As for Loku, you may still hear him fulfilling his punishment.  From crack and crevice, tree and shrub, he calls his name from dark till dawn:  “Lok-u!  Lok-u!  Lok-u!”

And he must cry it forever.

The Light of the Fly

The firefly abounds everywhere in the Islands.

I

The King of the Air was in terrible rage,
For some one had stolen his ring;
And every one wondered whoever could dare
To do such a terrible thing. 
He called all his subjects together and said,
“To him that shall find it I’ll give
Whatever he asks, and this bounty of mine
Shall last while his family live.”

II

Away went his good loyal subjects to search,
And no one remained but a fly. 
“Be off!” said the King, “go and join in the search;
Would you slight such a ruler as I?”
Then up spoke the fly with his little wee voice: 
“The ring is not stolen,” he said. 
“It stuck to your crown when you put it away,
And now it’s on top of your head.”

III

The King in surprise took the crown from his head,
And there, sure enough, was the ring. 
“No wonder you saw it, with so many eyes;
But what is your wish?” said the King. 
“O King,” said the fly, “I work hard all the day,
And I never can go out at night. 
I should like to go then and be gay with my friends,
So all that I wish is a light.”

IV

“You shall have it at once,” said the gratified King,
And he fastened a light to the fly,
Who straightway returned to his home with the prize
That was worth more than money could buy. 
So now you can see him at night with his light
And from him this lesson may learn: 
To keep your eyes open and see the least thing,
And Fortune will come in its turn.

Mangita and Larina

This is a tale told in the lake district of Luzon.  At times of rain or in winter the waters of the Laguna de Bai rise and detach from the banks a peculiar vegetation that resembles lettuce.  These plants, which float for months down the Pasig River, gave rise, no doubt, to the story.

Many years ago there lived on the banks of the Laguna de Bai a poor fisherman whose wife had died, leaving him two beautiful daughters named Mangita and Larina.

Mangita had hair as black as night and a dark skin.  She was as good as she was beautiful, and was loved by all for her kindness.  She helped her father mend the nets and make the torches to fish with at night, and her bright smile lit up the little nipa house like a ray of sunshine.