There is no one on the great island of Negros who does not love the name of Catalina. Even the wild mountain men speak it with respect, and down in the coast towns at night, when the typhoon is lashing the waters of Tanon Strait, and the rain and wind make the nipa leaves on the roofs dance and rattle, the older people gather their little black-eyed grandchildren around the shell of burning cocoanut oil and tell them her story.

Many years ago there lived in Dumaguete a poor tuba seller named Banog, who made his daily rounds to the houses just as the milkman does in far-off America. But instead of a rattling wagon he had only a long bamboo from which he poured the drink, and in place of sweet milk he left the sap of the cocoanut tree.

The bad custom of mixing tungud, a kind of red bark, with the sap, and thus making of it a strong liquor, had not yet been known, so Banog, though poor, was respected, and the people tried in every way to help him and his daughter Catalina.

Catalina was a beautiful girl of sixteen and very good and industrious, but with many strange ways. She scarcely ever spoke a word and spent most of her time in looking out over the sea. Sometimes she would suddenly stand erect and, clasping her hands, would remain for a long time looking up at the sky as if she saw something that no one else could see. On account of these strange manners the people thought her a wonderful girl and she was supposed to have mysterious powers.

One day many ships came up from the island of Mindanao and hundreds of fierce Moros landed. Shouting and waving their terrible knives, they fell upon the peaceful people and killed many, among them poor Banog. Then they robbed and burned the houses and, seizing all the women they could find, set sail for their great southern island. Among the prisoners was Catalina. With her eyes fixed on the sky she sat very quiet and still in the bow of one of the boats, and though her companions spoke often to her she made no reply.

Suddenly she sprang into the water and a wonderful thing occurred, for, instead of sinking, she walked lightly over the waves toward the distant shore. The Moros were so astonished that they did not try to stop her and she reached the land safely.

Many people who had hidden in the forests ran out to meet her but she spoke to no one. With her eyes still fixed above she walked through the burning town and along the road to Dalugdug, the Thunder mountain, that lies behind Dumaguete.

On Dalugdug there lived a terrible Sigbin. Its body was like that of a monstrous crow, but just under its neck were two long legs like those of a grasshopper, which enabled it to leap great distances without using its wings. It ate any one who came near its home, so when the people saw Catalina start to climb the mountain they begged her to come back. She paid no heed to their cries, however, but went up higher and higher, till her white dress seemed merely a speck on the mountain side.

All at once she seemed to stop and raise her hands. Then a fearful shriek was heard, and the fierce Sigbin came rushing down the mountain. It appeared to be greatly frightened, for it took tremendous leaps and screamed as if in terror. Over the heads of the people it jumped, and, reaching the shore, cleared the narrow channel and disappeared among the mountains of the island of Cebu.

When the people saw that the Sigbin had gone they ran up the mountain and searched everywhere for Catalina, but they could find no trace of her. Sorrowfully they returned to their homes and busied themselves in building new houses and in making their town beautiful once more.

Several years passed in peace and then again the Moro boats came up from Mindanao. The men hurriedly gathered on the beach to meet them, and the women and children hid in the cocoanut groves.

This time the Moros had no quick and easy victory, for the Visayans, armed with bolos and remembering their lost wives and sisters, fought furiously, and for a time drove the enemy before them. But more Moro boats arrived and numbers told against the defenders. Slowly but surely they fell fighting until but a few remained.

Suddenly a bridge of clouds unfolded from Dalugdug to the town, and across it came the lost Catalina holding a beehive in her hands. Then she spoke and thousands of bees flew from the hive to the ground. Again she spoke and waved her hand, and the bees changed into little black men with long sharp spears, who charged the Moros and killed every one of them.

Then Catalina, the hive still in her hand, went back over the bridge and disappeared once more in the mountain.

The people came out of their hiding places, crowding around the little black men and questioning them, but they received no answer. Instead the little warriors gathered together and ran into the forest and up the mountain side, where they were soon lost to view.

Such is the story of Catalina, Since that time Dumaguete has been safe from the Moros. The Sigbin has never returned to Negros. It still lives in the mountains of Cebu and the people are so afraid of it that they lock themselves in their houses after dark and can hardly be induced to come out. Up in the mountains of Negros live the little black men. They are called Negritos and are very savage and wild.

The savior of Dumaguete still lives in Dalugdug and is worshiped by the people. And in the town, now grown into a big busy city, the old people for years to come will tell their grandchildren the story of Catalina.

Philippine Folklore Stories, by John Maurice Miller, [1904], at sacred-texts.com

(Ang Gorilya at ang Alitaptap)

Ang pabulang ito ay isa lamang sa kalipunan ng mga Bisaya na naglalarawan ng paglalaban sa pagitan ng maliliit na insekto at malalaking hayop.

“Huwag maliitin ang maliliit dahil may magagawa silang di magagawa ng malalaki”

Isang gabi, naglalakad si Iput-Iput, (ang alitaptap) patungo sa bahay ng kanyang kaibigan.Nang mapadaan siya sa tapat ng bahay ni Amomongo (ang gorilya), tinanong siya nito.

“Hoy, Iput-Iput,bakit lagi kang may dala-dalang ilaw?”

Sumagot si Iput-Iput. “Dahil natatakot ako sa mga lamok.”

“Ah, duwag ka pala,” ang pang-uuyam ni Amomongo.

“Hindi ako duwag!” , ang nagagalit na sagot ni Iput-Iput.

“Kung hindi ka duwag, e bakit lagi kang may dala-dalang ilaw?”, ang pang-aasar ni Amomongo.

“Nagdadala ako ng ilaw para kapag nilapitan ako ng mga lamok at kakagatin ay makikita ko sila kaagad at nang sa gayo’y maipagtanggol ko ang aking sarili.”, ang tugon ni Iput-Iput.

Tumawa nang malakas si Amomongo. Kinabukasan, maaga utong gumising at ipinamalita sa lahat ng kapitbahay na kaya daw laging may dalang ilaw si Iput-Iput ay dahil duwag ito. Kaagad na kumalat sa buong bayan ang balita.

Nang mabalitaan ito ni Iput-Iput, nagalit siya. Dali-dali siyang lumipad patungo sa bahay ni Amomongo. Gabi noon at natutulog na ang gorilya, ngunit itinapat niya ang kanyang ilaw sa mukha nito hanggang sa ito ay magising.

“Hoy, gorilya, bakit ipinamamalita mong duwag ako? Upang mapatunayan ko sa’yong hindi ako duwag, hinahamon kita sa isang labanan. Magkita tayo sa sa plasa sa susunod na Linggo ng hapon.”

Pupunga-pungas na nagtanong ang gorilya. “Mayroon ka bang mga kasama?”

“Wala!”, ang sigaw ni Iput-Iput. “Pupunta akong mag-isa.”

Nangiti si Amomongo sa tinuran ni Iput-Iput. Dili’t isang maliit na insekto ang humahamon sa kanya ng away.

Nagpatuloy ang alitaptap. “Hihintayin kita sa plasa sa susunod na Linggo sa ganap na ikaanim ng hapon!”

“Magsama ka ng mga kakampi mo dahil magsasama ako ng libu-libong gorilya na mas malalaki pa sa akin.” Sinabi ito ni Amomongo upang takutin ang alitaptap, na sa pakiwari niya ay nasisiraan ng ulo.

Ngunit sumagot si Iput-Iput: “Hindi ko kailangan ng kakampi. Darating akong mag-isa! Paalam!”

Dumating ang araw ng Linggo. Bago pa mag-ikaanim ng hapon ay nagtipon na ang mga dambuhalang gorilya sa plasa ngunit nadatnan na nila ang alitaptap na naghihintay sa kanila.

“Maya- maya, tumunog ang kampana ng simbahan bilang hudyat ng oras ng orasyon o pagdarasal. Iminungkahi ni Iput-Iput sa mga gorilya ma magdasal muna sila. Pagkatapos magdasal, agad sinabi ni Iput-Iput na nakahanda na siya. Inutusan ni Amomongo ang kanyang mga kasama na humanay. Pumuwesto siya sa una bilang pagpapakilalang siya ang pinuno ng
mga ito.

Dagling lumipad si Iput-Iput sa ilong ni Amomongo at inilawan niya ito. Hinampas ng kasunod na gorilya si Iput-Iput ngunit kaagad itong nakaalis kaya ang tinamaan ng gorilya ay ang ilong ni Amomongo na halos ikamatay nito. Dumapo si Iput-Iput sa ilong ng pangalawang gorilya. Hinampas ng pangatlong gorilya si Iput-Iput ngunit kaagad itong nakalipad, kaya ang nahampas niya ay ang ilong ng pangalawa na ikinamatay nito. Muli, inilawan ni Iput-Iput ang ilong ng pangatlong gorilya. Hinampas ng ikaapat na gorilya si Iput-Iput na kaagad na kalipad.

Muli, namatay ang pangatlong gorilya dahil sa lakas ng pagkakahampas ng ikaapat na unggoy sa ilong nito. Nagpatuloy ang ganitong pangyayari hanggang si Amomongo na lamang ang natirang buhay na gorilya na halos hindi makagulapay dahil sa tinamong sakit. Nagmakaawa ito kay Iput-Iput na patawarin na siya, at huwag patayin. Pinatawad naman siya ni Iput-Iput, ngunit simula ng hapong iyon, nagkaroon na ng malaking takot ang mga gorilya sa mga alitaptap.

Kon harapit na an adlaw matunod
Ngan ha imo hirayo ako
Naputok an kakulba ha dughan
Ngan kamingaw asay gud dako.

Pagtikang han panuro han tun-og
Mga bukad ngan dahon paghumog
Inin luha, daw burabod,
Waray hunong hin pagtubod.

Kon nadangat na an gab-i upod an kamingaw
Labi kon nabati han huni han kalaw
Pagpurak han sidlangan, pagpuni-as han adlaw
Pagkalpad han maya, dinumdom ko ikaw

Ginhingyap ka han inagi nga adlaw
Ug an himaya nga hingpit gayud.
Labi kon upod ka han pagtan-aw
Han kapusak han mga balud.
Kondi inabut ako hin kakulba
Ug an kamingaw namara-para
Kay kon tingali an ak pagla-um
Bangin daw la nim kawangon.

Sanglit han pagsalidsid han mapawa nga adlaw
Higtaas nga bukid luub hin kasilaw
Paghuni han gangis upud an kamingaw
Duyog an pagtangis gindumdom ko ikaw

Daw nasusunog, sidsid han langit
Pati an dagat gindadala-it
Bangin ha unhan, may nagkaingin
Nga madlos huyog hinin hangin.

Iton mga balod, iton mga balod
Mulayan han dagat
Nga dit’ ha kalawdan, nagbabalatbagat
An gab-i nga dulom, an gab-i nga dulom
An dagat naranggat.
Nga nakakali-aw han mga dumaragat.

Adto na’n adlaw, nagligidligid
Didto huhuron, luyo han bukid
Bunyog panguli an katamsihan
Nahadlok bangin magab-ihan

An Iroy nga Tuna matam-is pagpuy-an
Bisan diin siplat puros kasangkayan
Hahani an hingpit nga ak kalipayan
Hahani hira nanay pati kabugtuan.

Lugaring mahiblon, ha dughan mabug-on
Nga an Pilipinas dayuday uripon
¡Ay Tuna, nga ak natawohan!
Hain daw an hingpit nga at katalwasan?

An Iruy nga Tuna matam’is pagpuy-an,
Kay diin man siplat purus kasangkayan,
Hahani an hingpit nga ak’ kalipayan,
Hahani hira nanay pati kabugtuan.

Ugaring mahiblun
Ha dughan mabug-un,
Nga an Pilipinas dayuday uripun…
Ay, Tuna nga ak’ Natawuhan!
Hain dawla an langit
Han im’ Kaluwasan!

An Iruy nga Tuna kun nagmumusakit,
Kun nagiginbihag, nagigin-uripun,
Tungug hin kabidu hararaptay hapit,
An luha ug turaw nagkakatiripun.

Inin akun laylay,
Karawta nga halad,
Ubus nga pag-ugay hadin waray palad…
Ay, Tuna nga ak’ Natawuhan!
Hain dawla an langit
Hain im’ Kaluwasan!

note from thephilippineliterature.com:
Iluminado Lucente (May 14, 1883 – February 14, 1960) was a great Filipino writer, perhaps the greatest Waray writer, writing primarily Waray poetry and drama.