Myths, Legends and Folktales (For April 28, 2016)

Lakampati (Lacapati/Lacanpate)

The major fertility deity of the ancient Tagalogs. Farmers with their children brought offerings for her/him at the fields and invoke her/him to protect them from famine. Some sources also said that foods and words are offered to her/him by her/his devotees asking for "water" for their fields and "fish" when they set sail in the sea for fishing. Lakampati was a hermaphrodite deity. S/he is identified to the ancient Zambal goddess Ikapati although s/he also has a characteristics similar to other Zambal deities such as Anitong Tawo, Dumangan, Damulag, Kalasokus, and Kalaskas. S/he is the mother of Anagolay and wife of Mapulon. In some myths, s/he is listed as the wife of Bathala himself, before the world was created.

Apolaki (Apolaqui)

The ancient Pangasinenses worshipped him as their supreme deity addressed as Ama-Gaoley or Anagaoley(Supreme Father) whom they invoke for various matters such as war, trade and travel. They offered oils, incenses, and other aromatic herbs to his idol/images, slaves and pigs was also sacrificed in his honor. He was Identified to Suku a deity of ancient Kapampangans which associated him to the sun. Based on historical records, there is no hard evidence that he was also worshiped by the ancient Tagalogs, he is often not listed (just like Mayari) to the pantheon of anitos that ancient Tagalogs worshiped. In some informal and modern folktale version based on Pampangan Mythology his sister was Mayari a Zambal deity and their father was Bathala which is a Tagalog deity, this probably caused the misconception. Some sources list him as the son of Bathala and brother of Hanan, Mayari and Tala, but other sources list him as the son of Anagolay and Dumakulem, brother of Diyan Masalanta.

The Legend of Mango

Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Ango who had a wonderful heart. He is the son of Juan.  Ango’s a kind and helpful young lad who was nurtured well by his father who have good hearts as well.

One day, Ango saw a very old beggar and he took pity on him. So, Ango 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. Ango 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 Ango’s family could only afford. After a sumptuous meal, the beggar thanked the young lad and bade him farewell.

On another day, while Ango was looking for fire woods, he passed by an old lady who was also very hungry. Ango took pity on her once more and without a doubt in his mind, he invited the old lady back to their home and gave him food and some clothes that his father does not use anymore. Ango’s father was happy that he has a son who has a heart of gold like Ango.

Unfortunately, the time came that Ango suddenly got very ill. His father was troubled and didn’t know what to do. But despite that,he persisted to have his son treated but to no avail, Ango died. His father mourned over the loss of his only son. The next day, after Ango’s death, a beautiful fairy came to Ango’s wake and talked to his father. She asked him to give her Ango’s heart. He  agreed and gave it to her. The fairy then flew away and in a mountain, she dug and buried Ango’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.

From then till now, people enjoy the benefits of this wonderful fruit.

The Legend of Makahiya

Long time ago, there was a couple in Barangay Masagana (Pampanga today) who wanted a daughter. Their wish was granted and the wife gave birth to a baby girl. They called her Maria. Maria was very beautiful but very shy that she wouldn't go out from their house.

Weeks later, Spaniards came to their town. The Spaniards were very cruel that they get everything they wanted. They rob houses and kill everyone who gets in their way and who refuses to give what they wanted.

The couple was very frightened to lose their daughter so, they hid Maria in the bushes so the Spaniards couldn't find her.

After the Spaniards left their town, the couple tried to look for Maria but they couldn't find her even in the bushes where they hid her, instead they found a little plant that is very sensitive that when you touch it, it would immediately close.

So they thought it was their daughter, Maria. They called the plant "Makahiya" that means "touch me not," like their daughter who was very shy.

The Boy Who Became a Stone

One day a little boy named Elonen sat out in the yard making a bird snare, and as he worked, a little bird called to him: "Tik-tik-lo-den" (come and catch me)."I am making a snare for you," said the boy; but the bird continued to call until the snare was finished.Then Elonen ran and threw the snare over the bird and caught it, and he put it in a jar in his house while he went with the other boys to swim.While he was away, his grandmother grew hungry, so she ate the bird, and when Elonen returned and found that his bird was gone, he was so sad that he wished he might go away and never come back. He went out into the forest and walked a long distance, until finally he came to a big stone and said: "Stone, open your mouth and eat me." And the stone opened its mouth and swallowed the boy.When his grandmother missed the boy, she went out and looked everywhere, hoping to find him. Finally she passed near the stone and it cried out: "Here he is." Then the old woman tried to open the stone but she could not, so she called the horses to come and help her. They came and kicked it, but it would not break. Then she called the carabao and they hooked it, but they only broke their horns. She called the chickens, which pecked it, and the thunder, which shook it, but nothing could open it, and she had to go home without the boy.

The Carabao and the Shell

One very hot day, when a carabao went into the river to bathe, he met a shell and they began talking together.

"You are very slow," said the carabao to the shell."Oh, no," replied the shell. "I can beat you in a race.""Then let us try and see," said the carabao.So they went out on the bank and started to run.After the carabao had gone a long distance he stopped and called, "Shell!"And another shell lying by the river answered, "Here I am!"Then the carabao, thinking that it was the same shell with which he was racing, ran on.By and by he stopped again and called, "Shell!"And another shell answered, "Here I am!"The carabao was surprised that the shell could keep up with him. But he ran on and on, and every time he stopped to call, another shell answered him. But he was determined that the shell should not beat him, so he ran until he dropped dead.