LEGENDS

Legend, traditional story or group of stories told about a particular person or place. Formerly the term legend meant a tale about a saint. … But many local legends are actually well-known folktales that have become attached to some particular person or place.

REGION 1:

Anita and Akong (Alaminos Pangasinan)

One of the legends told by old folks who live in the area and passed on to generations of storytelling, is the story of a couple named Akong and Anita. There used to be only one island in the place where the Hundred Islands can be found today. 
Akong is a fisherman and his wife Anita sells the fish he catches everyday. But discontentment soon crept in Akong’s heart and thought of ways to earn money in an easier and faster way. While he went out to sea one night, Anita had a dream about an old man who visited their hut and told them that if they work hard, they will eventually get rich after three years. She shared this with her husband when he returned but he dismissed her impatiently. 
One night, he set out to sea again; his first throw of the net didn’t yield any fish but the second one caught black stones the size of a man’s fist. In disgust, he threw them back to the sea, accompanied by complaints. 
Just then, he heard a rumbling sound and saw the waves becoming bigger, making him paddle faster towards the shore. Unbeknownst to him, the black stones he threw to the sea became islands. He died that night in his sleep. 
And once more, the old man appeared in Anita’s dream, telling her about the islands and the fate her husband brought upon himself. Anita just cried as she looked at her dead husband.

REGION 2:

Legends

The Legend of Apo Lakay-Lakay (Cagayan Valley)

One day, the father coming home from an abundant catch came across an old man. The old man asked if he could spare a bite from one of the fishes he would cook as he was starving. The father laughed off his request. The old man said “You’ll regret it if you will not!” but he continued on.
That evening while the couple were cooking, an old lady came knocking at their door and pleaded for a bite of fish they were cooking. The wife yelled at her exclaiming they have nothing tho give her. She gave a warning that they would regret it if they won’t give here even a bit. She went away empty handed.
By dinner time, they found out their son was missing. They searched out of the house and asked their neighbors for help. It was during sunrise when they found their son across the waves in the east. They ran despite the tiring night long search but was heart broken to find their beloved son turned to stone.
The couple went back to their home weeping. The wife blamed her husband for being greedy and useless. Suddenly her husband turned into a stone in front of her. Slowly she noticed the waves caught her feet and slowly she turned to stone as well.
On this day the the Two towering rock formations at Taggat Lagoon are known as Apo Lakay-lakay (Old Man) andApo Baket-baket (Old Woman). Their son Ubing-ubing (Child) is found of Sentinela Beach across Claveria Bay.
To make up for their mistakes, the mountain and the rocks there has been protecting their village from storms and always have abundant catch. But whenever boats pass by these rock formations, they would give offerings to the sea or else their boats would be wrecked by the rocks and the waves

REGION 3:

The Legend of Alitaptap
(Valley of Pinak, Central Luzon)

     Once, a long time ago, in the valley of Pinak in Central Luzon, one of the islands of the Philippines, there was a deep, large lake rich with fish. There, the people of Pinak fished for their food, and always, there was plenty for all. Then suddenly, the big river dried up. In the shallow mud, there was not a fish to catch! For months, there was no rains. Out in the fields, the land turned dry. The rice stalks slowly withered. Everywhere in Pinak, there was hunger. Night after night, the people of Pinak prayed hard.

“Dear Bathala,” they would recite together in their small and poorly built chapel, “send us rains, give us food to eat for the people are starving, and there is want among us all.”

     Then one black and starless night, the good Bathala answered the prayers of the faithful people of Pinak. For suddenly, up in the skies, appeared a blaze of gold.
“A chariot! A chariot of gold!” shouted the people in fear and wonder.

     True enough-zooming and blazing through the sky, was a beautiful chariot made of pure, glittering gold! The people started to flee in panic, when a big voice boomed from the chariot:
“I am a Bulan-hari, and I have come with my wife, Bitu-in. We are sent from the heavens to rule Pinak from now on. We have come to give you a good life!”
     As Bulan-hari spoke, the black skies opened. The rains fell in torrents. Soon the dry fields bloomed fresh again. The large lake rose till it was again deep and alive with fish. The people of Pinak were happy once more under the rulership of the good Bulan-hari. Soon Bulan-hari and Bitu-in had a daughter. She grew up to be a beautiful maiden. Such long, dark hair! Such lovely eyes under long, curly lashes! Her nose was chiseled fine. Her lips were like rosebuds. Her skin was soft and fair like cream. They named her Alitaptap, for on her forehead was a bright, sparkling star. All the young, brave, and handsome men of Pinak fell in love with Alitaptap. They worshipped her beauty. They sang songs of love beneath her windows. They all sought to win her heart.
But, alas! The heart of Alitaptap was not human. She was the daughter of Bulan-hari and Bitu-in who burst from the sky and were not of the earth. She has a heart of stone, as cold and hard as the sparkling star carved in her forehead. Alitaptap would never know love. Then one day, an old woman arrived in the palace. Her hair was long and dirty. Her clothing was tattered and soiled.Before the King Bulan-hari, Balo-na, the old, wise woman whined in her high and sharp voice.

“Oh, mighty king! I have come from my cave in the mountains. I have journeyed on foot to bring you sad news!”
Bulan-hari asked in fear, “What is it, wise woman?”
“I can see in my crystal ball that the future will bring ruin and sorrow. The warriors from the land of La-ut will come on their mighty horses with their mighty swords and conquer our mighty men. They will destroy our crops, throw poison in the lake, and bring ruin everywhere!”
“Oh, wise woman,” the king replied in despair, “what are we to do?”
“Alitaptap must bear a son. Only he can grew up to be the people’s leader. He will conquer all invaders, and keep the peace in our land!”
At once, Alitaptap! You must pick one of the young men to marry. You must bear a son. He will keep the peace and happiness our people now enjoy!”

But how could Alitaptap understand? The beautiful maiden with a heart of stone merely stood in silence. Bulan-hari gripped his sword in blind despair. “Alitaptap!” he bellowed in the quiet palace. “You will follow me, or you will lie dead this very minute!”
 But nothing could stir the lovely young woman’s heart. Bulan-hari, bling with anger nand fear of the dark future, finally drew his sword. Clang! The steel of his sword’s blade rang in the silence of the big palace. It hit the star on Alitaptap’s lovely forehead! The star burst! Darkness was everywhere! Suddenly a thousand chips of glitter and light flew around the hall. Only the shattered pieces of the star on Alitaptap forehead lighted the great hall, flickering around as through they were stars with tiny wings. Alitaptap, the lovely daughter sent from the heavens, lay dead. And soon, Balo-na’s predictions came true. Riding on stamping wild horses, the warriors of La-ut came likt the rumble and clash of lightning and thunder. They killed the people of Pinak, ruined the crops, poison the lake. They spread sorrow and destruction everywhere. When it all ended, the beautiful, peaceful valley of Pinak had turned into empty and shallow swamp. At night, there was nothing but darkness, but soon, tiny sparkles of light flickered and glimmered brightly in the starless night.

And so, the fireflies came about. Once, a long time ago, they were fragments from the star on the forehead ob Bulan-hari’s daughter, the beautiful Alitapap.