Sicogon Island is part of the municipality of Carles, a northern Iloilo town. It is named after cogon, a type of grass found in abundance on the island. It is famous for it’s blue – crystal water and long stretch of white beach sand. Though, in recent years it has been reduced significantly especially during Typhoon Frank (Fengshen) in 2008.
It was during the 70’s – 80’s when Sicogon Island first gained fame as a premiere tourist destination because of the construction of a first – class resort (Sicogon Island Resort) in the island that cater mostly to foreigners and the upper class society. Pinaka Magandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa which starred Ms. Gloria Diaz was shot in the island.
However, political instability in the country during the 80’s prompted the developer to closed down the said resort. Today, the area where it used to stand is just a constant reminder of this once lavished island. It was the Boracay of yesterday as they said.
Kindly click the link to read the complete blog: http://www.lakwatserongdoctor.com/2017/08/09/sicogon-island-regaining-its-former-glory/
Don’t forget to like, follow, comment and subscribe at http://www.lakwatserongdoctor.com/
THE VIDEO:
To see other videos, Don’t forget to subscribe at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpTG-gztxcPZkVjOAiiNuZA
Area: Dumaguete, Negros Occidental
Synopsis: Catalina, a mysterious girl who rarely spoke, is captured by violent Moros, but escapes by walking across the sea, and defeating them sometime after with her new powers.
Fun Fact: There is a municipality within Negros Oriental called Santa Catalina, which is named after Saint Catherine of Alexandria. It is unknown whether this influenced the name of the character, but it’s a pretty cool coincidence!
Illustration by Bree
-
There was once a poor tuba, or palm wine seller named Banog, who was well-known and respected by his neighbors as he made rounds through the village to sell his tuba. Alongside him was his beautiful daughter, Catalina, a strange yet hard working girl.
She was sixteen, and rarely ever spoke a word, always looking so far away, into the sky, or over the sea. Sometimes, she would clap her hands and stand straight, looking up to the sky, as if she saw something that others couldn’t. Because of her strange behavior, however, she was often met with awe and curiosity, and rumored to have mysterious powers.
One day, a band of ships landed on their shores, and out came Moros, people from Mindanao. They were ferocious and raided their village, killing many people as they pillaged and kidnapped many of their women, including Catalina. Banog was killed in the raid, stabbed by a Moro as they burned their houses down, and retreated back to their southern island.
On the boat, Catalina sat quietly among the prisoners, and never even uttered a single word as she stared up at the sky. Like she usually does, she springs up, but just as suddenly, leaps onto the waters. Instead of sinking, however, Catalina miraculously walked on the waters, and headed back towards the shores. The Moros were astounded and confused that they didn’t even try to stop her, and just let her walk free.
Back on land, she walked through the forest, and was met with her fellow villagers who hid among the trees. They were happy to see her, but Catalina paid them no mind as she walked past the burning village, still staring straight up at the sky. She walked along the path to Dalugdug, the Thunder Mountain, that was behind their village in Dumaguete.
Within Dalugdug lived a terrible creature called a Sigbin. Many people have different accounts of what it may have looked like, but according to this text, its body was that of a crow, but it had two long legs that bent like a grasshoppers; this made it so it was able to lead large distances without the need of its wings. It was monstrous and would eat anything that came near its home. Knowing this, the townspeople begged Catalina not to go up there, but she again ignored their cries. As she climbed higher and higher, so high that she was merely a speck, she stopped in her tracks and raised her hands. Just then, a loud, powerful shriek was heard, and the Sigbin rushed down the mountain, screaming in terror. It took a powerful leap up and over the townsfolk and the sea, then disappeared off into a mountain within the neighboring island of Cebu. Afterwards, the people saw no sign of Catalina anymore, and returned to fix their village back into its former beauty.
Several years passed, and the Moros decided to come back once more to take from them again. This time, the Visayans were prepared, and wanted vengeance for their fallen wives, brothers, sisters, and children. They fought enough to drive them away, but the Moros returned with more boats, and soon they were overpowered. As the Visayans fell, and they thought all hope was lost, a rainbow appeared from the sky, and from it walked down Catalina, holding a beehive in her hands.
With a wave of her hand, the bees flew out as she commanded, and with another, they transformed into little men with long, sharp spears who fought valiantly against the Moros as they ran away. As quickly as she came out, Catalina returned back into the mountains, leaving her men with the Visayans. They were fascinated by these men, but they never spoke a word to the Visayans, like Catalina, they simply looked past them, and went on to live as people in Negros. Never again did the Moros come back to Visayas, and the Visayans lived happily and prosperously.
-
References:
Miller, J. M. (1904). Philippine Folklore Stories. Retrieved from https://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/pfs/pfs12.htm
Area: Aklan
Synopsis: This story is about the witty slave named Payo, and how he mistakenly gets dung on his master’s bread.
Fun Fact: This story is said to represent the Aklanons’ desire for the Spaniards to have a taste of their own filth.
Illustration by Janica
-
Despite the fact that Payo is quite foolish, the gobernadorcillo could not simply dismiss him. One day, the gobernadorcillo decided to bring Payo along on his hunting trip. Before they had gone too far, the gobernadorcillo stopped his horse and asked Payo if he had seen his tobacco pipe. Payo replies that he did, but did not pick it up as he assumed that the gobernadorcillo was throwing it away, to which the latter replied, “Next time you something drop from my horse, make sure to pick it up since we’re going to need it for later.” Payo agrees, and they continue on. After a while, the gobernadorcillo’s horse scattered its dung on the road, and Payo hurriedly gathers it all and places it in the bag. At noon, the two rested under the shade of a tree. The gobernadorcillo became hungry and decided that they would eat lunch there, so he asked Payo for their bread. Payo handed over the bag, and the gobernadorcillo reached inside only to find dung on the bread. The gobernadorcillo became angry and asked Payo why there was horse feces on the bread. Payo replied, “Didn’t you tell me to pick up everything that drops from your horse since it will be of use to you later?”, to which the gobernadorcillo could not find a reply to.
-
Resources:
Mga Sugilanon ni Payo (Part 2). (2013, June 5). Retrieved from http://aklanianawriting.blogspot.com/2013/07/mga-sugilanon-ni-payo-part-2.html
Excerpts from De Juan, Alexander C. “The Tongue and the Pen versus the Spanish Rule in Aklan”. In Palayag: Selected Papers from the Proceedings of the 7th Conference on West Visayan History and Culture (pp. 80-95). Iloilo City: Center for West Visayan Studies, University of the Philippines in the Visayas, 1999.
Area: Aklan
Synopsis: The story revolves around a great god who favored a pet named, Panigotlo.
Fun Fact: if you hear the sudden bleating of what might be a panigotlo, it is foretelling good and bad omens!
Illustration by Nagi
-
In the beginning, Gamhanan was a great god, the most powerful of all gods, giver of life, security and livelihood. Along with other gods, he dwelt in Mount Daeodog, giving life and punishing mortals who do wrong.
Gamhanan would send rain and drought to those who would defy his will. those who refuse to give the proper offerings to his cave dwelling would receive the bitter taste of the god’s punishment.
Gamhanan had favored a pet, Panigotlo. Just like a ray of light, it dashed across the river like pure light. The animal was so beautiful that no one dared to harm it fully knowing the wrath Gamhana would release if so. Other than that, it could foretell omens with it’s bleating.
Days before the full moon, the panigotlo would have its last bleating, being the harbinger of good harvest and fortune. To celebrate, the people prepared a thanksgiving to the great god and his pet.
There was light and joy, the panigotlo need not fear for it was favored by the mortals who surrounded Mount Daeodog, also having the ability to foretell favor or misfortune.
However, in the end, the majestic beast was slayed by a lowly hunter, Dagasanan. The pure white fur, stained with its own blood. Never again would the panigotlo bleats tell of abundance and purpose, never again would it warn flood and despair.
-
Resources:
Gaverza, K. (2017, September 11). Panigotlo. Retrieved from http://theunpublishables.com/panigotlo/fiction/
Area: Negros
Synopsis: A great flood has enveloped the entire village of King Laon, but he and his magic kerchief give them just the tools they needed to escape.
Fun Fact: The legend may go two ways, one from the pre-Brahman period, or one from the Brahman period, referring to an Indianized influence. This is the pre-Brahman period version of the story.
Illustration by Bree
-
There was once a great king by the name of Laon, who was benign and led their village prosperously. He was great, as the farmers worked in his fields and saw to it to share their harvests with him. One day, the good King Laon decided to visit the farmers of the field, but soon, rain trickled down from the skies. It started light, but soon became harsh and heavy, as King Laon got to the fields, he was already knee-deep in waters. Not long after, it was waist-deep. Then it reached shoulder-deep, and King Laon thought that the harvest had been ruined.
However, the king still had his people, and so they swam to call them together. King Laon asked of them to build a mound to elevate themselves,
“But we have no tools, O Kanlaon!” they cried. But King Laon took out his magic kerchief, and with a wave appeared shovels and picks in their hands.
“But we have no granite!” they cried again, “the mound must be ribbed with granite!” Yet again, King Laon provided with his magic kerchief. Soon enough, the people got to work hard, patiently working on until they made the mound 6,000 feet high in the midst of their valley. They stayed there on the mountain, which they had dubbed Mount Kanlaon, until the rain had stopped. Soon after, they got back to work, and did as the king ordered once more.
They were asked to dig a ditch into the sea in order to drain the waters that flooded their fields, and so they did. A river had formed, and they called it Bago river. The people lived prosperously once more as they returned to the fields with their king.
-
Resources:
Clark, J. (2017, September 12). Legends of Mount Kanlaon, Negros Island | Negrense Mythology. Retrieved from https://www.aswangproject.com/legends-of-mount-kanlaon-negros-island-mythology/
Area: Negros Occidental
Synopsis: The story is about a deity, and how the tobacco farmers disobeyed the orders of Kan-Laon.
Fun fact: To locals that are aware of this version of the story, whenever there is smoke coming out of the crater, this means that Kan-Laon is smoking tobacco.
Illustration by Nagi
-
One fine day, a couple of farmers were greeted by Kan-Laon as they reached the top of the mountain. Humbled by his presence, the deity was asked permission by one of the tobacco farmers if they could use part of the land in order to plant their crops. Fortunately, Kan-Laon was in a happy and good mood, approving their request in under the condition that they will not plant their crops near his house. To show this, he drew a line around the mountain top to show the perimeter to the farmers. The farmers complied and returned to farm on the land.
Days passed, everything remained in order. To meditate, Kan-Laon left his home. Before setting off, Kan-Laon reminded the farmers of his condition, pointing out the line, warning them not to cross it, then disappeared.
Several years passed by, the farmers were still obediently following Kan-Laon’s rule. The crops remained growing and thrivingly until there were no longer unprohibited areas. A tobacco farmer bravely planted his crops beyond the line, not knowing when Kan-Laon would return from his meditation. Other farmers were appalled by the brave tobacco farmer’s action, maddened by the fact that the farmer disobeyed the rule of Kan-Laon. Some days pass, nothing has happened to the disobedient farmer who has crossed the line. Knowing this news, the other farmers concluded that Kan-Laon might have looked for other places and has no plans on returning. Other farmers join the disobedient farmer in planting their tobacco beyond the border. For years, they continued on planting beyond the line, not expecting Kan-Laon to come back out of the blue.
Out of fear, the farmers knelt down and begged for Kan-Laon’s forgiveness. Kan-Laon accepted their apology. The farmers asked Kan-Laon for another chance to plant their crops on the mountain. Once again, Kan-Laon agreed with the condition that the farmers can only plant again once he is done smoking the tobacco bundles. A crater appeared at the area where he drew the line, in the blink of an eye. Kan-Laon retreated into the crater with the tobacco bundle, never to be seen again.
-
Resources:
Piccio, B. (2015, December 9). The Legend of Kanlaon: A Visayan God Who Smokes Tobacco. Retrieved from https://www.choosephilippines.com/go/mountains-and-volcanoes/3829/active-volcano-visayas-kanlaon
Area: Aklan
Synopsis: This story is about the witty slave named Payo, and how he mistakenly gets dung on his master’s bread.
Fun Fact: This story is said to represent the Aklanons’ desire for the Spaniards to have a taste of their own filth.
Illustration by Janica
-
One day, the gobernadorcillo from the town of Ibajay, Aklan told Payo to find a boat for some guests who were coming from across the river. Payo went off to the river and found a large boat. He pulled it ashore and turned it upside down in order to dry. Payo decided to lay down underneath the boat and ended up falling asleep.
When the visitors arrived, they called for a boat but Payo ignored them. The guests fired their guns while still calling for a boat, but Payo continued to doze off. The people in town were in dismay because of the gun firing across the river, so the gobernadorcillo decided to check on the problem. He found the visitors on the other side of the river, as well as the boat that lay on the banks, upside down, with Payo still sleeping underneath it. The gobernadorcillo woke Payo in a rude manner and reprimanded him for what he had done, but the boy simply asked him, “Did you not tell me to find a boat for our guests? Whoever told me to transport them across?” The gobernadorcillo calmed down once he realized his mistake when it comes to giving clearer instructions.
-
References:
AKLANON FOLKTALES: Mga Sugilanon ni Payo (Part 1). (2013, June 3). Retrieved from http://aklanianawriting.blogspot.com/2013/06/aklanon-folktales-mga-sugilanon-ni-payo.html
Barrios, John, Melchor Cichon and Dominador Ilio. The Katipunan in Aklan. A research presented to the Sub-commission for Cultural Dissemination, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, 1993. (Later published in 1997)
De la Cruz, Beato A. Contributions of the Aklan Mind to Philippine Literature. Rizal: Kalantiao Press, 1958.
Magos, Alicia, Henry Funtecha and Emmeline Cabalum. “Culture, Mass Media and National Development.” In Danyag, Journal of Studies in the Humanities, Education and the Sciences. Iloilo City: U.P. in the Visayas, June 1989.
Area: Panay
Synopsis: This story is about the Storm God’s venture to challenge the animals of the earth against his powers
Fun Fact: Saragangka Bagyo, the Storm God, is described as a god of awesome appearance, large physique, and multiple wings that can cause clouds and winds to mix, creating chaotic phenomenons like typhoons and tornadoes!
Illustration by Tricia
-
There once was a storm god named Saragangka Bagyo who was known to be wild, uncontrollable, and unpredictable. One day, he got bored in his heavenly home and thought of flying down to the earth. When he passed by a forest looking for something to pass time with, he saw a group of wild boars and asked them what the strongest animals in the forest are, saying that the ones who can endure his test would be rewarded. To this, the boars agreed, and the storm god blew them all away when he unleashed his fury, dropping dead to the ground. Then, he came upon a group of eagles and told them the same premise. The eagles accepted the challenge and huddled themselves on a big tree. The storm god turned himself into a giant bird, and with one flap of his wings, the tree separated from the soil and fell down to the ground, crushing the eagles. After that, he stumbled upon a school of fish by the stream and, again, told them about the challenge. The fish obliged and hid under the rocks. The storm god turned once again into a giant bird and with another flap of his wings, he sent all of the water blowing out of the stream, leaving the fish flopping helplessly in the emptied river. The storm god feasted on the fish.
None of the animals the storm god had encountered survived his challenge, and now the animals were starting to flee as to avoid coming across him. Still, the god was met with a colony of ants living in a mound under a mango tree. He challenged them as well, to which the ants accepted, the queen knowing of the storm god’s antics. Firstly, the storm god summoned strong winds, to which the ant queen commanded her children to go inside of the mound where they were unharmed. Then, the god changed once again into a bird and tried to peck and claw them out of the mound. He couldn’t reach them as the ant queen commanded her children to descend deeper into the earth. The god now starting to become angry and impatient, he summoned storm clouds and started creating heavy rain which flooded the forest. The god initially thought that he had finally killed them, but to his surprise the ants were floating in the flood aided by leaves, crawling up the nearest tree or plant. The god finally admitted defeat, praising the ants and giving them the reward that he had promised to them in the beginning. The ants started to feel something growing on their heads. The god had rewarded them with antennae. The storm god told the ant queen that the ants have earned his respect, and in turn, he gave them antennae that would help them tell if there is a storm brewing far away so that they have enough time to find ways to protect themselves.
-
References:
Saragangka Bagyo . (2013, May 21). Retrieved from http://vizayanmyths.blogspot.com/2013/05/saragangka-bagyo-profile.html
