*Note this story is in Tagalog
Tinitigan ni Migo ang kanyang takdang-aralin sa heograpiya at hindi niya malaman ang gagawin niya; masyadong maraming kailangang kabisaduhin at hindi sapat ang oras para rito. Sigurado siyang babagsak siya sa pagsusulit.
“Kapag nagbabasa ka ng mapa, hindi lang mga pangalan at lugar ang mahahanap mo.” Sabi ng lolo niya mula sa kanyang likuran. “Lolo! Huwag mong gawin iyan, natakot ako sa iyo!” Tumawa si Lolo Abay, madalas siyang magbiro nang ganito sa kanyang mga apo.
“Heto, ipapakita ko sa iyo.” Kinuha ni Lolo Abay ang mapa at inilapag niya ito sa hapag kainan. “May mga bagay na hindi na itinuturo sa inyong mga bata sa paaralan ngayon.”
“Ano ang lugar na ito?” Tumuro si Lolo Abay sa isang bahagi ng Luzon.
“Pangasinan?” Hindi sigurado si Migo, pero alam niyang naroon banda iyon. “Tama. Ngayon, ano ang kuwento tungkol sa kabundukang iyon?” Masinsinan siyang tinitigan ni Lolo Abay. “Hindi ko alam, pero halos sigurado akong sasabihin mo sa akin.” Tinitigan din ni Migo ang kanyang lolo. “Tama ka rin diyan.”
“Matagal na panahon na ang nakalipas, naiwala ng higanteng si Añgalo ang kanyang alagang baboy at naglakbay siya sa isla ng Luzon. Noong naroon siya sa bahaging iyon, waring nakita niya ang baboy sa Cagayan malapit sa Cape Engaño. Naglakad siya at tinahak ang kabundukan, at sa huli ay natuklasan niyang isang malaking tumpok ng itim na putik lang pala ang kanyang nakita.” Ngumiti si Lolo Abay.
“Teka, ano’ng kinalaman niyon sa heograpiya?” Tanong ni Migo. “Noong tinahak ni Añgalo ang kabundukan, nawasak ito sa ilalim ng kanyang mga yabag at naroon pa rin ang bakas ng kanyang kanang paa sa kabundukan ng Cagayan at Pangasinan, at matatagpuan naman ang bakas ng kanyang kaliwang paa malapit sa Cordilleras,” sagot ni Lolo Abay.
“Salamat sa kuwento, lolo, pero hindi iyon ang paksa ng takdang-aralin ko.” Binawi ni Migo ang mapa at inilapag niya ito sa tabi ng kanyang laptop. “Hindi ko alam kung paano ako matutulungan niyon sa pagsusulit ko.”
“Ang buhay ay hindi tungkol sa mga pagsusulit,” sabi ni Lolo Abay sa kanyang apo.
“Para ito sa mga taong kailangang magsagot ng pagsusulit,” sagot ni Migo.
Tumawa si Lolo Abay. Dati pa niyang batid na magiging matalino si Migo, kahit noong sanggol pa ang kanyang apo. “Aba sige, maiwan na kita diyan sa pag-aaral mo, pero pakatandaan mo, lahat ng lugar ay may kuwento, kahit hindi mo pa naririnig ito.”
Hinintay ni Migo na makalabas sa kuwarto ang kanyang lolo, saka siya tumitig sa kanyang computer. Sinimulan niyang hanapin ang mga lugar na kailangan niyang kabisaduhin para sa kanyang takdang-aralin, at napagtanto niyang tama ang kanyang lolo.
Maaari pa pala siyang makapasa sa kanyang pagsusulit.
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English Version
Migo, started to stare at his geography homework and he didn’t know what to make of it, too many things to memorize and not enough time. He was going to fail the test, he was sure of it.
“When you read a map, names and places aren’t the only things that you can find.” His lolo said from behind him. “Lolo! Don’t do that, you scared me!” Lolo Abay laughed, he was always playing those kinds of tricks on his grandchildren.
“Here, let me show you.” Lolo Abay took the map and set it on the kitchen table. “There are some things they don’t teach you kids at school anymore.”
“What is this place?” Lolo Abay pointed to an area in Luzon.
“Pangasinan?” Migo was unsure, but it should be in that area. “Correct,” now what is the story about those mountains?” Lolo Abay stared intently at him. “I don’t know but I’m pretty sure you’re going to tell me.” Migo stared back. “Also correct.”
“A long time ago the giant, Añgalo, lost his pet pig and went around the island of Luzon. He was in that area when he thought he saw the pig in Cagayan near Cape Engaño. He walked across the mountains only to find that what he was looking at was nothing but a pile of black mud.” Lolo Abay smiled.
“Wait, what does that have to do with geography?” Migo asked. “When Añgalo crossed the mountains, they crumbled beneath his feet and the mountains of Cagayan and Pangasinan still have the footprint of his right foot and his left footprint can be seen near the Cordilleras,” Lolo Abay replied.
“Thanks for the story, lolo, but that wasn’t the topic of my homework.” Migo took back the map and set it down by his laptop. “I don’t know how that’s going to help me with my quiz.”
“Life isn’t about quizzes,” Lolo Abay said to his grandson.
“They are for those who have to take them,” Migo replied.
Lolo Abay laughed. He always knew that Migo was going to be clever, even when his grandson was a baby. “Well I’ll leave you to your studies, but remember, every place has a story, even if it you don’t hear it.”
Migo waited until his lolo left the room and stared at his computer. He started looking up the places that he had to memorize for his homework and he realized his lolo was right.
Maybe he would pass the test after all.
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Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Dyanne A
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Dyanne A
Inspired by ‘Some Fragments of the Añgalo Legend’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.
Añgalo Illustration and Watercolor by Marc Magpantay