Philippine Myth on Ant Hills
Ant hills are distinct earth mounds on the ground where ant underground condos are hid. Right? Well, says a Philippine tale, they’re more than that. They’re actually mystical kingdoms disguised as earth heaps. So the Philippine myth warns anybody making fun of them or meaning them harm.
The Philippine myth started before the Spaniards came to the country, when Christianity was not heard of yet. Then, native tribes believed in mystic pagan gods ruling the physical realm from their invisible kingdoms. But some thought the kingdoms to be coexistent with the real world, moving with them in their daily activities. But both versions believed that for some reasons, the kingdoms could wish to surface and claim territory. If so, according to this Philippine myth, they appeared as mounds on the ground.
Up to this day, this Philippine myth is believed even by some Manila residents. They fear touching or even staring at earth mounds, especially those that pop up over days or overnight. These mounds are said to “grow” and the higher they grow the more power the have, or so this Philippine myth says.
Elves or dwarfs often figure in this tale. Ant hills often grow beside trees. Some are lonely ant hills amid fields or lots. Where ant hills abound, so are spiritual elfin creatures, says this Philippine myth. They are said to rule the area. And what can they do? According to this Philippine myth, these dwarfs can inflict lots of fearsome mischief on the offender. Some people swear to have been harmed by them, struck ill with mysterious diseases no physician could treat.
The Philippine myth adds that there are two ways to lick off the infliction: call quack-doctors or pacify the elfin spirits. With quacks the victim gets a chance to ward off inflictions through some eerie rituals. With pacifying spirits, the victim gets to offer little sacrifices like chicken’s blood, food offering, or merely apologizing. The Philippine myth avers that when favored by dwarfs, a person is said to be given gifts or powers by such elves, but with dire later consequences.
Yet, lots of people claim they nonchalantly trample such ant hills flat or shovel them away. And sure enough, they say, they find no mystical creature inside save armies of ants, termites, and tiny moths.
Philippine myth on ant hills can teach us either of two things: never mess up with anything you know nothing of or, the termite infested ceiling costing sums to repair is blamable to an ant hill somewhere in the yard.
Related topics:
The Myth about the Chocolate Hills in Bohol
The Chocolate Hills of Bohol are an amazing wonder to see. The imagination can soar high with myths unbounded by rigid scientific limits and find pleasure in a fantastic myth that imagines the hills as an aftermath of a mythical...
The Philippine Myth about the Sun
What would Earth be without the sun, and how would people react to such a predicament? A Philippine myth says people are likely to fail, despite efforts to make up for the sun’s absence. And the myth avers that people...
Myth Quester: Enjoying Philippine Tales More
Hands-on study of a Philippine tale or myth is the best alternative to thoroughly researching and enjoying it. Instead of relying on textbook information, why not go to where it all happened and find out for oneself all about a...
The Myth about the Shining Moon
The moon was a useless giant ball of rocks and metal that went around the Earth in search of meaning. A myth says it shed no light of any kind and even became a hindrance to the sun now and...
The Filipino Myth on Creation
The early notion of Filipinos about God was a provider of all peoples' needs. A myth on this says that God created the world as needs arised. The myth hints that there was no grand overall blueprint that creation followed....
Philippine Myth on the Origin of the Pineapple
The lesson of this Philippine myth is twofold: kids, obey parents, and parents, be gentle with kids. The Philippine myth on the pineapple's origin says lots about an aspect of Filipino attitude on work and family upbringing. ...
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,...
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,...
The Philippine Myth on Why Roosters have Crowns
Warnings are very important. According to a myth, a timely ounce of warning before danger occurs is a pound of cure that can save even a whole kingdom. A Philippine myth on why roosters have crowns shows the importance of...
The Myth about the Sugarcane
The Philippine myth about the sugarcane is a story on searching for meanings in life. Life can only have meaning, says this myth, if our experience of it is sweet. Without this, the myth avers that achievements, no matter how...
2 Responses to “Philippine Myth on Ant Hills”
Leave a Reply
I love this site. It really teaches me a lot of lessons. And it helps in my book report and other projects.!! SALAMAT!!
These web help me a lot……especially in Philippine literature in our school…..and it help me have 30 points in recitations…….thank you very much..!!!!!!!!!!!!