In a time long past, there was a kingdom in Negros ruled by a wise king named Laon. During a great deluge that caused the nearby river to overflow, The people, not knowing what
to do, pleaded with their king for aid. The regent brought together the people and told them to build a mound so big that the townsfolk would find a sanctuary there. The people said they had no tools to do this and Laon, with his magic, made spades and hoes appear.
Still, there was discontent. They wanted stones to build the mound. Once again, the king used his magic and he conjured up stones. The mound was built, reaching the pinnacle of the sky. There, the people waited until the water went away.
All was well until one day, a great commotion woke the king from his sleep. A giant serpent with seven heads was approaching the village. Its red eyes and smoking nose frightened the villagers. At night, the snake breathed fire, damaging crops and killing the animals around the village.
The snake was fast approaching and the king did not know what to do. Then, as if his prayers were answered, a young man appeared. His name was Kan and he declared that he would slay the snake.
When it was time to fight the serpent, Kan used his special skills. He knew how to speak to the animals and asked them for help. The winged beasts attacked the serpent’s eyes while the other brutes targeted its body. They gave Kan an opening and the young man sliced off the serpent’s heads. The heads were brought to the king and Kan was rewarded with gold and the princess’s hand in marriage.
Before King Laon passed, he told his people to give the kingdom to Kan. The mound that was the people’s sanctuary from the flood was called Kanlaon, reminding people of the story of the King and the man who could talk to beasts. *
“And there we end our story.”
Lola Anding closed the book and watched her grandchildren fall asleep. Rhai was her favorite, always asking questions. He would probably be a scholar in the future. Lola Anding hoped that she would live to see that.
She reflected on the tale she told the children. The legend of Mount Kanlaon was such a romantic story. A brave young man fighting off giant serpents, a magical king, the villagers building a mountain, and birds and beasts helping to fight evil. All these things made her grandchildren’s eyes light up in wonder.
She wondered what each child would take from the story. Rhai, of course, interrupted her a few times and asked her why things were the way they were.
“Why did the king have magic?”
“Why was Kan able to speak the languages of the animals?”
“How long did it take for the people to build the mound?”
His inquisitive spirit was so evident in his questions that she wondered if he would answer himself with his imagination.
Faye was afraid of the story. She clutched her stuffed crocodile tight when Lola acted out the part of cutting up the serpent’s heads. Poor girl; she just wanted everyone to be friends. She asked, “If Kan could speak to animals, why couldn’t he speak to the serpent to go and leave everyone alone?”
Fernando had shot back at her with his usual wit. “The serpent was evil and evil things must be dealt with!” He swung his toy sword around and Lola Anding sighed. One day he would poke an eye out with that thing. His single-mindedness was a sight to see. Lola Anding wondered how long he would view the world in black and white. She shook her head. “The child deserves his innocence,” she whispered to herself.
She tucked them all in and gave them each a kiss goodnight. They were off to fight their serpents in their dreams or, in Faye’s case, make friends with them.
Lola Anding smiled. She remembered the first time she heard this story from her grandfather. In those days it was hard to come by entertainment, so she looked forward to these stories with an open mind. And what did she get from it?
“In life, you will fight serpents, and you will have to overcome them with your gifts. Use what you were given to face your challenges and then you will be rewarded.”
She took those words to heart and never forgot what she fought for. Was it worth it? She looked at her sleeping grandchildren and gave a slight nod.
“Of course it was,” she whispered to herself.
Adapted from The Legend of Mt. Canlaon in Negros Oriental and Siquijor Island Legends, Beliefs and Folkways. Aldecoa-Rodriguez. 2000.
Kan’s Serpent Illustration by Paul Medalla
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