The Carabao and the Shell

A carabao mocked a shell for being slow, prompting the shell to challenge him to a race. Unbeknownst to the carabao, other shells positioned themselves along the route, responding when he called out. Believing the same shell was keeping pace, the carabao ran relentlessly, determined to win, until he collapsed and died from exhaustion. The tale highlights cleverness triumphing over brute force.

Source
Philippine Folk Tales
compiled and annotated by
Mabel Cook Cole
A.C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, 1916

► Themes of the story

Cunning and Deception: The shell employs a clever ruse, using its fellow shells to deceive the carabao into believing it is keeping pace, highlighting the use of wit over strength.

Moral Lessons: The tale imparts a lesson on the dangers of arrogance and underestimating others, emphasizing that intelligence can triumph over brute force.

Transformation through Love: Although not directly about romantic love, the story reflects a transformation in understanding and respect, as the carabao’s experience serves as a cautionary tale about humility and recognizing the value of others.

► From the same Region or People

Southeast Asia
- Philippines
  - Tinguian Lore

Learn more about Philippines peoples

One very hot day, when a carabao went into the river to bathe, he met a shell and they began talking together.

“You are very slow,” said the carabao to the shell.

“Oh, no,” replied the shell. “I can beat you in a race.”

“Then let us try and see,” said the carabao.

So they went out on the bank and started to run.

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After the carabao had gone a long distance he stopped and called, “Shell!”

And another shell lying by the river answered, “Here I am!”

Then the carabao, thinking that it was the same shell with which he was racing, ran on.

By and by he stopped again and called, “Shell!”

Again another shell answered, “Here I am!”

The carabao was surprised that the shell could keep up with him. But he ran on and on, and every time he stopped to call, another shell answered him. But he was determined that the shell should not beat him, so he ran until he dropped dead.

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The Man with the Cocoanuts

A man overloaded his horse with coconuts and asked a boy how long it would take to reach home. The boy advised going slowly for a quicker arrival, but the man hurried instead. His haste caused the coconuts to repeatedly fall off, delaying him further. Despite his efforts to save time, he arrived home late at night, learning the value of patience.

Source
Philippine Folk Tales
compiled and annotated by
Mabel Cook Cole
A.C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, 1916

► Themes of the story

Cunning and Deception: The man’s initial disregard for the boy’s advice reflects a form of self-deception, believing that speed would ensure a quicker journey despite evidence to the contrary.

Trials and Tribulations: The repeated falling of the coconuts represents the challenges faced due to impatience, highlighting the importance of perseverance and learning from one’s mistakes.

Conflict with Nature: The man’s struggle to keep the coconuts on the horse depicts a battle against natural forces, underscoring the need to work harmoniously with nature rather than against it.

► From the same Region or People

Southeast Asia
- Philippines
  - Tinguian Lore

Learn more about Philippines peoples

One day a man who had been to gather his cocoanuts loaded his horse heavily with the fruit. On the way home he met a boy whom he asked how long it would take to reach the house. “If you go slowly,” said the boy, looking at the load on the horse, “you will arrive very soon; but if you go fast, it will take you all day.” The man could not believe this strange speech, so he hurried his horse. But the cocoanuts fell off and he had to stop to pick them up. Then he hurried his horse all the more to make up for lost time, but the cocoanuts fell off again. Many times he did this, and it was night when he reached home.

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The Turtle and the Lizard

A turtle and a lizard steal ginger from Gotgotapa’s field, but the lizard’s loud boasting attracts the owner. The turtle evades capture by hiding, while the lizard flees. Later, the lizard’s greed for honey angers bees, and his haste to grab a “silver wire” traps him in a snare, leading to his demise. The cautious turtle survives through patience and cleverness, continuing his journey alone.

Source
Philippine Folk Tales
compiled and annotated by
Mabel Cook Cole
A.C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, 1916

► Themes of the story

Trickster: The turtle embodies the trickster archetype, outsmarting both the man and the lizard through ingenuity.

Conflict with Authority: The animals’ theft from Gotgotapa’s field and the subsequent consequences reflect a challenge to human authority.

Trials and Tribulations: Both creatures face various challenges—evading capture, dealing with bees, and encountering a snare—testing their survival skills.

► From the same Region or People

Southeast Asia
- Philippines
  - Tinguian Lore

Learn more about Philippines peoples

A turtle and a big lizard once went to the field of Gotgotapa to steal ginger, When they reached the place the turtle said to the lizard: “We must be very still or the man will hear us and come out.”

But as soon as the lizard tasted the ginger he was so pleased that he said: “The ginger of Gotgotapa is very good.”

“Be still,” said the turtle; but the lizard paid no attention to the warning, and called louder than ever: “The ginger of Gotgotapa is very good.”

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Again and again he cried out, until finally the man heard him and came out of the house to catch the robbers.

The turtle could not run fast, so he lay very still, and the man did not see him. But the lizard ran and the man chased him. When they were out of sight, the turtle went into the house and hid under a cocoanut shell upon which the man used to sit.

The man ran after the lizard for a long distance, but he could not catch him. After a while he came back to the house and sat down on the shell.

By and by, the turtle called, “Kook.” The man jumped up and looked all around. Unable to tell where the noise came from, he sat down again,

A second time the turtle called, and this time the man looked everywhere in the house except under the shell, but could not find the turtle. Again and again the turtle called, and finally the man, realizing that all his attempts were unsuccessful, grew so excited that he died.

Then the turtle ran out of the house, and he had not gone far before he met the lizard again. They walked along together until they saw some honey in a tree, and the turtle said:

“I will go first and get some of the honey.”

The lizard would not wait, but ran ahead, and when he seized the honey, the bees came out and stung him. So he ran back to the turtle for help.

After a while they came to a bird snare, and the turtle said:

“That is the silver wire that my grandfather wore about his neck.”

Then the lizard ran fast to get it first, but he was caught in the snare and was held until the man came and killed him. Then the wise turtle went on alone.

The Boy who Became a Stone

Elonen, a boy crafting a bird snare, captures a taunting bird but leaves it home while swimming. His hungry grandmother eats the bird, leaving Elonen heartbroken. Wandering into the forest, he asks a stone to swallow him, which it does. Despite various creatures’ attempts to rescue him, including horses, carabaos, and thunder, the stone remains unyielding, leaving his grandmother grief-stricken.

Source
Philippine Folk Tales
compiled and annotated by
Mabel Cook Cole
A.C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, 1916

► Themes of the story

Transformation: Elonen’s metamorphosis into a stone signifies a profound change in his state of being.

Family Dynamics: The relationship between Elonen and his grandmother, including her actions and his subsequent reaction, highlights complex familial interactions.

Loss and Renewal: Elonen’s loss of his bird and his transformation can be interpreted as a cycle of loss leading to a new state of existence.

► From the same Region or People

Southeast Asia
- Philippines
  - Tinguian Lore

Learn more about Philippines peoples

One day a little boy named Elonen sat out in the yard making a bird snare, and as he worked, a little bird called to him: “Tik-tik-lo-den” (come and catch me).

“I am making a snare for you,” said the boy; but the bird continued to call until the snare was finished.

Then Elonen ran and threw the snare over the bird and caught it, and he put it in a jar in his house while he went with the other boys to swim.

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While he was away, his grandmother grew hungry, so she ate the bird, and when Elonen returned and found that his bird was gone, he was so sad that he wished he might go away and never come back. He went out into the forest and walked a long distance, until finally he came to a big stone and said: “Stone, open your mouth and eat me.” And the stone opened its mouth and swallowed the boy.

When his grandmother missed the boy, she went out and looked everywhere, hoping to find him. Finally she passed near the stone and it cried out, “Here he is.” Then the old woman tried to open the stone but she could not, so she called the horses to come and help her. They came and kicked it, but it would not break. Then she called the carabao and they hooked it, but they only broke their horns. She called the chickens, which pecked it, and the thunder, which shook it, but nothing could open it, and she had to go home without the boy.

The Mistaken Gifts

When Siagon was eight, his parents sought a bride for him and selected a distant maiden. A messenger visited her family and mistook their nodding while eating periwinkles as approval. Relieved, Siagon’s family prepared lavish gifts for the wedding. However, when they arrived, the girl’s family was shocked, as they were unaware of the marriage plans.

Source
Philippine Folk Tales
compiled and annotated by
Mabel Cook Cole
A.C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, 1916

► Themes of the story

Family Dynamics: The narrative centers on Siagon’s parents arranging a marriage for their young son, highlighting familial roles and expectations.

Cunning and Deception: The misunderstanding arises from the messenger’s misinterpretation of the family’s nodding, leading to unintended consequences.

Moral Lessons: The tale imparts a lesson on the importance of clear communication and the potential pitfalls of assumptions.

► From the same Region or People

Southeast Asia
- Philippines
  - Tinguian Lore

Learn more about Philippines peoples

When Siagon was about eight years old his parents began looking for a girl who would make a suitable wife. At last when they had decided on a beautiful maiden, who lived some distance from them, they sent a man to her parents to ask if they would like Siagon for a son-in-law. Now when the man arrived at the girl’s house the people were all sitting on the floor eating periwinkle, and as they sucked the meat out of the shell, they nodded their heads. The man, looking in at the door, saw them nod, and he thought they were nodding at him. So he did not tell them his errand, but returned quickly to the boy’s parents and told them that all the people at the girl’s house were favorable to the union.

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Siagon’s parents were very much pleased that their proposal had been so kindly received, and immediately prepared to go to the girl’s house to arrange for the wedding.

Finally all was ready and they started for her house, carrying with them as presents for her parents two carabao, two horses, two cows, four iron kettles, sixteen jars of basi, two blankets, and two little pigs.

The surprise of the girl’s people knew no bounds when they saw all this coming to their house, for they had not even thought of Siagon marrying their daughter.

Sogsogot

Sogsogot, a hunter, was abducted by a giant bird and left in its nest with young birds and pigs. He survived by feeding on prey brought by the bird and eventually escaped using the birds to glide down. Later, he encountered his wife’s spirit, who guided him to a spirit town but warned of dangers. After two weeks, he returned home, realizing his wife had passed.

Source
Philippine Folk Tales
compiled and annotated by
Mabel Cook Cole
A.C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, 1916

► Themes of the story

Supernatural Beings: Sogsogot encounters the spirit of his deceased wife, highlighting interactions between mortals and spirits.

Underworld Journey: His journey to the spirit town, a realm beyond the living, reflects this theme.

Resurrection: His return from the spirit world to the land of the living symbolizes a form of resurrection.

► From the same Region or People

Southeast Asia
- Philippines
  - Tinguian Lore

Learn more about Philippines peoples

One day, a long time ago, some men went to the mountains to hunt deer and wild pig, and among them was one named Sogsogot. They all went into the thick forest to look for game, but after a while Sogsogot called his dog and withdrew to an open spot near by, where he waited for the deer to come out.

While he stood there eagerly watching, a big bird swooped down, caught him in its claws, and carried him away. Far off over the mountains the bird soared, until finally it came to a big tree where it had its nest, and here it left the man and flew away.

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Sogsogot’s first thought was to make his escape, but he found that the tree was so tall that he could not get down, and after a time he ceased his attempts to get away and began to look over his companions in the nest–two young birds and three little pigs.

By and by he became hungry, so he cut up the three little pigs, and after he had eaten all he wished he fed the two birds. When this meat was gone the mother bird brought more pigs and deer, and the man had all he could eat. Then he fed the little birds, which grew very fast and soon were able to fly. One day when they were standing on the edge of the nest Sogsogot caught hold of the birds’ legs, and they fluttered down and carried him safely to the ground.

He hastened home as fast as he could go and told the people of his wonderful trip. They made a ceremony for the spirits, and all the people rejoiced that the lost man had returned.

Some time after this Sogsogot went to a hostile town to fight, and while he was gone his wife died. On the way back to his town he met the spirit of his wife driving a cow and two pigs, and not knowing that she was a spirit he asked her where she was going.

“I am not a person any more,” she answered him; “I am dead.” And when he wanted to touch her hand, she gave him only her shortest finger. He begged to go with her so she said, “Go first to our home and get a white chicken; then follow the footmarks of the cow and pigs.”

He did as she commanded him, and after a while he came to a place where she was bathing in the river. She said to him:

“Now you may come with me to our spirit town. I shall hide you in the rice-bin and shall bring food to you every day. But at night the people in the town will want to eat you, and when they come to the bin you must take some of the feathers of the white chicken and throw at them.”

The man went with her, and when they arrived at the spirit town she hid him in the rice-bin. At night the people came to eat him, as she had said they would; but when he threw the chicken feathers at them they were frightened away.

For two weeks Sogsogot lived in this place, but when the feathers were nearly gone he was afraid to stay any longer, for every night the spirits came to eat him. He begged his wife to allow him to go, and finally she showed him the way home, giving him rice to eat on his journey.

As soon as the man arrived home and inquired for his wife, the people told him that she had died and they had buried her under the house. Then he knew that it was her spirit that had taken him to the strange town.

Man and the Alan

A Tinguian encounters the Alan, eerie spirit creatures with backward features, hanging from a tree like bats. Terrified, he falls, prompting them to offer gold and beads, mistaking him for dead. When he refuses to trade a peculiar bead, the Alan threaten vengeance. True to their word, they later burn his house, demonstrating their otherworldly power and wrath.

Source
Philippine Folk Tales
compiled and annotated by
Mabel Cook Cole
A.C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, 1916

► Themes of the story

Supernatural Beings: The Alan are mystical creatures with unique physical characteristics, such as backward feet and fingers, who inhabit the forest.

Cunning and Deception: The Alan’s initial act of placing gold and beads on the man, believing him to be dead, and their subsequent demand for the peculiar bead, demonstrate elements of cunning behavior.

Moral Lessons: The narrative imparts a lesson on the consequences of greed and the importance of respecting supernatural forces, as the man’s refusal to share the bead leads to the destruction of his home.

► From the same Region or People

Southeast Asia
- Philippines
  - Tinguian Lore

Learn more about Philippines peoples

A Tinguian was once walking along a trail in the wood when he heard a strange sound in a large tree near him, and looking up he was startled to see that it was the home of the Alan–spirits who live in the wood.

He stopped and gazed for a moment at the horrible creatures, large as people, hanging from the limbs of the tree with their heads down like bats. They had wings to fly, and their toes were at the back of their feet, while their long fingers, which pointed backward, were fastened at the wrist.

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“Surely,” thought the man, “these terrible beings will eat me if they can catch me. I will run away as fast as I can while they are asleep.” He tried to run but he was too frightened, and after a few steps he fell face down on the ground.

At this the Alan began to wail loudly, for they saw him fall and believed him dead And they came down out of the tree with gold and beads which they laid on him.

After a while the man gathered courage and, jumping up, he cried as loudly as he could, “Go away!”

The Alan did not move, but they looked at him and said: “Give us the one bead nagaba [a peculiar bead of double effect], and you may have the rest.” When the man refused to do this, they were angry and turned away, crying, “Then we are going to burn your house, for you are a bad man.”

Thereupon the man went home as fast as he could go, but very soon after that his house burned, for the Alan kept their word.

The Alan and the Hunters

Two hunters killed a wild pig but lacked fire to singe it. Seeking fire, one man encountered an Alan—a mythical creature—who helped singe the pig and instructed him to feed her baby the liver. Instead, he ate the liver and killed the baby. Enraged, the Alan pursued them but died when they cut her climbing vine. The hunters later looted her treasures and returned home.

Source
Philippine Folk Tales
compiled and annotated by
Mabel Cook Cole
A.C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, 1916

► Themes of the story

Cunning and Deception: The hunter deceives the Alan by consuming the liver meant for her child and subsequently killing the infant.

Supernatural Beings: The Alan represents a mythical creature integral to the story’s events.

Revenge and Justice: The Alan seeks retribution for her child’s death, though ultimately, she is unsuccessful.

► From the same Region or People

Southeast Asia
- Philippines
  - Tinguian Lore

Learn more about Philippines peoples

Two men once went to hunt wild pig in the mountains, and after some time they speared and killed one, but they had no fire over which to singe it. One man climbed a tree to see if there was a fire near by, and discovering smoke at some distance, he started toward it. When he reached the place, he found that the fire was in the house of an Alan, and he was very much afraid; but creeping up into the house, he found that the Alan and her baby were fast asleep.

He stepped on tip-toe, but nevertheless the Alan was awakened and called out: “Epogow, what do you want?”

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“I should like to get some fire,” said the man, “for we have killed a wild pig.”

The Alan gave him the fire, and then taking her basket she went with him to the place where the pig was.

After they had singed the animal, the Alan cut it up with her long nails and handed the liver to the man, telling him to take it to her house to feed the baby.

The man started, and on the way he ate the liver. When he reached the Alan’s house he did not know what to do. For some time he looked around, and then seeing a large caldron of hot water on the fire, he threw the baby into it and went back.

“Did the baby eat well?” asked the Alan.

“Very well,” said the man.

Then she put most of the meat into her basket and started home. As soon as she had gone, the man told his companion what he had done, and they were so frightened that they ran to hide.

When the Alan reached home and found the baby dead in the hot water, she was very angry and started back immediately to find the men, who, in the meantime, had climbed a high tree that stood near the water.

The Alan looked down into the water, and seeing the reflection of the men, she reached in her long hand with the fingers that pointed backward, but when she could not touch them, she looked up and saw them in the tall tree.

“How did you get up there?” she cried angrily.

“We climbed up feet first,” called down the men.

The Alan, determined to get them, caught hold of a vine and started up the tree feet first, but before she quite reached them, they cut the vine and she fell to the ground and was killed.

Then the men came down and went to the Alan’s house, where they found a jar full of beads and another of gold, and these they brought with them when they returned home.

The Striped Blanket

A Tinguian hunting tale warns against using red-and-yellow striped blankets resembling a wild pig’s back. While camping, one man overheard spirits mistaking him for prey due to his blanket. He swapped it with a companion’s, leading to the other’s death. Since then, Tinguian avoid such blankets in spirit-haunted areas, underscoring caution and the perils of deception in folklore.

Source
Philippine Folk Tales
compiled and annotated by
Mabel Cook Cole
A.C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, 1916

► Themes of the story

Cunning and Deception: The protagonist’s deceitful act of exchanging blankets to save himself results in his companion’s death.

Supernatural Beings: The presence of spirits who mistake the blanket for a wild pig highlights interactions with supernatural entities.

Cultural Heroes: The story reflects the cultural beliefs and practices of the Tinguian people, emphasizing the importance of cultural awareness and traditions.

► From the same Region or People

Southeast Asia
- Philippines
  - Tinguian Lore

Learn more about Philippines peoples

Three Tinguian once went to the mountains to hunt deer. They took their blankets with them, for they expected to be gone several days, and the nights in the mountains are cold. The blankets of two of the men were of the blue-and-white designs such as are commonly worn by the Tinguian, but that of the third was covered with red and yellow stripes like the back of a little wild pig. At night the men rolled up in their blankets and lay down under a tree to sleep; but while the one in the striped blanket was still awake two spirits came near and saw him. “Oh,” he heard one spirit say to the other, “here we have something to eat, for here is a little wild pig.”

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Then the man quickly took the blanket off one of his sleeping companions and put his own in its place. Very soon the spirits came and ate the man under the striped blanket.

Since that time the Tinguian never sleep under that kind of a blanket if they are where the spirits can get them.

The Tree with the Agate Beads

A Tinguian hunter, accompanied by his dog, pursued a deer up a mountain and into a mysterious cave. Lost in darkness, he stumbled upon a talking shrub bearing agate bead-like berries. Escaping to safety, he found the deer and shared his tale. Villagers sought the magical tree but discovered it gone, replaced by enigmatic carvings on the cave walls, still visible today.

Source
Philippine Folk Tales
compiled and annotated by
Mabel Cook Cole
A.C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, 1916

► Themes of the story

Forbidden Knowledge: The hunter’s discovery of the mysterious tree bearing agate bead-like berries within the cave introduces him to hidden, mystical knowledge.

Sacred Objects: The agate beads themselves are powerful artifacts imbued with symbolic or mystical significance.

Hidden or Forbidden Realms: The hunter’s journey into the dark cave represents a venture into a secret, otherworldly domain.

► From the same Region or People

Southeast Asia
- Philippines
  - Tinguian Lore

Learn more about Philippines peoples

More than a hundred seasons ago, a Tinguian went one day to the mountains to hunt. Accompanied by his faithful dog, he made his way steadily up the mountain side, only halting where it was necessary to cut a path through the jungle. And the dog ran here and there searching in the thick underbrush.

On and on he went without seeing any game, and then, when he was almost at the top of the highest peak, the dog gave a sharp yelp, and out of the brush leaped a fine deer. Zip! went the man’s spear, and it pierced the animal’s side.

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For an instant he waited, but the deer did not fall. On it ran with unslackened speed, and a moment later it plunged into a hole in the ground with the man and dog in close pursuit.

A short distance from the entrance the cave opened out into large, spacious rooms, and before he realized it the man was hopelessly lost In the distance he could hear the baying of the dog, and with no other guide he hurried on through the darkness.

Following the sound, he went for a long time from one unfamiliar room to another, stumbling in the darkness and striking against the stone walls, and then suddenly his outstretched hands grasped a small tree on which berries grew.

Astonished at finding anything growing in this dark place, he broke off a branch, and as he did so the shrub began to talk in a strange language. Terrified, the man ran in the direction he had last heard the dog, and a moment later he found himself in the open air on the banks of the Abra River, with the dead deer at his feet.

When he examined the twig which he still held in his hand, he saw to his great surprise that the berries were agate beads of great value. And packing the deer on his back, he hastened home where he told his wonderful story.

The sight of the beautiful beads convinced the people that he told the truth, and a number of men at once returned with him to secure the tree.

Their quest, however, was unsuccessful, for ere they reached the spot the evil spirit had taken the tree away and on the walls of the cave it had made strange carvings which even to this day can be seen.