Christian Vincent B.

Sabado Professor John Bengan

2019- 60010 CL 111

Juan and Maria (Agusan Manobo)

The story of Juan and Maria (Agusan Manobo) is probably my favourite among all
the different versions of the short stories we read about a young maiden—born of unworldly
descent—pursued by a man for marriage. Although these short stories coming from the
different ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines share some similarities in their plots, the
differences in some of the details really made some of the stories more appealing to me than
the others and which helped me come into a decision as to which is my favourite of them all.
First, I liked the version of Juan and Maria (Agusan Manobo) because of how the
maidens in this story were depicted. Unlike the other stories which described the maidens as
beings who wore their magical wings (Tausug), their sarongs (Ata Manobo), and magical
clothes (Ilianen Manobo and Binukid), the maidens in the story Juan and Maria were women
who had the guise of a duck which they would take off whenever they bathe. I find this detail
particularly interesting and enjoyable because when I first read that description, it was
different from the other stories where the maidens just remove a part of themselves and leave
it behind. But in this story, they were like wearing a costume of a duck and they need to take
it off whenever they bathe. It was fun as it really tickled my imagination on how I should
imagine this scene to make it look magical rather than a costume change of a mascot.
Secondly, although the story of Juan and Maria was not as complex as the other
stories like The Story Don Juan who Married the Sky Maiden (Binukid) whose main
characters went through a lot of ordeal just to be together, it became my favourite because I
was moved by the actions of the characters in the story especially by Maria. Unlike the other
versions where after the maiden found their magical objects they immediately left, Maria did
not leave without seeing Juan. Instead, she went looking for him and found him roasting a pig
in a part of the forest and there, she told him to follow her to the sky. This action for me was
moving because this is an affirmation that there is already an intimate connection between
them which I did not feel and I thought was lacking in some of the other versions of the story.
And although the affection between Juan and Maria was not grandiosely portrayed, the
subtlety of their actions which implies love was in a sense, more relatable, and even though
it’s fiction, it was more natural. When the child, who never knew his father at all, gave the
betel chew to Juan, and Juan succeeded in finding the sleeping place of Maria, the reunion of
the family was profoundly moving and fulfilling to me as a reader.
Thirdly, the parents of Juan and Maria were also interesting for me because the
portrayal of their characters contrasted one another and also, there is a sense of familiarity
with these characters. The father of Maria exudes a sense of authority and wisdom and was
composed, while the mother of Juan was someone vicious and mean towards Maria. Even
though this difference in their portrayal hints a heavily patriarchal influence, nevertheless, it
was nice to see this contrast which the other stories did not have.
In conclusion, these details in the story created an impression to me as a reader which
made me choose Juan and Maria (Agusan Manobo) as my favourite. The story was not
difficult to understand at all and the feelings it gave me while reading it was the most fun
part.
Potian, Jovi Mae L. John Bengan
2019-11880 CL 111
The Story of Don Juan who married the Skymaiden
(Binukid)
Among all the versions of The Maiden, my favorite would be the Binukid version
entitled “The Story of Don Juan who married the Skymaiden”. I have three main reasons why
I chose this story which I will discuss in the following paragraphs.
First, I love the twist of the story. Among the five versions, I believe that Don Juan
and Donya Mahal Maria’s story is the most complex. All of the stories started in the same
way –a man stealing something from one of the maidens who bathed in order to marry or be
with them. However, Don Juan’s story differs because they ran away together unlike the
other version where the man would go after the maiden after she finds out that it was the man
who stole from her (I refer to as the ‘truth’). In addition, the presence of Diwata which helped
them escaped, also made the version unique. But what I appreciate the most are the
adventures that they both had while running away. Also, the ending of the other versions
seemed to be kind of expected; whether they would be: separated (Tausug), reunited (Illianen
Manobo and Agusan Manobo) through their child, or one dies (Ata Manobo). Basically, it
was a question whether they reunite or not after the maiden knew the truth. Thus, the latter
part of the Binukid version is what makes the version unpredictable and surprising. It was
totally new and different, seemed like a continuation of the narrative since there was another
problem introduced which was when Don Juan forgot about his wife. Even if it was still a
question whether they reunite or not, the reason was completely different and not because the
maiden discovered the truth.
Second, it is the only version where the two main characters fought and sacrificed
something to be together –thus, this version has what the others didn’t which is reciprocation.
Deception is evident from the other four as observed. Don Juan was the only character who
told the maiden that it was he who stole her clothes, was sorry, and that they should talk
about it. In the Ata Manobo version, even though the bachelor returned the sarong, he was
not sorry about it and the maiden also left him. All the other version implied that the maiden
was forced to follow or marry the man because she cannot go back to her family because of
what was stolen from her. In Don Juan’s story, it was the same however the maiden was not
forced because she knew who stole her clothes and instead of coming with him, she told him
to come with her and talk to her father which was what he did.
Third, this version made the clearest impression of who the antagonist is which is the
father of Donya Mahal Maria. Unlike the other versions, the fall of the man such as the
bachelor or the reason for the separation of the two main characters like the Tausug version is
due to the fact that they (the men) lied or kept it a secret that they were the one who stole
from the maiden. Also, it was the maiden who went after the man. When Donya Mahal Maria
went to the house of Don Juan, who had already forgotten her, and used her wits to make Don
Juan remember her again.
 In conclusion, it was the Binukid version which I find the most interesting and
what I think shone the brightest among all the other versions. The plot had a lot of twist and
turns but it was not confusing which I think is important to a story.