*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://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/pft/index.htm

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Ito ay isang kuwento mula sa unang panahon.

Noong mga panahong iyon, ang budhi ng mga tao ay maitim at puno ng inggit at pagmamaliit.

Sa isang lugar na tinatawag na Talubin, mayroong dalawang magkapatid, isang mayaman at isang dukha. Nangaso isang araw ang kapatid na dukha at hinabol niya at ng kanyang mga aso ang kanilang biktima patungo sa ilog. Nang isaksak niya ang kanyang sibat sa tinutugis, sumisid ito sa tubig at sumunod ang mangangaso.

Bigla siyang napunta sa isang kakatwang daigdig, isang daigdig na labis siyang natakot.

Dagdag pa sa kanyang pagkabalisa, nilapitan siya ng diwata ng Kasanaan, si Ob-obanan, na ang pangalan ay nangangahulugang putting buhok.

Kinompronta ng diwata ang mangangaso, sinasabing siya raw ang ang nagnanakaw ng mga baboy at kalabaw nito sa mga nagdaang taon.

Itinanggi ito ng mangangaso at sinabing hindi siya mangangaso.

Doon, ipinakita ng diwata sa mangangaso ang sibat niya, at sinabing sa kanya ata ang sibat.

Mabilis mag-isip, sabi ng mangangaso na pinapaliguan niya ang kanyang anak sa may lanaw. Nagmakaawa siya sa diwata na hayaan siyang makitang muli ang kanyang anak.

Nang narinig ito ni Ob-obanan, pinalapit nito ang mangangaso. Kumuha ito ng pambalo at dinikdik ang isang di-malamang bagay. Habang takot na nanonood ang mangangaso, nakita niya na ang puwit nito ay tumutugon kasabay ng pagdidikdik nito.

Tinanong ng diwata kung bakit hindi siya tumatawa, sapagkat hindi ba’t katawa-tawa ang kanyang ginagawa?

Sumagot ang mangagaso na nag-aalala pa rin siya sa kanyang anak.

Sinabihan naman ni Ob-obanan ng mangangaso na alisin ang lisa mula sa buhok nito. Nakita ng mangangaso na ang lisang tinutukoy nito ay mga langgam, alupihan, at iba pang peste na ngayo’y kaaway na ng sangkatauhan. Inalis niya ang mga ito sa buhok ni Ob-obanan, at hinagis sa likod niya.

Namangha ang diwata at ngumiti.

Binigyan niya ang mangangaso ng parihabang sisidlan na tinahi mula sa ratan. Sinabihan siya ng diwata na dalhin ito sa bangan at sa sumunod na araw, isagawa ang isang ritwal na tinatawag na cañao ng isang baka at limang manok para kay Ob-obanan. Ito ay upang magdala ng kasaganaan sa kanyang pamilya. Binalaan siya nito na huwag na huwag bubuksan ang sisidlan at sa tuwing gagawin niya ang cañao ng manok at baboy, na dapat ilagay niya ang apdo at taba sa ibabaw.

At sa isang iglap, napunta siya sa tabing-ilog, binabati ng kanyang mga aso.

Alinsunod sa panuto ng diwata, hiniram niya ang isang baka mula sa kanyang mayamang kapatid para sa cañao at sa sumunod na pagsikat ng araw, nagsimula ang ritwal. Inanyayahan ang lahat ng kanyang kamag-anak sa salusalo na tumagal ng buong araw.

Nang sinuri ang lamang-loob ng mga ibong pangseremonya, maganda ang mga pangitain, sa kabila ng pangungutya ng mayamang kapatid sa nangyayari.

Hindi nakalimutan ng mangangaso ang mga sinabi ng diwata.

Lumipas ang mga taon at ang palay sa bangan ng mangangaso ay laging puno. Tinanong ng mayamang kapatid kung paano ito nangyari.

Doon na ikinuwento ng mangangaso sa kanyang kapatid ang karanasan niya sa Kasanaan.

Subalit hindi ikinuwento ng mangangaso ang buong kuwento, bilang paghihiganti sa kayabangan ng mayamang kapatid, at ang sinabi ng mangangaso ay kabaligtaran ng mga ginawa niya nang nakaharap ang diwata.

Sabik na sabik, hiniram kinabukasan ng mayamang kapatid ang mga aso ng kanyang kapatid at nangaso. Natagpuan niya ang isang malaking lalaking usa sa parehong lanaw mula sa kuwento ng kapatid niya, at lumundag siya kasunod ng biktima.

Natagpuan ng mayamang kapatid ang sarili sa tuyong lupa at kaharap ang diwatang puti ang buhok.

Ipinakita ni Ob-obanan sa kanya ang sibat niya at inamin ng mayamang kapatid na kanya ito.

Tapos, pinalapit siya nito upang panoorin itong magdikdik gamit ang pambalo. Nakita niya ang pulang puwit nito na tumutugon sa pagdikdik at tumawa siya nang tumawa, hanggang sumakit ang tagiliran.

Pinakiusapan siya ng diwata na alisin ang mga lisa nito, ngunit sabi niya na gawin na lang nito mag-isa sapagkat napagod siya kakatawa.

Nagdilim ang mukha ni Ob-obanan. Kinagat nito ang labi at nagbigay ng isang sisidlang kawangis sa ibinigay nito sa kanyang kapatid.

Sinabihan siya nito na iuwi ito at dalhin lahat ng miyembro ng pamilya niya sa bangan pagpatak ng hatinggabi. Sabi nito na kapag nakasara na ang pinto, maaari na niyang buksan ang sisidlan upang makita ang kanyang gantimpala.

Nang wala man lang pasasalamat, sinunod ng mayamang kapatid ang panuto ng diwata.

At pinakawalan ang peste.

Nang mabuksan ang sisidlan, lahat ng insekto at mga reptil ay nakawala at nilamon lahat ng tao sa bangan.

Magmula noon, ang mga peste ay nanatili bilang parusa sa bisyo ng sangkatauhan.

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English Version

This is a story from the beginning of the world.

In those times the morals of humans were corrupted and there was much bitterness and contempt.

There lived two brothers in the place called Talubin, one rich and one poor. The poor brother went hunting one day and he and his dogs chased their prey to the river. When he planted his spear in his quarry it dived into the water and the hunter followed.

Suddenly he was transported to a strange world, one where he was badly frightened.

To add to his confusion, he was approached by the goddess of the underworld, Ob-obanan, whose name means white hair.

The goddess confronted the hunter saying that he was the one who had been stealing her pigs and carabaos all these years.

The hunter denied the goddess and said that he was no hunter.

To that, the goddess showed the hunter his spear, and said that the spear should be his.

The hunter, thinking quickly said that he was bathing his boy by the pond. He pleaded with the goddess to let him see his boy again.

Hearing this, the Ob-obanan beckoned the hunter to come near her. She took a pestle and began pounding an unknown thing. As the hunter watched in dread he saw that her rectum reacted in unison with her pounding.

The goddess asked why he did not laugh, for wasn’t her action laughable?

The hunter answered that he was still worried about his boy.

Ob-obanan then said to the hunter to remove the lice from her hair. The hunter saw that the lice she was talking about were ants, centipedes and other vermin that are now man’s enemies. He removed them from her hair, tossing them behind him.

The goddess was impressed and began to smile.

She gave the hunter a rectangular bamboo basket woven from rattan. The goddess instructed him to bring it to his granary and on the next day perform a ritual called the cañao of one cow and five chickens for her. This was to bring prosperity to his family. She warned him never to open the basket and that every time he would perform a cañao of chickens and pigs that he should put the gall bladder and the fatty portions on top.

And in an instant, he was transported to the river bank, greeted by his dogs.

Following the goddess’ instructions, he loaned a cow for the cañao from his rich brother, and on the next sunrise the ritual began. All of his relatives were invited to the feast which lasted the whole day.

When the entrails of the ceremonial fowls were inspected, the omens were agreeable, despite the rich brother’s mockery of the situation.

The hunter never forgot the goddess’ words.

The years passed and the palay (rice) in the hunter’s granary was always full. The rich brother asked the hunter how could this be.

It was then that the hunter told his brother about his adventure in the underworld.

The hunter did not tell the whole story though, as retaliation for the rich brother’s arrogance, the hunter told the opposite of his actions when faced with the goddess.

In a state of anticipation, the next day the rich brother borrowed his brother’s dogs and went hunting. He found a great stag at the same pond from his brother’s story and dived after the prey.

The rich brother found himself on dry land and was faced with the white-haired goddess.

Ob-obanan showed him his spear and the rich brother admitted it was his.

Then, she beckoned him to watch her pound with her pestle. He saw her red rectum reacting to the pounding and laughed so hard his sides ached.

The goddess then asked him to remove her lice, but he told her to do it herself as he was tired from laughing.

Ob-obanan’s countenance became menacing. She bit her lips and gave a basket that was identical to the one she gave his brother.

She told him to take it home and bring all the members of his family to the granary at midnight. She said that when the door is closed he may open the basket to find his reward.

Without even a word of thanks the rich brother followed her instructions.

And unleashed the vermin.

Once the basket was opened, all manner of insects and reptiles were set loose and they devoured all the humans in the granary.

From then on, these pests remained as punishment for man’s vices.

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Retold from The Origin of the First Insects and Reptiles, EC Almendral, “Talulbin Folklore” (1972), found in Philippine Folk Lliterature: The Myths edited by Damiana Eugenio

Illustration by Pam Isleta