THE LOST LENDER

Throughout my life, I've read several versions of the story “The

Lost Lender”. I've read this story a few times already, yet the lesson is
still fresh in my memory. For many, this tale is a simple narrative since
we hear it from time to time and learn the lesson after reading it, but for
me, this legend also includes the fact that this legend stories convey a
poetic picture of a man and his relationship to nature.

According to other renditions, the spirit mentioned in the story is

an engkantada or a black giant or agta. As the tale appears to be going, it
is a simple yet powerful spirit. This anecdote teaches me a valuable
lesson as I grow older. This folklore is a narrative on the importance of
being thankful and grateful for what we have. It also reminds us to learn
how to appreciate those people or things while they are still present. You
will have no regrets if you value the things and people in your life. It also
emphasizes the significance of keeping one's promises and never abusing
trust.

The lender or powerful spirit represents nature, as we were

originally in harmony with it, but we regrettably damaged it ourselves
due to our abuse and greed. Those broken plates and unclean garments
that they return to the spirit symbolize our sins against nature, such as
environmental destruction and pollution.

I love the story, not only for the lesson or hidden message it
provides, but also for the manner in which it was told. Even though the
story provided did not go into much detail, the style is outstanding
because there was no repetition throughout the story. The story may
appear to have an unresolved mystery because to the spirit's
disappearance, yet we can easily tell that the continuation of the legend is
the contemporary civilization that we are in.