San Andres, Bauan, Batangas: Historical Data Part II

After Dumagat had gone home, he began to consider what he could do to get even with Bathala. “I shall let the sea flow over the land and destroy people,” he said at last.

So, he opened the gate, and the water rushed in over the fields and towns. Most of the people were drowned, but Bathala and his family were safe in his place with his pets.

After many days, the water came down, and Bathala became anxious to know what the condition of the world was. He sent his favorite messenger, the crow, to find out. As the crow flew about over the world, he saw the bodies of people who had been drowned. He alighted on one of them and began to eat the decaying flesh. All day, Bathala waited at the palace, but the crow did not return. The god became worried and sent the dove to find out what had happened to his first messenger. The dove found the crow eating a dead body and told him that Bathala had sent for him. Together, the two birds flew back to the palace.

When they reached the palace, the dove told Bathala what he had found the crow doing. On hearing what a disgusting thing his favorite bird had done, Bathala became angry and shouted at him. “From this time on, you shall be an angry black bird. You shall lose your beautiful voice. The only sound that you will be able to make will be a harsh cry.”

With his head down, the crow left Bathala’s palace. Since then, all crows have been black and they go about calling in a harsh voice, “Wak,” “wak.”

Legend of the First Bananas

Long ago in the village of Seboan, there lived a beautiful girl named Juana. Her home was near an enchanted cave in which fairies were said to live.

One morning, as she was walking near the cave, she met a young man. He was a stranger, but she stopped and said, “Good morning. May I walk with you?”

As he walked along with Juana, he began to tell her many strange and wonderful things. She was so charmed and pleased with his manner and beautiful language that she soon forgot that they had ever been strangers. He never felt that she was a stranger for he had fallen in love with her at first sight.

The next morning, they met again. The young man told Juana that he was really a fairy, a fairy prince, who had changed himself into a man.

Then, he told her of the land in which he lived, the land of make-believe. He talked of how wonderful it could be if he could take her there, but he said sadly: “You are not a fairy. No one can live in the land of make-believe except fairies.”

As he turned to leave, he said, “Tonight, I shall see you for the last time.”

That night, he came to say goodbye, but when it was time for him to leave, Juana felt that she could not let him go. She clung to his hands to hold him back. Even while she was holding them, the fairy prince vanished, leaving his hands in her grasp.

Juana was frightened and horrified. What should she do with the hands? “I must hide them,” she said.

So, she ran and buried them in a corner of a garden and put a small stone nearby to mark the place.

Early the next morning, she went to the garden to see if anything had happened to the buried hands. Near the stone, she saw a green plant pushing itself up through the soil.

Juana watched it daily and treated it with the greatest of care. Soon, it grew into a tall plant with its fan-like leaves. In a month’s time, some strange looking fruit appeared on it. The fruit grew in rows like clusters of fingers on a hand.

The strange fruit was the first bunch of bananas in the world.

1. When the clouds go in a southern direction, [a] storm may come soon.

2. It is also said that when we are sleeping and we dream that one of our teeth is pulled [out], it is a sign that a nearby relative of the family will die.

3. Another belief which is also a sign of [a] visitor coming is when we see the cat washing his face in front of the door, together with the hen fighting in the yard.

4. When a star shines near the moon, someone may elope.

5. Anything that is new must be not be worn in going to the cemetery for it will easily be worn out.

6. When a dog howls at midnight, somebody may die in the neighborhood.

7. When you meet a snake on the way, it is a sign of good luck.

8. When a cow neighs [moos] during New Year’s Eve, it is a sign of plentiful harvest for the coming year.

9. When somebody smells a burning candle, it is a sign that some relatives died at a far distant place.

10. When a lizard enters somebody’s house, it may be bad luck for a family living in it.

11. Never sweep at night for the people thought the Blessed Virgin Mary is taking a walk and her eyes might be hurt.

12. In time of meal when a spoon or fork unholds or falls from the table, it is the expectation of many people that somebody is coming.