At the gathering of Shaman-Sorcerer in the secluded forest, a Vampire Aswang must be captured and presented alive at the coven. The vampire will then be tied to a stake, hands upward.
Then a whip made of Stingray's tail will be brought out and handled to the Supreme Shaman. He will faced the vampire and ordered him to reveal all the members of their society in the whole island as well as the neighboring islands. If the vampire will not speak, the inquisitor will whipped the vampire and he will cry in agony.
If he will not speak again, the spiny tail of Stingray will be passed to the next shaman-sorcerer in rank until the vampire begged and implored not to punish him for the pain was unbearable. Then he will cooperate and revealed all their members of the society.
Then the vampire will be released but the tiny spines of the tails of the Stingray will continue to live on his flesh and body until he died. It was a potent reminder to him of the greatest pain he experienced and as a deterrent for him not to attack the ordinary humans for the shaman-sorcerer have the power to inflict pain to him in his whole lifetime.
From the oral account of my father, a shaman.
Retold by Amadeo Sungcang of Aklan, Philippines.
Miyerkules, Agosto 15, 2012
Lunes, Agosto 6, 2012
The Legend of the first creation of Islander tribe coming from Space Bird
Long time ago the Earth was fully covered with water. A titan bird coming from the sky visited the Earth and saw that it was covered with water and there was no island to where it wanted to land. So the mighty bird swooped the sea and as it swooped, the water heaved and move. As it moved the sands under the water moved with the water. The bird continuously swooped the sea and steadily the sands piled under the sea until it reached the surface of the water.
The mighty bird landed on the artificial island and there it deposited two tubes. Then the bird broke the tubes and two human creatures emerged from it. The man was called Malakas and the woman was called Maganda. Then the bird flew away toward the star leaving the two to inhabit the island that later expanded as waves brought more sands to the area.
From this two people, originated the race of the islander.
A mythology from Luzon Island, Philippines retold.
Understanding the message of the mythology.
The bird mentioned can be interpreted as a UFO spaceship from above. The spaceship sucked the sands from the bottom of the ocean to form an island. Then it landed and deposited two humans on the island then it returned to its place of origin, the distant star. (Analogy by the author.)
The mighty bird landed on the artificial island and there it deposited two tubes. Then the bird broke the tubes and two human creatures emerged from it. The man was called Malakas and the woman was called Maganda. Then the bird flew away toward the star leaving the two to inhabit the island that later expanded as waves brought more sands to the area.
From this two people, originated the race of the islander.
A mythology from Luzon Island, Philippines retold.
Understanding the message of the mythology.
The bird mentioned can be interpreted as a UFO spaceship from above. The spaceship sucked the sands from the bottom of the ocean to form an island. Then it landed and deposited two humans on the island then it returned to its place of origin, the distant star. (Analogy by the author.)
Sabado, Agosto 4, 2012
Understanding Mermaid World and Sea God abode revealed in Folktales.
In Visayan mythology this creature is called Kataw. These creatures inhabit any types of water form especially those that are not frequented by human.
According to the beliefs, their appearances vary but mostly they mimic human forms. Some of them stay above the water and love to stay on the branches of the trees near the beach.
Malevolent mermaid attacks swimmers and drowned them by using the force of whirlpool they created. Some of them directly pull the legs of swimmers and drag them underwater.
The beliefs never mentioned that the mermaid were half human and half fish in form. The sightings suggest that mostly they were green creature with red eyes. They are capable of underwater dwelling as well as breathing on air. They were bigger than ordinary human. Their head were bald and their teeth were that of carnivorous animals.
The beliefs said that once you caught a mermaid in a net or in a fish trap, don't kill it. Make it a prisoner and release it only after their fellow creatures fetch him. They will bring you pearls of great value in exchange.
From the beliefs of Visayan inhabitants.
According to the beliefs, their appearances vary but mostly they mimic human forms. Some of them stay above the water and love to stay on the branches of the trees near the beach.
Malevolent mermaid attacks swimmers and drowned them by using the force of whirlpool they created. Some of them directly pull the legs of swimmers and drag them underwater.
The beliefs never mentioned that the mermaid were half human and half fish in form. The sightings suggest that mostly they were green creature with red eyes. They are capable of underwater dwelling as well as breathing on air. They were bigger than ordinary human. Their head were bald and their teeth were that of carnivorous animals.
The beliefs said that once you caught a mermaid in a net or in a fish trap, don't kill it. Make it a prisoner and release it only after their fellow creatures fetch him. They will bring you pearls of great value in exchange.
From the beliefs of Visayan inhabitants.
Biyernes, Agosto 3, 2012
Soul Snatcher Flaming Phoenix Bird sighting at Demon's tree by the roadside bend
Our house stood in the middle of a rice field facing a straight highway more than a mile long before it curved. On this road side bend stood an old tamarind tree few meters away from the road.
One night I saw a ball of fire among the branches of the tree. I though it was a ghost. I wanted to take a closer look on it but to my surprise it was a glowing bird that I saw. It was like a wild chicken. I knew that it was the supernatural bird as mentioned by my grandfather while I was still a child. I could still remember the warning he told me. He said that I should never came nearer to that bird for once you were radiated by the light of its flame you will die.
I never came nearer to the tree.
Few hours later an accident occurred at the bend.
A truck crashed at the metal railing of the road and rolled over.
We run to the scene bringing flashlights and torches. We saw the occupants bathed in blood. The truck was upside down with all its wheels facing the sky in the middle of the road.
It settled near the tamarind tree and immediately I suspected that the flaming bird had caused the accident, so I focused the light on the tree branches. To my surprise a big black bird flew away from the tree.
That bird is a soul snatcher commented by my old neighbor. The victims could not be saved anymore he told us. Then he make a sign of a cross. That bird is a harbinger of an accident to come for that accident
is just one of the many accidents happened at the bend and every time it happened the flaming bird was always sighted on that tree.
From the oral account Arnold Cauton of Pozzorobio Pangasinan, Philippines
One night I saw a ball of fire among the branches of the tree. I though it was a ghost. I wanted to take a closer look on it but to my surprise it was a glowing bird that I saw. It was like a wild chicken. I knew that it was the supernatural bird as mentioned by my grandfather while I was still a child. I could still remember the warning he told me. He said that I should never came nearer to that bird for once you were radiated by the light of its flame you will die.
I never came nearer to the tree.
Few hours later an accident occurred at the bend.
A truck crashed at the metal railing of the road and rolled over.
We run to the scene bringing flashlights and torches. We saw the occupants bathed in blood. The truck was upside down with all its wheels facing the sky in the middle of the road.
It settled near the tamarind tree and immediately I suspected that the flaming bird had caused the accident, so I focused the light on the tree branches. To my surprise a big black bird flew away from the tree.
That bird is a soul snatcher commented by my old neighbor. The victims could not be saved anymore he told us. Then he make a sign of a cross. That bird is a harbinger of an accident to come for that accident
is just one of the many accidents happened at the bend and every time it happened the flaming bird was always sighted on that tree.
From the oral account Arnold Cauton of Pozzorobio Pangasinan, Philippines
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