LEGENDS OF FIRE : ALAMAT NG APOY (Filipino Fictional Story - Originally Translated)
Once upon a time, fire cannot be found anywhere. The only fire existed was guarded by two giants in a huge cave.
The people needed the fire to brighten up the darkness of the night. But the two giants were strictly watching them and neither want to give fire to anyone.
But one wise and clever Lam-ang thought of the way. He called and gathered his animal friends. He told them the plan on how they can get the fire of which the people hoped-for.
Lam-ang positioned the frog at the countryside. He positioned the horse at the foot of the mountain. He positioned the wild mountain cat along the sandy shore. He positioned the dog along the rocky area. He stationed the boar at the valley near the cave where the two giants were.
After knowing the qualities of the two scary creatures, Lam-ang knew that the creatures were really dangerous to fight with. However, he realized that they can be friendly to people if friendship is their goal.
Lam-ang tried to befriend with the unhappy giants. When he successfully made friends with them, he told them about the people’s desire. The people desperately need a fire you are guarding with. May I ask for a bit of them?
The two giants furrowed. We are the guardians of this fire and we cannot give even a slightest flame.
I am begging you. The fire can improve the lives of my race.
I thought you are a friend, why should you plead for your people’s request?-one puzzled giant asked. You are the same with the rest. Difference between you and them is you made friends with us before imposing your ill intent, said the second giant as he gnashing his teeth in rage. You are a foe to us. Enemy! Enemy!
When Lam-ang noticed that the two furious beasts were already out of trust on him, he immediately stood-up and ran. From the entrance of the cave he gave the cue and immediately the boar was yelping, the dog was howling, cat was yowling, the horse was neighing and the frog was croaking.
All the animals wanted to help Lam-ang and the people so they jointly screamed and cried as hard as they could. The joint forces of the animals’ loud cry trembled, the giants, in fright which led them to run out of the cave.
A bit of fire is a beginning of a new future. Lam-ang quickly decided to take a fraction of the flame and ran them out from the cave. But the two giants saw him and angrily chasing him. Lam-ang ran as fast as he could. Definitely the beasts will kill me when they caught me, said Lam-ang to himself. He became so exhausted but he wanted to achieve on what he fought for.
But when Lam-ang was about to drop down weary, the awaiting boar took and rushed the blaze away from the giants. Another high speed pursuit occurred. When the two beasts were about to catch the boar, the howling dog from the rocky area immediately reached the blaze. High speed chase had occurred again. Dog’s tongue was rolling down from exhaustion but remained running to help the people and Lam-ang.
When the dog was about to fall, it passed on the burning flame to the yowling cat waiting for it at the sandy shore. The cat scrambled like a wind. The two giants continued the chase, though the more tired they are the stronger they get.
Now the cat was exhausted but it was committed to help Lam-ang and the people. The cat was about to faint when the frog at the countryside grab the flickering fire like a tornado and swiftly leap away from the raging giants. But the strides of the giants were gaining pace on the frog. They snatched the long tail of the frog but the frog was committed to help Lam-ang and the people so it leap and jump with all its strength that cut its tail.
With the effort to reach the people, the frog made the biggest and the longest leap to bring the fire to them. The full strength and effort to jump caused the frog’s eyes to jut out.
Finally, the fire has reached to the people and the people were so happy. Hail to Lam-ang and his animal friends! People cried. Hail to the fire of success! People acclaimed. The giants returned to the cave ashamed. That's the beginning of the existence of fire to the people around the world.
As the adage goes: LEAD ME TO THE COUNTRY RICH IN FOLKLORE AND I WILL SHOW YOU THE COUNTRY RICH IN CULTURE.
ENJOY. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.