Calatagan, Batangas: Historial Data Part VIII - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore Calatagan, Batangas: Historial Data Part VIII - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore

Calatagan, Batangas: Historial Data Part VIII

Historical Data graphic
Historical data from the National Library of the Philippines.

PART VIII

PART I | PART II | PART III | PART IV | PART V | PART VI | PART VII | PART VIII | PART IX | PART X

Full transcription of the so-called “Historical Data” for the Municipality of Calatagan, Batangas and its barrios, the original scanned documents at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections not having OCR or optical character recognition properties. This transcription has been edited for grammar, spelling and punctuation where possible. The original pagination is provided for citation purposes.

Part VIII of the Historical Data for the Municipality of Calatagan, pp. 31-40 of the Barrios section.

[p. 31]

“Let us be patient,” the old women said.

The king and the princess liked very much parties. There were often many parties but all those attending were the only ones who were rich. They had many good things to eat, wine, but the king and the princess would not give shares to others.

“They are all satisfied. We are very hungry,” said one of the men outside the palace.

“The king would like that the leftovers be thrown than given to us,” others would say.

“Their dogs are still better than us. They are always eating.”

“Let us be patient. Days will come that they will be kind,” said the old women.

Days passed by. The king did not change his character. He was still very cruel. The parties in the palace continued on with rich people.

When there was a party in that place, an old woman came to that party. She wore very untidy clothes, with a stick in her hand. She went near a table which had many things to eat.

“Have mercy on those who are hungry. Give me some of your foods,” said the old woman.

“Get out of here, you are very untidy!”

“Just something to eat,” begged the old woman.

“I don’t have something to give you. Those are still lacking for my dogs,” said one of the guests and at the same time giving a piece of meat to his dog who was under the table.

The hold woman got away, and did the same to the other tables. And the next time, the same cruel people. Then, she went to the king and the princess whom she thought would give her some food.

“You are not fitted with this kind of party. You are very dirty. Get away [from] here,” the princess said.

“I am very hungry,” said the old woman.

“I don’t have something to give to you,” said the princess.

“You give me, though, a spoonful of rice,” begged the old woman.

“You give only the spoon,” said the king.

At the command of the king, the guests all threw their spoons at the old woman.

“You are very cruel persons,” shouted the old woman. “You are fit to become animals who have faces resembling those of the people.”

When the old woman had said this, there was a light and out came a beautiful lady who was standing. The dress was very white. The guests could hardly look at what they saw, because they were very afraid.

The beautiful lady spoke, “You are very proud. You don’t have pity for others who are poor. You will all become animals, resembling men’s faces. The spoons will all come back to you and they will become all your tails.”

The lady disappeared. No one spoke. The saw the spoons flying to themselves. They all ran away so that they would not be reached by the spoons. Hair grew on their parts of the body and they were not able to speak. They just said, “Kura! Kura! Kura!”

To their embarrassment, they all went away from the palace and they all ran to the palace. Those people were the first monkeys in this world.

ANG UNANG MATSING

Noong unang panahon ay may namumunong isang hari at isang reyna. Kapwa sila masungit. Kapwa sila malupit, kaya hindi sila kinagigiliwan ng kanilang mga nasasakop.

“Labis namang malupit ang ating hari,” ang sabi ng iba.

“Hindi naman lamang nating madaingan,” ang sabi pa ng iba.

“At ni hindi tayo makatungtung sa bakuran ng palasyo,” sagot naman ng iba.

“Magtiis na lamang tayo,” ang payo ng isang matandang babae. Baka dumating ang araw na sila magbago.

Ang hari at reyna ay kapwa mahilig sa kasayahan. Madalas, ang mga salu-salo sa palasyo, nguni’t ang mga may dugong mahal lamang ang

[p. 32]

kanilang inaanyayahan. Labis-labis ang masasarap na pagkain at mga mahal na alak, nguni’t hindi naisipan ng hari at reyna na bahaginan ang kanilang mga alagad.

“Sila ay busog na busog. Tayo naman ay gutom na gutom,” ang sabi ng mga tao sa labas ng palasyo.

“Ibig pa ng hari na itapon ang pagkain kay sa ipakain sa atin,” ang sabi ng iba.

“Mabuti pa ang kanilang aso kay sa atin at hindi sumasala sa oras ng pagkain,” ang sabi ng iba.

“Magtiis na lamang tayo. Baka dumating ang araw na sila ay magbago,” ang sabi naman ng matandang babae.

Isang araw ay nagpunta ang matandang babae sa palasyo upang manghingi ng limos.

“Kaunting pagkain po,” ang kanyang daing.

“Wala akong ibibigay sa iyo. Kulang pa ito sa aso ko,” ang sagot ng isang panauhin.

Lumayo ang matanda at lumapit sa ibang panauhin. Wala rin siyang nahingi at dahil dito’y hinagisan pa ang matandang babae ng kutsara.

Sa oras na iyon ay may nakitang isang magandang babae na nakatayo sa may pintuan. Ang lahat ay nagulat at natakot. Iyon palang iyon ay incantada. Sa galit ng incantada ay pinarusahan ang mga mahal na tao. Ang kutsarang inihagis nila ay muling lumipad at dumapo sa kanilang katawan. Ang kanilang iba pang bahagi ng katawan ay sinibulan ng balahibo. Magmula noon ay sila na ang unang naging matsing sa mundo.

ORIGIN OF THE RIVER

There was once a datu who was very powerful but who could [not] keep his promise. He had a beautiful daughter named Dalisay. She [had] a lover but only a son of a farmer. When the datu learned of this, he ordered the son of the farmer to get three kinds of leaves from the forest before he could marry his daughter. To this order, the young order obeyed at once. But unluckily, he was killed by an animal in the forest. With this act of the datu, the “Bathala” became very angry and he made a crocodile a prince. This prince courted the daughter of the datu. He was ordered by the datu to get things for him before he could marry his daughter and which he accomplished successfully. The datu did not keep his promise so the crocodile prince became very angry. He turned himself again into a crocodile and made the river overflow its banks.

From that time on, every year, the river overflowed its banks and the crocodile always appeared to drown somebody.

ALAMAT NG ILOG

Noong unang panahon, an gating bayan ay pinamumunuan ng isang datu na lubhang malakas at makapangyarihan. Nguni’t may isang bagay na hindi ikinagigiliw sa kanya ng mga tao. Ang hindi niya pagtupad sa kanyang pangako. Ang datung ito ay may anak na dalagang mabait at masunurin. Maganda siya kaya’t ang nanliligaw sa kanya ay pawang anak ng matataas na angkan.

Si Dalisay, ito ang pangalan ng dalagang anak ng datu, ay nagtapat sa kanyang ama na ang nagugustuhan niya ay anak ng isang maralitang magsasaka. Ito ang ibig niyang pakasalan. Ang datu ay hindi umimik. Natigilan siya at nag-isip. Si Dalisay naman ay hindi umaalis at naghihintay ng pasiya ng datu.

Pagkaraan ng ilang sandal ay nagsalita ang datu. “Hindi kita hahadlangan sa iyong ibig, kung sa akala mo’y ang anak ng magsasaka ang makakapagpaligaya sa iyo. Ibig ko lamang makilala muna siya.”

Kaya’t isang araw ay ipinatawag ng datu ang binata.

“Ikaw ang nagugustuhang pakasalan ni Dalisay. Nguni’t bago kayo kasalin ay bigyan mo muna ako ng tatlong dahong tumutubo sa tatlong iba’t-ibang bulaklak,” ang hiling ng datu.

Nagpaalam na ang binata at sinimulan ang paghahanap ng tatlong bulaklak. Maraming bundok ang kanyang inakyat. Maraming ilog ang kanyang

[p. 33]

binagtas. Maraming araw at gabing wala siyang humpay ng kalalakad. Ayaw naman niyang humarap sa datu nang hindi nakatutupad sa kahilingan nito. Kaya’t patuloy siya hanggang sa mapatay ng isang mabangis na hayop sa gubat.

Nalungkot ng labis si Dalisay nguni’t lihim na natuwa ang datu. Sinadya niya ang gayong kahilingan upang mailigpit ang sa kanyang paniwala ay isang pangahas at walang turing na lalaki.

Sa ginawang ito ng datu ay nagalit si Bathala. Ibig niyang parusahan ang datu. Pinagbalatkayo niya ang isang malaking buwaya sa anyong isang mayamang prinsipe at saka inutusan niya ito na manligaw kay Dalisay. Nang malaman ng datu na mayaman ang nanliligaw sa kanyang anak ay hinilingan niya ito ng hindi pangkaraniwang mahahalagang hiyas.

“Bago lumubog ang araw bukas ay kailangang madala mo rito ang hinihingi ko. Kung matupad mo ito ay saka ko ipahahanda ang inyong kasal,” ang pangako ng datu.

“Opo, mahal na Datu. Alang-alang po sa malaking pag-ibig ko sa inyong anak,” ang tugon ng prinsipe.

Nakatupad ang mayamang prinsipe. Sumisikat pa lamang ang araw kinabukasan ay naroroon na siya sa palasyo at dala-dala ang mga perlas at brilyantes, ginto at pilak na pawang lantay. Nguni’t hindi pa rin nasiyahan ang datu.

“Ang ibig ko,” ang sabi ng datu, “ay ang kaharian mo’y mapasama sa akin bago ko kayo ipakasal. Matanda na rin lamang ako. Pagkamatay ko ay mapapasalin ding lahat iyan sa iyo pati ng aking kaharian.”

“Iyon ay hindi na po maaari,” sagot ng mayamang prinsipe.

“Kung hindi maaari ay hindi ko ipakakasal sa iyo ang aking anak,” ang sagot ng galit na datu.

“Hindi ko siya kailangan,” ang lalong galit na sagot ng prinsipe.

“Mga kawal ko,” ang tawag ng datu, “talian ninyo ang taong ito at itapon sa ilog.”

Sumunod naman ang mga kawal at itinapon ang mayamang prinsipe sa ilog. Kinagabihan ay bumaha ang ilog. Isang malaking buwaya ang lumitaw sa tubig at sinakmal ang mga kawal na nagtapon sa prinsipe sa ilog.

Natakot si Dalisay at baka pati ang ama niya ay sakmalin ng buwaya. Lumuhod siya at nagdasal.

Pinakinggan naman ni Bathala ang kanyang dalangin kaya’t naligtas ang kanyang ama.

Mula noon ay bumabaha ang ilog taun-taon at hindi humuhupa ang tubig hangga’t hindi may nalulunod na isang dalaga. Ang paniwala ng mga tao ay bumabalik ang buwaya.

ORIGIN OF THE TAMARIND

There were two boys who were friends, whose names were Totoo ang Sinungaling, respectively. Totoo is smaller than Sinungaling. When Sinungaling was still young, he often told lies. That was why he was given that name. Totoo was liked by everybody because he was kind, obedient, and truthful, that was why he was also given that name.

It is true that Totoo ang Sinungaling were true friends. Though their characters were different from each other, they always went together. One afternoon, the two friends took a walk. They were conversing with each other until finally they didn’t notice that they had reached a forest. There were many tall trees in that forest.

Sinungaling was talk to you that all but he said were all lies. He said that he knew all the names of the fruits in the forest. They saw a tree which had so many fruits.

Sinungaling at once climbed the tree, and Totoo was left behind because he was weak. When Sinungaling had gathered all the fruits, he went down. Totoo went near Sinungaling, who slapped him because he thought Totoo would get his fruits.

“Why did you slap me?” asked Totoo.

“Why where you grabbing my tamarind?” said Sinungaling.

“I was not grabbing your tamarind. I just went near you,” answered Totoo.

[p. 34]

“Oh, if that is the case, there are the tamarinds. Those are all yours,” answered Sinungaling, at the same time giving the tamarinds to Totoo. “You are like that. After you have slapped me, then you will try giving me,” answered Totoo.

Sinungaling is really wise. That was why he had thought of a nice answer.

“Sampalok is the name of that fruit. That’s why you slapped me first before trying to give me,” laughingly said Totoo.

The two friends gathered many fruits and gave them to their friends. They said that the fruit of that tree was known as “Sampalok.”

ALAMAT NG SAMPALOK

May dalawang batang lalaki na laging magkasama at laging magkalaro. Sila’y magkaibigan at magkapitbahay pa. Si Totoo ay siyang maliit at si Sinungaling ay siyang malaki. Si Sinungaling ay mayabang at si Totoo namay ay laging matapatin.

Isang araw ay nakakita sila ng isang puno ng kahoy na maraming bunga. Si Sinungaling ay umakyat agad at si Totoo namay ay naiwan pagka’t siya ay mahina. Pagkakuha ng maraming bunga, si Sinungaling ay bumaba sa puno. Ang ginawa naman ni Totoo ay lumapit upang humingi. Nguni’t…

“Bakit mo naman sinampal ako?” ang sabi ni Totoo.

“Aba eh ang akala ko ay kukunin mo ang aking napanguha,” ang sagot ni Sinungaling.

“Hindi naman ako mang-aagaw,” ang sabi ni Totoo. “Manghihingi lamang ako.”

“Eh kung ganoon ay ito,” ang sabi ni Sinungaling, at binigyan niya si Totoo.

Palibhasa’y matalino si Sinungaling, kaya naka-isip agad siya ng mabuting katuwiran.

“Kaya mo pala ako sinampal bago mo ako inalok,” ang sagot ni Totoo na nakangiti na ngayon.

Ang magkaibigan ay kumuha ng maraming sampalok at ipinamigay sa kanilang mga kaibigan. Ipinamalita nila tuloy na ang bungangkahoy na iyon ay tinatawag na sampalok.

THE FIRST CLOUDS, THUNDER, AND RAIN

Cabigat ang Bungan were husband and wife. They were giants. They lived on the top of [a] high mountain where they owned a big field of camote.

Early one morning, Bungan took her big basket and went out to dig camote. Her husband stayed at home to cut wood. He took his big bolo and cut down a large tree near his house. Then, he cut it into small pieces. In one hour, he cut as much wood as thirty men could cut in one day.

By noon, he was very tired so he got his big pipe, lighted it and rested.

Cabigat sat down under a tree and smoked. He blew so much smoke that, after a while, the sky was filled with it. The people who lived at the foot of the mountain saw the smoke in the air and called it cloud.

After a while, Cabigat became very hungry. He wanted to eat some camotes but Bungan was far away so Cabigat shouted to her. He shouted loudly to his wife and did it many times so that the people called his shout thunder.

Because he worked hard the whole morning, his hands became dirty. He went to the waterfalls and washed them. He shook the water from his hands. The water fell in drops upon the people who lived at the foot of the mountain and they called it rain.

ANG UNANG ULAP, KULOG AT ULAN

Si Cabigat at si Bungan ay mag-asawa. Sila ay kapwa higante. Ang bawa’t isa sa kanila ay tatlong beses sa pinakamataas na lalaki o babae sa bukid. Sila ay doon nakatira sa tuktok ng mataas na bundok.

Isang umaga, si Bungan ay nagdala ng basket at pumunta sa camotihan upang manghukay. Ang kanyang maybahay ay natira upang magsibak

[p. 35]

ng kahoy. Pinutol ang malaking kahoy sa tabi nila at tinilad ng maliliit upang maigatong.

Dumating ang tanghali at siya’y napagod. Ibig niyang magpahinga at magsigarilyo kaya kinuha ang kanyang pipa na ubod ng laki. Ang lalagyan ng tabaco ay kasing laki ng palayok. Ang tangkay ay mabigat at isa ay kalahating metro ang haba.

Sinindihan ni Cabigat ang kanyang pipa at umupo sa ilalim ng malaking punong mangga. Siya ay nagsigarilyo at nagpahinga. Ibinuga ang usok ng paitaas at ilan pang sandal ay napuno ng usok ang langit. Nang makita ng mga tao ang usok ay tinawag nilang ulap.

Maya-maya pa, si Cabigat ay nagutom naman. Ibig niyang kumain ng kamote kaya sumigaw siya sa kanyang asawa. Sa lakas ng sigaw ay natulig ang mga tao at tinawag nilang ugong.

Nang umagang iyon ay nagtrabaho siya kaya ang kanyang kamay ay marumi. Ang ginawa niya ay nagpunta sa isang talon ng tubig at doon ay naghugas ng kamay. Pagkatapos ay nagwisik ng kamay at ang munting butil ng tubig ay tumama sa mga tao. Ang tubig na ito ay tinawag nilang ulan.

ORIGIN OF THE SUN AND MOON

In a little nipa hut near a barrio here lived a couple. They were Mang Gorio and Aling Maria. They belonged to a poor family and got their food by tilling the soil the whole day. Every morning, Mang Gorio went to the field and plowed the whole day. Aling Maria prepared food for him. After their breakfast, Mang Gorio proceeded again to the field and Aling Maria gathered some vegetables for dinner. When Mang Gorio arrived, Aling Maria was preparing food for dinner.

Aling Maria said there was no rice, so Mang Gorio got palay and pounded it. They helped each other in pounding the palay. They wanted to finish their work at once so they raised their pestle higher until it struck the sky. They sky became very angry and began to rise high. When the sky was rising, the comb of Aling Maria was blown by the wind and it was also carried by the sky. The same thing happened with the fire in the stove. From that day, when people saw the moon and [the] sky, they said that it was Aling Maria’s comb and the sun was the fire.

ANG PINAGMULAN NG BUWAN AT ARAW

Sa isang bahay na kubo, na malapit sa bukid, ay may nakatirang mag-asawa na sina Mang Gorio at Aling Maria. Sila ay mahihirap lamang at ang kanilang kinakain ay bunga ng pagpapatulo ng pawis. Pagka umaga na ay walang inaatupag si Mang Gorio kung di ang mag-araro sa lupa at si Aling Maria naman ay ang paghahanda ng pagkain at ang gawain sa bahay. Pagka-agahan ay nagtutungo na si Mang Gorio sa bukid at si Aling Maria naman ay may ginagawa sa bahay.

Isang araw ay naghahanda si Aling Maria ng tanghalian. Nakita niya na walang bigas kaya sinabi niya kay Mang Gorio. Kumuha naman si Mang Gorio ng palay at nagsimula na silang magbayo. Sa kaibigan nilang matapos agad ang ginagawa ay itinaas nilang mabuti ang halo. Sa pagtataas nito ay tumama sa langit. Ang langit naman ay nagalit kaya ang ginawa ay nagpakataas-taas. Sa pagtaas ng langit ay ipinawid ng hangin ang sukaly ni Aling Maria at gayon din ang apoy sa tungko.

Magmula noon, pag nakikita ng mga tao ang buwan ay sinasabi nilang iyon ay ang suklay ni Aling Maria at ang araw ay ang apoy na nanggaling sa tungko.

ORIGIN OF ECLIPSES

A boy was telling what his grandfather told him about the eclipses of the moon. He said that once, the moon and the sun quarreled. Because the sun was bigger and stronger than the moon, the sun swallowed the moon. But because the moon was also big, the sun could not swallow it so that the sun spit it out again. When the moon came out again, it became brighter again and it was what we call eclipse.

Another boy said that his uncle told him that there was a dragon in the sky. When the dragon got hear the moon, it swallowed the

[p. 36]

moon. When the people saw this, they made [a] loud noise. They beat cans, struck their walls and tried anything that would create noise. With this noise, the dragons became afraid and spit out the moon again. According to him, another form of eclipse.

ANG PINAGMULAN NG INCLIPSE

Ang sabi ng isang batang lalaki ay nagkuwento ang kanyang ama na minsan ay nag-aaway ang buwan at ang araw. Palibhasa'y malaki at malakas ang araw, kaya nang minsan silang nag-aaway ay nilulon ng araw ang buwan. Nguni’t ang buwan ay malaki rin naman. Nang hindi malunok ng araw ang buwan ay iniluwa uli kaya muling nagliwanag ang buwan. Ito ang pinagmulan ng inclipse.

Ang sabi naman ng isang batang lalaki ay sabi raw ng kanyang lolo ay may malaking dragon sa langit. Pag ito raw ay na papalapit sa buwan ay nilulunok daw ng dragon ang buwan. Pag nakita raw naman ng mga tao ang ganitong pangyayari ay gumagawa agad sila ng malakas na ingay. Dahilan sa nililikhang ingay ay natatakot naman ang dragon kaya ang ginagawa niya ay muling iniluluwa ang buwan. Ito anya ang pinagmulan ng inclipse.

ORIGIN OF THE EARTHQUAKES

A great giant dwelt in a cave of a mountain. This giant was cruel. He would it human beings, especially boys and girls. To avoid loss of lives, the people usually put some animals at the gate of the cave.

The time came when there were no more animals to feed the giant. The giant became very angry and tried to come out of the cave. He walked swaying and dismayed earth tremble. This trembling of the earth caused by the walking of the giant was called [by] the people earthquake.

PINAGMULAN NG LINDOL

Mayroong isang balitang higante na nakatira sa kuweba sa bundok. Ito’y malaking higante at napakalupit. Ang kinakain niya ay mga tao, lalo na iyong mga batang lalaki at babae.

Ang ginagawa ng mga tao upang huwag mapinsala ang buhay ay naglalagay sila ng mga hayop sa may bunganga ng kweba.

Dumating ang araw na wala na silang mailagay na hayop sa may kweba kaya ang higante ay nagalit. Sa galit niya ay lumabas siya ng kweba at naglakad. Ang paglakad na ito ay lumikha ng pag-uga ng mundo. Ang pag-uga ng mundong ito ay tinawag nilang lindol.

THE FIRST WIND

A couple once lived in an isolated island. They had been together for about four years and they were still childless. The woman often said, “If I will have a son, I’ll teach him to fly like a bird.” To this, the man agreed with her.

They prayed to have [a] son and not long after, they were able to have a baby boy. They were more than glad for what they waited [for] came true. She immediately made a cloak to serve as wings for the boy. When the boy was old enough, the couple taught him to fly. Every morning, they had practice. With constant practice, the boy soon learned to fly. As the boy flew, his cloak produced a breeze. The faster he flew, the stronger was the breeze.

Not very far from the island, there was a place celebrating a fiesta. There were many people attending. The boy her this occasion and soon he flew over the place. As he passed by, swift breeze was felt by the people. The people looked up to find out that strange phenomenon. What they saw was a being quite far from them already. The breeze that they breathed was different from what they felt just a moment. So, they called it “wind.”

[p. 37]

Mayroong mag-asawang nakatira sa isang ulilang pulo. Sila ay apat na taon ng magkasama subali’t wala pa silang anak. “Magka-anak lamang ako ng isang lalaki ay tuturuan ko siyang lumipad na tulad ng ibon.” Sang-ayon ang lalaki sa panukala ng kanyang asawa. Sila ay dumalangin sa May Kapal.

Hindi nagtagal at sila’y dininig ng May Kapal. Nagkasupling sila ng isang lalaki. Natuwa at nagpasalamat sila kapwa at natupad ang kanilang kahilingan. Ang babae ay gumawa agad ng isang malaking kasuotan ng bata upang ito’y maging pakpak niya sa paglipad. Tuwing umaga’y sinasanay lang mag-asawa ang bata sa paglipad. Dahilan sa kanilang pagpupunyagi, ang bata ay nakalipad na nang bahagya. Sa tuwing lilipad ang bata ay nakakagawa ito ng hangin buhat sa kasuotan. Habang bumibilis ang lipad ng bata ay lumalakas naman [ang] hangin.

Minsan siya’y lumipad sa isang lugal na matao. Ang mga tao ay nagdiriwang noon ng kapiyestahan. Ang bata ay lumipad doon at nakagawa siya ng hangin. Tumingala ang karamihan at nakita nila ang bagay na nagbibigay ng simoy na iyon. Pinagkaisahan nilang iyon ay buhat sa kanilang nakita at tinawag nilang “hangin” ang simoy na nagmula sa batang lumilipad.

THE FIRST RAINBOW

There was a place in [the] earth where land [was] dry at a certain time of the year. There was drought. No plans ever lived for lack of rain. The people had done so many things for want of water for them and for the plants. They always looked up and saw that the sky was clear. No sign that it would rain.

Late one afternoon, where the sun was going to set, a man and his son were seen walking on the beach. The boy noticed an object which he had never seen before in the horizon. The object was formed like a bow with different colors.

“What's that father?” ask the son.

“Don’t point at it, my son,” warned his father. “Something might happen to you, you know,” continue the father. “It’s going to rain. The object in the sky would give us rain, because you see, it is drinking the water from the sea and lake and then let it fall on us as rain.”

“Father, so the water is salty,” said the boy.

“No it will not [be],” answered his father. “That object will make the water fresh.”

“It’s beautiful, so beautiful, father,” exclaimed the boy. How bright are the colors! There are seven in all. “Do you think it will rain today, father?”

“I hope it will,” answer the father. “Tomorrow will not come and rain will fall. Better watch it tonight.”

“I’ll wait for the time, father,” agreed the boy.

The object that the man and his son saw was really nice for the rays of the sun struck it horizontally, this producing the nice colors of the said object. When the sun set, the object was gone.

The night came. All was quiet, except the man and his son. They were waiting for the rain. After a few minutes, it did rain. It rained so hard that the man said to his son that his prediction was true. The object they saw then gave them rain.

Since that time on, whenever the man and his son saw an object similar to what they saw, they were sure that it would rain soon. That was the time when they gave [a] name to the object now called a “rainbow.”

BAHAGHARI

Mayroong lugal sa ibabaw ng mundo na ang lupa ay tuyong-tuyo. Ang mga taong naninirahan ay nagdadasal upang sila’y ulanin. Lagi silang tumitingala at lagi nang malinis ang langit at walang palatandaang uulan.

Isang hapon, may mag-amang nagpapasyal sa dalampasigan. Naka-

[p. 38]

masid ang bata kung ano yaong nasa malayo na madilim at hugis busog. Dahil sa malapit ng lumubog ang araw, kaya't ang nasabing hugis ay magandang pagmasdan.

“Ano po iyon, tatay?” ang tanong ng bata.

“Anak ko, huwag mong ituro iyon,” ang babala ng ama. “Baka kung ano ang mangyari sa iyo. Alam mo, marahil ay uulan na. Ang bagay na iyon ang siyang nagbibigay ng ulan sa atin sapagka’t tingnan mo. Tila umiinom sa dagat at sa ilog. Ang tubig na kanyang iinumin ay siyang ibibigay sa ating ulan.”

“Itay, di maalat ang ulan?” ang sabi ng bata.

“Hindi, anak. Gagawin niya itong matabang at siya’y bubuhay sa ating halaman,” sagot ng ama.

“Anong ganda ng kulay. Pitong lahat. Marahil doon dumadaan ang tubig.”

Ang bagay na nakita ng mag-ama ay talagang maganda, sapagka’t ang sinag ng araw ay tapat na tapat sa bagay na iyon. Nawala ang bagay na kanilang nakita noong lumubog ang araw.

“Hindi darating ang bukas at papatak ang ulan,” ang hula ng ama. “Magmasid ka, tingnan mo.”

“Hihintayin ko po ang mga sandali,” ang sagot ng anak.

Dumating ang gabi. Umulan nang malakas. Anong saya ng mag-ama, sampu ng mga kasamahan. Nagkatotoo ang hula ng ama sa kanilang nakitang bagay na umiinum.

Mula noon, kailanman at makakita ng gayong bagay ang mag-ama ay pinasisyahan nilang uulan na. Kaya’t noon nila nalaman na ang umiinom pa ay yaong tinatawag sa ngayong “bahaghari.”

THE FIRST STONE

The wind and the water had a quarrel as to which was stronger of the two. They agreed that whichever one succeeded in letting down the big tree should be acknowledged [as] the stronger.

The water dried first. It flowed and flowed rapidly, but the faster it flowed, the more the big tree stood because of its big and numerous roots. Only the small and weak trees were carried and washed off. The wind [water] became tired and so it stopped.

Then, the wind had his turn. It blew so hard. His blast carried the trees very, very far away. The big tree that they agreed to blow down was totally wrecked. Everything was laid flat and destroyed. He brought chaos to the people.

Since the people were unaware of the contest, they were caught flat-footed. The first disaster was named as the flood and the great and fast win was termed as the “storm” or “typhoon.”

ANG UNANG BAGYO

Ang tubig ang unang gumawa ng hakbang ng sila ng hangin ay nagkaroon ng alitan. Nagkasundo sila na kung sino ang makakapagbubuwal sa malaking puno ng isang kahoy ay siyang tatanghaling malakas.

Ang tubig ang unang sumubok. Umagos ng malakas nguni’t habang umaagos siya ay lalo namang hindi natitinag sa pagkakatayo ang malaking puno ng kahoy dahil sa malalaking mga ugat. Ang maliliit lamang na kahoy ang natumba. Napagod na lubha ang tubig kaya siya ay nagpahinga na.

Sumunod naman ang hangin sa pagsubok. Siya’y sumimoy ng malakas na simoy. Ang mga dahon at mga sanga ng kahoy na maliliit at malalaki ay nadala sa malayong lugal. Hindi naman ang malaking punong pinagkasunduan ang nabuwal. Pati ang mga tahanan ay natumba rin.

Palibhasa’y hindi sa mga tao ang pagkagalit ng hangin at tubig, pinasiyahan nilang ang hangin ay mas may lakas. At ang napakabilis at malaking tubig ay haba naman.

TORNADOES

Once upon a time, there was a big man who was very strong

[p. 39]

as a giant. His name was Saturnino. The people nicknamed him as Torne.

His favorite exercise was swinging a heavy wooden club with a string around his body. This exercise, which he practiced daily, made him a well-built man. With great speed as he whirled the club around his body, he created a whirling wind. This whirling wind was so strong that it could carry objects within its reach up high in the air and brought down in pieces.

By its speed as Torne whirled the club, a sound was heard by the people in the nearby village. They also saw heavy objects fly as they heard the whistling sound. To witness his performance of his feat, people came. They went together to see him. They did not come near him for fear that they might be carried up by the whistling wind. They appreciated his strength as he whirled the club around his body. They were more surprised to see the whirling wind created by his skill in the performance.

After the people saw and witnessed Torne's favorite exercise, they agreed to call his masterpiece “Tornado,” after his name. Whenever people heard and saw a whirlwind in the form of a funnel, they concluded that it was Torne practicing his favorite exercise.

Ipo-Ipo

Noong unang panahon ay may nakatirang lalaki sa isang lugal na tutoong malakas. Ang pangalan niya ay Saturnino. Balita ang kanyang kalakasan. Siya’y pinalayawang Torne.

Ang kanyang gawaing pangpalakas ay ang pagpapa-ikot ng malaking kahoy na may tali sa palibot ng katawan. Sa ganitong pamamaraang pampalakas, si Torne’y nakalikha ng hanging naikot ng paitaas. Ang ano mang bagay na maabot ng hangin sa kanyang pinagsasanayan ay nadadalang paitaas hanggang sa masira.

Dahil sa ugong at haginit ng hanging paikot-ikot na paitaas, tuwing nagsasanay si Torne, ang mga tao’y nadalo sa lugar ng kanyang pinagsasanayan at minamalas ang kanyang kinahihiligang pampalakas. Siya’y nagtataka sa pambihirang kalakasang ipinamalas ni Torne. Lalong lalo na nang makita ang likhang hangin na paimbulog na paitaas. Hindi sila lumapit sa panganmbang baka sila’y madali rin nang paitaas.

Sa gayong nasaksihan nilang hangin ni Torne, nagkaisa-isa silang tawagin ang paikot-ikot na hanging malakas na Tornado, na halaw sa pangalan niyang Torne o Saturnino.

ORIGIN OF METEORS

There was once a woman and her daughter who lived in a forest. The woman was sickly and the little girl was the one who searched for their food in the said forest. The girl's father had soon died of an unknown sickness.

At that time, water was scarce. Days and weeks passed and still no water for the people to drink. Many died of thirst.

An idea clicked in the mind of the old woman. She remembered a small spring in the mountain where she had been once in search for food. She ran to the place where it was. Upon reaching the spot, she dipped her dipper and started for home hurriedly. She feared that her mother might suffer the same fate as the others who died for want of water.

On her way, she met a dog, a strange dog. The dog asked for a drink. The girl offered the cup to the thirsty dog which drank [a] little from her dipper. When the dog give the dipper back to the little girl, that dipper became silver. The girl was surprised to look at [the] dipper turned to a silver one. The little girl continued [on] her way. But far from their house, she found a sick man by the road. The man was also in need of the water. The man could hardly speak but the little girl presumed that he was also thirsty. She gave the silver dipper with the water to the man. When the man had quenched his first, he stood up and returned the dipper. Another change occurred to the silver dipper. It was a golden one. A golden dipper shining and very bright. The girl held her breath in great astonishment.

She run as fast as she could to her house.

[p. 40]

She ran as fast as she could to their house. She offered the golden dipper, with some water in it, to her mother whose eyes were closed. The woman took a drink and soon she got well. When the woman opened her eyes, she saw the golden dipper. She asked where the little girl got the golden dipper. The little girl told everything that had happened.

The little girl loved the golden dipper very much. She treasured it as her mother. Soon, she hung it where it was previously hung. Immediately after she hung her golden dipper, it flew out of the window and up into the air. She ran after it but her alertness proved futile. The golden dipper flew high, high up into the sky until it was as big as the stars of today.

Days had elapsed and her wish that the golden dipper would go down was fruitless. It was there in the sky throwing its light down the earth. Every night, the golden dipper glittered and twinkled. As it twinkled, it cast a long bright light down to the earth. Was the drop of water from her golden dipper? These drops were soon called “meteors” or shooting stars. These “meteors” or drops of water from the golden dipper sometimes reached the earth. They become solid upon reaching the earth and they contained precious diamonds from the same golden dipper of the little girl. This solid object was soon called “meteorites.”

ANG PINAGMULAN NG TINATAWAG NA TAING BITUIN

Sa isang kagubatan ay may nakatirang mag-ina. Ang ina ay sakitin at ang kanyang kaisa-isang anak na babae ay siyang naghahanap buhay sa bundok. Ang ama ng batang babae ay malaon ng sumakabilang buhay na walang makatalos kung anong uri ng sakit ang ikinamatay ng.

Noong panahong iyon, ang tubig ay di gasinong sapat sa mga taong naninirahan sa lugal na iyon. Dahil dito’y maraming buhay na ang pumanaw sa pagkaka-uhaw.

Sa kasamaang palad ay ang ina ay nagkasakit. Palibhasa’y matanda na kaya’y sa dapo ng karamdaman ay di na agad makabangon. Ang matanda ay nauhaw. Humingi siya ng tubig sa anak. Sinunod naman ng anak ang paki-usap na iyon. Kinuha niya ang lumbo na iniinuman at kumuha ng tubig, subali’t ang banga ay walang lamang tubig.

Pumunta siya sa kanilang kapitbahay at nagbakasakaling sila’y may tubig. Sawing-palad din. Maging ang mga balon ay iba at tuyong tuyo.

Ang bata’y nag-isip ng malalim. May naalala siyang salu-soy sa bundok na kanyang pinaghahanapan ng mga bungang-kahoy. Dali-dali siyang pumunta roon at ng makarating at matagpuan ang salu-soy ay kumuha agad siya ng tubig. Nagbalik kaagad siya. Natatakot siya na baka mapatulad ang kanyang ina sa iba nangamatay sa uhaw.

Sa kanyang paglalakad na pauwi ay may nakasalubong siyang aso. Ang aso ay engkanto sapagka’t humingi siya ng tubig sa kanya. Binigyan niya ang aso ng tubig. Nakainom na ang aso ay tangkang isasauli ang lumbo ay may kababalaghang nangyari. Ang lumbo na dating gawa sa niyog ay naging pilak. Nagdumali siya sa kanyang paglalakad.

Hindi kalayuan bago masapit ang kanilang tahanan ay may nakita siyang isang matandang halos ay mamatay na. Uhaw na uhaw ang ayos. Humingi rin ito ng tubig na gaya ng aso. Binigyan din siya nito. Nang isasauli ng matanda ang pilak na lumbo ay isa pa ring kababalaghan ang nangyari. Ang pilak na lumbo ay naging ginto naman. Ang kinang nito. Lalo na siyang nagtumuling tumakbo na taglay niya ang gintong lumbong may lamang tubig.

Pagkapanhik na pagkapasok niya ng bahay ay idinulot agad niya ang tubig sa kanyang ina na noon ay nakapikit ang mga mata. Ininom ng Matanda ang tubig at dagli itong nagmulat ng mga mata. Ang matanda ay gumaling agad. Nang kanyang pasasalamatan ang kanyang anak ay napatigagal ang matanda. Nakita niya ang kislap at liwanag ng lumbo. Itinanong niya kung saan kinuha iyon. Ipinagtapat namang lahat ng bata ang nangyari. Anong ligaya ng mag-ina sa kapalaran nilang yaon.

PART I | PART II | PART III | PART IV | PART V | PART VI | PART VII | PART VIII | PART IX | PART X

Notes and references:
Transcribed from “History and Cultural Life of the Municipality of Calatagan,” 1953, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.
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