2 myths, 2 legends and 2 folktales [from region 7]

MYTH - 1                                                                                                 YNAGUINID and MACANDUC
GODS of WAR and STRIFE 

There are a few gods in the Visayan pantheon that play a significant role in important moments for a Visayan community, and Ynaguinid and Macanduc are examples of such deities. They are the personification of war and they also serve as inspiration and standard for ancient Visayans on the art of warfare, sieges and pillages. Babaylans and chieftains pray to these formidable gods to bless the warriors with their might, bravery and strength to overcome their enemies in the olden days, such as the Moros from Mindanao, whose raiding tactics have caused problems to Visayan barangays all over the Southern part of the archipelago. Ynaguinid and Macanduc are favored deities of warriors, war leaders, chieftains, guards and slave masters. They believed that these deities also awesome appearances to go with their titles: They are said to be able-bodied men covered in many tattoos, symbols of a victor and slayers of men, their dark bodies are smeared in coal or mud, their faces streaked with blood, their teeth sharpened like shark teeth yet blackened with coal and herbs. They were the epitome of bravery and victor in battles for many Visayan warriors, and they try to emulate them by also covering their bodies with coal, mud and red tints from herbs, sharpening and blackening their teeth, and when victorious in a skirmish, have their bodies tattooed to symbolize the men they killed in battle so that the villagers will glorify them more, raising their status in the village system.Ynaguinid is also known to be a deity of weapon and poison-making, and an old story once states that Ynaguinid appeared to a group of lost hunters or warriors as a beautiful woman of the forest, and taught them the secrets on how to create poisonous, oily concoctions by mixing poisonous plant oils from toxic floras such as the kayos/kolot, makasla and kamandag plants, to be used in hunting and wars.

MYTH - 2

NAGMALITONG YAWA SINAGMALING DIWATA
DEITY OF LUST & SEDUCTION

Malitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata is literally a naked weapon from Deviantart by amontay

Nagmalitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata is one of the three most beautiful goddesses in ancient Visayan myths along with her sisters Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan and Lubay Lubyok Mahanginun si Mahuyokhuyokan. She is also the wife of Saragnayan, the deity of darkness and it was believed that she is the goddess of lust and seduction due to the heroes of Hinilawod charmed by her beauty and shapeshifting skills.

Born out of a night flower, Nagmalitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata came to the world already in adult form and capable of stirring lustful emotions of men around her. Her name, which usually means "beguiling demoness, bedazzling goddess" is a juxtaposition in itself as she is seen by ancient visayans as both a malevolent deity and also a benevolent goddess all in one.

In the first part of hinilawod, she was married to Saragnayan, lord of darkness and was heavily desired to be owned by Labaw Donggon after he saw her image in his magic crystal ball. She hid away from sight in Saragnayan's house as her husband fought the valiant hero, and contrary to popular beliefs, Nagmalitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata loved her husband and wanted to be by his side, even if he was portrayed by ancient storytellers as grotesque and unsightly, a sharp contrast to her ageless beauty. She is also thought to be an interpretation of the powers all women possess, the ability to seduce men and cause arguments and fights, as well as a helpful, and nurturing member of the society, as seen in the Hinilawod story. It is said that when Saragnayan died at the hands of Labaw Donggon's sons, Nagmalitong Yawa fled and cursed Labaw Donggon with madness and caused him to be lovesick. This caused the hero to wander aimlessly around the world until one of his brother's found and caught him and took him home. Nagmalitong Yawa's curse was so strong that even the skilled magical wives of Labaw Donggon, Abyang Ginbitinan and Abyang Diriinin were perplexed for a long time on how to break it, for everytime he would hear Nagmalitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata's name, Labaw Donggon would break out in feverish states of madness, though he was eventually ultimately cured by his wives' magic. She was usually invoked by enchantresses, desperate, single women and also by practitioners of black magic and makers of early "lumay" or love potions.

Another story in Hinilawod, shows Nagmalitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata's benevolent side, and not as a beguiling temptress bent on exacting revenge on lustful men, but as a helper of good. It was also believed that during her time away in exile after her husband's death, Nagmalitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata learned to leave in peace and contentment in the forest, tending to the different animals in need and helping the lost. She took on the guise of a woman simply named Nagmalitong Yawa and aided and rescued Humadapnon when he was imprisoned by the evil enchantress Ginmayunan in the guise of a boy before revealing her true self to him and the two fell in love. Humadapnon however left on to do more adventures and didn't return for many years, Nagmalitong Yawa found another suitor, Buyung Sumagulung and was about to marry the man when Humadapnon returned. She was supposedly stabbed to death in Humadapnon's blind fit of rage but was brought back to life by the hero's sister, Labing Anyag and was given the gift of immortality. She was traumatized, shamed and insulted by Humadapnon's act that she fled to the Underworld and sought for her uncle, Panlinugun, the god of earthquakes for protection while she shapeshifted herself as a pot to hide from Humadapnon. The hero found her, but she was protected by Amarotha, another brother of Humadapnon and was the source of their feud once more, until Alunsina appeared and cut Nagmalitong Yawa into two with a golden sword from Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan, dividing the goddess and turning her into two for her sons to marry.

"White lady of the Forest" a form of Nagmalitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata from clarkmonding

Another interesting angle about Nagmalitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata is that it was also said that she was the origin of the first tales of bewitchment in ancient Visayas, stories of men who got lost in the forest by being seduced by a mysterious, nude, pale lady, also known as "White Lady" stories in modern times. Storytellers of yore told countless tales of male travelers being seduced by a naked female in the forest or by a lady in white at a night of a full moon, only to never return in their own communities or be found in the heart of the deep forest as a rotting corpse or a bunch of bones. Wives would worry about their husband's leaving at night and would continually warn their spouses about going on hunting expeditions alone. It was believed by the old Visayan folks that this was Nagmalitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata's revenge to humanity for the death of her husband, Saragnayan, and her ways still continue even until this day. This belief was so strong in provincial Visayas, that even until now, that men who would wander alone in the forest were given "anting-antings" (protective amulets) by their loved ones, or risk being spirited away by the seductive goddess into oblivion.

                                                                               LEGEND 1                                                                                         The Sun and the Moon

Once upon a time the Sun and the Moon were married, and they had many children who were the stars. The Sun was very fond of this children, but whenever he tried to embrace any of them, he was so hot that he burned them up. This made the Moon so angry that finally she forbade him to touch them again, and he was greatly grieved.

One day the Moon went down to the spring to do some washing, and when she left she told the sun that he must not touch any of their children in her absence. When she returned, however, she found that he had disobeyed her, and several of the children in had perished.

She was very angry, and picked up a banana tree to strike him, whereupon he threw sand in her face, and to this day you can see the dark marks on the face of the Moon.

Then the Sun started to chase her, and they have been going ever since. Sometimes he gets so near that he almost catches her, but she escapes, and bay and bay she is far ahead again.

 LEGEND 2                                                                                                              Legend of Maria Cacao

According to Britannica.com, a legend is “traditional story or group of stories told about a particular person or place.” Legends are essentially folktales associated with mythical creatures, supernatural beings or explanations for natural phenomena.  They are also linked to a specific person or locality and are passed on through generations.

Cebu has its own share of legends that were passed from generation to generation. One such legend is the legend of Maria Cacao. The legend of Maria Cacao is associated with the tablea. Tablea is a Spanish word that means tablet. It is made out of cacao beans that are roasted, ground and formed into tablets.

Tablea or Tableya From Argao – image source: argaoguilangtableya.weebly.com

In the legend, Maria Cacao is a diwata or a mountain goddess who lived in a cave on Mount Lantoy in Argao. She owns a cacao plantation where villagers from Argao source their cacao from.  Each time Maria harvests the cacao, she and her husband, Mangao, would bring their produce to other islands and countries on a large golden boat. They would usually leave at dawn when the villagers were still sleeping.

Each time they pass through the Argao River, they would destroy the bridge on the river and cause it to overflow. Whenever this happened, the villagers would know that the two have already set sail with a boatload of cacao. When they came back, they would bring with them items from other places.

Mount Lantoy – image source: allaboutargao.wikispaces.com

Maria would lend these items to the villagers, who would simply write whatever item they want to borrow and leave the list at the entrance of the cave. When the villagers return the next day, these items would be there. Maria lent different items, from clothes, spoons, forks, plates and other utensils, all of which were made of gold.

But, people started to return the items already broken or they would never return them at all. Due to this, Maria Cacao did not let the villagers borrow from her anymore. She also did not show herself to the villagers anymore, and the people stopped believing in the existence of Maria Cacao. 

 FOLKTALE - 1                                                                                                                                                                  The Chocolate Hills of Bohol
   Sa kanhiay nga mga tuig, sa lusaran sa Bukid sa Kalipay, may nagpuyo nga adunahang magtiayon nga may bugtong nga anak nga babaye.  Ang anak maanyag apan mapahitas-on, hinawayon, ug tapulan.  Ginganlan siya ug si Amada.  Ang magtiayon may silingan nga usa ka makinaadmanon nga babaye nga aduna'y anak nga kaluha.  Ang kaluha ginganlan ug si Ruben ug si Teresa.  Sila manggiluy-on ug nagtubo nga mapinanggaon sa mga binuhat sa Diyos sa ilang palibut.   Matag adlaw sila moluhod ug moduko aron mangadye.
   Many years ago, at the foot of Happy Mountain, there lived a wealthy couple who had an only daughter.  The daughter was good-looking, but she was arrogant, mean, and lazy.  She was called Amada.  The couple had a neighbor, a wise woman and mother of twins.  The twins were called Ruben and Teresa.   They were kind to everyone, and they grew to love God's creatures around them.  Everyday they knelt and bowed their heads to pray.
   Usa ka madan-ag nga buntag, si Amada, si Ruben, ug si Teresa nagduwa sa ilang Amada'ng hardin sa diha'ng may usa ka tigulang babaye nga niagi ug nagpakilimos.  Si Ruben ug si Teresa nikuot sa ilang bulsa apan wala sila'y nahinol.  Busa gitangtang ni Teresa ang iyang kuwentas nga perlas ug gihatag ngadto sa makililimos.  Niini wala mahimuot si Amada.  Buot niya nga ilugon ang kuwentas.  Iyang gibato ug gisabyagan ug tubig ang makililimos.  Apan wala buhii sa makililimos ang mga perlas.
    One bright morning Amada, Ruben, and Teresa were playing in Amada's garden when an old woman came by and begged for alms.  Ruben and Teresa dug into their pockets but did not find anything.  So Teresa took off her pearl necklace and gave it to the beggar.  Amada did not like the idea.  She tried to grab the necklace.  She threw stones and splashed water at the beggar.  However, the beggar did not let go of the pearls.
    Hinuon masuk-anon nga misinggit ang tigulang, "Dawo ka ug wa'y batasan.  Dagiton ko ikaw ug tun-an sa hustong pamatasan.   Sa laing bahin, kining mga bata nga manggiluy-on akong pagabaslan."  Unya si Amada gidagit sa tigulang.  Giadto ni Ruben ug Teresa ang mga ginikanan ni Amada ug gisaysayan sa nahitabo.
    Instead, she shouted angrily, "You are unkind and rude.   I'll take you somewhere to teach you good manners.  On the other hand, the kind children will be rewarded."  The woman took Amada away.  Ruben and Teresa went to Amada's parents and told them what had happened.
   Samtang si Amada kauban sa tigulang babaye, kansa usa diay ka engkanto, wala gihapon mabalhin ang iyang pamatasan.  Iyang gilabay ug kahoy ang engkanto ug gibuhatan ug uban pang salawayon nga buhat.  Ang engkanto nagsaad nga iyang ihatag kang Amada ang mga perlas ni Teresa kon siya magbinuotan. 
    Although Amada lived with the old woman, who turned out to be a fairy, she still did not change her ways.  She slung sticks at the fairy and did other mean things.   The fairy promised to give Teresa's pearls to Amada if she would become good.
   Usa ka gabii si Ruben nakadungog ug usa ka tawag.  Nagtuo siya nga si Amada kadto.  Busa milakaw siya kauban si Teresa padulong sa gigikanan sa tingog.  Padayon sila paglakaw hangtud niabut sila sa balay sa usa ka higante.  Ang higante nalipay sa pagkakita kanila.  Abi niya aduna na siya'y sigurado nga panihapon nianang gabhiona.  Nagpakiluoy ang asawa sa higante nga dili sa higante kaonon ang duha ka bata.  Ang mga bituon nagsugod pagpangatagak.   Unya mga gagmay nga sundalong kape nibutho ug naglinya nga nibatok sa higante.   Sa nahuman ang away, si Amada nabalhin.  Nahimo siyang manggiluy-on kaayo.   Nalipay siya nga nakauban na usab niya silang Teresa ug Ruben.
    One night Ruben heard a call.  He thought it was Amada.   So he went out with Teresa and headed towards where the voice seemed to have come from.   They walked and walked until they reached the house of a giant.  The giant was happy to see them.  He thought his supper was assured that night.  The giant's wife begged him not to eat the two children.  The stars began to fall.   Little brown soldiers came in line and fought the giant.  When the fight was over, Amada had become a changed girl.  She became very kind.  She was also happy to be with Teresa and Ruben again.
   Ang mga sundalong kape nanagan uban sa mga bata hangtud nga huwas sa peligro nga niabut sa ilang pinuy-anan.   Ang mga perlas nga nadawat ni Amada gikan sa engkanto iyang gisabwag sa yuta isip timailhan sa pagkamanggiluy-on ug pagkamapahiubsanon.  Nahimo kining mga bantok nga kending tsokolate nga nitubo ug nahimong mga bungtod nga tsokolate.  Karong panahona mao na kini ang gibantog nga Chocolate Hills sa Carmen, Batuan, ug Borja sa Bohol.
    The brown soldiers ran away with the children until they reached home safely. The pearls that Amada received from the fairy were scattered into the fields as a symbol of kindness and humility.  They became hard chocolate drops and grew into chocolate hills.  Today they are the famous Chocolate Hills of Carmen, Batuan, and Borja in Bohol.

 FOLKTALE - 2                                                                                                                                          [The Lost Necklace (Why Chickens Scratch the Ground]
   May usa ka uwak nga nakapalit ug nindot nga kuwentas gikan sa usa ka ahente.  Mapagarbohon kaayo siya sa maong alahas ug kini iya dayong gisul-ob sa iyang liog aron makita sa kadaghanan.  Unya nilupad siya ug nahiabut sa usa ka hardin diin iyang nahimamat ang usa niya ka karaan nga higala, ang himungaan, kansa nagparada sinundan sa iyang mga piso.  Matud sa himungaan kaniya, "Uy, kaanindot sa imong kuwentas.  Mahimo ba'ng akong hulaman?   Akong iuli kanimo ugma dayon sa walay palta."
   There was once a crow that had bought a fine necklace from a merchant.   He was very proud of his ornament which he immediately put around his neck so that everybody could see it.  Then he flew away and came to a beautiful little garden where he met his old friend, the hen, strutting about with her chicks following her.   The hen said to him, "Oh, what a fine necklace you have.  May I borrow it?  I will return it to you tomorrow without fail."
   Angay hibaw-an nga ang uwak nakagusto sa himungaan; busa, walay langan nga iyang gipahulaman ang iyang kuwentas sulod sa usa ka adlaw.  Sa pagkaugma, sa pagbalik sa uwak, iyang naabtan ang himungaan ug ang mga piso niini nga nanagkakha sa yuta duol sa usa ka pader.  "Asa na man ang akong kuwentas?" nangutana ang uwak.
    Now, the crow liked the hen, so he willingly lent her the necklace for a day.  The next morning, when the crow returned to get it back, he found the hen and her chicks scratching the ground near an old wall.  "Where is my necklace?" asked the crow.
   "Nawani," tubag sa himungaan.   "Gikuha gikan kanako sa akong mga piso gahapon samtang ako natulog, ug karon dili na sila makahinumdum kon diin nila nabutang.  Tibuok adlaw namong pinangita, apan wala g'yud namo makit-i."
    "It is lost," said the hen.  "My chicks took it yesterday while I was asleep, and now they do not remember where they put it.  We have been looking for it all day, yet we have not been able to find it."
   "Kinahanglan pagabayran nimo dayon," matud sa uwak, "kondili, isumbong nako sa hari nga imong gikawat ang akong kuwentas."
    "You must pay for it at once," said the crow, "or else I shall go to the king and tell him that you stole my necklace."
   Ang himungaan nahadlok sa pagkadungog niini, ug nahingawa dayon siya kon unsaon niya pagbayad.  Ang uwak, kansa nagpadulong sa usa ka pista, nagdali ug nibungat, "Akong dagiton ang usa nimo ka piso isip bayad matag adlaw nga utangan ka kanako.  Kon makit-an nimo ang kuwentas, ihatag dayon kanako, ug dason ako mohunong sa pagkaon sa imong mga piso."  Ang himungaan nisugot niining kasabutan kay siya nahadlok nga, kondili siya mosugot, mosumbong ang uwak sa hari.
    The hen was frightened upon hearing this, and she began to wonder how she could raise the money.  The crow, who was on his way to a fiesta, said impatiently,"I will take one of your chicks everyday in payment of what you owe me.  As soon as you find the necklace, give it back to me.   Only then will I stop eating your chicks."  The hen had to agree, for she feared that the crow would go to the king if she refused.
   Hangtud karong panahona ang mga himungaan ug lakip ang ilang mga piso wala pa mohunong sa pagpangita sa kuwentas, ug ang mga uwak nagapadayon sa pagpalukat sa nawalang alahas pinaagi sa pagkaon sa mga piso.   Ginaingon nga ang mga himungaan ug mga manok dili mohunong sa pagkakha sa yuta hangtud nga makit-an ang nawalang kuwentas.
    Unto this day, both hens and chicks have not stopped looking for the lost necklace, and the crows continue to exact payment for the lost jewel by taking the chicks.   It is said that the hens and chickens will never cease scratching the ground until the lost necklace is found.