The common Filipino dream is to be rich someday. In fact this is often the case why myriads of overseas Filipino workers brave years of uncertain employment and life in the Middle East—to pursue this often elusive dream. This Philippine folklore can serve as a reminder to us all.
The folklore starts with a man who saw a drowning old lady in a river one morning. He was on his way to get some breakfast from the river—some fresh water shrimp perhaps or a couple of mud fish. Then, the folklore continues, he saw an old lady in the river calling for help. He immediately dived into the river and rescued the old lady. Grateful, the old woman thanked the man and remarked that the man had a kind heart. Then, according to this folklore, she took something from her pocket. It was wrapped in an old cloth. She handed it to the man.
The man regarded the wrapped thing in his hand and looked at the old lady inquiringly. He opened it and, the folklore goes that the man saw a strange green stone. The old lady said the stone can grant three wishes. The first two wishes will be granted to a kind heart. But the third wish only to a pure heart. He was about to say something and turn to the old woman but, the folklore says, she was gone.
Back to his family, he showed them the stone after telling his wife and kid about the old woman and the 3 wishes. “Well, only one way to find out,” said his wife. They made two wishes; lots of money and cars—what a Filipino today might also wish for. And according to the folklore, it happened. They suddenly became very rich.
Life began to change. The folklore says, his wife became a gambler, he became a drunkard, and his kid rebelled about it all. Soon, he realized what was happening and took the stone and wished that their vices would disappear. Nothing happened. Then, according to the folklore, he remembered: only a pure heart would get the stone to work again. Closing his eyes, he reluctantly wished to return to their old life before he met the old lady. The folklore says, it happened. He got his family back, in peace and simple joy.
This Philippine folklore reminds us to check our priorities and hold on only to those things that really matter in life.
Related topics:
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 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,...
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...
The Folklore About Tabaco, Albay
Though provoked, some people have the discipline and propensity to choose peace than violence. A man from Tabaco, Albay in Legaspi City, according to a folklore, showed this character though faced with a perceived threat. This folklore says, raised up...
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 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 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...
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...
Folklore on Why We Cook the Foods We Eat
When something is urgently sought for, an accidental discovery is bound to show up---or at least that's what a Philippine folklore says. The folklore on why we cook the foods we eat is an example of how an urgent activity...
The Folklore on How Manila Got Its Name
Nilad plants once proliferated along the banks of the Pasig River near its mouth that opens to Manila Bay. A folklore says this scene of Nilad plants that daily graced the windy delta area started talks of a kind and...