JUAN OSONG

(Bicol Literature - Folktale)

The mayor of the town where Juan Osong lived once ordered the town crier to
announce that no one should be found walking in the streets after ten oclock at night.
But as Juan was still in the street by ten oclock he crawled. He was seen by the
policeman who asked him. Why are you still here? Dont you know that it is prohibited
for townspeople to walk down these streets after ten?
Juan answered, Yes sir, I know, but as you can see, I am not walking. I am
crawling.
One day Juan passed b the military headquarters. When one passes by the
headquarter he expected to remove his hat and salute them. When Juan was hailed by
the guard and asked why he did not remove his hat, Juan said Sir if I remove my hat,
my head will be exposed to the sun.
The soldier said, If that is your reason, do not ever set foot on this place again.
Since it was necessary for Juan to pass by the municipal building every day on
his way to the market, Juan decided to dig some soil from his farm and place it in the
cart. He had his carabao pull the cart as he went past the municipal building.
The soldier who accosted him the day before saw him and said, Didnt I tell you
not to set foot on this place again!
Juan answered, Yes, but it is my own piece of land that I am standing on.
Juan had an older brother named Pedro. One day, when they were about to
leave their house, Pedro told Juan to lock the door. When Juan did was to bring the
door along instead. When Pedro asked him why he did so, Juan reasoned that it was
better not to leave it behind so nobody could enter it.
Juan also brought along with axe for the brothers were to chop wood in the
forest. When they got to the forest, the found a shady tree which they decided to climb
to rest for a while. As they were up in the tree a band of robbers arrived and rested in
the shade. Soon they started to open their sacks to divide their loot. Juan was about to
make a noise but Pedro restrained him.
Then the robbers began to cook their meals. The aroma of the food was so
tempting that Juan wanted to climb down the tree. Again Pedro kept him from doing so.
Juan then dropped the door, startling the robbers, in a loud voice he said, I am a big
man, a giant. How dare you disturb my place?
The robbers said, If you are indeed a giant, throw down one of your teeth.
Juan then dropped the axe, and the robbers fled, leaving their loot and their food.
Then Juan and Pedro climbed down the tree, ate the food, and went home with the
sacks of goods that the robbers left.