The Blind and the Cripple

Folklore by , | September 30, 2012

There was a pregnant woman whose husband died. She lived in their small house alone. When she gave birth, she was shocked because she gave birth to seven baby boys. Days passed and the woman realized that all of the babies were blind, so she did everything to raise them well.

When the children were old enough, the woman told her children she would teach them how to look for food so that when she died, they would be able to know which fruits were safe to eat. The seven boys held each other’s hands as they followed their mother.

She let her children touch and get familiar with corn, sweet potato, sugar cane, banana, and other crops. Then finally, she introduced them to the coconut plant. “At the top of the tree are round hard fruits. When you open the fruit, you can drink the water and eat the flesh,” said the woman.

They went back to their hut. The woman rested because she was having a severe headache. When the children touched their mother, they realized that she had died. Since they were blind, they decided to leave their hut because they wouldn’t be able to bury the body.

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Puak

Folklore by , , , , , | May 29, 2011

An Obo Manobo folk tale in Bisaya, with English translation

Kani si Tuwaang, tao jod na siya. Ang lugar nga gipuy-an niya dri sa Arakan Valley. May abyan na siya nga gitawag nga anito. Kani iyang anito, gamhanan kaysa uban nga anito. Ug siya gitawag nga bahani. Kanang manggugubat gani, daghan ni siyag napatay. Ug wa gyoy makalabaw sa iya.

Unya sa kadugayan nga panahon, gusto sa iyang abyan nga anito, nga pasakaon na siya paingon sa langit. Daghan siyag mga kauban. Pamilya niya, mga igsoon, mga bayaw niya. Pero kinahanglan na kanang iyang batasan sinsero jod kaayo nga walay bisan unsa pa nga hunahunaon. Pati sa mga panginabuhi nga kalibotanon kay dili makapahinunob sa gingharian sa langit. Mao na iyang mensahe.

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