Folktales

Well here in the Philippines specially in the provinces you will heard about different stories, myths, legends, and other unusual things, (examples: mananagals, kapre, dwende etc.) that everyone can stop and say: eto nga! onli in d Philippines!:) Ever heard the stories of Maria Makiling, Bernardo Carpio or Malakas at si Maganda?? I think you heard or seen about this stories, from your lolo's and lola's, or maybe just reading comic book somewhere in National Bookstore, while standing and waiting for your bf or gf..right??! hehehehe!

Most of us heard this stories i guess, but not in a complete detail, and most of this stories that we heard of are edited trough generations, sad but true. For me, we are now living under the influence western culture. Most of the kids today did not know about our alamats, and the stories we inherit through our ancestors. It is totally forgotten (ika nga nila sa tagalog.. naitago na sa baol ng panahon)

But on the bright side here I am, trying to do nationalistic act to free somehow, the generation of today (specially you reading my blog) against the influence of Peter Pan and Captain Hook or Frodo Baggins hehehehehe.. and promote our alamats, and folklore by writing this blog:)

:)

Ever been into bohol?? were you can find the beautiful chocolate hills, the Tarsier and one the most beautiful but small island called Panglao, Balicasag and Pamilacan. Well if im going to choose were should i spend my summer vacation Boracay or Bohol??? i definitely choose Bohol..were i could relax and chill! not like in Boracay..were all you can do is bar hopping, drinking hehehehe...

Did you know that Bohol has its Myth?? well this is southern version of Maria Makiling..enjoy!

Origin of Bohol

As told by an old woman who lived just below the forest of Verde, Duero, Bohol. She was known as Oyang Pinanda, meaning Great Grandma Penanda.

The people were living beyond the sky. One day, the chief's only daughter got sick. The medicine man of the barangay said: "The cure is in the roots of this wild Balete tree. Dig around it and let her arms touch the root".

They dug around the root and they placed the sick girl on the trench, when suddenly, the woman fell through the hole in the sky. Below the sky was a big water. Two gakits(wild ducks) saw the woman fall. They caught her lightly on their backs where she rested. The gakits found Big Turtle. When Big Turtle saw the woman, he called a council of all swimming animals. They said: "We must save the woman and make her a home".

The leader commanded the frog: "Dive and bring up dirt from the tree roots." The frog tried and failed.
The mouse tried also and failed. Finally, the Big Toad volunteered: "I will try".

At this, all animals jeered and laugh except Big Turtle who said: "You do well to try. Perhaps you will be lucky".

The old Toad took a long breath and went down, down. At last, a bubble of air came up and the old Toad followed. In its mouth she carried a few grains of sand, which she spread around the edge of Big Turtle's shell. Then an island grew on Big Turtle's back, and it became Bohol island, and the woman lived upon it.

If anyone will examine carefully the shape of the turtle's back , he will find some similarity to the shape of the island of Bohol.

From Boholano Folklore by Maria Caseñas Pajo.