Kudaman

(of Palawan)

-is a spring, which is the abode of an evil spirit. Tuwan Putli, accompanied by her cousin Ambaynan, goes
there to fish. As they are about to leave, Tuwan Putli sees a river lobster with golden pincers. Ambaynan
waits for her, but Tuwan Putli disappears. There is blood in her fish basket. Ambaynan goes home and
reports the incident.

Tuwan Putli’s father, orders her husband (and son-in-law) Muta-Muta to search for her, but the man
disobeys. Muta-Muta finds help in the person of the Young Man of the Clouds. It is agreed that if the
Young Man of the Clouds can find Tuwan Putli, she will be his. With the help of a crocodile, the Young
Man of the Clouds finds a fragment of Tuwan Putli’s toenail nestled inside a molar of an old crocodile.
The old crocodile had accidentally eaten Tuwan Putli. Retrieving the nail, he sees Muta-Muta who tells
him to bring home the nail fragment. The young man puts the nail inside the golden chest. In the
afternoon, Tuwan Putli’s voice is heard inside the chest, pleading to be let out. The chest breaks open
like a bamboo, filling the house with golden light. Tuwan Putli emerges and asks for a betel nut. Learning
that the young man has recued her, she consents to live with him.

Soon the Young Man falls in love with the Lady of the Sea-Beings, the wife of Kudaman. The Young Man
wins her love, forcing his wife, Tuwan Putli to leave him. Kudaman decides to bring the Lady of the Sea-
Beings to her father Surutan Tamparan, the Sultan of the Seacoast. On his journey back aboard
Linggisan, the Purple Heron, Kudaman meets Tuwan Putli and offers her a betel nut. She accepts, and
she becomes his “puun” or principal wife. When Surutan Tamparan discovers that his daughter has left
Kudaman for the Young Man of the Clouds, he beheads her at the place called Scissors of the World. But
she emerges from the ordeal lovelier than ever.

Muta-Muta, Tuwan Putli’s first husband, and his brother, the Datu of Ligayan, visit Kudaman to offer a
blood compact. Kudaman reminds Muta-Muta that Tuwan Putli is now his wife. Having become blood
brothers, Muta-Muta asks to stay in Kudaman’s place. Kudaman agrees, and he has a big house built.
Kudaman gathers his relatives and friends and offers to host a big feast of “tabad” rice beer.

Kudaman goes on a journey to look for beautiful garments for Tuwan Putli whom he entrusts to Muta-
Muta. Riding on Linggisan, his pet bird, Kudaman travels for seven years. The Lady of the Wild Green
Pigeon falls in love with him. The attraction is mutual, so Kudaman promises to return for her. Reaching
the house of the Sultan of the Seacoast, Kudaman buys the garments he wants. His former wife
expresses renewed yearning for him and his bird, so she is transported to Kudaman’s house, where she
is welcomed by Tuwan Putli as sister and co-wife. As he has promised, Kudaman passes by the place of
the Lady of the Wild Green Pigeon on his way back. He asks for betel nut, and she offers him her betel
nut container. When she agrees to come with him, he puts her inside betel container for safekeeping.
Tuwan Putli meets him with the news that the Lady of the Sea-Beings has come. Kudaman shows her
what he has brought home a new sister.