Philippines Guide
For Travelers, Expats and Pinoys
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.
The Myth about the Rabbit and the Lion
A long time ago, according to the myth, there lived two animals that were very good friends; wherever they went they were never separated. If the lion stalked an animal, the myth says the rabbit would frighten it towards the lion for an easy prey.
When the lion had caught the prey, the rabbit in turn, says the myth, searched for the best grass and dug for wild tubers beside the eating lion, making the lion an insurance for safety. Nobody could touch the rabbit while it enjoyed munching food without any care in the world, the myth adds. It was an almost perfect partnership.
One day, the myth says, an animal disease plagued the forest. Almost all of the animals died save the crocodiles. The myth says that saddened by the tragedy, the lion and the rabbit were in mourning. But gradually, the lion looked hungrily at the rabbit and began seeing the rabbit in a different light. This prompted the rabbit to doubt the lion and fearfully withdrew to the river, the myth adds.
“I think I need some fresh air. I’ll take a walk over there,” the rabbit said, pretending not to notice the ravenous look of the lion. The myth says that the lion in turn said,”Okay, go ahead.” But the lion followed the rabbit. According to the myth, the lion suddenly announced to the rabbit, “Good idea. Rest, for tomorrow I will eat you.”
That night, according to the myth, the rabbit pretended to be dead near a river infested by crocodiles. At dawn, the lion checked the rabbit. Seeing the rabbit dead—mouth rotten and filled with flies—the lion left the river dispirited, the myth says. When the lion had gone, the rabbit hastily asked a crocodile, “How many are you?” The myth says the crocodile answered, “Many.” The rabbit shook his head. “I don’t believe unless you all fall in line. That way I can count you all one by one as I jump over your backs till I get to the other side of the river.”
According to the myth, the crocodiles agreed and the rabbit reached the other side of the river safely. The rabbit lived but the lion eventually died of starvation, the myth concludes.
Some friendships can easily be destroyed by selfish and predatory interests, and as such, this myth shows that it’s best to get out of such relationship as early and as safely as possible.
The Myth about Water in Coconuts
Health buffs say among the purest water source today is the water inside a coconut. Through Science we know that plants produce fruits and juices though the action of sunlight and carbon dioxide in a process called photosynthesis. But people long ago had another version of why coconuts produced sweet pure water inside its shell. We find this in one of the popular folk myths on how water is “trapped” inside a coconut shell.
Although the Philippines is an archipelago surrounded by bodies of water there is scarcity of water in some parts of it. The same was said to be true hundreds of years ago. Especially when the dry spell is over the land during summer some parts ran out of water source. In one such season Noog, a slim native boy from southern Luzon, was said to have scoured the place for precious clean water. The popular folk myth said he went to a high place in search of it.
Then he chanced upon an underground water source, or “bukal” in the vernacular, from among the deep caves found on the top of a mountain. He went down the descending cavern and found a cool clean underground spring. He drank some and kept some in a container made of bamboo. According to the popular folk myth, he left the place and vowed to keep the place a secret so he and his family alone could benefit from it. He descended the mountain in high hopes but then was blocked by several folks from town. They demanded water.
Noog refused to give them any and determined to withhold the information on the underground water source. The folks were enraged by Noog’s obstinate stand and they decided to kill and bury him on a remote place on the plain. As a last resort to save his life, Noog offered to tell them where the “bukal” was found, to no avail. Then, the popular folk myth says, the folks saw a strange tree growing on the plains one day. It grew to be a tall and slender tree with large nuts the size of a human head.
People then started to call the tree and its nuts Noog’s water from the “bukal” and as time went it shortened to simply Noog or “bukal.” Much later on, the popular folk myth referred to them as “Niyog” or “Buko,” as coconut is called today. The lesson in this popular folk myth is that we should always willingly share our blessings.
The Myth on the First Man and Woman
How did the first man and woman came to be? This Philippine myth tells us how.
According to this myth, the first creations were the sea, the sky, and a giant bird. How they appeared was not mentioned, but they just existed. There was no land yet, so the giant bird just flew continuously. According to the myth, the bird finally grew tired of flying, but the predicament was that there was nothing yet to land on. Being smart, or so the myth avers, the bird instigated the sea to throw rocks on the sky.
Somehow the sky was hit, and it retaliated by a tremendous downpour. The rocks thrown plus the downpour later produced land masses all over the world, says the myth. The land produced plants much later. Now the giant bird had something to perch on. As it was relaxing on a branch, the myth says, it became thirsty. So the bird flew again in search of fresh water, this time. But the sea yielded nothing but salt water. So the bird tried searching on the land. It came upon a cluster of shrubberies where giant weeds grew nearby. The giant bird, the myth continues, knew that these giant weeds had stored water between their knots. So the bird started pecking on a bamboo, the name of the giant weeds.
After much pecking, the bamboo remained the same. The myth says that when the bird was about to leave for another round of search, voices from inside the bamboo urged it to continue pecking. The bird obliged, but to no avail. Finally, being a smart bird, it picked up a big rock with its claws, flew high, and, the myth says, dropped the thing on the bamboo. It crashed open the bamboo and from inside, the myth declares, appeared a man and a woman, naked. That shooed scared the bird off. It was its first time to see humans.
Without realizing it, the bird was instrumental to the creation of the land masses all over the world and the first human beings, as far as this myth is concerned. But for the bird, all it wanted was something to land on to get some rest, and some fresh water to quench its thirst.
This Philippine myth on the origin of man and woman suggests that necessity is the mother of creation. And secondly, unsung heroes always take the back seats in any story.
Philippine Wedding Superstitions
Whenever you come to visit the Philippines be aware that many Filipinos still hold on to folklore that doesn’t have any scientific or logical basis. You might want to be polite and respect some of the local lores and superstitions so as not to offend the locals.
Some Filipinos comply with these superstitions for the sake of camaraderie. But there are people in the Philippines who ignore these superstitions sensing them to be downright ridiculous.
We’ll discuss some of the many superstitions that relate to a wedding in the Philippines. Some of these may come as a shock and some may even raise an eyebrow. Just don’t make fun of it or laugh out loud in front of the folks as that is considered being rude.
Let’s say you’re invited to a wedding in the Philippines. When considering gifts, knives and other sharp or pointed objects are considered bad gifts. It is a common superstition that these gifts lead to a broken marriage.
On the other hand, the other half of this superstition holds that if you give a chamberpot (locally known as “arinola”), this brings good fortune to the newlyweds.
Another wedding superstition assumes that wedding couples are accident-prone and should never travel long distances.
Rain during a wedding day is a sign of prosperity for the newlyweds, a superstition that carries an opposite meaning in other countries.
Another wedding superstition compels the groom to arrive much earlier than the bride. If not, it is said that this will bring bad luck.
One interesting (and quite ridiculous) superstition is that the bride should step on the groom’s foot when heading towards the altar. This would force the husband to agree with whatever the wife says all their married life.
You’ll seldom see a bride wearing pearls on her wedding day. These are said to bring unhappiness to her in her married life.
Don’t be surprised to see someone breaking a glass or a dish during the wedding reception. Another superstition says that doing this brings good luck to the new couple.
More of a custom than a superstition is the Pamanhikan. This is an occasion where the groom and his parents meet the bride’s family to ask her hand in marriage. This is considered by some in the Philippines as a dying tradition.
Whenever you’re invited to a wedding in a Philippines you should know which gifts to give and what goes on in the wedding and in the wedding reception. These wedding superstitions are more of a wish for the newlyweds to have a good life ahead of them.
[Tags]Philippines, Superstition, Wedding, Bride, Philippines Superstition, Filipino[/Tags]
Folklore on Life Wisdom
The Philippines continuous to have ubiquitous problems on education. A sizeable portion of the populace still lacks it, while those who have it often end up unable to use their college degrees for what jobs are available. But a folklore says, even in modern times, we have to keep in mind the basics of wisdom more than the advances of education.
Two men went from Manila to Cebu. One was a lawyer, the other a simple fisherman. They met in the ship and discussed about various facets of life. The folklore says the lawyer demonstrated what education can do to a person; he was able to talk about anything under the sun. The simple fisherman, according to the folklore, had finished only grade four in elementary.
The folklore says the lawyer talked about the economy, world affairs, war, climate change, and politics, among other things. Periodically, the lawyer would ask him if the fisherman understood. He only smiled and looked back. The folklore says he commented thus: “It’s a pity that you know only the sea and its fish.” He looked at the fisherman and smilingly said, “And probably how to swim.”
The lawyer looked away and continued. “Life is more than the sea, fishing, and swimming. You have to know about what’s going on, here and abroad. Had you continued diligently with your studies, you would have been erudite in all matters like me.” The folklore says he stared at the fisherman. “You’re missing so much in life, friend.”
Without warning a tsunami suddenly struck and the ship was capsizing within minutes. In the commotion, the folklore says, they ran out of life boats and life jackets. The fisherman shouted: “Sir, it’s time to jump off to the sea before the ship submerges!” The lawyer stared hard at him and said, “I don’t know how to swim!” The folklore says, the fisherman was aghast: “You’re so smart but you never bothered about swimming? I mean we all know our archipelago—7,100 islands—lots of waters. Even grade four kids know that.”
The lawyer shouted in anger” “I know that! But what’s your point?”
The fisherman, says this folklore, poised to dive but before jumping, he said: “The point is, sir, jump and swim away from the ship—or you’ll lose your life!”
This Philippine folklore reminds us that education that cannot be practical in one’s real situation is potential wisdom all down the drain.
The Myth about Bernardo Carpio in Montalban
Sacrifice and determination are noble qualities rare in people today. The myth about the legendary strong man of Montalban, Bernardo Carpio, exalts these exemplary character qualities. Yet, it also shows his disenchantment.
The myth starts by depicting the wrath of a Spanish king who was cruel enough to imprison his own sister, Infanta Jimena, and the rebellious general, Don Sancho Diaz of Cerdenia, for their forbidden love. Self-ambition was thicker than blood.
The myth says the King punished even the child, the fruit of the forbidden love, by having him cared for by Don Rubio, the antagonist against Infanta and Sancho. Rubio was a general.
The child, according to the myth, named Bernardo, was a boy of great strength. As he grew, so did his physical prowess and sword skills, says the myth. Whatever his fingers clutched died: a mischievous boar, an angry bull, a naughty horse.
Bernardo easily became a master swordsman. And, according to the myth, he challenged Rubio, his foster father, in a duel, which resulted to Rubio’s death. Bernardo became right-hand general of the King. The myth says, this was just the beginning of Bernardo’s adventures: with a sword, the knight Bernardo single handedly repulsed idolatrous enemy soldiers, and vowed to fight idolatry and win for the one true God of the Christians!
However, the myth says, he eventually learned of the fate of his real parents, and how his uncle King Alfonso had a direct hand in it. The king had been fighting pagans but was really no different from his enemies, treating his own flesh and blood wickedly, and hindering the true love of Infanta and Sancho, Bernardo’s parents. How can a king go against true love when the God he vowed to fight for was the God of love?
So, the myth says, Bernardo thought of forgetting about religious conquest and just working for the redemption of the whole human race because of its extreme wickedness, himself included. Even the Christians themselves were into sin. After seeing his father and mother released from captivity, Bernardo was led by an angel into a cave between two huge mountains to await redemption, after which he may be able to redeem the world. So there, between two mountains (thought to be Montalban in Rizal), according to the myth, he still remains to this day, waiting to be redeemed.
The myth about Bernardo Carpio is a classic example of how some people have become disenchanted with religion, even Christianity, in early times.
Tale of the Banana Tree
Banana trees are among the tropical plants abundant in the Philippines. It is seen in provinces and cities. One of the thrilling tales about them has to do with the world of mysticism. Banana trees may be innocent looking but according to a Philippine tale about them they hide deep secrets of the spirit world.
Banana trees quickly spread around a mother tree. They often grow in clusters, and the tallest tree usually is the mother banana tree. Soon, droplet-shaped hearts blossom on the tips of specific branches around which garlands of young banana fruits sprout. To a Philippine tale, it approaches a time when mystical creatures will haunt the cluster for a chance to grab a most coveted charm stone.
A big, ripe banana heart with blossoming flowers and some midget fruits, according to this Philippine tale, is the apple of numinous creatures’ eyes, and the wonderful charm stone is said to wait a proper, precise time at which it mysteriously drops from the tip of the banana heart. At precisely 12 midnight, the stone charm drops. And when it does, it must be caught by a human mouth before it drops to the ground where it instantly melts. The mystical creatures cannot do anything except grab it from the human who caught it by the mouth. They cannot catch it themselves. So according to this Philippine tale, they will choke him to death.
Any daring human who would bravely stay up till 12 midnight and wait for the stone charm to drop from the banana heart is bound to either end up very powerful against human and spiritual foes, or dead. While waiting he is said to feel eerie sensations and hear the spooky moans of the spirit creatures. Then, when he finally catches the thing in his mouth, this Philippine tale says all the spirit monsters would grab at his neck to choke him into throwing it out. But if he perseveres until about a minute past midnight, the stone charms become his permanent possession.
However, possession of the stone charm brings with it certain curses. Though it may do its possessor some good, it still comes from the dark side and, as this Philippine tale goes, will cost the possessor his soul after he dies.
Banana trees have a secret to keep, and the Philippine tale on this says it is better kept undisturbed. It is wisest to be contently enjoying its sweet, plump fruit and thanking God for it.
Philippine Myths on Dreams
Science says dreams are mind plays of the conscious and the subconscious that occur during sleep. They may also occur while awake, too—what they call day dreaming. But Philippine myths on dreams say otherwise. Dreams are more than what they seem to be.
Philippine myth number one is that dreams are actually soul and spirit travels—much like transcendental travels. The sleep gets too deep that body, soul and spirit separate. The body stays in bed but the soul and spirit escape to frolic in some distant dreamland. Dreams are somewhat similar to the real world, except that they are in exaggerated terms—like running can be either too fast as to fly, or too slow as to be in super slow motion.
The Philippine myth also avers that some dreams are travels in the real world. The soul and spirit escape the body and roam around the house or vicinity or a far away but real place. This explains why, says this Philippine myth, lots of people feel they have been in a place they have actually never visited before. The place was visited before in soul and spirit, but only visited now physically.
A Philippine myth on dreams says they are for extraordinary or supernatural communication. It’s a “cyberspace” where one connects through a dreamland “Internet” to talk “online” with someone from another dimension or “website.” Hence, in dreams we talk to animals, strange creatures, odd fellows, dead relatives, cars, the president of the Republic, talking shoes or food, and other mystical beings—not very unlike the real Internet. In dreams, every word is a message other beings from another dimension want to put across to us.
Another Philippine myth says dreams are realities and the real world is actually a dream. So dreaming is actually waking up. And when wide awake, it’s actually a dream. Another myth is that dreams are warnings or hints of the future. So when dreaming of numbers, they’re hints for winning a number gambling game. When dreaming of a car crash, that’s a warning of an impending accident.
Philippine myths on dreams teach that dreams can direct us to a safe future if heeded. They also counsel that dreams give alternatives in life—one may be poor in real life but can be rich in dreams, and vice versa.
Dreams may be a product of mental elements playing tricks on the imagination, but they can be so real to a people with records of unlucky vicissitudes seeking refuge in Philippine myths on dreams.
Philippine Tale on Arnis De Mano
World renowned Philippine sticks martial arts called Arnis de Mano (literally, “harness of the hands”) is still looking for who actually founded it. Popular in Asia, America and Europe especially today, Philippine masters still debate how it started.
There are various versions of the origin of Arnis (or sometimes called Eskrima or Kali), but most seem to agree that it evolved from the sophisticated arts of China—specifically from the Shaolin Temple.
Many writers have attempted to chronicle the history of Filipino Martial Arts and intimated that Arnis was brought here from different parts of Southeast Asia by different Filipinos with different styles.
One tale goes like this: Long ago Chinese trade vessels docked at the port of Binundok (Binondo), a hilly part of pre-Hispanic Manila. Not far away was a Chinese settlement where Chinese Expats who liked the island lived. Here, an islander, Botho Pula, worked for a Chinese businessman.
Well, before he worked for the Chinese he had a quarrel with him. The Old Chinese easily beat him in the fist fight. To cut the story short, he agreed to work for free as a sign of penitence.
Before long, the old man saw Pula’s loyalty and took him to visit China. Pula eventually ended up studying in the Shaolin Temple. But in the Ming Dynasty, the temple was burned down by the Manchus and the temple monks massacred. Those who survived, Pula among them, were in hiding. The old Chinese was not as lucky.
Pula managed to find his way back to Manila passing through different Southeast Asian countries, taking in several stick fighting styles as he did—Indonesia, Thailand, Borneo, Malaysia, and finally, the Philippines.
From Kuta Kinabalu in Malaysia he landed first in Mindanao and worked his way to Manila from there, imparting the sticks arts he formulated to many natives on the islands. Later, a school of fighting arts in Mindanao was named “Bothoan.”
The natives each had different versions of what he taught them, owing much to different word meanings in their different dialects. Back in Manila, he taught the art to some natives of the North before he finally died.
When the Spanish conquistadores came to the Philippines years after Pula’s death, a cultic group of fierce and highly skilled warriors in the Visayas gave the Spaniards a real pain in the neck. They called themselves the Pulahanes.
Philippine Arnis art still remains fatherless except for some far-fetched claims such as tales like this. Yet, it remains part of the country’s proud heritage and among the deadliest fighting arts in the world.
