Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-10-09
SOME FILIPINO MYTHS,
How They Soften the Facts of Lie lh''
Symbols.


Symbols.
Whatever the difference of eXternal
civilization all primitive races nave
had a tendency to soften facts liito
symbols-to personify. The flllpliioS
are no exception to this rule.
The following, according to recent
traveller in the islands, arc some OF the
many animal myths prevalent among
them. Here is their version OF Noap
and the flood, a tradition, by the way,
which in some form or other is found
in every part of the world
When Noah, his family and pair
of every species of animal were safs
in their box, great rain came on
and speedily covered the earth. AL
low life was destroyed. OF the humaU
race, those who sought to escape
drowning by fleeing to the mountain
tops were changed into monkeys, while
those who in despair threw themselves
into the sea became fish.
Another myth is reading of Oar.
win backward. 1t credits the monkey
with once having been a man. The spc.
cial man who caused the transforms.
ton happened to be very lazy. while
his mate was extremely Industrious
AS he sat one day with his face in his
hands, idly watching her plant rice,
she became angry, and, catching up
cudgeI. threw it at him. Though
he ran quickly away, it struck him,
entered his spine and became his tail;
result, q monkey.
The dove is credited with under
standing human speech. According to
tradition. this bird was once child,
who, angry because its mother refused
to give it some rice she was pounding
for panapig, ran from the house, and
gathering two nepa leaves fastened
them upon its shoulders as wings. 1t
then flew into tree, being trans
formed during it's fight from a child
to q dove. The dove still cries for
panapig.
The Filipinos have many animal
GODS. but the one they particularly
fear is Calapnitan, king of bats. In
exploring caves where bats are likely
to cOngregate the natives speak III
most respectful terms of this deity.
They believe that he can hear them
and will whip their eyes out with his
leathern wings should their speech Of
fend him.
But probably their most interesting
legend is that regarding the bankiva'
or Jungle fowl. This bird does not
understand human speech, as the dove.
but has a power over human kind eX-
ercised by no other animal. once
wear the spirits grant it this power
Of charming, in order that the spirits
and birds may be revenged on men,
their constant enemies. On that DAY
the Luzon mothers gather their little
ones about them for the young ears
heed the strange, sweet music OF the
fowls voice. The grown people can
not hear it. The bankivaG choose the
largest and handsomcst among them
TO lead the march. On the outskirts
or the Village lucy SlNS thC'i "O'is-' 'N
the children, forgetting their mothers
warnings, run to listen. They ind the
kankivas in little ring. dancing ana
singing in harmony. The little ones
also dance and sing. as the birds lead
them deeper and deeper into the 1or-
est Night falls and with a harsh
cry the bankivas fly away. the chil-
dren awake as from sleep. They KNOW
not where they are. Darkness anu
danger are on every side. at home
their mothers arc weeping. Sometimes.
but rare. a few men and women OF
great age wander back to Their naive
village. They are sure they have oAiy
left if the night before. They remcM-
Der nothing. except that the bankivas
sang 81 sweetly and they followed the
lovely music. as the children OF Hamc-
LIN followed the Pied Piper.