Myth Quester: Enjoying Philippine Tales More
To see is to believe. This is how a Philippine tale ought to be enjoyed. Get out there and try to find out things for oneself.
A Philippine tale may sound too predictable to pay any attention to, but it begins to come alive when one is right in the middle of it. The unique thing about Philippine tales or myths is that, even in modern days, one can still find many people even in cities who believe them. Thus, follow up research on them is still possible. One only has to go right where the action is said to have happened.
Most Filipinos are natural Philippine myth or tale lovers who are only too glad to help out in unveiling mysterious stories from olden days. There are so-called psychics around who would gladly “trace” mystical spirits in rumored places of mysticism. There are plenty of acclaimed spiritists and local shamans who are still greatly sought out for as far as Philippine tales are concerned.
The myth on Maria Makiling, for instance, is still alive along the foothill vicinities around Mount Makiling in Laguna. Lots of curious tourists, local and foreign, still stick their noses in nooks and crannies of the mountain top in hopes of seeing or hearing the popular nymph of Philippine tales sing or cry.
Tale researchers or “questers,” a term coined from today’s growing interest in tales and myths, also look into the many mystery stories behind Mount Banahaw bordering Quezon and Laguna in Southern Tagalog. This mountain, according to Philippine tales, is said to be a power source of dark mysticism, and curious “questers” personally go there to “find out for themselves.” Tale “questers” also probe the mythical “footprint of Jesus” on the mountain.
Tale “questers” also frequent the hills of Montalban in Rizal, just south of Metro Manila. A Philippine tale says Bernardo Carpio, the fabled local giant hero who kept two mountains separate, still walks around the place as the guardian of wildlife in the area. Tale “questers” still visit the place to somehow chance upon the giant peeking through or quietly roaming the mountain ranges.
Tale questing is easy. Just be equipped with details on a Philippine tale or myth, know about the place, know how to get to the place, and have someone from the locality as company in the tale questing.
Books seldom capture the excitement of a Philippine tale or myth. Nothing beats the thrill of personally checking out details on the spot as a Philippine tale or myth “quester.”
Related topics:
The Myth on the Gracious Maria Makiling
A myth on the gracious and generous Maria Makiling shows her many assistance to the poor. She is said to be generous with doling out gold and jewelry, in addition to personally managing the reforestation of Makiling’s mountain forests, according...
A Philippine Tale on Angels
A Philippine tale on angels discusses the possibility of good persons turning into guardian angels. This tale says such angels are tasked with rescuing and helping earthly family members. So the more good guys are rasied up in a family,...
A Philippine Tale on Black Cats
Black cats have earned the infamy for carrying bad luck around. A Philippine tale on them is the culprit. The tale begins with a village boy a longtime ago and somehow ends up in common backyards today. There's a moral...
Philippine Myth on Ant Hills
Mytical ant hills, says a Philippine myth, can reveal two vital things to the curious. They can either teach one to behave or pinpoint where house repair problems originate....
The Maiden Who was Turned into a Myth
Alurring beauty can sometimes seem like a curse. Without intending to, one can be the object of malicious gossip, lust, envy, and wrath. In fact, even a local myth tells of an innocent young virgin turned into the townfolks' odium,...
A Myth on the Philippine Archipelago
A long time ago, after Spain christianized the country, many believed that the Philippines had a divine destiny in the far east. A local myth corroborates this assumption and tells of a supernatural intervention from heaven to save the natives...
Myths Surrounding Balete Drive
Balete Drive ghost stories rate high especially among the young. It is rich with various versions of ghost tales or myths, spirit forces, and haunted houses. So popular are they that Balete Drive also form part of Philippine folklore....
Philippine Myth on Mango Fruits
The succulent mango has an interesting love story to tell. This Philippine myth is a local, and probably better, version of a Romeo and Juliet love story, but which ends sweet. A myth ought always to end as sweet....
Philippine Myth: The Origin of Turnips
The Philippine myth on how the Filipino term for “turnip” came to be is a quite an amusing myth. It symbolizes how the conquered and the conqueror can sometimes unknowingly help each other to resolve an issue. In this case,...
Hidden Treasures in the Philippines
Tales of the Yamashita treasures have been going around the country immediately after the Second World War. But a lot about it still remains vague--despite numerous claims of discovery. Truth or tale, the various versions remain exciting stories of Hollywood...
Leave a Reply
