The Filipino Myth on Creation

May 17, 2018, 6:51 am

How did everything on Earth start? This Filipino myth tells us why.

In the beginning, this myth claims, there was nothing on earth—no things, no people. Lumawig, the
Great Spirit, came down from the sky and cut many reeds. The myth says he divided these into pairs and
placed in various parts of the world. “You must speak”, said Lumawig to the reeds. Instantly, the reeds
became humans, men and women who could talk. Their languages differed from each other, the myth
adds.

Lumawig, thereafter, commanded each couple to marry. The myth says, they did. As a result, there were
many children, all speaking the same language as their parents. The myth says these, in turn, married
and had many children. Then, gradually, the earth was filled with people.

Now, says the myth, Lumawig saw that there were several things people on the earth needed. So he set
to work to create supplies for such needs. For instance, the myth says, he created salt and told the
inhabitants of one place to boil it and make a business out of it. But these people could not understand
the Great Spirit. When Lumawig visited them, he found that salt was yet unexploited, the myth adds.

Lumawig took the salt away from them and gave it to another people called Mayinit. The myth says, the
Mayinits did as they were told. Being good stewards of salt, he told them that they would always be the
owners of salt, and that the other people must buy it from them, the myth says.

After some time, Lumawaig went to the highlands, to the people of Bontoc. The myth says he told them
to exploit their rich clay and make pots and trade them with people of the low lands. They took no
interest in clay molding, much less, the art of pottery, the myth says. Lumawaig’s lessons on pottery were
ignored. The myth says the jars they made were not well-shaped. Consequently, Lumawig told them to
forget about pottery and jsut focus on their other skills.

The myth says that, consequently, Lumawig thought it best to just entrust pot making to another people
group. Eventually, he found a worthy people of pot making. They did just as he said, and their jars were
all of excellent quality, the myth says. The Great Spirit told them they would monopolize the jar industry.
The myth shows examples of how Lumawig taught people and brought them everything they needed.

The Myth about the Shining Moon

September 19, 2018, 1:51 pm

Ever wondered why there has to be a moon at night? Aren’t stars enough to light the skies at night? And
with today’s technology that can light up whole cities, is there still need for a moon? This Philippine myth
tells us why it was decided one time that there ought to be a moon at night.

One day, this myth says, the moon had no light of any kind. It was a silent dark object that orbited the
Earth. It looked for ways to be of use to the inhabitants of the earth, but to no avail. At times it even
blocked the sun entirely from the planet, frustrating the sun with its job of lighting up the world. The
myth says that the sun complained that it could only light up a side of the earth at a time, and the moon
even sometimes prevented it from doing this.

But the moon was not abashed. It continued to find a way to serve planet earth. The myth continues
that one day, the moon noticed that the sun was very lonely. She wondered and approached the sun to
ask what was the matter. The myth says the sun told her that he was again about to go to the other side
of the Earth because the people there also needed its heat and light. The myth says the sun worried
about the people on the opposite side who would have to suffer a day of darkness again. “If only I could
shine both sides!” the sun said wistfully. He didn’t want to leave the other side without light.

So, feeling desperate, the myth says the moon asked the sun if it could be of any help. The sun regarded
the moon for a while and noticed that it had rocks and metals about it. The sun, says the myth, tried to
shoot a ray of light on the moon and it bounced on the planet Mars. The light reflected was enough to
make Mars squint its eyes. So the sun had an idea. According to the myth, it told the moon that it would
give part of its light so the moon could shine on a half of the world, and then sun on the other.

This Philippine myth on the shining moon at night talks of a dark moon going around the Earth, eager to
be of service to it. A shared light from the sun gave it its meaning.

LetterPile»Creative Writing

The Legend of the First Butterfly

Updated on June 12, 2019

precy anza profile imageprecy anza moreContact Author

What's the legend of the first butterfly?

What's the legend of the first butterfly? | Source

Aren't butterflies beautiful? They sure are.

These day-flying insects which feed primarily on nectar comes in different colors. These creatures make
gardens lovelier and you know what? They are loved by gardeners and because of that, there are some
that does butterfly gardening.

Butterflies are indeed fascinating. Not only they do their fair share as pollinators but these insects are
often associated as well with symbolic meanings. They are wonders of nature in their own way. But they
too must have started somewhere. Where did butterflies come from?

There is an interesting Philippine legend that could have the answer for the curious minds asking where
the first butterfly came from but before I go on the legend, it is worth a share to say butterfly is called
paru-paro in Filipino which is the Philippine language. It might also have a bit of difference on the
spelling as others spell it with the letter o - paro paro.

A nipa hut on the foot of the hills.

A nipa hut on the foot of the hills. | Source

The legend of the first butterfly goes like this

There was a couple who used to live in a nipa hut in a rural area which is on the foot of the hills in the
province of Albay. The wife was currently pregnant at that time. It was a peaceful place. The nipa hut was
made of bamboo and of cogon grass. The couple planted vegetables and flowers and that's how they
earn their living.
Soon, the wife gave birth to two beautiful girls. They named them Amparo and Rosalina. The birth of the
twins was such a joy but the mother died from giving birth. However, the three, the father and the twins
continued their lives.

The two young kids were playful and energetic. They were very helpful as they always help their fatheron
tending the crops and harvesting those that are ready to be sold on the market. Amparo was known as
Paro and the younger one, Rosalina, was nicknamed Rosa.

But tragedy doesn't end on their mother's death. Soon, their father died too from an illness when the
twins were already 12 year olds, leaving the twins to live on their own in their hut on the foot of the hill.
Paro and Rosa learned to cope on their own continuing what their father had started doing as source of
living. Their father planted fruit bearing trees, vegetables and flowers. So Rosa and Paro started doing
just the same, they planted all kinds of vegetables and flowers on the land while tending on the fruit
bearing trees their father had left. After picking up fruits, vegetables and flowers, the twins would sell all
these together on the market. They could even reach every homes on their area and in the neighboring
island just to sell.

LetterPile»Creative Writing

The Legend of the First Butterfly

Updated on June 12, 2019

precy anza profile imageprecy anza moreContact Author

What's the legend of the first butterfly?

What's the legend of the first butterfly? | Source

Aren't butterflies beautiful? They sure are.

These day-flying insects which feed primarily on nectar comes in different colors. These creatures make
gardens lovelier and you know what? They are loved by gardeners and because of that, there are some
that does butterfly gardening.
Butterflies are indeed fascinating. Not only they do their fair share as pollinators but these insects are
often associated as well with symbolic meanings. They are wonders of nature in their own way. But they
too must have started somewhere. Where did butterflies come from?

There is an interesting Philippine legend that could have the answer for the curious minds asking where
the first butterfly came from but before I go on the legend, it is worth a share to say butterfly is called
paru-paro in Filipino which is the Philippine language. It might also have a bit of difference on the
spelling as others spell it with the letter o - paro paro.

A nipa hut on the foot of the hills.

A nipa hut on the foot of the hills. | Source

The legend of the first butterfly goes like this

There was a couple who used to live in a nipa hut in a rural area which is on the foot of the hills in the
province of Albay. The wife was currently pregnant at that time. It was a peaceful place. The nipa hut was
made of bamboo and of cogon grass. The couple planted vegetables and flowers and that's how they
earn their living.

Soon, the wife gave birth to two beautiful girls. They named them Amparo and Rosalina. The birth of the
twins was such a joy but the mother died from giving birth. However, the three, the father and the twins
continued their lives.

The two young kids were playful and energetic. They were very helpful as they always help their fatheron
tending the crops and harvesting those that are ready to be sold on the market. Amparo was known as
Paro and the younger one, Rosalina, was nicknamed Rosa.

But tragedy doesn't end on their mother's death. Soon, their father died too from an illness when the
twins were already 12 year olds, leaving the twins to live on their own in their hut on the foot of the hill.
Paro and Rosa learned to cope on their own continuing what their father had started doing as source of
living. Their father planted fruit bearing trees, vegetables and flowers. So Rosa and Paro started doing
just the same, they planted all kinds of vegetables and flowers on the land while tending on the fruit
bearing trees their father had left. After picking up fruits, vegetables and flowers, the twins would sell all
these together on the market. They could even reach every homes on their area and in the neighboring
island just to sell.
Every morning, Rosa does all the house works and the watering, picking and selling of the crops she
picked.

Every morning, Rosa does all the house works and the watering, picking and selling of the crops she
picked. | Source

But as months went by

Amparo's attitude has changed noticeably. Paro was always with Rosa before, unlike now, she's been lazy
and hotheaded. She doesn't help Rosa anymore. And she won't even do house chores. Paro would just
let Rosa do the watering and pulling off weeds in the garden. Cooking, dish washing and house cleaning
annoys her. Rosalina DOES everything.

"Could you hurry it up Rosa?!" Paro, irritated, would yell to Rosa when Rosa was slow. That is mostly
when Paro was hungry.

"I don't like this! Isn't there something else to eat?" Paro would angrily stomped her feet if she doesn't
like the served food on the table.

It even makes her mad if the food was tasteless and she would just go back to sleep. This worries Rosa so
much. Paro would spend the whole day smelling flowers in the garden.

The following day before the sun's up, Rosa was already in the farm watering flowers and picking up
vegetables that she would sell in the market. But Rosa only got a little, maybe the crops are already old
that they won't bear much for her to sell.

However, Rosa still went to the market to sell her crops. And she used the money she earned to buy rice
and jerked fish. And guess what she found out when she got back home? Yes. The still sleeping Paro.

LetterPile»Creative Writing

The Legend of the First Butterfly

Updated on June 12, 2019

precy anza profile imageprecy anza moreContact Author

What's the legend of the first butterfly?

What's the legend of the first butterfly? | Source

Aren't butterflies beautiful? They sure are.

These day-flying insects which feed primarily on nectar comes in different colors. These creatures make
gardens lovelier and you know what? They are loved by gardeners and because of that, there are some
that does butterfly gardening.

Butterflies are indeed fascinating. Not only they do their fair share as pollinators but these insects are
often associated as well with symbolic meanings. They are wonders of nature in their own way. But they
too must have started somewhere. Where did butterflies come from?

There is an interesting Philippine legend that could have the answer for the curious minds asking where
the first butterfly came from but before I go on the legend, it is worth a share to say butterfly is called
paru-paro in Filipino which is the Philippine language. It might also have a bit of difference on the
spelling as others spell it with the letter o - paro paro.

A nipa hut on the foot of the hills.

A nipa hut on the foot of the hills. | Source

The legend of the first butterfly goes like this

There was a couple who used to live in a nipa hut in a rural area which is on the foot of the hills in the
province of Albay. The wife was currently pregnant at that time. It was a peaceful place. The nipa hut was
made of bamboo and of cogon grass. The couple planted vegetables and flowers and that's how they
earn their living.
Soon, the wife gave birth to two beautiful girls. They named them Amparo and Rosalina. The birth of the
twins was such a joy but the mother died from giving birth. However, the three, the father and the twins
continued their lives.

The two young kids were playful and energetic. They were very helpful as they always help their fatheron
tending the crops and harvesting those that are ready to be sold on the market. Amparo was known as
Paro and the younger one, Rosalina, was nicknamed Rosa.

But tragedy doesn't end on their mother's death. Soon, their father died too from an illness when the
twins were already 12 year olds, leaving the twins to live on their own in their hut on the foot of the hill.
Paro and Rosa learned to cope on their own continuing what their father had started doing as source of
living. Their father planted fruit bearing trees, vegetables and flowers. So Rosa and Paro started doing
just the same, they planted all kinds of vegetables and flowers on the land while tending on the fruit
bearing trees their father had left. After picking up fruits, vegetables and flowers, the twins would sell all
these together on the market. They could even reach every homes on their area and in the neighboring
island just to sell.

Every morning, Rosa does all the house works and the watering, picking and selling of the crops she
picked.

Every morning, Rosa does all the house works and the watering, picking and selling of the crops she
picked. | Source

But as months went by

Amparo's attitude has changed noticeably. Paro was always with Rosa before, unlike now, she's been lazy
and hotheaded. She doesn't help Rosa anymore. And she won't even do house chores. Paro would just
let Rosa do the watering and pulling off weeds in the garden. Cooking, dish washing and house cleaning
annoys her. Rosalina DOES everything.

"Could you hurry it up Rosa?!" Paro, irritated, would yell to Rosa when Rosa was slow. That is mostly
when Paro was hungry.

"I don't like this! Isn't there something else to eat?" Paro would angrily stomped her feet if she doesn't
like the served food on the table.
It even makes her mad if the food was tasteless and she would just go back to sleep. This worries Rosa so
much. Paro would spend the whole day smelling flowers in the garden.

The following day before the sun's up, Rosa was already in the farm watering flowers and picking up
vegetables that she would sell in the market. But Rosa only got a little, maybe the crops are already old
that they won't bear much for her to sell.

However, Rosa still went to the market to sell her crops. And she used the money she earned to buy rice
and jerked fish. And guess what she found out when she got back home? Yes. The still sleeping Paro.

The two had a discussion

And Paro hurriedly went out the hut. She went to the garden first, picked one rose before heading to the
river bank.

These made Rosa so sad. Teary-eyed, she knelt in front of the altar. She also saw the scattered rice and
jerked fish on the floor. She wished to God that her twin's attitude would change.

Paro, on the other hand, was so entertained looking at her reflection on the river's clear water. By that
time, the worried Rosa was already on her way. She decided to follow her twin sister to see how and
what she was doing.

"Paro! Paro!" she called out to her. "Where are you Paro?" But Amparo didn't show up and she had
never been seen.

While the people are observing and waiting

for Paro's body to show up or float on the river as everybody were thinking she was alrady gone, the
people noticed a flower bud just about to open. They all watch this flower's slow movement, opening its
petals for the world to see.
To the flower's core was like a set of wings, with different colors. And to their surprise, a thing emerged
from it. It flits and floats in air for a while before it took off. Rosalina and the neighbors followed the
strange thing they hadn't seen before as it heads to the garden, perching on each and one of the flowers,
smelling each one.

Rosa's heart raced and out of herself she had exclaimed, "Paro! Paro!"

The graceful and colorful new creature in the garden was soon called "paro paro" by the people. The
flower lover insect. The first butterfly.

The Legend of the Pineapple: A Filipino Folk Tale

Once upon a time, there was a woman who lived with her daughter Pina in a tiny hut in the village. They
were poor, and the mother worked day and night to make both ends meet. No matter how hard she
worked, though, she never got any help from her daughter. Pina was a lazy, spoiled kid who liked to play
in the backyard all day. Whenever her mother asked for help around the house or tried to send her on an
errand, she would always find an excuse by saying she can’t find the object that was needed to complete
that task. If her mother asked her to sweep the house, for example, she would say she cannot find the
broom, even if it was right there in front of her. Needless to say, her mother always ended up doing the
work herself.

One day, her mother became very ill. She called out to Pina, who as usual was playing in the
backyard.

“Pina! Pina! Come over here, anak. I am very sick. Can you cook some porridge for me please? I am
too weak to get up.”

Pina ignored her mother and continued to play.

“Pina, come over here this very instant, or else!” Pina’s mother mustered all her strength just to say
this, but it worked. Pina grudgingly stopped playing and went inside the house. She poked her head
inside her mother’s room.

“What do you want, Nanay (mother)? You really expect me to cook for you? That’s too hard,”
protested Pina, pouting and stomping her feet.

“Pina, it is very simple. Just put some rice in a pot and add water. Once the water boils, let it simmer
for awhile. Stir it occasionally with a ladle. Everything you need should be right there in the kitchen.”

Pina reluctantly left and went to the kitchen. Her mother could hear her banging the drawers and
cabinets. Then her mother heard her open the back door and sneak out into the backyard. Her mother
waited and waited. Finally, she called out to Pina again.
 “Pina, did you cook like I told you to?”

“No,” was the defiant response.

“And why not?” was her mom’s exasperated response.

“Because I could not find the ladle,” was her flippant reply.

“Oh, you lazy child! You probably did not even bother to look for it! What am I going to do with you?
Here I am, sick, and I cannot even count on you!”

Her mother wept bitterly. In her anger, she shouted, “I wish you would grow a thousand eyes all over
your head! Then you can find what you’re looking for. Maybe then you won’t have any more excuses.”

As soon as she said this, there was complete silence. Her mother thought, “She is trying to be quiet
so I will forget about asking her again.” She sighed.

She waited a little bit to see if Pina would come back. Realizing the wait was futile, she wearily got up
to do the cooking herself. When she looked out into the backyard, Pina was nowhere to be found. She
sighed again and said to herself, “That lazy kid probably went to a friend’s house so she did not have to
do any more errands for me.”

Exhausted from the exertion, she soon went back to her room for a much-needed rest. Weak as she
was, she just tried to do everything by herself, having given up on any help from Pina. Hours passed by,
and then days. Still no sign of her wayward daughter. With a heavy heart, she thought that Pina had ran
away for sure.

When she finally recovered from her illness, the first thing she did was look for Pina. No one had seen
or heard from her. It was like she disappeared into thin air. Months passed and still no sign of her. The
mother felt bad for her angry outburst, and she feared that she might probably never see her daughter
again.

One day, she was sweeping the backyard where Pina used to play. For months now, she had noticed
this strange plant growing on the very spot where she last saw Pina. By this time, the leaves of the plant
had fully opened. Inside, she saw this strange yellow fruit that resembled a child’s head with a thousand
eyes. A thousand eyes…

She suddenly remembered the spiteful words she used that fateful day. With horror, she realized that
in the same way her mother’s love had spoiled her daughter, so did her anger unwittingly curse her.
Somehow, her daughter had been turned into this plant.

To honor the memory of her beloved daughter, she named the fruit Pina. She took such loving care of
it like it was her own daughter. The fruit flourished so well that it bore more and more fruits, and
became popular among the village and the entire country. Its name later evolved to pinya, or pineapple
in English. That’s how the pineapple came to be, according to folklore, named after a spoiled child who
was cursed with a thousand eyes…

The Legend of Mangoes

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.

From then till now, people enjoy the benefits of this wonderful fruit.
LetterPile»Creative Writing

The Legend of the Stars

Updated on May 30, 2019

precy anza profile imageprecy anza moreContact Author

What are stars made of?

What are stars made of? | Source

Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are.......

Do you really wonder what stars are made of? Or how come they seem so far away? As we learned in
school, stars are made up of hot gasses which is hydrogen and helium. But still, it seems like the stars are
alive and watching over us.

On a clear night sky, one can observe and enjoy all those stars that come in different sizes and colors.
And they are really such an amazing thing to watch which is why many of us had developed a hobby of
star gazing. I even enjoyed this myself as I would spend some time at night watching the stars from my
room's rooftop when I was in high school. It has been my way of de-stressing.

However, there is an interesting legend about the stars. And how come they are so far away, so high for
us to even reach.

A giant mortar and pestle being used.

A giant mortar and pestle being used. | Source

There was a couple a long, long time ago. The only man and only woman when the Earth was young and
new. The young couple relies on their surroundings for food, shelter, and they use leaves as a way of
clothing.

The man would usually go fishing or hunting for food and they plant crops too. He is strong and well
built. The woman on the other hand, is beautiful. Each morning as she wakes up, she would start the day
by spending time combing her long, wavy black hair. After that, she would put on her jewels. Her
necklace is made of pearls and so as her earrings. The young woman used to hang her jewels on clouds
as the Earth is new, the sky and clouds are so close that a human hand can reach it. Each night as she
retires to sleep, she would hang back her jewels on the clouds and wear it in the morning.

Then one day when the woman was using the big mortar and pestle, removing the rice bran from the
grains, she found it hard to do so as she keeps on hitting the clouds every time she use the pestle. So
when her husband came home that night, they talked about the situation and agreed to try asking God
the next morning.

The woman, as always, started her day by spending time combing her hair before putting on her jewels.
As she started her tasks, it bothers her hitting the clouds again. She just wished she could have more
room to do her work.

So she finally said, "God. I had a favor to ask. If you could please make the sky a little higher so I won't hit
the clouds?" And so, the sky got a little higher. And she continued her work.

The night came, and it's morning again the following day. This time her husband is helping her on her
work. They both used the mortar and pestle. But still, the sky is still close that they could still hit it. And
so they asked again, "God, I already asked the other day but the sky is still low that our pestle can still
touch the clouds. If you could make it a little more higher this time?" They were heard so the sky became
much higher.

But the two aren't satisfied yet. They want it much higher, to give them more space. And so they called
again to ask the favor, "We still can't move around the way we want to. The sky is still low that we can
still reach it. Could you please make it much higher?"

But this time, God wanted to teach both of them a lesson. Being given the favor and still not satisfied of
what they have, God did make the sky higher. The couple watch in astonishment as the sky keeps on
getting higher, higher that they can't even reach.

But alas! The woman's jewels hanging on the cloud are now gone too as her jewels went up with the
clouds. They said it was alread high enough but still, the sky keeps on getting higher and higher and the
clouds appeared smaller and smaller to them.
And soon, they realized they were being taught a valuable lesson but it was already late for them.

And when the darkness came, that was the first time the couple witnessed the brightly shining jewels
scattered in the sky, her jewels.

Since then, those tiny, brightly twinkling stars can be seen up in the sky at night. So high that no one
would be able to reach them.