LEGENDS

MARIANG MAKILING
( as retold by Gat. Jose P. Rizal from Northern Luzon )

Maria Makiling is the guardian spirit of the mountain, responsible for protecting its bounty and thus is
also a benefactor for the townspeople who depend on the mountain's resources

There was many stories about maria makiling. Ahm Maria Makiling is kind and helpful to the poor,
especially those with illnesses

There are many stories woven about this guardian spirit. Most of them deal with her helping the poor
and the sick, in the guise of a peasant girl. The precious things she lend the country folk are said to be returned
to her, along with the offering of a young pullet with feathers white as milk.
A hunter has recounted a face-to-face encounter with the enigma herself. He was hunting a wild boar, he
said, deep into the forest where Mariang Makiling lived. The boar suddenly crashed into some bushes and the
hunter, fearing that he would not find it again, dived in after it. When he came to his feet he saw a small hut,
and witnessed his prey entering it. He followed the boar into the hut, thinking it deserted, and then he came face
to face with a beautiful maiden standing by the boar, who was meek in her presence. The maiden said "This
boar is mine and you must not harm it. But I see that you are tired and hurt. Come in, eat, and then go your
way."
The hunter felt compelled to obey her. He sat down at her table, and she served him a porridge that he
found was unlike anything he had ever tasted. It invigorated him, and after eating, he felt healed. As a parting
gift, Mariang Makiling filled his peasant hat, called a salakot, with yellow ginger.
The hunter, on his way home from the forest, found that his salakot was growing heavier and heavier,
and so he broke a few pieces of ginger in half and threw some bits away. Upon coming home, he handed Maria
Makiling’s gifts to his wife, who found that the salakot, instead of containing ginger, as her husband claimed,
contained gold. The hunter regretted having thrown away a few bits of ginger/gold along the way.
Mariang Makiling is said to be more than compassionate. Once, there lived a young farmer who always
seemed to be blessed. His fields were never touched by any calamity, and his livestock were always in good
health. The people of his village say he is endowed with a charm, or mutya, as it is called, that protected him
and his from harm. The young man himself was good at heart and simple in spirit. But he was quiet and
secretive, and would not say much of his stranger activities, which included frequent visits into the wood of
Mariang Makiling.
But there came a terrible time for him and his family. War had come to his fair land, and army officers
came, recruiting unmarried young men who were in perfect health. So that the young man would stay safely in
the village, his mother arranged for him a marriage with a most beauteous daughter of a wealthy family. Upon
finding this out, the young man became more sullen than ever.
He visited Mariang Makiling’s wood one last time, a few days before his marriage. Mariang Makiling
lent him a dress and some jewelry, for his wife to wear on their wedding day. "I would that you were
consecrated to me," she said sadly, "but you need an earthly love, and you do not have enough faith in me
besides. I could have protected you and your family." This having been said, she disappeared. The young man
went back to his village with Mariang Makiling’s gifts, and presented them at once to the girl he would marry.
But the girl did not care for Mariang Makiling’s gifts. Instead she wore the pearls and dresses her
mother had handed down. Mariang Makiling was never seen by the peasants again, nor was her humble hut ever
rediscovered.
 THE LEGEND OF PINEAPPLE
There was a pretty little girl called Pina who was pampered by her mother as an only child. Everything that
Pina asked for, Pina got. Everything that Pina scoffed at was taken away. No one in her village was ever so spoiled
as Pina. No one was ever such a snobbish child. She was so lazy, and she had never stirred a finger to work in her
life.
Pina’s mother was perfectly happy that way, for Pina remained dependent on her as a spoiled child. But one
day, Pina’s mother fell ill and there was no one to take care of Pina. She resolved that she would get well
immediately for Pina’s sake – but she knew she would need help.
"Pina, Pina," she called weakly, from her cot. "Come here a moment. I have something to ask of you."

Pina had never been asked to do anything in her life, and she was quite prepared to refuse, but she said
anyway, "What is it, Mother?"
"Pina," said the doting mother, "I am too sick to make you anything to eat. I am too sick to eat anything
solid. I need you to cook lugaw for me, Pina. It is very easy: just put some rice in a pot, pour some water in with it,
add a pinch of sugar, and leave the mixture to boil for a while."
"Oh, that’s too hard! I won’t do it," Pina said firmly.
"You have to, Pina!" her mother pleaded. "What will your poor Nanay eat?"
But Pina was immovable. At length her mother resorted to shouting if only to catch her attention. Moping,
Pina dragged her heavy feet down the stairs to gather the things she needed to make lugaw. She managed to find the
rice, the water, the bowl, the sugar – but she could not find the ladle anywhere. How was she supposed to cook
lugaw without a ladle?
"Nanay, where is the ladle?" Pina shouted.
"It is beside the other kitchen utensils, Pina, you know where I keep them," her mother weakly shouted back.
But the ladle was not anywhere near the other kitchen utensils, and Pina was too lazy to look for it elsewhere.
"I can’t find the ladle, mother," she complained. "I guess I won’t be cooking without the ladle."
"Oh, you lazy child," Pina’s mother wept. "You won’t even look! I hope you grow a thousand eyes so
you’ll be able to find it!" After saying these words, Pina’s mother noticed that the house had fallen silent. Pina was
no longer griping downstairs! That was a marvel. Perhaps she was already cooking. Pina’s mother would be happy if
the child would cook her anything, even if it were burnt.
But a long time had passed, and still the house was silent, and still Pina’s mother could not smell the cooking
coals burning. She began to get worried. With all her meager strength she called out for Pina. Pina did not come, but
the neighbors heard her pitiful cries, and they decided to drop by to see what was wrong. They took care of Pina’s
mother in the child’s place.
"Where is Pina?" Pina’s mother asked at once. "Where is my child?"
"Oh, you know that girl," they assured her, "she must be in some friend’s house, having a good time. She
hates responsibility. She may only be a little angry at you because you had asked her to work. It will pass, and she
will come home."
Pina’s mother rested easily with that thought, and she recovered quickly. But she was up and about and
asking all around town for her precious little child, and still Pina had not returned.
One sunny day, while Pina’s mother was cleaning their back yard, she saw a strange yellow fruit about as
large as the head of a child that had sprung up from the ground. "How curious!" she thought, and bent to examine it.
The strange, spiny yellow fruit, she saw, had a thousand black eyes.
"A thousand eyes...!" she gasped, remembering a mother’s curse carelessly let out. "My Pina!"
 But there was nothing to be done. Imagine a thousand black eyes and not one of them seeing, and not one of
them being able to shed a tear. Pina’s mother, who still loved the child more than anything in the world, decided to
honor her memory by taking the seeds of the strange yellow fruit and planting them. When after a while there was
more of the fruit, Pina’s mother gave her harvest away to everyone she knew. Thus Pina, in another form, became
generous to others.
To this day the Filipinos call the yellow fruit pinya, after the pretty spoiled child.

THE LEGEND OF MOUNT KANLAON

There once lived on the island of Negros a princess named Anina who lived a very sheltered life.
One day, Anina overheard her father talking to the kingdom’s chief priestess. The priestess was frantic about a
report that they could not find a single maiden who was unblemished.
Later, Anina asked her father what it was all about, and the king finally broke down. There had long
been a seven-headed dragon threatening the kingdom, and the monster could only be appeased if an
unblemished maiden was sacrificed to it.
In fear, all the women in the kingdom had cut themselves to disqualify themselves from the sacrifice.
Parents cut their own baby girls so as to spare the infants from the sacrifice. But the king and the queen
couldn’t bring themselves to mar their daughter’s beauty, and so Anina was the only remaining
unscarred female in the kingdom.
Anina did not weep. Instead, she willingly offered herself for the sacrifice. Fortuitously, on the day she was to
be brought to the mountain where the dragon lived, a man calling himself Khan Laon appeared. (Khan in his
language meant a noble lord.) He said he came from a kingdom far away in order to slay the dragon and spare
Anina’s life.
No one believed the dragon could be killed, but Khan Laon insisted that his ability to talk to animals
would help him. He asked the help of the ants, the bees and the eagles.
The ants swarmed over the dragon’s body and crept under its scales to bite its soft, unprotected flesh,
while the bees stung the fourteen eyes of the dragon till it was blind. The largest eagle carried Khan Laon
to the mountain where he was able to easily chop off the seven heads of the writhing beast.

In gratitude, the king gave Khan Laon his daughter Anina to be his bride, and the people
named the mountain after the noble lord.
And that is how, according to the story, Mount Kanlaon got its name. That it is a volcano is because of the
spirt of the dead dragon.
 FOLKTALES
THE MONKEY AN THE TURTLE (ILOCANO)
A Monkey, looking very sad and dejected, was walking along the bank of the river one day when he met a
turtle.
“How are you?” asked the turtle, noticing that he looked sad.
The monkey replied, “Oh, my friend, I am very hungry. The squash of Mr. Farmer were all taken by the
other monkeys, and now I am about to die from want of food.”
“Do not be discouraged,” said the turtle; “take a bob and follow me and we will steal some banana plants.”
So they walked along together until they found some nice plants which they dug up, and then they looked for
a place to set them. Finally the monkey climbed a tree and planted his in it, but as the turtle could not climb he dug a
hole in the ground and set his there.
When their work was finished they went away, planning what they should do with their crop. The monkey
said:
“When my tree bears fruit, I shall sell it and have a great deal of money.”
And the turtle said: “When my tree bears fruit, I shall sell it and buy three varas of cloth to wear in place of
this cracked shell.”
A few weeks later they went back to the place to see their plants and found that that of the monkey was dead,
for its roots had had no soil in the tree, but that of the turtle was tall and bearing fruit.
“I will climb to the top so that we can get the fruit,” said the monkey. And he sprang up the tree, leaving the
poor turtle on the ground alone.
“Please give me some to eat,” called the turtle, but the monkey threw him only a green one and ate all the the
ripe ones himself.
When he had eaten all the good bananas, the monkey stretched his arms around the tree and went to sleep.
The turtle, seeing this, was very angry and considered how he might punish the thief. Having decided on a scheme,
he gathered some sharp bamboo which he all around under the tree, and then he exclaimed:
“Crocodile is coming! Crocodile is coming!”
The monkey was so startled at the cry that he fell upon the sharp bamboo and was killed.
Then the turtle cut the dead monkey into pieces and dried it in the sun. The next day, he went to the mountains and
sold his meat to other monkeys who gladly gave him squash in return. As he was leaving them he called back:
“Lazy fellows, you are now eating your own body; you are now eating your own body.”
Then the monkeys ran and caught him and carried to their own home.
Let us take a hatchet,” said one old monkey, “and cut him into very small pieces.”
But the turtle laughed and said: “That is just what I like. I have been struck with a hatchet many times. Do you not
see the black scars on my shell?”
Then one of the other monkeys said: “Let us throw him into the water.”
At this the turtle cried and begged them to spare his life, but they paid no heed to his pleadings and threw him into
the water. He sank to the bottom, but very soon came up with a lobster. The monkeys were greatly surprised at this
and begged him to tell them how to catch lobsters.

“I tied one end of a string around my waist,” said the turtle. “To the other end of the string I tied a stone so that I
would sink.”

The monkeys immediately tied strings around themselves as the turtle said, and when all was ready they plunged
into the water never to come up again.

And to this day monkeys do not like to eat meat, because they remember the ancient story.
 WHY DOGS WAGS THEIR TAIL (VISAYAN)
( as told by Mabel Cook Cole )

A rich man in a certain town once owned a dog and a cat, both of which were very useful to him. The dog had
served his master for many years and had become so old that he had lost his teeth and was unable to fight any
more, but he was a good guide and companion to the cat who was strong and cunning.

The master had a daughter who was attending school at a convent some distance from home, and very often he
sent the dog and the cat with presents to the girl.

One day he called the faithful animals and bade them carry a magic ring to his daughter.

“You are strong and brave,” he said to the cat “You may carry the ring, but you must be careful not to drop it”

And to the dog he said: “You must accompany the cat to guide her and keep her from harm.”

They promised to do their best, and started out. All went well until they came to a river. As there was neither
bridge nor boat, there was no way to cross but to swim.

“Let me take the magic ring,” said the dog as they were about to plunge into the water.
“Oh, no,” replied the cat, “the master gave it to me to carry.”

“But you cannot swim well,” argued the dog. “I am strong and can take good care of it.”

But the cat refused to give up the ring until finally the dog threatened to kill her, and then she reluctantly gave it
to him.

The river was wide and the water so swift that they grew very tired, and just before they reached the opposite
bank the dog dropped the ring. They searched carefully, but could not find it anywhere, and after a while they
turned back to tell their master of the sad loss. Just before reaching the house, however, the dog was so
overcome with fear that he turned and ran away and never was seen again.

The cat went on alone, and when the master saw her coming he called out to know why she had returned so
soon and what had become of her companion. The poor cat was frightened, but as well as she could she
explained how the ring had been lost and how the dog had run away.

On hearing her story the master was very angry, and commanded that all his people should search for the dog,
and that it should be punished by having its tail cut off.

He also ordered that all the dogs in the world should join in the search, and ever since when one dog meets
another he says: “Are you the old dog that lost the magic ring? If so, your tail must be cut off.” Then
immediately each shows his teeth and wags his tail to prove that he is not the guilty one. Since then, too, cats
have been afraid of water and will not swim across a river if they can avoid it.
 PARABLES
THE FAVORITE SON (TAGALOG)
There was once an aged couple who longed very much for a child. As they were firm believers in the power of the
Cross, it was to God that they prayed for solace in their old age. They wanted a child, if only one child, and they
promised to cherish it with all their hearts.

Their prayers were answered and the old woman bore a son. The son turned out to be handsome and talented, but
very spoiled. Despite the couple’s poverty, the boy was sent to school and given fine presents for every special day
of the year.

The couple loved the boy so much that they enjoyed little without him. They would not eat dinner before the boy
arrived from school. But one night, the boy did not come home from school on time, and the couple became so
hungry that they decided not to wait for the boy any longer. They ate with relish, unknowing that they were finishing
even the boy’s share of the meal. They only realized how hungry they were when there was nothing left on every
plate on the small dining table.

"We’ll pretend that I haven’t cooked dinner yet," the old woman told her husband. "Go upstairs and lie down on the
bed." As the old man did as he was bidden, the boy came into the house.

The old woman faced the boy and said to him "Son, I’m afraid your father was sick today. I wasn’t able to cook
dinner. But I am going to make you a fine meal right now."

The boy was angry at this. He did not know how to sacrifice. He was so angry that he took up a bolo from the
kitchen and went upstairs, and stabbed the pillow his father was supposed to be lying on. As it was dark, the boy did
not see that his father was not lying on the pillow he had torn, but God made the pillow leak blood into his hands
anyway, and in fear and remorse the boy ran away from the house, never to return.

The aged couple loved the boy very much. Even after he left, they prayed fervently for the boy to be forgiven his
anger, and for the boy to have a good life nevertheless. As they prayed, through the years, the boy learned much of
the ways of the world, as he made his way through it alone. He became wise, respected, and rich. He came to own a
large orchard that was the envy of the land.

The favorite son lived in a great estate overseeing his orchard. Once, he saw a very old beggar outside his gates and
took pity on him. He brought the beggar home, and as he was talking to him it dawned upon the boy that the beggar
looked exactly like the father he had left some time ago! But he did nothing to confirm his suspicions yet. He asked
the old man to stay awhile.

The old man said "Sir, I’ve come to your lands because a famine had swept the town where I and my dear departed
wife had lived, and I’d heard that a kind gentleman who owns a large orchard somewhere far away gives food freely
to those in need. I had thought I would only benefit from your kindness only once. But you ask me to stay and be
blessed with more than I had prayed for, and I must do something for you in return. Give me a task that needs a
man’s hands. I may be old, but I can still work."

So the young man told the beggar to work in a part of his orchard. He asked the beggar to cut down all the crooked
trees. And, when the old man had done that, he asked the old man to straighten the crooked logs by placing them on
top of a fire. But the old man could not do this. After a while of laboring he came back to the boy, and said "I’m so
ashamed of myself. I could not straighten even a single log. I think, sir, that when a man wants wood to become
straight, he must tend to it and discipline it while it still has roots, and is young."

It was then that the young man knew that he was, in fact, talking to his old father. With tears in his eyes he embraced
the old man, and confessed that he had been spoiled and ruthless, that he wished the old man had taught him to
respect and revere his parents so that no tragedy could have befallen them. The old man and the boy prayed together
for the boy’s sins to be forgiven.
Afterward, the boy cared for the old man, who came to live in the estate with his favorite son, and made his last days
on earth happy.

EPIC
THE STORY OF ALIGUYON (IFUGAO)

In Gundahan, a prosperous community, there lived a man named Aliguyon. He was considered the handsomest,
the bravest, the strongest, and the most industrious of all the tribe.

After having lived as a bachelor for some time, his parents and married friends advised him to look for a wife.
Wearing the best G-string, with complete head gear, earrings and necklace, and his ever-present spear and bolo
polished to perfect whiteness, he set out in search for his lady.

During a harvest festival, he met Bugan, the most beautiful woman in all the land. At first, both knew they were
meant for each other, but because they were shy, they did not move at love making. Instead, Aliguyon, after
going home, sent a mediator to inform the girl's parents about the proposal and inquire the amount of bride price
required. With the proposal accepted, Aliguyon was made to pay a brideprice of one carabao and a certain
number of pigs.

Then, the preparation for the wedding followed. The wedding was a grand affair. It was attended by the
relatives of both parties. There were drinking, singing, and open discussions by those who were drunk. Pigs and
chickens were sacrificed by native priests to the gods in order that the life of the newlyweds would be of
continued success and prosperity. After that, Aliguyon lived with the family of his wife, doing all that heavy
work in the house and in the rice fields.. This was the time Aliguyon proved to his in-laws that he is honest,
patient, and above all industrious.

After the first three to five months following the "baddang", extensive preparations were made for the "uya-uy,"
a one week celebration which was the
grandest and highest form of public feast given by the rich. Public announcers equipped with gongs went out to
the barrios to invite people from all walks of life.
Large quantities of native rice wine were produced and hundreds of bundles of
palay were pounded, sufficient to last throughout the celebration. Carabaos, cows, pigs, chickens, were
slaughtered, each punctuated by prayers from the priests, invoking the aid of the gods
 THE STORY OF IBALON
Baltog, a mighty warrior of Batavara, came by chance upon the lush and virginal beauty of Ibalon. Extensive in area, rich
in soil, and free from typhoons, Ibalon attracted Baltog's men to found a kingdom. In the course of time, Ibalon became
prosperous and peaceful.

But one day, the peace and prosperity of the land was threatened not by conquering strangers or black men but by a huge
man-eating wild boar. The ferocious beast destroyed the crops and killed the people on its path. Vast areas in Ibalon were
so reduced to waste and countless people were either killed or maimed. Baltog stood dumb-founded as he surveyed the
depredation wrough on hus kingdom.

One day, Baltog left his home alone, planning to confront his enemy. Under the cover of night, he went to the muddy field
to wait for his enemy.

After much waiting, when the moon was bright, the man-eating wild boar came snorting, tearing crops as it went along.
Baltog hid under the bushes. When the boar came within his reach, he sprang at it like a panther. Man and beast tumbled
to the ground in mortal combat. Fortunately, Baltog was able to pin down
the beast and, summoning all his strength, he finally subdued the boar. Baltog's victory put an end to a terror that had
ravished his kingdom for a time.

Ibalon, however, saw few years of peace. One day, huge carabao followed by winged sharks and giant crocodiles rushed
to Ibalon. Every mortal was in fright longer defend death and destruction took a head toll. The mighty Baltog could no his
kingdom for the years had sapped his strength. Defenseless, Ibalon become an easy prey.

Luck, however, was still with Ibalon. On the tragic day, Handiong, a warrior of the neighboring kingdom, happened to
pass by Ibalon. Apprised of the plight of the people, Handiong came to their rescue.

Handiong and his brave seasoned men threw themselves against their stampeding and winging wild enemies. For
untold hours, Ibalon saw mortal combat. Blood flowed freely over the streams. One by one the beasts were slain. Before
sunset, Handiong and his men emerged the victors.

Only one monster escaped Handiong's mortal wrath; this was Oriol, "the serpent who could transform itself into a
beautiful woman. Handiong, however, repulsed the advances of the temptress. To save itself from extinction, Oriol struck
alliance with Handiong. Through its help, the salimaws or evil spirits of mountains were routed out. This last victory
brought to an end the second threat to Ibalon's peaceful existence.

Ibalon, under Handiong's wise administration, became rich and peaceful again. But Handiong was getting on in
years and outside his domain, Rabut, was eyeing his kingdom. This monster was far more terrible, for under its spell,
mortals could be changed into stones.

Luck again was with Ibalon. Handiong had a mighty friend, a young warrior named Bantong.
Bantong, in command of a handful of men, trekked one day into the monster's lair and found the enemy taking its nap.
With cat-like agility, Bantong came near his prey and with a mighty stroke he delivered mortal blows at the monster's
neck. The wounded monster writhed in agony and in his struggle for breath, the earth shuddered and cracked and the
waters of the sea heaved and rolled landward.

With the death throes of the monster over, the dustclouds parted and Ibalon underwent great physical change. New islets
began to dot the waters near the peninsula; the Inarinan River changed its course; and a dark lake had replaced the
mountain at Bato. Finally, a tall and perfect cone reared its head to lord over theleveled ruins. This perfect cone is now
known as the Mayon Volcano.
A long time ago, there was a rich land called Ibalong. The hero Baltog, who came from Botavora of the brave
clan of Lipod, came to this land when many monsters were still roaming in its very dark forests. He decided to
stay and was the first to cultivate its field and to plant them with gabi.
Then one night, a monstrous, wild boar known as Tandayag saw these field and destroyed the crops. Upon
knowing this, Baltog decided to look for this boar with all his courage and patient. At last, as soon as he saw it,
he fearlessly wrestled with it, with all his might. Baltog was unafraid. He was strong and brave. Though the
Tandayag had very long fangs, he was able to pin down the monstrous, wild boar and break apart its very big
jawbones. With this, Tandayag fell and died.
After this fight, Baltog went to his house in Tondo, carrying the Tandaya’g broken bones. Then he hung it on a
talisay tree in front of his house. Upon learning of the victory of their Chief Baltog, the people prepared a feast
and celebrated. The very big jawbones of the dead boar became an attraction for everyone. Thus, came the
tribes of Panikwason and Asog to marvel it.
The second hero who came to the land of Ibalong was Handyong. Together with his men, he had to fight
thousands of battles, and face many dangers to defeat the monster. As warriors, they first fought the one-eyed
monster with the tree necks in the land of Ponong. For ten months, they fought without rest. And they never
stopped fighting until all these monsters were killed.

Handyong and his men made their next attack against the giant flying sharks called Triburon which had hardly
flesh and sawlike teeth that could crush rocks. They continued fighting until the defeat of the last Triburon.
They tamed the wild carabaos. They even drove away the giant and very fierce Sarimao which had very sharp
fingernails. And using their spears and arrows, they killed all the crocodiles which were as big as boats. With all
these killings, the rivers and swamps of Ibalong turned red with blood. It was at this time that the savage
monkeys became frightened and hid themselves.
Among the enemies of Handyong and his men, the serpent Oryol was the hardest to kill. Having a beautiful
voice, Oryol could change its image to deceive its enemies. To capture it, Handyong tried different ways. But
Oryol escaped every one of it and disappeared.
So alone and unafraid, Handyong decide to look for Oryol in the heart of the forest. He followed the beautiful
voice and was almost enchanted by it in his pursuit. Days and nights passed until Oryol came to admire
Handyong’s bravery and gallantry. Then the serpent helped the hero to conquer monsters, thus restoring peace
to the entire Ibalong.
In one the areas of Ibalong called Ligmanan, Handyong built a town. Under his leadership and his laws, slaves
and masters were treated equally. The people planted rice and because of their high regard of him they named
this rice after him. He built the first boat to ride the waves of Ibalong’s seas. Through his good example, his
people became inspired and came up with their own inventions. There was Kimantong who made the plow,
harrow and other farming tools. Hablom who invented the first loom for weaving abaca clothes, Dinahong an
Agta, who created the stove, cooking pot, earthen jar and other kitchen utensils, and Sural who brilliantly
thought of syllabary and started to write on a marble rock. This was a golden period in Ibalong.
Then suddenly, there came a big flood caused by Unos, with terrifying earthquakes. The volcanoes of Hantik,
Kulasi and Isarog erupted. Rivers changed their direction and the seas waves rolled high. Destruction was
everywhere. Soon, the earth parted, mountains sank, a lake was formed, and many towns in Ibalong were
ruined.
Then appeared the giant Rabot, half-man and half-beast, with awesome and terrifying powers.
People were asking who will fight against Rabot. So Bantong, the third hero was called. He was a good friend
of Handyong. He was ordered to kill the new monster on Ibalong. To do this, he took with him a thousand
warriors to attack Rabot’s den. But using his wisdom against Rabot, he did not attack the giant right away. He
first observed Rabot’s ways. Looking around the giant’s den, he discovered that there were many rocks
surrounding it, and these were the people who were turned into rocks by Rabot.
Bantong also learned that Rabot loved to sleep during the day and stayed awake at night. So, he waited. When
Rabot was already sleeping very soundly, Bantong came hear him. He cut the giant into two with his very sharp
bolo and without any struggle, Rabot died. So Ibalong was at peace once more.

Characters of the story:

Baltog - First hero of Ibalon who defeated the Tandayag.
Handyong - Second hero who fought thousands of battles and defeated lots of monsters particularly the One-
eyed monster, Triburon, the Giant Carabaos, Sarimao, Crocodiles, and Serpent Oryol.
Bantong - Third hero of Ibalon; a good friend of Handyong.
Kimantong - He made the farming tools.
Hablom - He invented the first loom for weaving abaca clothes.
Dinahong - an Agta; created the kitchen utensils.
Sural - he is the one who brilliantly thought of syllabary; he started to write on a marble rocks.
Tandayag - a monstrous wild boar killed by Baltog.
One-eyed monster - a monster with three necks killed by Handyong.
Triburon - a giant flying shark at the same time defeated by Handyong.
Giant Carabaos & Crocodiles - monster enemy killed by Handyong.
Sarimao - a monster with sharp fingernails.
Serpent Oryol - a serpent; hardest enemy of Handyong.
Giant Rabot - half-man and half-beast; last enemy of Bantong.

Settings:
Ibalong
Tondo
Ligmana
Heart of the forest

Filipino Tradition:
Protecting ones own territory.

Values of the story:

Bravery
Having Wisdom