Magic Tales from Santo Tomas, Batangas by Aurora A. Hernandez, 1925

This page contains the complete transcription of the 1925 ethnographic paper written by one Aurora A. Hernandez from .jpeg scans of the originals made available by the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections. Corrections for grammar had been made in certain parts but no attempt was made to rewrite the original paper. Original pagination is indicated for citation purposes.

[Cover page.]

[p. 1]

Once upon a time in the province of Batangas, there lived a mother with her three daughters namely, Juana, the eldest, Petra, the next and Maria, the youngest. Juana was tall, proud and haughty, Petra was hot-tempered, but the youngest was young, beautiful and kindhearted. She was the pet of her mother and was loved by all her neighbors.

One day, the mother fell sick and the household needed some water. Maria being the most obedient and thoughtful girl, left to get some water from a neighboring spring. She was not able to go home early for no sooner had she been there when an old woman appeared and talked with her. Too good she was to leave the old woman and that she forgot the orders of her older sister. Later on, Juan fetched, scolded and even went as far as to land her some whip. The old woman vanished.

The next day came and it happened that they had no food in the house to eat. Their mother was sick and no one dared to leave the house to look for food. Maria pitying

[p. 2]

her mother left the house and was going to town to ask for food. On her way, she met the same old woman and said, “Maria, good morning.” Maria said, “Good morning, my good woman!”

The old woman asked her, “Where are you bound today and why do you look so distressed?” Maria replied, “I am going to town to get some food for my sick mother, but I have no money with me.” No sooner had these words left Maria’s mouth when the old woman said, “Here is your money and buy everything you want.” With the money given her, she bought many things for her sick mother. So, Maria went home loaded with things for the home. But the selfish and greedy sisters of hers shut her up in the room and gave her only crumbs of what she had bought. Poor Maria! She did not tell anything to her mother for this would only pain her. Even though the poor mother was not given of what was ought to do by the children. She was not well-taken care of. That night, the woman (mother) died and Maria was sick in bed. The two haughty sisters were then left to take care of their younger sister. They were happy for then it was their turn to punish Maria for her being loved by all. They disliked her so much that anytime they wanted her to die.

One day, Juana went to the spring to get some water. Near the spring, she saw an old woman. The old woman, after talking with Juana, asked her, “Where is Maria?” Juana replied

{p. 3]

“She is sick in the house.” The old woman immediately said words and food appeared. Then, Juana was advised to bring the food home and to take care of Maria. When Juana came home, Maria was calling and calling and asking for food. But the heartless and envious sister did not heed her calls. She did not even give her food. Maria was abandoned.

The next day, Juana went to the spring again and met the same old woman. The old woman asked her if she had taken care of Maria and she said that she did. The old woman knew that Juana was lying and to prove if she would tell a lie again, she gave her three peas to be given to Maria. Juana promised to give the peas to Maria, but on arriving home, she did not tell it to Maria. She hid the peas in her knot. The following day, Juana went to the spring again and was given five peas now. These peas had the same fate with the others. When next day came, she was met by the old woman and asked her if she had given Maria the peas. She said that she did. The old woman now lost her temper and then said, “You have not told me any truth, and for that you will be punished. From now on, you shall be found floating in the waters of the lakes and seas as a white flower with some violet spots and violet pistils.” There, the old woman struck Juana with her cane and later Juana was no longer in human form but floated as a flower in the waters.

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[p. 4]

THE ENCANTADO

In the olden days, there lived in the underworld men who wear supposed to do good or evil upon human beings. Being a man of the underworld, he can roam about. They are thought of to be roaming about in the evening just after sunset and during shower days. People of old naturally or usually had the notion that they should not sleep at night on the ground for surely these people of the underworld would get angry and bring evil upon the family. In one of the rhombus of the underworld, he saw a beautiful lady by the name of Trinidad and was nicknamed Trining. The encantado fell in love with Trining and begin wooing her. At night after the sun had set, this encantado came and speak out to Trining. Trining was afraid and naturally would not heed the words of the encantado. She only breathe that the encantado would come and stop following her. But instead of the discontinuance off the encantado, he became more and more insistent and went as far as following her anywhere she went. The ceaseless following of the encantado made her more frightful than ever. Finally she thought of not leaving the house.

Weeks and months passed by and he continued wooing. He told her, “Love me and i will give you all my treasures and everything that i possess and above all will make you my queen where you will only sit upon the throne and be attended by all my servants. All your wishes shall be granted. You

[p. 5]

will never know want. Promise me only that you will follow me to my house.” Trining did not say a word and the encantado tired of all that he was doing said, “If you don't marry me, I shall molest you and your family so that none shall see.” Trining became frightened of these words and told her mother about it. Her mother dead of her to accept the suit of the encantado and said the same words over and over again. At last Trining said, “I agree with your proposal.” no sooner had she uttered these words when a handsome young man appeared in the house and claimed her. They were all surprised to see the young man and her mother consented to the wedding. Then, he promised that he would give them his treasures and would bring Trining to his palace where everything was gold and everything, food, delicacies, and so forth, where served to her in golden dishes. Then, she sat upon the throne and became Queen of the Encantado household.

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[p. 6]

THE BROKEN DOWN HUT THAT WAS TURNED INTO A PALACE.

In one of the neighboring barrios, there lived a poor couple who had nothing in the house but food for the next meal and almost ragged clothing. But these people dope or where kind-hearted, sympathetic and wanted to share what they had with those in need.

One evening, there king and old woman poorly clad and was bent with age and weakened by hunger. It was [a] moonless night so that it was almost total darkness except with the little light given by the old flickering lamp. The poor old woman though called and called was [but] not answered. At last, her call was heard and she was asked to go up the house. The family asked her if she had taken her meal and said that she had traveled for days and lost her way and she had nothing to it except fruits which she occasionally found on her way. She was weakened with hunger. The poor family then got their camote and told her to eat what they only had in the house. At first, she did not like for fear that during morning meal there would be no more camotes, but the old woman was insistent. The visitor is voraciously. The next morning, the old visitor bade them goodbye and as a gift, she gave the old woman a small white bag. She said nothing about the bag and the owner of the house was not curious about [it] and hid it.

[p. 7]

One day, her husband was taken ill and had to lie in bed. The poor old woman did not know what to do for they had nothing to eat. She had got not even a cent in the house. Desperate as she was, she bent her knees and prayed – she had not prayed long when she remembered the small white bag. She thought of applying to it to see if there was anything contained. She hurried and searched for the bag. She found and much to her disappointment, she found nothing inside. Then she said, “How much I wish I could have money with which to buy our food?” Then, [she] took off her hand from the bag and head with it a nickel coin. Every time she put in her hand a nickel coin appeared. She was so very glad that she jumped with joy. She then went out and bought some food. Later on, she turned her attention to the bag and had heaps of money in the house. More ambitious that she was, she asked the bag for a house. And the beautiful house appeared.

One evening, the old woman came and related [to] them that the bag was of a magic power and it was through [it] that we were able to get [their] wish.

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March 2, 1925.

Transcribed from “Magic Tales from Santo Tomas,” by Aurora A. Hernandez, 1925, online at the Henry Otley-Beyer Collection of the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.