Story abridged from NOGOYAGEY AND THE SHRIMP in Tiruray Tales by Fernando Trecero (1977)
There was once a boy named Nogoyagey whose parents died when he was small and he lived with his uncle’s family.
On one occasion the members of his family scolded him so much Nogoyagey fled to the forest. There, he fished in a mountain creek. He caught a small shrimp which he put in a coconut shell with water. When the sun began to set he prepared to go home. When he saw his shrimp he was surprised to see it had grown. He kindled a fire and was about to put the shrimp into it when it began to speak.
“Don’t eat me because I will make you famous.” Nogoyagey said, “how can you do that?”
The shrimp told him to make another hole for him by the creek and to place it there and to go home. Then Nogoyagey should prepare for a long journey.
The next day the shrimp had grown to an unbelievable size, big enough that Nogoyagey could ride it. The shrimp said that it was going to the sea on a long journey. There was nothing left for him with his family so he joined the shrimp on its journey.
The trail that the shrimp chose went through a big mountain. The mountain was inhabited by a huge wild boar called Tokol-noñgo. It was so big that its tusks were as big as the horns of a carabao. It was responsible for the killing of the people of Tenuwe, a village at the foot of the mountain.
On the third day of their journey Nogoyagey and the shrimp reached Tenuwe – no living soul was present in the village. Nogoyagey saw a togo (Musical instrument) and was about to beat it when a maiden jumped out of it and cried.
She introduced herself as Funguson, daughter of the leader of the village. She had hidden in the togo away from Tokol-noñgo.
The shrimp then told Nogoyagey that it was time to avenge his people. The shrimp told him to take Dikalawanan, a kris, from its armpit. As he took the kris, Nogoyagey felt his whole frame tremble as a strange power, like a magic spell, engulfed him.
The shrimp then told Nogoyagey to beat the togo and to Funguson to keep still in the togo.
It had only been a few moments after the beating of the togo that Tokol-noñgo, bigger than any of the buildings, appeared.
The pig rushed towards Nogoyagey, but the youth was ready and was in several places at the same time. The pig tried to rush the shrimp but Nogoyagey met it with a stroke that sent it across seven hills and seven valleys. This was not the end as the boar rushed back in a moment. It concentrated its attack on Nogoyagey missed blows centered around Tokol-noñgo as the beast was incredibly fast, so fast that Nogoyagey had to use his reflexes.
The fight went on for several days. Nogoyagey could not pierce Tokol-noñgo’s invulnerability. The shrimp told Nogoyagey to strike at the shadow of the pig, and in that way it could be killed. Nogoyagey followed the shrimp’s instructions and was able to kill the pig.
When Nogoyagey opened its stomach and saw many human bones. HE took oil that the shrimp gave and sprinkled it and in place of the bones stood the people of Tenuwe.
Funguson met with her parents and Nogoyagey and the shrimp were hailed as heroes. The following day the youth and the shrimp continued on their journey, to the protest of Funguson and the villagers.
Nogoyagey said it was a journey which would help humanity.
They travelled for ten days and came to the sea, there they rested to recover their strength.
The shrimp said it was going to the sea to fight the monstrous fish Tandayag. Nogoyagey asked why the shrimp would fight Tandayag, and the shrimp said it killed its parents.
The shrimp made Nogoyagey promise, whatever happens, to use Dikalawanan to sever its head.
For days Nogoyagey neither saw nor heard from his friend then on the third day a spectacle appeared. The sea rose on its shore as if in a tidal wave. In the middle of the sea the shrimp was being tossed into the air then a mountain of fish being tossed by the shrimp. This went on for many days.
About five days later Nogoyagey saw the huge Tandayag lying on its side, dead with several gashes on its thick hide. Further on he saw the mangles corpse of his friend.
Remembering the shrimp’s request, he unsheathed the kris and severed the shrimp’s head. Suddenly a mighty whirlwind gathered itself upon the shrimp and lifted it to the air, higher until Nogoyagey could not see it anymore.
As he was leaving, he heard a laughter in the air and turning he saw a couple on the handkerchief, an old man and a young woman.
The old man introduced his daughter Futli and said that Nogoyagey had been faithful to her and she was given as his wife.
The old man explained that Futli was the shrimp. A wicked woman who later turned into Tandayag killed her parents and cursed Futli to become a shrimp. It was only by fighting Tandayag and by Nogoyagey’s faith in her that the spell was broken. Had Futli survived the fight she could have had the power to stay on earth with ke-ilawan (mortals).
Futli continued on saying that Dikalawanan had given Nogoyagey the power to come with them to the golden earth. Nogoyagey also had the power to come back to earth any time he wanted.
Nogoyagey decided to go as Futli’s husband, the three rode on the handkerchief which took them to the Golden Earth in the east. There Nogoyagey met his deceased mother and father and other relatives, all of which lived, even to this day.
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Summarized by Karl Gaverza
