land Lhelr
welghL separaLed Lhe land lnLo lslands (hlllpplnes has 7200 lslands) Malakas and Maganda llve on and
produced mllllons of chlldren whlch came Lo be Lhe llllplnos

1he Legend Cf Sampagu|ta
A long Llme ago Lhere were nelghborlng 8aranggays named 8allnLawak and Cagalangln 8eLween Lhe
Lwo baranggay ls a very sLurdy fence made up of drled bamboo Lvery flve years Lhey desLroy lL and
bulld a new fence SomeLlmes Lhe guardsmen from 8allnLawak waLch over Lhe fence ofLenLlmes Lhe
guardsmen from Cagalangln LveryLhlng ls worklng accordlng Lo Lhe rules of each daLu
1he daLu of 8arangay 8allnLawak has a daughLer wlLh lncomparable beauLy and klndness Per name ls
8oslLa Per moLher dled when she was young however she has four malds Lo asslsL her every need
1here are a loL of handsome young men who admlres her 8uL Lhe only man who capLured her hearL ls
Lhe son of Cagalangln's daLu whose name ls uelfln
1he confllcL beLween Lhelr parenLs dld noL sLopped uelfln and 8oslLa from lovlng each oLher AL Lhe end
of Lhe bamboo fence lles Lhere secreL lalr Lvery nlghL when Lhe moon ls brlghL Lhey meeL aL Lhe end of
Lhe fence and sLroll along wlLh 8oslLa's malds 1helr relaLlonshlp ls hldden from boLh of Lhelr daLu
parenLs
Cne day Lhe daLu of Cagalangln heard LhaL Lhe fence ls belng desLroyed by Lhe servanLs of daLu
8allnLawak so LhaL Lhey can bulld a new one Pe asked one of hls guards Lo waLch aL Lhe sald fence
maklng When Lhe guard came back he Lold Lhe daLu LhaL Lhe new fence was moved Pe was mad
because Lhe daLu of 8allnLawak Look flve meLers of Lhelr land lmmedlaLely he senL a man Lo Lhe daLu of
Lhe nelghborlng baranggay
"1ell Lhe daLu of 8allnLawak Lo puL Lhe fence back where lL ls supposed Lo be 1hey are belng unlawful
and sLeallng one's land ls a crlme!" sald Lhe daLu of Cagalangln
When Lhe daLu of 8allnLawak heard abouL lL he became furlous and asked Lhe servanL Lo glve a message
Lo Lhelr daLu 1ell your daLu LhaL l never sLole anyLhlng from hlm l [usL placed Lhe bamboo fences aL lLs
rlghL place accordlng Lo Lhe documenLs LhaL l dlscovered wrlLLen by my ancesLors"
uelfln's faLher was very much dlspleased wlLh Lhe oLher daLu's response 1hls klnd of confllcLs usually
resulLs bloodshed among Lhe Lwo baranggays
1he daLu of Cagalangln prepared hls unlL for Lhe upcomlng baLLle Pe needs Lo geL Lhelr baranggay's
sLolen land even by vlolenL meansWhen Lhe news reached Lhe daLu of 8allnLawak he eagerly prepared
hls baLLle unlL as well 1he Lwo leaders are now ready for a neverendlng war
A few days before Cagalanglns planned Lo aLLack Lhe 8allnLawak Lhe daLu goL slck Pe became serlously
lll LhaL lead hlm Lo hls deaLh 1he responslblllLy was Lhen handed Lo uelfln Pe wlll be Lhe one Lo lead Lhe
baLLle Lroops of baranggay Cagalangln
1he female servanLs Lold 8oslLa whaL was abouL Lo happen and she sLarLed Lo become frlghLened uelfln
ls so young and does noL have any experlence when lL comes Lo war Pls faLher on Lhe oLher hand had
been Lralned Lo flghL slnce he was sLlll a chlld She worrled Loo much She wanLed Lo Lalk Lo uelfln and
ask hlm Lo forfelL Lhe war and slmply Lalk Lo hls faLher and seLLle Lhe confllcL peacefully Powever Lhey
do noL have Llme Lo converse anymore 1omorrow ls Lhe sLarL of an endless baLLle beLween Lhe Lwo
baranggays
8oLh parLles losL so many llves uelfln was badly hurL and shed a loL of blood Pe sLarLed Lo be blurry Pe
was half consclous when he fell Lo Lhe ground 8efore hls lasL breaLh he Lold one of hls comrades Lo
bury hlm near Lhe end of Lhe fence where he and 8oslLa used Lo secreLly see each oLher
nobody can ever Lell whaL really happened Lo Lhe young lovers or Lhe resulL of Lhe war All Lhey knew ls
LhaL 8oslLa became serlously lll when she knew LhaL uelfln dled ln Lhe baLLle Per faLher called for so
many docLors Lo make her feel well buL nelLher one of Lhem can LreaL 8oslLa When she was abouL Lo
dle 8oslLa Lold her faLher Lo bury her near uelfln aL Lhe end of Lhe bamboo fence 1hough lL ls hard for
Lhe daLu Lo do she sLlll obeyed her daughLer's lasL wlsh
Many years had passed and Lhe exlsLence of baranggays gradually dlsappeared Spanlards came and Lhe
clLy of Manlla was esLabllshed 8allnLawak and Cagalangln became populaLed 8uL all Lhe people llvlng ln
Lhese Lwo places were havlng a mysLerlous experlence uurlng Lhe monLh of May especlally when Lhe
moon ls brlghL Lhey hear a mysLlcal sweeL volce of a lady saylng Sumpa klLa! Sumpa klLa!" (l swear l
swear) buL nobody can see from whom lL ls comlng from lL seems as lf lL comes from Lhe bushes where
llLLle whlLe flowers grow AlLhough Lhe flowers are so Llny lL bursLs ouL a dlfferenL klnd of scenL LhaL
everybody loves Lo smell 1haL's whaL usually happens every monLh of May each year
8ecause everyone was so curlous abouL Lhe volce Lhey all declded Lo dlg up Lhe spoL and uncover Lhe
mysLery behlnd lL 1o Lhelr surprlse Lhey found Lhe rooLs of Lhe bushes where Lhe lovely flower grows
comes from Lhe mouLh of Lhe Lwo bodles burled noL so far from each oLher 1he elders remembered Lhe
memolr of Lhe Lwo lovers uelfln and 8oslLa1he sLory spread fasL 1he words Sumpa klLa" evolved as
SampagulLa" LhaL slgnlfles an everlasLlng love of uelfln and 8oslLa




my 8rther Len 8rught me a W|fe
(Manuel L Argullla)


My broLher Leon was reLurnlng Lo nagrebcan from far away Manlla brlnglng home hls young brlde
who had been born and had grown up ln Lhe blg clLy laLher would noL accepL her for a daughLerlnlaw
unless he LaughL her worLhy Lo llve ln nagrebcanlaLher devlsed an lngenlous way Lo flnd ouL and
walLed for Lhe resulL

She sLepped down from Lhe carreLela of Ca Celln wlLh a qulckdellcaLe graceShe was lovelyShe was
LallShe looked up Lo my broLher wlLh a smlle and her forehead was on a level wlLh hls mouLh

?ou are 8aldo" She sald and placed her hand llghLly on my shoulderPer nalls were longbuL Lhey were
noL palnLedShe was fragranL llke a mornlng when papayas are ln bloomAnd a small dlmple appeared
momenLarlly hlgh up on her cheek

And Lhls ls Labangof whom l have heard so much" She held Lhe wrlsL of one hand wlLh Lhe oLher and
looked aL Labang and Labang never sLopped chewlng hls cud Pe swallowed and broughL up Lo hls
mouLh more cud and Lhe sound of hls lnslde was llke a drum

l lald a hand on Labang's masslve neck and sald Lo her ?ou may scraLch hls forehead now"She
heslLaLed and l saw LhaL her eyes were on Lhe long curvlng horns8uL she came and Louched Labang's
forehead wlLh her long flngers and Labang never sLopped chewlng hls cud excepL LhaL hls blg eyes were
half closed And by and by she was scraLchlng hls forehead very dalnLly

My broLher Leon puL down Lhe Lwo Lrunks on Lhe grassy slde of Lhe roadPe pald Ca Celln Lwlce Lhe
usual fare from Lhe sLaLlon Lo Lhe edge of nagrebcan 1hen he was sLandlng beslde usand she Lurned Lo
hlm eagerly l waLched Ca Cellnwhere he sLood ln fronL of hls horse and he ran hls flngers Lhrough lLs
forelock and could noL keep hls eyes away from her"Marla my broLher Leon saldPe dld noL say
MarlngPe dld noL say Mayangl knew Lhen LhaL he had always called her Marla and ln my mlnd l sald
Marla" and lL was a beauLlful name"?esnoel" now where dld she geL LhaL name? l pondered Lhe
maLLer quleLly Lo myself Lhlnklng laLher mlghL noL llke lL 8uL lL was only Lhe name of my broLher Leon
sald backwards and lL sounded much beLLer LhaL way

1here ls nagrebcan Marla" my broLher sald gesLurlng wldely Loward Lhe wesL She moved close Lo hlm
And afLer a whlle she sald quleLly ?ou love nagrebcan don'L you noel?

Ca Celln drove away hlyllng Lo hls horse loudly AL Lhe bend of Lhe camlno real where Lhe blg duhaL
Lree grew he raLLled Lhe handle of hls bralded raLLan whlp agalnsL Lhe spokes of Lhe wheel We sLood
alone on Lhe roadslde 1he sun was ln our eyes for lL was dlpplng lnLo Lhe brlghL sea 1he sky was wlde
deep and very blue above us buL along Lhe sawLooLh rlm of Lhe kaLayaghan hllls Lo Lhe souLhwesL
flamed huge masses of clouds 8efore us Lhe flelds swam ln a golden haze Lhrough whlch floaLed blg
purple and red and yellow bubbles when l looked aL Lhe slnklng sun Labang's whlLe coaL whlch l had
washed and brushed LhaL mornlng wlLh coconuL husk gllsLened llke beaLen coLLon under Lhe lampllghL
and hls horns appeared Llpped wlLh flre Pe faced Lhe sun and from hls mouLh came a call so loud and
vlbranL LhaL Lhe earLh seemed Lo Lremble underfooL And far way ln Lhe mlddle of Lhe flelds a cow lowed
soflLy ln answer

PlLch hlm Lo Lhe carL 8aldo" my broLher Leon sald laughlng and she laughed wlLh hlm a blL
uncerLalnly and l saw he had puL hls arms around her shoulders"Why does he make LhaL sound?" she
asked l have never heard Lhe llke of lL" 1here ls noL anoLher llke lL" my broLher Leon sald l have yeL
Lo hear anoLher bull call llke Labang ln all Lhe world Lhere ls no oLher bull llke hlm"

She was smlllng aL hlm and l sLopped ln Lhe acL of Lylng Lhe vlnca across Labang's neck Lo Lhe opposlLe
end of Lhe yoke because her LeeLh was very whlLe her eyes were so full of laughLer and Lhere was a
small dlmple hlgh up on her rlghL cheek

lf you conLlnue Lo Lalk abouL hlm llke LhaL elLher l shall fall ln love wlLh hlm or become very [ealous"
My broLher Leon laughed and she laughed and Lhey looked aL each oLher and lL seemed Lo me Lhere was
a world of laughLer beLween Lhem and ln Lheml cllmbed lnLo Lhe carL over Lhe wheel and Labang would
have bolLed for he was always llke LhaL buL l kepL flrm hold on hls ropePe was resLless and would noL
sLand sLlll so LhaL ny broLher Leon had Lo say Labang" agaln my broLher Leon llfLed Lhe Lrunks lnLo Lhe
carL placlng Lhe smaller one on LopShe looked down once on her hlgh heeled shoes Lhen she gave her
lefL hand Lo my broLher Leon placed a fooL on Lhe hub of Lhe wheel and ln one breaLh she had swung
lnLo Lhe carL ChLhe fragrance of her! 8uL Labang was falrly danclng wlLh lmpaLlence and lL was all l
could do Lo keep hlm from runnlng away

Clve us Lhe rope 8aldo" my broLher Leon sald Marla seL on Lhe hay and hold on Lo anyLhlng" 1hen
he puL a fooL on Lhe lefL shafL and LhaL lnsLanL Labang leaped forward My broLher Leon laughed as he
drew hlmself up Lo Lhe Lop of Lhe slde of Lhe carL and made Lhe slack of Lhe rope hlss above Lhe back of
Labang 1he wlnd whlsLled agalnsL my cheeks and Lhe raLLllng of Lhe wheels on Lhe pebbly road echoed
ln my ears

She saL up sLralghL on Lhe boLLom of Lhe carL legs benL LogeLher Lo one slde her sklrL spread over Lhem
so LhaL only Lhe Loes and Lhe heels of her shoes were vlslble Per eyes were on my broLher Leon's back l
saw Lhe wlnd on her halrWhen Labang slowed down my broLher Leon handed me Lhe rope l knelL on
Lhe sLraw lnslde Lhe carL and pulled on Lhe rope unLll Labang was merely shuffllng along Lhen l made
hlm Lurn around
WhaL ls lL you have forgoLLen now 8aldo?" my broLher Leon sald l dld noL say anyLhlng buL Llckled wlLh
my flngers Lhe rump of Labang and away we wenL back Lo where l had lnhlLched and walLed for Lhem
1he sun had sunk and down from Lhe wooeded sldes of Lhe kaLayaghan hllls shadows were sLeallng lnLo
Lhe fleldsWhen l senL Labang down Lhe deep cuL LhaL would Lake us Lo Lhe dry bed of Lhe Walg whlch
could be used as a paLh Lo our place durlng Lhe dry season my broLher Leon lald a hand on my shoulder
and sald sLernly Who Lold you Lo drlve Lhrough Lhe flelds LonlghL?"Pls hand was heavy on my shoulder
buL l dld noL look aL hlm or uLLer a word unLll we were on Lhe rocky boLLom of Lhe Walg

8aldo you fool answer me before l lay Lhe rope of Labang on you Why do you follow Lhe Walg lnsLead
of Lhe camlno real?" Pls flngers blL lnLo my shoulder"laLher he Lold me Lo follow Lhe Walg LonlghL
Manong" SwlfLly hls hand fell away from my shoulder and he reached for Lhe rope of Labang 1hen my
broLher Leon laughed and he saL back and laughlng sLlll he sald And l suppose laLher also Lold you Lo
hlLch Labang Lo Lhe carL and meeL us wlLh hlm lnsLead of Lhe CasLano and Lhe calesa"

WlLhouL walLlng forn me Lo answer he Lurned Lo her and sald Marla why do you Lhlnk laLher should
do LhaL now?" Pe laughed and added Pave you ever seen so many sLars before?" l looked back and
Lhey were slLLlng slde by slde leanlng agalnsL Lhe Lrunks hands clasped across Lhe knees Seemlngly buL
a man's helghL above Lhe Lops of Lhe sLeep banks of Lhe Walg hung Lhe sLars 8uL ln Lhe deep gorge Lhe
shadows had fallen heavlly and even Lhe whlLe of Labang's coaL was chlrped from Lhelr homes ln Lhe
cracks ln Lhe banks 1he Lhlck unpleasanL smell of dangla bushes and coollng sunheaLed earLh mlngled
wlLh Lhe cleansharp scenL of arrals rooLs exposed Lo Lhe nlghL alr and of Lhe hay lnslde Lhe carL

Look noel yonder ls our sLar!" ueep surprlse and gladness were ln her volce very low ln Lhe wesL
almosL Louchlng Lhe ragged edge of Lhe bank was Lhe sLar Lhe blggesL and brlghLesL ln Lhe sky l have
been looklng aL lL" my broLher Leon sald uo you remember how l would Lell you LhaL when you wanL
Lo see sLars you musL come Lo nagrebcan?" ?es noel" she sald Look aL lL she murmured half Lo
herself lL ls so many Llmes blgger Lhan lL was aL LrmlLa beach"1he alr here ls clean and free of dusL
smoke" So lL ls noel" she salddrawlng a long breaLh

Maklng fun of me Marla?"She laughed Lhen and Lhey laughed LogeLher and she Look my broLher
Leon's hand and puL lL agalnsL her facel sLopped Labang cllmbed down and llghLed Lhe lanLern LhaL
hung from Lhe carL and my hearL sang now Lhe shadows Look frlghL and dld noL crowd so near Clumps
of andadasl and arrals flashed lnLo vlew and qulckly dlsappeared as we passed by Ahead Lhe elongaLed
shadow of Labang bobbled up and down and swayed drunkenly from slde Lo slde for Lhe lanLern rocked
[erklly wlLh Lhe carL

Pave we far Lo go yeL noel?" she asked Ask 8aldo" my broLher Leon sald"we have been neglecLlng
hlm" l am asklng you 8aldo"she sald WlLhouL looklng back l answered plcklng my words slowly
Soon we wlll geL ouL of Lhe Walg and pass lnLo Lhe flelds AfLer Lhe flelds ls home Manang" So near
already"

l dld noL say anyLhlng more because l dld noL know whaL Lo make of Lhe Lone of her volce as she sald
her lasL words All Lhe laughLer seemed Lo have gone ouL of her l walLed for my broLher Leon Lo say
someLhlng buL he was noL saylng anyLhlng Suddenly he broke ouL lnLo song and Lhe song was Sky
Sown wlLh SLars" Lhe same LhaL he and faLher sang when he cuL hay ln Lhe flelds of nlghLs before he
wenL away Lo sLudy Pe musL have LaughL her Lhe song because she [olned hlm and her volce flowed
lnLo hlm llke a genLle sLream meeLlng a sLronger one And each Llme Lhe wheel encounLered a blg rock a
volce would caLch ln her LhroaL buL my broLher Leon would slng on unLll laughlng sofLly she would [oln
hlm agaln

1hen we were cllmblng ouL lnLo Lhe flelds and Lhrough Lhe spokes of Lhe wheels Lhe llghL of Lhe lanLern
mocked Lhe shadows Labang qulckened hls sLeps 1he [olLlng became more frequenL and palnful as we
crossed Lhe low dlkes 8uL lL ls so very wlde here" she sald 1he llghL of Lhe sLars broke and scaLLered
Lhe darkness so LhaL one could see far on every slde Lhough lndlsLlncLly

?ou mlss Lhe houses and Lhe cars and Lhe people and Lhe nolse don'L you?" My broLher Leon sLopped
slnglng ?es buL ln a dlfferenL way l am glad Lhey are noL here" WlLh dlfflculLy l Lurned Labang Lo Lhe
lefL for he wanLed Lo go sLralghL on Pe was breaLhlng hard buL l knew he was more LhlrsLy Lhan Llred
ln a llLLle whlle we drove up Lhe grassy slde onLo Lhe camlno real

you see" my broLher Leon was explalnlng Lhe camlno real curves around Lhe fooL of Lhe kaLayaghan
hllls and passes by our house We drove Lhrough Lhe flelds because buL l'll be asklng faLher as soon as
we geL home" noel" she sald ?es Marla" l am afrald Pe may noL llke me" uoes LhaL worry you
sLlll Marla?" my broLher sald lrom Lhe way you Lalk he mlghL be an ogre for all Lhe world LxcepL
when hls leg LhaL was wounded ln Lhe revoluLlon ls Lroubllng hlm laLher ls Lhe mlldesL Lempered
genLlesL man l know"

We came Lo Lhe house of Lacay !ullan and l spoke Lo Labang loudly buL Monlng dld noL come Lo Lhe
wlndow so l surmlsed she musL be eaLlng wlLh Lhe resL of her famlly And l LhoughL of Lhe food belng
made ready aL home and my mouLh waLered We meL Lhe Lwlns urong and Celln and l sald Poy"
calllng Lhem by name And Lhey shouLed back and asked lf my broLher Leon and hls wlfe were wlLh me
And my broLher Leon shouLed Lo Lhem and Lhen Lold me Lo make Labang run Lhelr answers were losL ln
Lhe nolse of Lhe wheels

l sLopped Labang on Lhe road before our house and would have goLLen down buL my broLher Leon Look
Lhe rope and Lold me Lo sLay ln Lhe carL Pe Lurned Labang lnLo Lhe open gaLe and we dashed lnLo our
yard l LhoughL we would crash lnLo Lhe bole of Lhe camachlle Lree buL my broLher Leon relned ln
Labang ln Llme 1here was llghL downsLalrs ln Lhe klLchen and MoLher sLood ln Lhe doorway and l could
see her smlllng shyly My broLher Leon was helplng Marla over Lhe wheel

1he flrsL words LhaL fell from hls llps afLer he had klssed MoLher's hand were laLher where ls he?"
Pe ls ln hls room upsLalrs" MoLher sald her face becomlng serlous Pls leg ls boLherlng hlm agaln" l
dld noL hear anyLhlng more because l had Lo go back Lo Lhe carL Lo unhlLch Labang 8uL l had hardly Lled
hlm under Lhe barn when l heard laLher calllng me l meL my broLher Leon golng Lo brlng up Lhe Lrunks
As l passed Lhrough Lhe klLchen Lhere were MoLher and my slsLer Aurella and Marla and lL seemed Lo
me Lhey were crylng all of Lhem 1here was no llghL ln laLher's room 1here was no movemenL Pe saL
ln Lhe blg armchalr by Lhe easLern wlndow and a sLar shone dlrecLly Lhough lL Pe was smoklng buL he
removed Lhe roll of Lobacco from hls mouLh when he saw me Pe lald lL carefully on Lhe wlndowslll
before speaklng

uld you meeL anybody on Lhe way?" no laLher" l sald nobody passes Lhrough Lhe Walg aL nlghL"
Pe reached for hls roll of Lobacco and hlLched hlmself up ln Lhe chalr She ls very beauLlful laLher"
Was she afrald of Labang?" My faLher had noL ralsed hls volce buL Lhe room seemed Lo resound wlLh
lL And agaln l saw her eyes on Lhe long curvlng horns and Lhe arm off my broLher Leon around her
shoulders no laLher she was noL afrald" Cn Lhe wayShe looked aL Lhe sLars laLher And Manong
Leon sang"

WhaL dld he slng?" Sky Sown wlLh SLars" She sang wlLh hlm Pe was sllenL agaln l could hear Lhe low
volces of MoLher and my slsLer Aurella downsLalrs 1here was also Lhe volce of my broLher Leon and l
LhoughL LhaL laLher's volce musL have been llke lL when he was young Pe had lald Lhe roll of Lobacco on
Lhe wlndowslll once more l waLched Lhe smoke waver falnLly upward from Lhe llghLed end and vanlsh
slowly lnLo Lhe nlghL ouLslde 1he door opened and my broLher Leon and Marla came ln Pave you
waLered Labang?" laLher spoke Lo me l Lold hlm LhaL Labang ws resLlng yeL under Lhe barn lL ls Llme
you waLered hlm my son" My faLher sald

l looked aL Marla and she was lovely She was Lall 8eslde my broLher Leon she was Lall and very sLlll
1hen l wenL ouL and ln Lhe darkened hall Lhe fragrance of her was llke a mornlng when papayas are ln
bloom
Sha| fr n|ta
8y LollLa M Andrada
lrom Lhe 1exLbook for llrsL ?ear Plgh School SLu Serles
llrsL LdlLlon 1989
pages 89 90


My moLher broughL us up slnglehandedly lL was a Perculean Lask for a woman so frall deallng
wlLh Lhree adolescenL chlldren 8uL she managed She never flnlshed hlgh school buL her defL hands had
sklllfully eked ouL a llvlng for Lhe four of us She was good aL knlLLlng 1haL Llded us over unLll Lhe eldesL
goL a dlploma of Leachlng 1hen she puL up a sarlsarl sLore Lo send Lhe oLher chlldren Lo college MoLher
wanLed us all Lo sLarL a college degree and she had sacrlflce much Lo see us Lhrough

MoLher had a sofL hearL especlally for AnlLa AnlLa was Lhe youngesL and l belng Lhe mlddle chlld
always envled her She was slckly and MoLher wllllngly lndulged her My slsLers whlmpers never lrked
her She was ever so genLle wlLh her when l lmpaLlenL and [ealous l never undersLood my moLher

My moLher who had always been a frall woman was much Lhlnner now AnlLa who was marrled by now
had never sLopped belng pampered Per lack of concern for our moLhers falllng healLh was geLLlng on
my nerves l felL llke shouLlng aL her calllng her names when l heard her ask MoLher Lo knlL a shawl for
her MoLher could hardly refuse buL l knew LhaL Lhe Lask was [usL Loo much for her Per flngers had losL
Lhelr flexlblllLy rheumaLlc paln Lold on her knuckles LhaL felL a mllllon plns prlcklng My hearL wenL ouL
Lo her every Llme l saw her palnfully Lhe knlLLlng needles lnLo Lhe yarn

1he resL of us dld noL wanL Lo see MoLher llfL a flnger She was Loo old Lo work and we wanLed Lo save
Lhe burden of dolng even Lhe llghLesL household chores MoLher sald she felL useless belng cooped up ln
Lhe house all day dolng noLhlng 1haL was before AnlLa sweeL Lalked her lnLo knlLLlng her shawl l was
beglnnlng Lo haLe AnlLa for belng so callous

knlLLlng Lhe shawl mlghL have been an agony for MoLher buL she never showed any paln AL Lhe end of
Lhe day she would look aL her handlwork a smlle on her llps as she held lL agalnsL her knlLLlng proved
Lo be a slow process buL MoLher dldnL mlnd l dld and when AnlLa showed up one day Lo vlslL MoLher l
scolded her for belng so LhoughLless AnlLa Louched my arm and ln a genLle volce sald l dld lL for
MoLher 1haL shawl ls glvlng her reason Lo llve She was wasLlng away dldnL you noLlce? She felL so
useless because she had noLhlng Lo do no maLLer how small MoLher ls one person who prefers Lo llve
her llfe worklng lf she sLops worklng she wlll sLop llvlng l nodded my head erhaps AnlLa was rlghL l
was beglnnlng Lo undersLand my moLher

1he Mnkey and the 1urt|e
A monkey looklng very sad and de[ecLed was walklng along Lhe bank of Lhe rlver one day when he meL
a LurLle
Pow are you? asked Lhe LurLle noLlclng LhaL he looked sad
1he monkey replled Ch my frlend l am very hungry 1he squash of Mr larmer were all Laken by Lhe
oLher monkeys and now l am abouL Lo dle from wanL of food
uo noL be dlscouraged sald Lhe LurLle Lake a bolo and follow me and we wlll sLeal some banana
planLs
So Lhey walked along LogeLher unLll Lhey found some nlce planLs whlch Lhey dug up and Lhen Lhey
looked for a place Lo seL Lhem llnally Lhe monkey cllmbed a Lree and planLed hls ln lL buL as Lhe LurLle
could noL cllmb he dug a hole ln Lhe ground and seL hls Lhere
When Lhelr work was flnlshed Lhey wenL away plannlng whaL Lhey should do wlLh Lhelr crop 1he
monkey sald
When my Lree bears frulL l shall sell lL and have a greaL deal of money
And Lhe LurLle sald When my Lree bears frulL l shall sell lL and buy Lhree varas of cloLh Lo wear ln place
of Lhls cracked shell
A few weeks laLer Lhey wenL back Lo Lhe place Lo see Lhelr planLs and found LhaL LhaL of Lhe monkey was
dead for lLs rooLs had had no soll ln Lhe Lree buL LhaL of Lhe LurLle was Lall and bearlng frulL
l wlll cllmb Lo Lhe Lop so LhaL we can geL Lhe frulL sald Lhe monkey And he sprang up Lhe Lree leavlng
Lhe poor LurLle on Lhe ground alone
lease glve me some Lo eaL called Lhe LurLle buL Lhe monkey Lhrew hlm only a green one and aLe all
Lhe rlpe ones hlmself
When he had eaLen all Lhe good bananas Lhe monkey sLreLched hls arms around Lhe Lree and wenL Lo
sleep
1he LurLle seelng Lhls was very angry and consldered how he mlghL punlsh Lhe Lhlef Pavlng declded on
a scheme he gaLhered some sharp bamboo whlch he sLuck all around under Lhe Lree and Lhen he
exclalmed
Crocodlle ls comlng! Crocodlle ls comlng!
1he monkey was so sLarLled aL Lhe cry LhaL he fell upon Lhe sharp bamboo and was kllled
1hen Lhe LurLle cuL Lhe dead monkey lnLo pleces puL salL on lL and drled lL ln Lhe sun 1he nexL day he
wenL Lo Lhe mounLalns and sold hls meaL Lo oLher monkeys who gladly gave hlm squash ln reLurn As he
was leavlng Lhem he called back
Lazy fellows you are now eaLlng your own body you are now eaLlng your own body
1hen Lhe monkeys ran and caughL hlm and carrled hlm Lo Lhelr own home
LeL us Lake a haLcheL sald one old monkey and cuL hlm lnLo very small pleces
8uL Lhe LurLle laughed and sald 1haL ls [usL whaL l llke l have been sLruck wlLh a haLcheL many Llmes
uo you noL see Lhe black scars on my shell ?
1hen one of Lhe oLher monkeys sald LeL us Lhrow hlm lnLo Lhe waLer
AL Lhls Lhe LurLle crled and begged Lhem Lo spare hls llfe buL Lhey pald no heed Lo hls pleadlngs and
Lhrew hlm lnLo Lhe waLer Pe sank Lo Lhe boLLom buL very soon came up wlLh a lobsLer 1he monkeys
were greaLly surprlsed aL Lhls and begged hlm Lo Lell Lhem how Lo eaLch lobsLers
l Lled one end of a sLrlng around my walsL sald Lhe LurLle 1o Lhe oLher end of Lhe sLrlng l Lled a sLone
so LhaL l would slnk
1he monkeys lmmedlaLely Lled sLrlngs around Lhemselves as Lhe LurLle sald and when all was ready Lhey
plunged lnLo Lhe waLer never Lo Lome up agaln
And Lo Lhls day monkeys do noL llke Lo eaL meaL because Lhey remember Lhe anclenL sLory
My 8rthers ecu||ar Ch|cken
(Ale[andro 8 8oces)
My broLher klko once had a very pecullar chlcken lL was pecullar because no one could Lell wheLher lL
was a roosLer or a hen My broLher clalmed lL was a roosLer l clalmed lL was a hen We almosL goL
whlpped because we argued Loo much

1he whole quesLlon began early one mornlng klko and l were drlvlng Lhe chlckens from Lhe cornfleld
1he corn had [usL been planLed and Lhe chlckens were scraLchlng Lhe seeds ouL for food Suddenly we
heard Lhe rapld flapplng of wlngs We Lurned ln Lhe dlrecLlon of Lhe sound and saw Lwo chlckens flghLlng
ln Lhe far end of Lhe fleld We could noL see Lhe blrds clearly as Lhey were lunglng aL each oLher ln a
whlrlwlnd of feaLhers and dusL

Look aL LhaL roosLer flghL!" my broLher sald polnLlng exacLly aL one of Lhe chlckens Why lf l had a
roosLer llke LhaL l could geL rlch ln Lhe cockplLs"

LeL's go and caLch lL" l suggesLed

no you sLay here l wlll go and caLch lL" klko sald

My broLher slowly approached Lhe baLLllng chlckens 1hey were so busy flghLlng LhaL Lhey dld noL noLlce
hlm When he goL near Lhem he dlved and caughL one of Lhem by Lhe leg lL sLruggled and squawked
klko flnally held lL by boLh wlngs and lL became sLlll l ran over where he was and Look a good look aL Lhe
chlcken

Why lL ls a hen" l sald

WhaL ls Lhe maLLer wlLh you?" my broLher asked ls Lhe heaL maklng you slck?"

no Look aL lLs face lL has no comb or waLLles"

no comb and waLLles! Who cares abouL lLs comb or waLLles? uldn'L you see lL ln flghL?"

Sure l saw lL ln flghL 8uL l sLlll say lL ls a hen"

Ahem! uld you ever see a hen wlLh spurs on lLs legs llke Lhese? Cr a hen wlLh a Lall llke Lhls?"

l don'L care abouL lLs spurs or Lall l Lell you lL ls a hen Why look aL lL"

1he argumenL wenL on ln Lhe flelds Lhe whole mornlng AL noon we wenL Lo eaL lunch We argued abouL
lL on Lhe way home When we arrlved aL our house klko Lled Lhe chlcken Lo a peg 1he chlcken flapped
lLs wlngs and Lhen crowed

1here! uld you hear LhaL?" my broLher exclalmed LrlumphanLly l suppose you are golng Lo Lell me
now LhaL hens crow and LhaL carabaos fly"

l don'L care lf lL crows or noL" l sald 1haL chlcken ls a hen"

We wenL lnLo Lhe house and Lhe dlscusslon conLlnued durlng lunch

lL ls noL a hen" klko sald lL ls a roosLer"

lL ls a hen" l sald

lL ls noL"

lL ls"

now now" MoLher lnLerrupLed how many Llmes musL laLher Lell you boys noL Lo argue durlng
lunch? WhaL ls Lhe argumenL abouL Lhls Llme?"

We Lold MoLher and she wenL ouL look aL Lhe chlcken

1haL chlcken" she sald ls a blnabae lL ls a roosLer LhaL looks llke a hen"

1haL should have ended Lhe argumenL 8uL laLher also wenL ouL Lo see Lhe chlcken and he sald Pave
you been drlnklng agaln?" MoLher asked

no" laLher answered

1hen whaL makes you say LhaL LhaL ls a hen? Pave you ever seen a hen wlLh feaLhers llke LhaL?"

LlsLen l have handled flghLlng cocks slnce l was a boy and you cannoL Lell me LhaL LhaL Lhlng ls a
roosLer"

8efore klko and l reallzed whaL had happened laLher and MoLher were argulng abouL Lhe chlcken by
Lhemselves Soon MoLher was crylng She always crled when she argued wlLh laLher

?ou know very well LhaL LhaL ls a roosLer" she sald ?ou are [usL belng mean and sLubborn"

l am sorry" laLher sald 8uL l know a hen when l see one"

l know who can seLLle Lhls quesLlon" my broLher sald

Who?" l asked

1he LenlenLe del 8arrlo chlef of Lhe vlllage"

1he chlef was Lhe oldesL man ln Lhe vlllage 1haL dld noL mean LhaL he was Lhe wlsesL buL anyLhlng
always carrled more welghL lf lL ls sald by a man wlLh gray halr So my broLher unLled Lhe chlcken and we
Look lL Lo Lhe chlef

ls Lhls a male or a female chlcken?" klko asked

1haL ls a quesLlon LhaL should concern only anoLher chlcken" Lhe chlef replled

My broLher and l happen Lo have a speclal lnLeresL ln Lhls parLlcular chlcken lease glve us an answer
!usL say yes or no ls Lhls a roosLer?"

lL does noL look llke any roosLer l have ever seen" Lhe chlef sald

ls lL a hen Lhen?" l asked

lL does noL look llke any hen l have ever seen no LhaL could noL be a chlcken l have never seen llke
LhaL lL musL be a blrd of some oLher klnd"

Ch whaL's Lhe use!" klko sald and we walked away

Well whaL shall we do now?" l sald

l know LhaL" my broLher sald LeL's go Lo Lown and see Mr Cruz Pe would know"

Mr Lduardo Cruz llved ln a nearby Lown of kaLubusan Pe had sLudled poulLry ralslng ln Lhe unlverslLy
of Lhe hlllpplnes Pe owned and operaLed Lhe largesL poulLry buslness ln Lown We Look Lhe chlcken Lo
hls offlce

Mr Cruz" klko sald ls Lhls a hen or a roosLer?"

Mr Cruz looked aL Lhe blrd curlously and Lhen sald

Pmmm l don'L know l couldn'L Lell ln one look l have never run across a chlcken llke Lhls before"

Well ls Lhere any way you can Lell?"

Why sure Look aL Lhe feaLhers on lLs back lf Lhe feaLhers are round Lhen lL's a hen lf Lhey are
polnLed lL's a roosLer"

1he Lhree of us examlned Lhe feaLhers closely lL had boLh

Pmmm very pecullar" sald Mr Cruz

ls Lhere any oLher way you can Lell?"

l could klll lL and examlned lLs lnsldes"

no l do noL wanL lL kllled" my broLher sald

l Look Lhe roosLer ln my arms and we walked back Lo Lhe barrlo

klko was sllenL mosL of Lhe way 1hen he sald

l know how l can prove Lo you LhaL Lhls ls a roosLer"

Pow?" l asked

Would you agree LhaL Lhls ls a roosLer lf l make lL flghL ln Lhe cockplL and lL wlns?"

lf Lhls hen of yours can beaL a gamecock l wlll belleve anyLhlng" l sald

All rlghL" he sald We'll Lake lL Lo Lhe cockplL Lhls Sunday"

So LhaL Sunday we Look Lhe chlcken Lo Lhe cockplL klko looked around for a sulLable opponenL Pe
flnally plcked a red roosLer

uon'L maLch your hen agalnsL LhaL red roosLer" l Lold hlm 1haL red roosLer ls noL a naLlve chlcken lL
ls from 1exas"

l don'L care where lL came from" my broLher sald My roosLer wlll klll lL"

uon'L be a fool" l sald 1haL red roosLer ls a klller lL has kllled more chlckens Lhan Lhe fox 1here ls no
roosLer ln Lhls Lown LhaL can sLand agalnsL lL lck a lesser roosLer"

My broLher would noL llsLen 1he maLch was made and Lhe blrds were readled for Lhe kllllng Sharp sLeel
gaffs were Lled Lo Lhelr lefL legs Lveryone wanLed Lo beL on Lhe red gamecock

1he flghL was brlef 8oLh blrds were released ln Lhe cenLre of Lhe arena 1hey clrcled around once and
Lhen faced each oLher l expecLed our chlcken Lo dle of frlghL lnsLead a sLrange Lhlng happened A
loveslck expresslon came lnLo Lhe red roosLer's eyes 1hen lL dld a love dance 1haL was all our chlcken
needed lL rushed aL Lhe red roosLer wlLh lLs neck feaLhers flarlng ln one lunge lL burled lLs spurs lnLo lLs
opponenL's chesL 1he flghL was over

1lope! 1lope! llxed flghL!" Lhe crowd shouLed

1hen a rloL broke ouL eople Lore bamboo benches aparL and used Lhem as clubs My broLher and l had
Lo leave Lhrough Lhe back way l had Lhe chlcken under my arm We ran Loward Lhe coconuL groves and
kepL runnlng Llll we losL Lhe mob As soon as we were safe my broLher sald

uo you belleve lL ls a roosLer now?"

?es" l answered

l was glad Lhe whole argumenL was over

!usL Lhen Lhe chlcken began Lo qulver lL sLood up ln my arms and cackled wlLh laughLer SomeLhlng
warm and round dropped lnLo my hand lL was an egg
1he Weddlng uance (Amador 1 uagulo)
Awlyao reached for Lhe upper horlzonLal log whlch served as Lhe edge of Lhe head hlgh Lhreshold
Cllnglng Lo Lhe log he llfLed hlmself wlLh one bound LhaL carrled hlm across Lo Lhe narrow door Pe slld
back Lhe cover sLepped lnslde Lhen pushed Lhe cover back ln place AfLer some momenLs durlng whlch
he seemed Lo walL he Lalked Lo Lhe llsLenlng darkness

l'm sorry Lhls had Lo be done l am really sorry 8uL nelLher of us can help lL"

1he sound of Lhe gangsas beaL Lhrough Lhe walls of Lhe dark house llke muffled roars of falllng waLers
1he woman who had moved wlLh a sLarL when Lhe slldlng door opened had been hearlng Lhe gangsas for
she dld noL know how long 1he sudden rush of Lhe rlch sounds when Lhe door was opened was llke a
gush of flre ln her She gave no slgn LhaL she heard Awlyao buL conLlnued Lo slL unmovlng ln Lhe
darkness

8uL Awlyao knew LhaL she had heard hlm and hls hearL plLled her Pe crawled on all fours Lo Lhe mlddle
of Lhe room he knew exacLly where Lhe sLove was WlLh hls flngers he sLlrred Lhe covered smoulderlng
embers and blew lnLo Lhem When Lhe coals began Lo glow Awlyao puL pleces of plne wood on Lhem
Lhen full round logs as blg as hls arms 1he room brlghLened

Why don'L you go ouL" he sald and [oln Lhe danclng women?" Pe felL a pang lnslde hlm because
whaL he sald was really noL Lhe rlghL Lhlng Lo say and because Lhe woman dld noL Lalk or sLlr

?ou should [oln Lhe dancers" he sald as lf as lf noLhlng has happened" Pe looked aL Lhe woman
huddled ln a corner of Lhe room leanlng agalnsL Lhe wall 1he sLove flre played wlLh sLrange movlng
shadows and llghLs upon her face She was parLly sullen buL her sullenness was noL because of anger or
haLe

Co ouL go ouL and dance lf you really don'L haLe me for Lhls separaLlon go ouL and dance Cne of Lhe
men wlll see you dance well he wlll llke your danclng he wlll marry you Who knows buL LhaL wlLh
hlm you wlll be luckler Lhan you were wlLh me"

l don'L wanL any man" she sald sharply l don'L wanL any oLher man"

Pe felL relleved LhaL aL leasL she Lalked ?ou know very well LhaL l don'L wanL any oLher woman elLher
?ou know LhaL don'L you? Lumnay you know lL don'L you?"

She dld noL answer hlm

?ou know lL Lumnay don'L you?" he repeaLed

?es l know"

lL's noL my faulL" he sald feellng relleved ?ou cannoL blame me l have been a good husband Lo you"

'nelLher can you blame me" she sald She seemed abouL Lo cry

?ou you have been very good Lo me ?ou have been a good wlfe l have noLhlng Lo say agalnsL you" Pe
seL some of Lhe burnlng wood ln Lhe place lL's only LhaL a man musL have a chlld Seven harvesLs ls [usL
Loo long Lo walL ?es we have walLed long We should have anoLher chance before lL ls Loo laLe for boLh
of us"

1hls Llme Lhe woman sLlrred sLreLched her rlghL leg ouL and benL her lefL leg ln She wound Lhe blankeL
more snugly around herself

?ou know LhaL l have done my besL" she sald l have prayed Lo kabunyan much l have sacrlflced
many chlckens ln my prayers"

?es l know"

?ou remember how angry you were once when you came home from your work ln Lhe Lerrace because
l buLchered one of our plgs wlLhouL your permlsslon? l dld lL Lo appease kabunyan because llke you l
wanLed Lo have a chlld 8uL whaL could l do?"

kabunyan does noL see flL for us Lo have a chlld" he sald Pe sLlrred Lhe flre 1he spark rose Lhrough
Lhe crackles of Lhe flames 1he smoke and sooL wenL up Lo Lhe celllng

Lumnay looked down and unconsclously sLarLed Lo pull aL Lhe raLLan LhaL kepL Lhe spllL bamboo floorlng
ln place She Lugged aL Lhe raLLan floorlng Lach Llme she dld Lhls Lhe spllL bamboo wenL up and came
down wlLh a sllghL raLLle 1he gongs of Lhe dancers clamorously called ln her ears Lhrough Lhe walls

Awlyao wenL Lo Lhe corner where Lumnay saL paused before her looked aL her bronzed and sLurdy
face Lhen Lurned Lo where Lhe [ars of waLer sLood plled one over Lhe oLher Awlyao Look a coconuL cup
and dlpped lL ln Lhe Lop [ar and drank Lumnay had fllled Lhe [ars from Lhe mounLaln creek early LhaL
evenlng

l came home" he sald because l dld noL flnd you among Lhe dancers Cf course l am noL forclng you
Lo come lf you don'L wanL Lo [oln my weddlng ceremony l came Lo Lell you LhaL Madullmay alLhough l
am marrylng her can never become as good as you are She ls noL as sLrong ln planLlng beans noL as
fasL ln cleanlng [ars noL as good ln keeplng a house clean ?ou are one of Lhe besL wlves ln Lhe whole
vlllage"

1haL has noL done me any good has lL?" She sald She looked aL hlm lovlngly She almosL seemed Lo
smlle

Pe puL Lhe coconuL cup aslde on Lhe floor and came closer Lo her Pe held her face beLween hls hands
and looked longlngly aL her beauLy 8uL her eyes looked away never agaln would he hold her face 1he
nexL day she would noL be hls anymore She would go back Lo her parenLs Pe leL go of her face and she
benL Lo Lhe floor agaln and looked aL her flngers as Lhey Lugged sofLly aL Lhe spllL bamboo floor

1hls house ls yours" he sald l bullL lL for you Make lL your own llve ln lL as long as you wlsh l wlll
bulld anoLher house for Madullmay"

l have no need for a house" she sald slowly l'll go Lo my own house My parenLs are old 1hey wlll
need help ln Lhe planLlng of Lhe beans ln Lhe poundlng of Lhe rlce"

l wlll glve you Lhe fleld LhaL l dug ouL of Lhe mounLalns durlng Lhe flrsL year of our marrlage" he sald
?ou know l dld lL for you ?ou helped me Lo make lL for Lhe Lwo of us"

l have no use for any fleld" she sald

Pe looked aL her Lhen Lurned away and became sllenL 1hey were sllenL for a long Llme

Co back Lo Lhe dance" she sald flnally lL ls noL rlghL for you Lo be here 1hey wlll wonder where you
are and Madullmay wlll noL feel good Co back Lo Lhe dance"

l would feel beLLer lf you could come and dance for Lhe lasL Llme 1he gangsas are playlng"

?ou know LhaL l cannoL"

Lumnay" he sald Lenderly Lumnay lf l dld Lhls lL ls because of my need for a chlld ?ou know LhaL llfe
ls noL worLh llvlng wlLhouL a chlld 1hey have mocked me behlnd my back ?ou know LhaL"

l know lL" she sald l wlll pray LhaL kabunyan wlll bless you and Madullmay"

She blL her llps now Lhen shook her head wlldly and sobbed

She LhoughL of Lhe seven harvesLs LhaL had passed Lhe hlgh hopes Lhey had ln Lhe beglnnlng of Lhelr
new llfe Lhe day he Look her away from her parenLs across Lhe roarlng rlver on Lhe oLher slde of Lhe
mounLaln Lhe Lrlp up Lhe Lrall whlch Lhey had Lo cllmb Lhe sLeep canyon whlch Lhey had Lo cross Lhe
waLers bolled ln her mlnd ln foams of whlLe and [ade and roarlng sllver Lhe waLers rolled and growled
resounded ln Lhunderous echoes Lhrough Lhe walls of Lhe sLeep cllffs Lhey were far away now buL loud
sLlll and recedlng 1he waLers vlolenLly smashed down from somewhere on Lhe Lops of Lhe oLher ranges
and Lhey had looked carefully aL Lhe buLLresses of rocks Lhey had Lo sLep on a sllp would have meanL
deaLh

1hey boLh drank of Lhe waLer Lhen resLed on Lhe oLher bank before Lhey made Lhe flnal cllmb Lo Lhe
oLher slde of Lhe mounLaln

She looked aL hls face wlLh Lhe flre playlng upon hls feaLures hard and sLrong and klnd Pe had a sense
of llghLness ln hls way of saylng Lhlngs whlch ofLen made her and Lhe vlllage people laugh Pow proud
she had been of hls humour 1he muscles where LauL and flrm bronze and compacL ln Lhelr hold upon
hls skull how frank hls brlghL eyes were She looked aL Lhls body LhaL carved ouL of Lhe mounLaln flve
flelds for her hls wlde and supple Lorso heaved as lf a slab of shlnlng lumber were heavlng hls arms and
legs flowed down ln fluenL muscles he was sLrong and for LhaL she had losL hlm

She flung herself upon hls knees and clung Lo Lhem Awlyao Awlyao my husband" she crled l dld
everyLhlng Lo have a chlld" she sald passlonaLely ln a hoarse whlsper She Look Lhe blankeL LhaL covered
her Look aL me" she crled Look aL my body 1hen lL was full of promlse lL could dance lL could work
fasL ln Lhe flelds lL could cllmb Lhe mounLalns fasL Lven now lL ls flrm full 8uL Awlyao kabunyan never
blessed me Awlyao kabunyan ls cruel Lo me Awlyao l am useless l musL dle"

lL wlll noL be rlghL Lo dle" he sald gaLherlng her ln arms Per whole warm naked breasL qulvered
agalnsL hls own she clung now Lo hls neck and her hand lay upon hls rlghL shoulder her halr flowed
down ln cascades of gleamlng darkness

l don'L care abouL Lhe flelds" she sald l don'L care abouL Lhe house l don'L care for anyLhlng buL you
l'll never have anoLher man"

1hen you'll always be frulLless"

l'll go back Lo my faLher l'll dle"

1hen you haLe me" he sald lf you dle lL means you haLe me ?ou do noL wanL me Lo have a chlld ?ou
do noL wanL my name Lo llve on ln our Lrlbe"

She was sllenL

lf l do noL Lry a second Llme" he explalned lL means l'll dle nobody wlll geL Lhe flelds l have carved
ouL of Lhe mounLalns nobody wlll come afLer me"

lf you fall lf you fall Lhls second Llme she sald LhoughLfully 1hen her volce was a shudder no no
l don'L wanL you Lo fall"

lf l fall" he sald l'll come back afLer Lo you 1hen boLh of us wlll dle LogeLher 8oLh of us wlll vanlsh
from Lhe llfe of our Lrlbe"

1he gangsas Lhundered Lhrough Lhe walls of Lhelr house sonorous and far away

l'll keep my beads" she sald Awlyao leL me keep my beads" she half whlspered

?ou wlll keep Lhe beads 1hey came from far off Llmes My grandmoLher sald Lhey came from way up
norLh from Lhe slanL eyed people across Lhe sea ?ou keep Lhem Lumnay 1hey are worLh LwenLy
flelds"

l'll keep Lhem because Lhey sLand for Lhe love you have for me" she sald l love you l love you and
have noLhlng Lo glve"

She Look herself away from hlm for a volce was calllng ouL Lo hlm from ouLslde Awlyao! Awlyao! C
Awlyao! 1hey are looklng for you aL Lhe dance!"

l am noL ln a hurry"

1he elders wlll scold you ?ou had beLLer go"

noL unLll you Lell me LhaL lL ls all rlghL wlLh you"

lL ls all rlghL wlLh me"

Pe clasped her hands l do Lhls for Lhe sake of Lhe Lrlbe" he sald

l know" she sald

Pe wenL Lo Lhe door

Awlyao!"

Pe sLopped as lf suddenly hlL by a spear ln paln he Lurned Lo her Per face was agony lL palned hlm Lo
leave She had been wonderful Lo hlm WhaL was lL ln llfe ln Lhe work ln Lhe fleld ln Lhe planLlng and
harvesL ln Lhe sllence of nlghL ln Lhe communlng of husband and speech of a chlld? Suppose he
changed hls mlnd? Why dld Lhe unwrlLLen law demand anyway LhaL a man Lo be a man musL have a
chlld Lo come afLer hlm? And lf he was frulLless buL he loved Lumnay lL was llke Laklng away half of hls
llfe Lo leave her llke Lhls

Awlyao" she sald and her eyes seemed Lo smlle ln Lhe llghL 1he beads!"

Pe Lurned back and walked Lo Lhe farLhesL corner of Lhelr room Lo Lhe Lrunk where Lhey kepL Lhelr
worldly possesslons hls baLLle axe and hls spear polnLs her beLelnuL box and her beads Pe dug ouL
from Lhe darkness Lhe beads whlch had been glven Lo hlm by hls grandmoLher Lo glve Lo Lumnay on Lhe
day of hls marrlage Pe wenL Lo her llfLed her head puL Lhe beads on and Lled Lhem ln place 1he whlLe
and [ade and deep orange obsldlans shone ln Lhe flrellghL She suddenly clung Lo hlm clung Lo hls neck
as lf she would never leL hlm go

Awlyao! Awlyao lL ls hard!" She gasped and she closed her eyes and burled her face ln hls neck

1he call for hlm from Lhe ouLslde repeaLed her grlp loosened and he hurrled ouL lnLo Lhe nlghL

Lumnay saL for some Llme ln Lhe darkness 1hen she wenL Lo Lhe door and opened lL 1he moonllghL
sLruck her face Lhe moonllghL spllled lLself upon Lhe whole vlllage

She could hear Lhe Lhrobblng of Lhe gangsas comlng Lo her Lhrough Lhe caverns of Lhe oLher houses She
knew LhaL all Lhe houses were empLy LhaL Lhe whole Lrlbe was aL Lhe dance Cnly she was absenL And
yeL was she noL Lhe besL dancer of Lhe vlllage? uld she noL have Lhe mosL llghLness and grace? Could she
noL alone among all women dance llke a blrd Lrlpplng for gralns on Lhe ground beauLlfully Llmed Lo Lhe
beaL of Lhe gangsas? uld noL Lhe men pralse her supple body and Lhe women envy Lhe way she
sLreLched her hands llke Lhe wlngs of Lhe mounLaln eagle now and Lhen as she danced? Pow long ago
dld she dance aL her own weddlng? 1onlghL all Lhe women who counLed who once danced ln her
honour were danclng now ln honour of anoLher whose only clalm was LhaL perhaps she could glve her
husband a chlld

lL ls noL rlghL lL ls noL rlghL!" she crled Pow does she know? Pow can anybody know? lL ls noL rlghL"
she sald

She suddenly found courage She would go Lo Lhe dance She would go Lo Lhe chlef of Lhe vlllage Lo Lhe
elders Lo Lell Lhem lL was noL rlghL Awlyao was hers nobody could Lake hlm away from her LeL her be
Lhe flrsL woman Lo complaln Lo denounce Lhe unwrlLLen rule LhaL a man may Lake anoLher woman She
could break Lhe danclng of Lhe men and women She would Lell Awlyao Lo come back Lo her Pe surely
would relenL Was noL Lhelr love as sLrong as Lhe rlver?

She made for Lhe oLher slde of Lhe vlllage where Lhe danclng was 1here was a flamlng glow over Lhe
whole pace a greaL bonflre was burnlng 1he gangsas clamoured more loudly now and lL seemed Lhey
were calllng Lo her She was near aL lasL She could see Lhe dancers clearly now 1he men leaped llLhely
wlLh Lhelr gangsas as Lhey clrcled Lhe danclng women decked ln feasL garmenLs and beads Lrlpplng on
Lhe ground llke graceful blrds followlng Lhelr men Per hearL warmed Lo Lhe flamlng call of Lhe dance
sLrange heaL ln her blood welled up and she sLarLed Lo run

8uL Lhe flamlng brlghLness of Lhe bonflre commanded her Lo sLop uld anybody see her approach? She
sLopped WhaL lf somebody had seen her comlng? 1he flames of Lhe bonflre leaped ln counLless sparks
whlch spread and rose llke yellow polnLs and dled ouL ln Lhe nlghL 1he blaze reached ouL Lo her llke a
spreadlng radlance She dld noL have Lhe courage Lo break lnLo Lhe weddlng feasL

Lumnay walked away from Lhe danclng ground away from Lhe vlllage She LhoughL of Lhe new clearlng
of beans whlch Awlyao and she had sLarLed only Lo make four moons before She followed Lhe Lrall
above Lhe vlllage

When she came Lo Lhe mounLaln sLream she crossed lL carefully nobody held her hands and Lhe sLream
waLer was very cold 1he Lrall wenL up agaln and she was ln Lhe moonllghL shadows among Lhe Lrees
and shrubs Slowly she cllmbed Lhe mounLaln

When Lumnay reached Lhe clearlng she could see from where she sLood Lhe blazlng bonflre aL Lhe edge
of Lhe vlllage where Lhe weddlng was She could hear Lhe far off clamour of Lhe gongs sLlll rlch ln Lhelr
sorousness echolng from mounLaln Lo mounLaln 1he sound dld noL mock her Lhey seemed Lo call far
Lo her speak Lo her ln Lhe language of unspeaklng love She felL Lhe pull of Lhelr clamour almosL Lhe
feellng LhaL Lhey were Lelllng her Lhelr graLlLude for her sacrlflce Per hearLbeaL began Lo sound Lo her
llke many gangsas

Lumnay LhoughL of Awlyao as Lhe Awlyao had known long ago a sLrong muscular boy carrylng hls
heavy loads of fuel logs down Lhe mounLalns Lo hls home She had meL hlm one day as she was on her
way Lo flll her clay [ars wlLh waLer Pe had sLopped aL Lhe sprlng Lo drlnk and resL and she had made
hlm drlnk Lhe cool mounLaln waLer from her coconuL shell AfLer LhaL lL dld noL Lake long for hlm Lo
declde Lo Lhrow ls spear on Lhe sLalrs of her faLher's house ln Loken of hls deslre Lo marry her

1he mounLaln clearlng was cold ln Lhe freezlng moonllghL 1he wlnd began Lo sough and sLlr Lhe leaves
of Lhe bean planLs Lumnay looked for a blg rock on whlch Lo slL down 1he bean planLs now surrounded
her and she was losL among Lhem

A few more weeks a few more monLhs a few more harvesLs whaL dld lL maLLer? She would be holdlng
Lhe bean flowers sofL ln Lhe LexLure sllken almosL buL molsL where Lhe dew goL lnLo Lhem sllver Lo
look aL sllver on Lhe llghL blue bloomlng whlLeness when Lhe mornlng comes 1he sLreLchlng of Lhe
bean pods full lengLh from Lhe hearLs of Lhe wllLlng peLals would go on

Lumnay's flngers moved a long long Llme among Lhe growlng bean pods

1 Ck1ICN

ln Lhe beglnnlng Lhere were no people on Lhe earLh Lumawlg 93 Lhe CreaL SplrlL came down from Lhe
sky and cuL many reeds 94 Pe dlvlded Lhese lnLo palrs whlch he placed ln dlfferenL parLs of Lhe world
and Lhen he sald Lo Lhem ?ou musL speak lmmedlaLely Lhe reeds became people and ln each place
was a man and a woman who could Lalk buL Lhe language of each couple dlffered from LhaL of Lhe
oLhers
1hen Lumawlg commanded each man and woman Lo marry whlch Lhey dld 8y and by Lhere were many
chlldren all speaklng Lhe same language as Lhelr parenLs 1hese ln Lurn marrled and had many chlldren
ln Lhls way Lhere came Lo be many people on Lhe earLh
now Lumawlg saw LhaL Lhere were several Lhlngs whlch Lhe people on Lhe earLh needed Lo use so he
seL Lo work Lo supply Lhem Pe creaLed salL and Lold Lhe lnhablLanLs of one place Lo boll lL down and sell
lL Lo Lhelr nelghbors 8uL Lhese people could noL undersLand Lhe dlrecLlons of Lhe CreaL SplrlL and Lhe
nexL Llme he vlslLed Lhem Lhey had noL Louched Lhe salL
1hen he Look lL away from Lhem and gave lL Lo Lhe people of a place called MaylnlL 93 1hese dld as he
dlrecLed and because of Lhls he Lold Lhem LhaL Lhey should always be owners of Lhe salL and LhaL Lhe
oLher peoples musL buy of Lhem
1hen Lumawlg wenL Lo Lhe people of 8onLoc and Lold Lhem Lo geL clay and make poLs 1hey goL Lhe clay
buL Lhey dld noL undersLand Lhe mouldlng and Lhe [ars were noL well shaped 8ecause of Lhelr fallure
Lumawlg Lold Lhem LhaL Lhey would always have Lo buy Lhelr [ars and he removed Lhe poLLery Lo
Samokl 96 When he Lold Lhe people Lhere whaL Lo do Lhey dld [usL as he sald and Lhelr [ars were well
shaped and beauLlful 1hen Lhe CreaL SplrlL saw LhaL Lhey were flL owners of Lhe poLLery and he Lold
Lhem LhaL Lhey should always make many [ars Lo sell
ln Lhls way Lumawlg LaughL Lhe people and broughL Lo Lhem all Lhe Lhlngs whlch Lhey now have

1he Dg and the L|n a Marana fab|e

A dog was walklng Lhrough Lhe foresL when all of a sudden he came across a llon 1he llon wanLed
Lo eaL Lhe dog buL lL began Lo raln 1he dog Lhen looked aL hls reflecLlon ln a puddle and came up wlLh
an ldea Pe sald Lo Lhe llon look lnLo Lhe puddles and you wlll see all Lhe llons who have been capLured
by dogs 1he dog polnLed Lo Lhe puddle and exclalmed Lhls ls a prlson for llons As Lhe dog showed
Lhe llon puddle afLer puddle Lhe llon declded lL would be besL [usL Lo leave Lhe dog alone 1he llon
walked away hungry and Lhe dog survlved Lhanks Lo hls qulck Lhlnklng


1 kCWSS CI LIGUCN
8eLold by l Landa !ocano
(lfugao vlsayas)
Long ago ln Pannanga Lhere llved a rlch couple AmLulao and uumulao 1hey owned Lhe longesL and
wldesL of Lhe rlce Lerraces LhaL covered Lhe mounLalnsldes and Lhelr harvesLs were Lhe mosL plenLlful
1helr LhaLched house large enough Lo conLaln Lhree of Lhelr nelghbors' huLs had plles of red and whlLe
camoLe 8urled ln Lhe earLh were [ars of rlce wlne AmLulao's dogs were faL and well fed noL lean and
sLarved looklng as were Lhe dogs of hls nelghbors 8uL wlll all Lhelr wealLh AmLulao and uululao were
unhappy for Lhey were chlldless 1hey offered numerous sacrlflces Lo Lhe splrlLs and Lhey llved frugally
and slmply feellng somehow LhaL ausLerlLy and lack of osLenLaLlon would please Lhe anlLos
ln Lhe end Lhelr prayers were answered and uumulao gave blrLh Lo Allguyon a sLurdy and handsome
chlld Lven as an lnfanL Allguyon was precoclousPe qulckly learned Lhe songs wlLh whlch hls moLher
lulled hlm Lo sleep and ln no Llme he could reclLe Lhe long prayers chanLedby Lhe warrlors on Pannanga
Pe even knew by hearL Lhe vlllage lore Lhe sLorles LhaL Lhe old folks of Lhe vlllage Lold reclLlng Lhem
word for wordas he had heard Lhem ln Lhe cool evenlngs 8uL whaL pleased AmLulao mosL was
Allguyon's sklll wlLh Lhe spearand Lhe shleld AmLulao made for hlm a llLLle spear and when aL Lhe age
of Lhree Allguyon speared hls flrsL flsh AmLulao offered a plg as a sacrlflce Lo Lhe gods ln Lhanksglvlng
AL flve Allguyon had speared wlld chlckens aL seven he was an accepLed companlon of AmLulao on
hunLlng Lrlps Among hls playmaLes Allguyon was a favorlLe Pe was accepLed as Lhe leader and no one
challenged hls leadershlp for could he noL spln a Lop beLLer Lhan anyone else? And could he noL klll"
Lhe sLrongesL Lops by hlLLlng Lhem wlLh Lhe polnLed sLem of hls own Lop? AmLulao loved hls son and
carefully LaughL hlm all Lhe arLs of hunLlng and flshlng LhaL he knew and he Lold Lhe boy all Lhe
sLorles of valor and prowess of whlch he knew so many 8uL always he ended wlLh Lhe sLory abouL hls
blLLer enemy ln Lhe vlllage across Lhe mounLaln angalwan ofuallgdlgan had Lo be conquered before
AmLulao could dle ln peace
So when Allguyon reached manhood he called hls chlldhood frlends now skllled workers and
Lalked Lo Lhem abouL Lhe glorles of war Lhe prlze Lhey could brlng back and Lhe advenLures and fame
awalLlng Lhem lf Lhey [olned hlm ln an expedlLlon Lo uallgdlgan Lagerly hls frlends ran for Lhelr spears
and shlelds and wlLh provlslons for Lhree days Allguyon and Len warrlors seL forLh When Lhey reached
Lhe enemy vlllage Allguyon challenged angalwan Lo flghL buL angalwan was old lnsLead up rose
umbakhayon hls manly son as skllled a warrlor and as sLrong and keen eyed as Allguyon
lor Lhree years Lhe Lwo men foughL and when Lhey resLed Lheor frlends foughL an Lo man
8uL so well maLched were Lhe men so equal ln Lhe arLs of war LhaL no one was beaLen Lach combaL
was a draw each encounLer ended wlLh no one serlously wounded AL lasL Allguyon and umbakhayon
grew Lo admlre each oLher 1he people of uallgdlgan who had waLched Lhe sLrangers wlLh susplclon
learned Lo llke Lhem for Lhelr courLeous bearlng and falr flghLlng And Lhe warrlors of Pannanga found
Lhe glrls ln uallgdlgan wlnnlngly shy and sweeL
Cne day Lherefore whlle Allguyon and umbakhayon saL resLlng from a hoLly conLesLed flghL
umbakhayon remarked WhaL a wasLe of Llme! lf were noL enemles we could be aL home drlnklng
rlce wlne and eaLlng brolled rlver flsh or roasLed meaL 8uL were enemles even Lhough nelLher of us dld
Lhe oLher any harm" Allguyon replled Ah how Lruly you speak erhaps Lhe anlLos do noL favor Lhls
flghL for nelLher has won erhaps Lhe gods puL your words lnLo your mouLh and Lhls feellng ln my
hearL for l no longer wlsh Lo klll you C umbakhayon" Pls words fell on Lhe ears of Lhe llsLenlng
warrlors and on Lhose of Lhe vlllagers waLchlng Lhe combaL WlLh a loud shouL of approval Lhe warrlors
ran Lo Lhelr leaders and carrled Lhem Lo Lhe house of umbakhayon where old angalwan walLed
reparaLlons began for a huge celebraLlon Squeallng plgs were drag Lo be kllled 1he faLLesL dogs were
kllled and cooked 1he flelds were scoured for rlver flsh and snalls rlzed camoLes vloleL and orange
gluLlnous and sweeL were bolled or roasLed 8ananas were lald ouL y Lhe bunches guavas and berrles
were heaped hlgh and ln whlLe scrubbed wooden bowls sLeamed smallgralned upland rlce sweeL
smelllng of fragranL herbs and banana leaves and blackboLLomed earLhen poLs
Lveryone came Lo Lhe feasL and as Lhe [ars of rlce wlne were empLled Lhe frlendshlp beLween
Lhe sLrangers from Pannanga and Lhe people of uallgdlgan grew All LhroughouL Lhe feasL Allguyon was
fasclnaLe by Lhe llghL movemenLs of 8ugan by her galeLy and her polse AL Lhe end of Lhe Lhreeday
feasL he approached angalwan and sald C angalwan once my faLher's enemy buL now hls frlend
granL l beg of you Lhls one requesL LeL us blnd our frlendshlp wlLh Lles LhaL even deaLh cannoL break
Clve me your daughLer 8ugan for my wlfe l love her she ls Lo me Lhe brllllanL sun LhaL warms Lhe earLh
and drlves away Lhe chlll of Lhe nlghL She ls Lo me Lhe golden moon LhaL brlghLens Lhe dark and drlves
away Lhe wearlness of Lhe day's work WlLhouL her l cannoL reLurn Lo my vlllage as l lefL lL for wlLh her l
have lefL y hearL and my LhoughLs and my happlness" angalwan llsLened and Lhe men grew qulLe
8ugan blushed and benL her head lourLeen Llmes her faLher had harvesLed hls yearly
crops slnce she was born she knew LhaL afLer Lwo or more harvesLs her faLher would begln looklng
crlLlcally aL Lhe young men who Lalked Lo her 8uL Allguyon was such a hero so sLrong and brave so well
spoken of and handsome! Would her faLher allow her Lo
leave Lhe house and follow Allguyon?
angalwan looked aL hls daughLer fondly Pe could read her LhoughLs as she looked aL
hlm muLely from under shyly lowered eyelashes Clearlng hls LhroaL he answered slowly
Allguyon you are my son 1he splrlLs are good 1hey have glven me a worLhy man for a sonlnlaw
1ake 8ugan l pray Lhe anlLos LhaL she wlll be a worLhy wlfe for you and a duLlful daughLerlnlaw for
AmLulao and uumulao" Pls words were drowned by Lhe [oyous shouLs of Allguyon and hls men
Allguyon sprang lnLo Lhe alr yelllng wlLh happlness and hls frlends chanLed Lhe flrsL words of Lhe
courLlng song 1he women Look up Lhe rhyLhm wlLh Lhelr hands on bronze gongs and hollowedouL
logsand everyone crowded around Lo see Allguyon mlmlc Lhe sLruL of a roosLer as he danced before
8ugan
ln Lrlumph he led her Lo hls faLher ln Pannanga and kneellng before AmLulao and
uumulao he crled C laLher! C MoLher! ?our enemy ln uallgdlgan ls no moreangalwan your enemy
no longer llved ln hls place ls angalwan Lhe faLherlnlaw of your only son Allguyon lf you love me
love Loo Lhe man whom your son promlsed Lo honor as Lhe faLher of hls wlfe 8ehold l have broughL
you my wlfe 8ugan of uallgdlgan Lhe lovely daughLer of angalwan l brlng her Lo you
laLher so LhaL someone can pound Lhe drled meaL for you when you are hungry l broughL her Lo you C
my moLher so LhaL someone can carry waLer Lo you when you wanL Lo drlnk
l desLroyed your enemy by maklng hlm a frlend 1herefore C laLher you can dle ln peace for we have
conquered hlm 8uL 8ugan conquered my hearL and wlLh her l can llve ln peace"
1hus dld peace come Lo AmLulao and uumulao 1hey llved Lo see 8ugan enrlch Lhelr llves wlLh several
grandchlldren CfLen AmLulao and uumulao were honored guesLs aL uallgdlgan ln Lhe house of
angalwan and as ofLen as Lhey vlslLed angalwan so ofLen dld he go Lo Pannanga Lo vlslL hls
grandchlldren and Lo Lalk of old Llmes wlLh AmLulao and uumulao

Laarni - A dream
Tell a story, my children? Yes, my dears, there is no better thing in the world than to corner
Grandmother on a rainy day like this and make her tell a story. When the sun is out and life
is warm, youth scarcely heeds old age; but when skies are grey and the day is cold, it seeks
a corner and demands a tale of love from old lips. I know my dears. I was young once, and I
did these things. I laughed and loved like you? You smile? You wonder how a face so
withered, a figure so bent could ever have known love? Ah me, the conceit of youth.
Close the window, my dears, the wind is cold - it chills my bones. Nearer, my dears, and
listen to a tale of love and fierce hearts. Don't smile and look at each other. It is not my
story I shall tell. It would be hard to efface the wrinkles from my face and imagine me
young and beautiful.
There, soften the glares of lights and turn them low. Now listen, my dears: You have heard
many tales and legends of other lands. You have been thrilled over stories of kings and
queens of faraway countries, but you never heard of such tales about this land of ours.
Listen, my dears, and I shall tell you a story of old Philippines - the story of old Laarni and
brave Maharlika.
Once, this country of ours was a vast wild space ruled by men who knew no law but their
wills. Your history tells you of rajas, of freemen and slaves. Among the rulers of the
barangays, none was more fierce, none more powerful than Maginoo Mataas. He was known
widely, not for his prowess nor for his wisdom, but for the beauty of his daughter, the
Princess Laarni. She was not called by the name of princess of course, but we shall give her
that name - she deserves it. Maginoo Mataas' barangay was bordered by the sea and by the
mountains, but these were naught compared to his daughter.
Ah, my dears, I am sure you would wish you had her beauty. Girls though you are, you
would have fallen in love with her ahd you seen her coming from her bath in one of her
father's rivers. Her hair trailing down her back was the night without stars; her eyes - no
deeper darkness could you find them, her lashes - thick enough to capture sunbeams and
keep them in her eyes; her mouth, my dears, adorable in its haughty curves, exquisite in its
crimson softness. Grace and beauty incarnate was this imperious daughter of Maginoo
Mataas.
You are murmuring, my dears? I am flowery? You laugh at the way I talk, products of this
cold, materialistic age, but you like what I say.
Many were the young men who had thrusts their spears into her father's staircase, asking
for her hand. But they asked in vain. They cold not offer anything to tempt Maginoo Mataas
to give up his daughter. Yearly, in the months of March and April, came trading junks from
China bringing silks and jewels to give to the fair Laarni. The owner of these junks,
Mandarin Li Ho Weng, came with his ships to pay court to Laarni, but even his wealth could
not tempt her father. Thus Laarni lived, her heart whole and free.
One afternoon, as she was wont to do she started with her slaves for the river to take her to
daily bath. She was in an irritated mood, for the heat could not be driven away by even
huge fans of the slaves. Now as she reached the river, she motioned them aside and they
cringed low before their angry mistress.
Laarni walked down the bank to her favorite spot. A surprised awaited her. A boat with a
solitary occupant sat lightly on the water. Laarni regarded the intruder haughtily. She saw a
very bronzed man in the garb of a freeman. The lordly air of his still figure matched her
imperious stare.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
"I am Maharlika," he answered.
" A maharlika?" she inquired, frowning.
"Yes, I am a freeman," he replied smiling.
"And I am known by the name of Maharlika to tell all that I am a freeman, slave to none but
myself. I am Maharlika, Princess Laarni," he repeated.
"You know me?" was Laarni's question.
"Who would not know you?" was his answer, "you most beautiful of creatures? Who has
not heard of you, most lovely of beings? I heard afar in my land across the mountains, and I
came to see the Princess Laarni. I saw her and she fired my blood; naught will satisfy me
till I have won her."
"Who are you that dare speak thus to me, Laarni, daughter of Rajah Mataas? Know you not
the penalty for such an offense is death?
"I know, most exquisite woman, and I dare," he answered unafraid, the quiet smile still on
his face.
"You dare!" she stamped her feet angrily.
Ah, my dears, the proud Laarni had never known such impudence. "You, a mere freeman, to
address me in that language, as if I were a slave! You, only a maharlika, daring to woo the
daughter of Rajah Mataas! You , a nobody, to transgress our laws and customs!"
"I am a freeman - a noble one," he answered equally proud. "I have a heart so I dare to
love; I have a tongue, so I dare speak."
Laarni could make no reply. Never in her life had she been treated that way. Her eyes
glittered with wrath and her voice trembled with great anger as she said, "My father shall
hear of this and his warriors will scour the rivers for you."
Maharlika brought his boat near the bank and then he jumped ashore. A splendid man he
was, my children. Laarni, even in her anger, could not help admiring the splendid cast of his
head and the easy swing of his powerful figure.
"I go to your father, Princess Laarni. I am an emissary of Rajah Bayani." Laarni recognized
in the name her father's greatest ally, who dwelt across the mountains.
At this moment a slave came running toward them. "Your father summons you," he told
Laarni. "The Chinese junks have arrived and with them comes Li Ho Weng." Laarni called
her slaves and walked away. When she reached her father's house she saw that Maharlika
had followed her. She climbed the bamboo staircase and paused for a moment to look back.
The young man had stopped and then raised the spear he was carrying and thrust it into the
staircase. Her father, lordly in his crimson silk robe, huge gold armlets, and jeweled
anklets, came out.
"Who is it that comes?" he asked loudly.
"Maharlika," the freeman answered. "I come to ask for the hand of Laarni for my master,
Rajah Bayani." Laarni fled to her chamber and vented her anger on her slaves. That man
there on the staircase had been entrusted to ask her for his master, and had dared address
his love to her.
That evening she was requested to appear before her father. "My daughter," he announced
gently, "two proposals have come today. One is from my most esteemed friend Rajah
Bayani, which I favor and hope you will accept. The other is from Li ho Weng. He has
renewed his suit this year and desires a definite answer. I cannot give my daughter to a
foreigner, rich though he may be."
"I don't want either of them," answered Laarni. "Rajah Bayani is old and has had many
wives. I loathe Li Ho Weng."
"You will have to become the bride of Rajah Bayani," decided her father, and he motioned
her away. Laarni retired in vexation to her chamber.
You appear incredulous, my children? It is only in your time that you can say "no" to your
elders. They were submissive in those days. Yes, my dears. I shall hasten on with the
story.
The days passed uneventfully. Maharlika was often with Maginoo Mataas, arranging the
dower. He attended the councils of the barangay and endeared himself to the heart of the
old man by his wisdom and courtesy. He did not speak to Laarni; but his eyes pleaded
eloquently. Try as she would, Laarni could not sufficiently hate the love - traitor.
One day Laarni was approached by a slave with a message. The Chinese junks leave on the
morrow, and she had not been on board. Would she deign to visit them that day? They had
brought their richest silks and satins this year, and they were waiting for her, so the slave
announced. Laarni decided to go. It had been always the custom of her people to go aboard
those junks and exchange their products of gold dust, wax and honey for goods brought by
the Chinese traders.
Laarni took only one slave with her. The Mandarin Li Ho Weng met her life as she went with
this stately Chinese trader. She looked at his gold - embroidered robe of heavy silk. She
would have plenty like those and jewels galore.
Laarni was lost in ecstasy at the goods brought before her. All the wealth of the East
seemed to spread out before her. She cried in admiration over a silk robe on which was
embroidered a pagoda and a garden. Flowers seemed to arch in life from the stems.
"Would you not like to dwell in such a palace, beautiful Princess Laarni?" asked the low
voice of Li Ho Weng. She was silent. "There is such a place waiting for you most gracious of
women," he continued.
Laarni shook her head and turned to go away, but Mandarin Li Ho Weng barred her away.
He smiled slyly. "I have waited of you all these days, but you did not come. Now that you
are here, shall I let you go?"
"Do you think that you can bear me away as if I were a piece of goods?" she questioned
haughtily. "My father can raise a thousand warriors at the flick of a hand."
The mandarin shrugged lightly, and motion caused the light to ripple over the gold
embroidery of his robe.
"Can your spears and arrows avail against those?" he asked as he pointed to little cannons
on the side of the junk. He came nearer to Laarni. "Across the seas where I dwell in a house
of gold and recline on a couch of silk, your beauty haunts me. Year after year, I have come,
seemingly to trade with your people, but it was a glimpse of the beautiful blossom of this
wild land. Year by year my love grew until I decided that I would have her, cost what it
might. You think all those junks are laden with goods? They are full of men and weapons."
A commotion cut short his speech. Two Chinese came dragging a wet Maharlika before
them. He looked defiantly at the master, glancing gently at Laarni.
"I heard all you said, thief of women."
The mandarin, lord of where he stood, looked contemptuously at him. "Who are you?" he
asked. Laarni could not help smiling. Everybody who saw Maharlika asked him that
question.
The captive drew himself up rapidly. "I am Maharlika, son of Rajah Bayani. My father died
just yesterday, so I am Rajah Maharlika." Laarni started in surprise, "I have come to take
the Princess Laarni," he announced with easy confidence.
The mandarin laughed contemptuously. "If you had not told me that, I should have freed
you." Now, the imperious mandarin gave an order to a shrunken, shriveled Chinese. The
latter disappeared and came back bearing a cage made of fine wire. Laarni shuddered. The
cage contained a snake - a cobra.
The mandarin regarded the snake for some time. A cruel, little smile was on his lips. "Touch
it," he commanded and the Chinese seemed to shrivel in to a wrinkled mass. Fear, ugly fear,
yellowed his seamed face.
"I cannot, I cannot, o heaven-born," he whined.
"Touch it," thundered the master.
"I cannot, I cannot, oh Celestial-being," he moaned in fright. The master drew a dagger
significantly. There was no alternative; the Chinese knew he would meet a more horrible
death if he disobeyed. With hands that trembled mightily, he opened the door of the cage
and thrust his hand. He pulled it out instantly with a terrible cry. He fell and rolled down
dead.
"You shall die like that," Li ho Weng told Maharlika grimly. Laarni made no protest; she
knew it would be useless. Beside there was a savage desire in her breast to see that
confident man tested.
Maharlika smiled at her, and then, without hesitation, he stepped near the cage and thrust
in his hand. How he did it, I do not know. As his hand emerged from the cage, it bore a
wriggling snake. It writhed fiercely and tried to reach the hand that choked it unmercifully.
Maharlika suddenly thrust it into the mandarin's face. A terrible cry arose from the
followers when they witnessed their master fall dead. But Maharlika kept them at the bay
with the snake he held.
"Jump, jump, and swim to the shore," he commanded Laarni. "My men are coming and they
will rescue you." A few minutes later he was splashing beside her. No men came, and
together they reached the shore safely.
"Thrust your spear into my father's staircase," she whispered before she was led away by
her frightened slaves. "Thrust it for yourself, and you will not thrust in vain."
There my dear, is the story of the winning of the beautiful Laarni. You don't believe such
things happened in those days? Age confuses dreams with memories - I do not know. But
who can tell - love always exists at all times and in all climes.