The Legend of Bernardo Carpio

According to one version of the tale, Bernardo Carpio was a son of Infante Jimena and Don Sancho Díaz of Cerdenia. The Infante was cloistered by her brother King Alfonso, who at that time was very powerful, because of her forbidden love with Don Sancho. Don Sancho was incarcerated, and his eyes were to be plucked out. Bernardo was left to the care of Don Rubio, who divulged the love affair.

The Spanish hired a local engkantado  and conspired to trap Carpio through supernatural means. Calling for a parley, they lured him towards a cave in the mountains of Montalban. The engkantado used his agimat , and Bernardo Carpio was caught between two boulders which the shaman had caused to grind each other. The legend says he was not killed, but was trapped between these two boulders, unable to escape because the talisman's power was as great as his own strength.

 When Carpio's allies arrived at the cave to rescue him, they were blocked from the cave by a series of cave ins that killed several of them.

 People soon surmised that whenever an earthquake happens, it is caused by Bernardo Carpio trying to free himself from the mountain

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This story happen inside the Philippines, on a province but it didn't tell specifically where. It happen during the Spanish period. What I've learned in this story is that we should never be against anyone's freedom especially to love. But human freedom also has limitations.

~Josh Simon Go~

Maria Makiling

Mariang Makiling is said to be the mysterious fairy guarding Mount Makiling. No one knows how old she is. It is believed she is as old as the mountain itself. The very few people who have seen her wandering around the thick forest of Makiling say she is tall and graceful, with brown skin, deep black eyes, and hair almost touching the ground. Deer hunters have seen her standing on the edge of a cliff on moonlit nights, with her long hair floating in the air and her singing echoing throughout the deep valleys.

Mariang Makiling likes to appear after a storm. She strolls around the woods to straighten broken trunks, replace nests on the branches of trees, mend the wings of butterflies, and clear the streams of fallen twigs and logs. As she walks around, all signs of the storm disappear; roses and orchids bloom, birds chirp with glee, and deer run around once again.

Mariang Makiling is also known to have a good heart. She would appear as a young girl to help old women gather firewood. She would then slip gold nuggets, coins, and jewels into their bundles of wood. She would also invite tired hunters to her home where she will serve them a warm meal and cold drinks. She often gives them a small parting gift of ginger, which hunters discover to have turned into gold when they arrive home.

Many of those who were granted Mariang Makiling’s generosity knows well how to repay her kindness. They thus leave on the grounds of Mount Makiling a hen that is less than one year old and with feathers as white as milk. White hens are her favourite treats.

Mariang Makiling has often appeared as an old woman begging for food from hunters. She does this to test their kindness to those in need. People who refuse to help her are chased away from the forest with the sound of howling monsters hiding in the shadows of the woods.

As time went by people saw less of Mariang Makiling. She no longer appears to people to bring them gifts of gold and jewels. Hunters have no one to turn to when they are hungry and thirsty.

Many blame Mariang Makiling’s disappearance from the forest on the people who do not return her generosity. Others say that the cutting of trees and excessive hunting of wild animals have greatly disappointed Mariang Makiling that she refuses to come out anymore. But the tale of the mysterious fairy of Mount Makiling lives on.

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The Legend of Maria Makiling happen in the land of Laguna, during the Spanish era. I really love this story because we can learn a lot of moral lessons from here. One is we should not be jealous of the things that you don't have. Make it an inspiration for you to work harder. Also, learn to accept decisions of others even though it is not good for you. As long as there is nothing bad about it. And last, we should learn to tell the truth and to thank people for the good things that they did for us. But of course, we should not blame the world as the reason of our sadness.

~Danah Louise Llave~

Why is the Sea Salty?

One day, the ocean was very agitated and the people could not go to the giant's island for some salt, the days passed by and the sea was still very rough, eventually they ran out of salt for their food and started to find a way to go and get it. A child gave them the idea to ask the gentle giant to stretch one of his legs so they could cross the ocean and get the salt they needed.
The giant accepted the idea, but when he stretched his leg, he didn't notice that landed on an anthill. This made the ants furious and started to bite the poor giant's leg, the giant, in pain, asked the people to hurry.
As soon as the people made it to the other side, the giant gave them sacks full of salt. When they were done the giant stretched his leg one more time, landing, again on the anthill.

The giant in more pain than before, begged to the people to hurry because the ants were biting him again, but the sacks were so heavy that slowed down the people. Sadly before the people were able to reach their own village, the giant in a scream of pain moved his leg to the ocean so the ants won't bite him anymore, throwing the people and the sacks of salt in it.
The giant saw the people drowning and in a quick move save them, but the salt melted in the ocean, that at that time didn't have any taste, making it salty.
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The story didn't say any clues or ideas where the story  happen, but its a fantasy because there are no humans as big as a bridge. This story taught me that if I am asking a favor for someone, I should also learn to help that person.
~Luiz Agno~

The Legend of Mango

Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Ben who had a wonderful heart. He is the son of Maria and Juan. Ben’s a kind and helpful young lad who was nurtured well by his parents who have good hearts as well.
One day, Ben saw a very old beggar and he took pity on him. So, Ben decided to invite the old beggar into their humble home and he cooked food and fed the old beggar until he could not eat anymore. Ben was not a rich boy but that did not stop him from helping this old beggar by serving him with the type of food that Ben’s family could only afford. After a sumptuous meal, the beggar thanked the young lad and bade him farewell.
On another day, while Ben was looking for fire woods, he passed by an old man who was also very hungry. Ben took pity on him once more and without a doubt in his mind, he invited the old man back to their home and gave him food and some clothes that his father does not use anymore. Ben’s parents were happy that they have a son who has a heart of gold like Ben.
Unfortunately, the time came that Ben suddenly got very ill. His parents were troubled and didn’t know what to do. But despite that, they persisted to have their son treated but to no avail, Ben died. His parents mourned over the loss of their only son. The next day, after Ben’s death, a beautiful fairy came to Ben’s wake and talked to his parents. She asked them to give her Ben’s heart. They agreed and gave it to her. The fairy then flew away and in a mountain, she dug and buried Ben’s dead heart. It then turned into a fruit-bearing tree whose fruits were in the shape of a heart and whose taste was so sweet. People were amazed upon discovering this new type of fruit and when they tasted it they were happy as it’s the sweetest fruit they have ever tasted.
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This story was sad because the Ben died. This story taught me that kindness that you show to others will be repaid maybe not by those people but by God.


~Martin Lobos~

The Cycle of the Moon and the Sun

Once upon a time the Sun and the Moon were married, and they had many children who were the stars. The Sun was very fond of this children, but whenever he tried to embrace any of them, he was so hot that he burned them up. This made the Moon so angry that finally she forbade him to touch them again, and he was greatly grieved.
One day the Moon went down to the spring to do some washing, and when she left she told the sun that he must not touch any of their children in her absence. When she returned, however, she found that he had disobeyed her, and several of the children in had perished.She was very angry, and picked up a banana tree to strike him , where upon he threw sand in her face, and to this day you can see the dark marks on the face of the Moon.Then the Sun started to chase her, and they have been going ever since. Sometimes he gets so near that he almost catches her, but she escapes, and bay and bay she is far ahead again.
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Don't fight nor hurt each other because you're still a creation. don't disobey you're partner because that is the cause of fighting and turning to divorce.

~Danikka Villarena~                                          

The Legend of Mayon Volcano

In the golden days, there lived in Ibalon a lovely maiden named Daragang Magayon. Daragang Magayon’s beauty attracted many suitors from different tribes. Among them was the haughty Pagtuga, the great hunter and powerful chieftain from Iriga, who courted her by lavishing her father with fabulous gifts. But Daragang Magayon did not love Pagtuga. She had given her heart to Panganoron, the brave son of Rajah Karilaya of the far-off tagalog region. He had saved her from death in the river one morning. She had gone to bathe in the Yaw River which was stolen after a night of heavy rain. Balancing herself on the stones, she slipped and fell into the water. She did not know how to swim, and she would have been carried away by the swift current had Panganoron not come to her rescue. He happened to be passing by, and when he heard the maidens frantic cry for help, he plunged into the river. In an instant, he was at her side. Then, he tenderly carried the frightened girl to dry land. Not long after, he spoke to her of his love. Daragang Magayon shyly admitted that she had also fallen in love with him. This gave the youth courage to thrust his spear at the foot of the stairs of Rajah Makusog’s house. Makusog gave the couple his blessings. With great joy, Panganoron left for home to prepare for the wedding. So Daragang Magayon was brought before Pagtuga. Told that Makusog would to be put to death if Daragang Magayon refused to be Pagtuga’s bride, she tearfully consented to marry him. Then they got married seven days after. Learning of this sudden turn of events, Panganoron abandoned his own wedding preparation and hastily returned to Rawis with his brave warriors. In the battle that ensued, Panganoron slew Pagtuga. But while Magayon was rushing joyously to meet her beloved, a stray arrow caught her at the back.  As Panganoron held the dying maiden in his arms, he was struck dead by a spear hurled by Linog, Pagtuga’s henchman. Seeing this, Makusog rushed at Linog and killed him with his minasbad. Thus, what would have been a joyful occasion became a day of mourning as the people buried their dead. Raja Makusog himself dug the grave where he tenderly laid the bodies of the lovers. Days after, the people saw the grave rise. As it grew higher, muffled rumblings and quakes attended it. Then it spewed at red-hot boulders from its crater. Even now, it does so from time to time. Old folks explain the phenomenon as Pagtuga, aided by Linog, agitating the volcano to retrieve his gifts, which, following ancient custom, were buried with Magayon. On certain days, when the tip of the volcano is shrouded and mist in cloud, the old folks say that Panganoron is kissing Magayon. When afterwards rain trickles down the mountain slopes, they say that the raindrops are Panganorons tears as he cries over his lost love.
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The story happened in Albay. The lesson from this story is that we should avoid being jealous because this would lead us to evil.


~Desiree Abion~