The sugarcane tree is somewhat similar to a bamboo tree. And among interesting Philippine folklores on the sugarcane is on why the sugarcane became an outcast from among light colored bamboo trees, only to be honored later as an important medicinal and sweetening plant.
One day clusters of bamboos were happily swaying their tall slender bodies as the wind gently blew. Not far away stood a short lonely bamboo. It seemed to have stopped growing. The other bamboos reached to the skies while this loner, as this folklore on the sugarcane points out, just stood about more than 5 feet fall. Moreover, it found itself standing alone in the middle of the plain while the rest stood proudly in groups sometimes on hilly terrain, as if atop pedestals.
Folks from the nearby town often went to the clusters to cut those that have beautifully matured and were made into useful things that people always appreciated. This folklore on the sugarcane goes on to say that when so utilized the bamboos took pride in their importance, especially how people put value in them. People always saw beauty, strength, and usefulness from among the trees in the clusters but never even glanced at the lone bamboo tree.
The lone bamboo finally made a wish one day—it wished to be made as important and also put to good use, as any other bamboo tree around. All of a sudden dark clouds covered the sky and a sharp lightning struck and turned it into a dark bamboo. Now, it’s not only short. Aside from being dark its wood became too soft to be anything as useful as a bamboo. The more the bamboo trees mocked at the lone tree, not aware that this was the start of a beautiful folklore on the sugarcane.
One day a man stood near the lone bamboo and etched his name on its bark. He noticed a sweet scent emitting from the etching. It was so sweet that he was tempted to sample the liquid that oozed out from it. It was sweet and refreshing. Finally he cut a good size and started munching. At last, the folklore on the sugarcane ended the way the lone bamboo had wished—to be useful and important. And since then it had become a vital plant grown in fields.
Today, we know that sugarcanes are different from bamboos. But this folklore on the sugarcane teaches us a lesson: everything has a purpose, even seemingly inconsequential things.
Related topics:
Folklore on the Iguana and the Turtle
Swindling is often shrouded or masqueraded as friendship. It is usually a wolf in sheep's clothing. A Filipino folklore illustrates an obvious foolery that a gullible iguana always fails to recognize as a malicious trickster. This folklore mirrors so many...
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...
Folklore on Numbers versus Wisdom
Wisdom is supreme. Numbers may have strength, but fools en mass can only end in disaster. In fact, a Philippine folklore on numbers versus wisdom illustrates the advantage of wisdom over anything else. Such folklores that enthrone strategy over sheer...
Folklore on the Fly Who Wanted to be a God
A double-minded person is stable in all his ways, a Hebrew wiseman once said. A Filipino folklore on a fly who wished to be a God tells of the troubling thoughts of an undecisive creature. The folklore says even God...
Folklore on Why the Lion Is King of the Forest
Courage, strength and wit are necessary qualities of a leader. A Philippine folklore on why the lion became king of the jungle shows that the animal kingdom recognizes the virtues are necessary to put the jungle in order. If it's...
The Folklore on The King an
This Philippine folklore reminds us how people should be valued. The heart of a person dictates the way people are given value, not really religion. Thus, this folklore centers on how a misjudgment happened right inside a church building. ...
Folklore on How Bataan Got Its Name
A big part of native hospitality is to accomodate even the opinions of a visitor without resistance. A folklore on how Bataan got its name illustrates how foreign opinion easily influenced local folks in naming their own locality. This folklore...
Folklore on Life Wisdom
A Philippine folklore on life wisdom teaches generations of Filipinos to consider education and wisdom. They must always go together. The folklore says education without the practical applications of wisdom can prove fatal in times of emergencies---in personal, community, national,...
Philippine Folklore: The Kind and the Pure
Needing money is not the problem, but loving money is. A Philippine folklore on money stewardship reminds readers of the need to use money to serve us, rather than letting it use us to subservience. And there's one gauge to...
Popular Philippine Folklore: Stories on Lazy Juan
We can learn a lot from Philippine folklores on the history and ancient philosophy of the nation. The folklores on lazy Juan, or “Juan Tamad” is rich in this aspects. They allow us to get a glimpse of the past...
