*Note this story is in Tagalog
Sa mga abo ng Bundok Bita, nakatayo si Sulayman, buo ang loob. Dinaanan niya ang mga bahay na walang laman at napuno ng lungkot ang kanyang puso. Mayroong mga laruan ngunit walang mga bata, mayroong mga sakahan, ngunit walang nag-aalaga, mayroong mga pamilya rito minsan.
Subalit wala na.
Sinumpa ni Sulayman ang langit. Magbabayad ang hayop na may gawa nito. Dumilim ang langit at tila tutuparin ang kanyang hiling.
Si Pah ang ikatlo.
Natakpan ang langit ng dambuhalang hugis ng isang malaking ibon, hindi tulad ng kahit anong nakita na. Mabilis si Sulayman, binunot ang espada at nagawang matamaan ang pakpak nito. Bumagsak ang malaking ibon patungo kay Sulayman, at naiwasan niya ang dambuhalang katawan nito, subalit nakalimutan niya ang pakpak na kanyang pinutol. Pinisa ng bahaging iyon ng hayop si Sulayman at tatapusin na sana ang kanyang paglalakbay.
Subalit may kasunod pa.
Nagdurusang pinanood ni Haring Indarapatra ang maliit na puno sa kanyang bintana nalanta at namatay. Naaalala niya ang araw na ang kanyang kapatid, si Sulayman, ay naglayag patungo sa Mindanao. Inulit niya ang mga salitang binigkas nang umalis si Sulayman: “Sa pamamagitan ng punong ito malalaman ko ang iyong kapalaran. Kung mabubuhay ka, mabubuhay ito, kung mamamatay ka, mamamatay rin ito.”
Napuno ng paghihiganti ang puso ni Haring Indarapatra. Tinipon niya ang kanyang ari-arian, kasama na ang kanyang pinakapinagkakatiwalaang espada at naglayag upang hanapin ang kanyang kapatid.
Gaya ni Sulayman, naglakbay siya sa himpapawid at natagpuan ang sarili sa bundok na tinutubuan ng ratan. Nakita niya ang bakas ng pagwagi ng kanyang kapatid laban sa Kurita. Nagkalat ang mga buto ng halimaw sa paligid at napuno siya ng pagmamalaki.
Sunod ang Bundok Matutun. Nakita niya lahat ng kailangan niyang malaman sa nabubulok na bangkay ng Tarabusaw. Tigang pa rin ang kapaligiran, ngunit hindi na muling makakapanakit ng kahit sino ang halimaw. Nagpatuloy sa paglalakbay si Haring Indarapatra at ginambala ang kanyang isip ng imahen ng mga halimaw.
Ang napakaraming pagkamatay dulot ng mga nilalang na ito ay nababanggit sa mga malayong lupalop, inaabot kahit ang kanyang korte sa lupa ng gintong dapithapon. Si Haring Indarapatra ang nagmakaawa kay Sulayman na tawirin ang dagat at linisin ang lupa ng Mindanao sa mga hayop na ito.
Pinili ni Sulayman na pumunta sa malayong lupa at ipaghiganti ang kaniyang mga tao, totoo iyon. Subalit nakaramdam si Haring Indarapatra ng pagsisisi na dinala niya ang kanyang kapatid sa tiyak na kamatayan.
Pinalayas niya ang mga kaisipang ito nang papalapit na siya sa Bundok Bita.
Nakahandusay sa lupa ang katawan ng malaking ibon na si Pah. Napansin niya ang putol na pakpak ng ibon at iniangat ito, at natagpuan ang mga buto ng kanyang kapatid. Nagluksa si Haring Indarapatra para sa dugo ng kanyang kadugo, at nilamon siya ng dalamhati.
Sinagot ng langit ang tahimik niyang dasal. Pagtingala niya, nakakita siya ng maliit na garapong puno ng tubig. Alam na kung anong dapat niyang gawin, ibinuhos niya ang tubig sa mga buto ni Sulayman at muling nabuhay ang kanyang kapatid.
Napuno ng saya ang bundok nang magkasama muli ang magkapatid. Ipinaliwanag ni Sulayman na hindi siya tuluyang namatay, subalit natutulog lamang. Walang pakialam si Haring Indarapatra, napuno ang kanyang puso ng galak na buhay at nasa mabuting kalagayan ang kanyang kapatid.
Umuwi si Sulayman sa kanilang tahanan sa lupa ng gintong dapithapon, ngunit nanatili si Haring Indarapatra. Nais niyang tapusin ang sinimulan ng kanyang kapatid. Mayroon pa rin ang suliranin ng ikaapat na halimaw sa Bundok Gurayn.
Nagpaalam si Haring Indarapatra sa kanyang kapatid at hinasa ang espada. Sinumpa niya ang sinumpa rin ni Sulayman sa kanyang kaharian, at titiyakin niyang matutupad ito.
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English Version
Among the ashes of Mount Bita, Sulayman stood resolute. He passed the empty homes and his heart was filled with sadness. There were toys but no children, there were farms, but no one to tend them, there were families here once.
But no more.
Sulayman cursed at the sky. Whatever beast did this would pay. The sky darkened and seemed to grant his wish.
The third was Pah.
The sky was blotted out by the enormous frame of a great bird, like nothing that was ever seen before. Sulayman was quick, he drew his sword and managed to hit its wing. The great bird spiraled towards Sulayman, and he was able to dodge its massive body, but forgot about the wing he had cut off. That part of the beast crushed Sulayman and would have ended his journey.
But there was another.
King Indarapatra watched in agony as the sapling by his window withered and died. He recalled the day his brother, Sulayman, set forth on his journey to Mindanao. He mouthed the words that he said when Sulayman left: “By this tree I will know of your fate. If you will live, it will live, and if you die, it will die also.”
King Indarapatra’s heart was filled with revenge. He gathered his belongings, including his most trusted sword and went on a quest to find his brother.
Like Sulayman, he traveled through the air and found himself on the mountain where the rattan grew. He saw evidence of his brother’s victory against the Kurita. The bones of the monster littered the area and he was filled with pride.
Next was Mount Matutun. The rotting corpse of the Tarabusaw told him all he needed to know. The surrounding areas were still barren of life, but the monster would never be able to hurt anyone again. King Indarapatra continued on his journey and thoughts of the monsters plagued his mind.
The great deaths caused by these creatures were told of in faraway lands, even reaching his court in the land of the golden sunset. It was King Indarapatra that pleaded with Sulayman to cross the seas and rid the land of Mindanao of these great beasts.
It was Sulayman’s choice to go to the distant land and avenge her people, that much was true. But King Indarapatra felt a pang of guilt that he had lead his brother to certain death.
He shook those thoughts away as he approached mount Bita.
The body of the great bird Pah lay on the ground. He noticed the severed wing of the bird and lifted it up, revealing the bones of his brother. King Indarapatra wept for the blood of his blood, so consumed with grief was he.
The heavens replied with an answer to his silent prayer. As he looked up, he saw a small jar filled with water. Knowing what he must do, he poured the water over Sulayman’s bones and his brother lived again.
Joy filled the mountain as the brothers reunited. Sulayman explained that he was not completely dead, but sleeping. King Indarapatra didn’t care, he heart was filled with great happiness that his brother was alive and well.
Sulayman returned to their home in the land of the golden sunset, but King Indarapatra stayed. He wanted to finish what his brother started. There was still the matter of the fourth great beast on Mount Gurayn.
King Indarapatra bade his brother farewell and sharpened his sword. He swore the same oath that Sulayman did and upon his kingdom, he would see it fulfilled.
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Continued from the Tarabusaw’s tale
Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Adapted from “Mythology of Mindanao” in Philippine Folklore Stories. Cole. 1916. (Full text can be accessed at http://
