Traditions of the Tinguian: a Study in Philippine Folk-Lore eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 393 pages of information about Traditions of the Tinguian.

Traditions of the Tinguian: a Study in Philippine Folk-Lore eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 393 pages of information about Traditions of the Tinguian.
He saw that she took all the rice and fish out of the pots, and there were only dishes for them.  “What is the matter with this woman that she does not leave any fish for her husband?” he said to himself.  While they were eating Asibowan told him that she did not have a husband and Aponitolau smiled.  When they finished eating, they cut betel-nut for them to chew.  “Now be patient for we must chew betel-nut, for it is not good for us to talk until we know each other’s names.”  Asibowan said, “How can we chew betel-nut, for I do not chew for I am related to Kaboniyan?” [136] “You must chew anyway for we cannot tell our names unless we chew,” said Aponitolau.  When Aponitolau urged her a long time she took the betel-nut and they chewed.  “Since you are the lady who lives here, it is best that you tell your name first,” said Aponitolau.  “No it is not good for a woman to tell her name first, so you must tell your name,” said Asibowan.  Not long after, “My name is Aponitolau of Kadalayapan who is the son of Langa-an and Pagatipanan, who goes to find a pretty girl who has power like me,” said Aponitolau.  “My name is Asibowan of Gegenawan, who lives alone in the field, who has no neighbors for this is my fortune,” said Asibowan.  So Aponitolau staid with her nine months and his father and mother were searching for him.  They had many people searching for him and they killed many animals to feed the people until all their animals were gone.  The bones which they threw away made a pile nine times as large as the balaua.

Asibowan became pregnant and not long after she gave birth.  “What shall we call our girl?” said Aponitolau.  “We will call her Binaklingan.”  When Asibowan bathed the baby it grew one span for she used magical power.  So the baby grew one span every time. [137] Not long after she could walk, Aponitolau saw the pile of bones which the searchers had thrown away when they ate, and it was nine times larger than the balaua.  “The best thing for us to do, Asibowan, is for us to go to Kadalayapan, for my father and mother are still searching for me and the people who are searching are eating all their animals.”  “The best thing for you to do is to go home and find a woman whom you should marry and then when you are married you make Sayang [138] and I will come to Kadalayapan,” said Asibowan, for it was not good for them to be married because she had less magical power than Aponitolau.  “If you do not wish to go, I will take our daughter Binaklingan.”  “Wait awhile until we have commanded that a house be built for her to live in.”  Not long after they commanded that a house be made for Binaklingan, and it was all of gold.  It was finished in the middle of the night and she used magic so that the golden house went to Kadalayapan.

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Traditions of the Tinguian: a Study in Philippine Folk-Lore from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.