Archive for the 'Short Stories' Category

Ibong Adarna

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

An Excerpt from the original Filipino text of the Ibong Adarna corrido By Anonymous CORRIDO AT BUHAY NA PINAGDAANAN NANG TATLONG PRINCIPENG MAGCACAPATID NA ANAC NANG HARING FERNANDO AT NANG REINA VALERIANA SA CAHARIANG BERBANIA Virgeng Ináng mariquit Emperadora sa Langit, tulungan po yaring isip matutong macapagsulit. Sa aua mo po’t, talaga Vírgeng ualang macapára, […]

The Man with the Coconuts

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

One day a man who had been to gather his coconuts loaded his horse heavily with the fruit. On the way home he met a boy whom he asked how long it would take to reach the house.

How the First Head Was Taken

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

One day the Moon, who was a woman named Kabigat, sat out in the yard making a large copper pot. The copper was still soft and pliable like clay, and the woman squatted on the ground with the heavy pot against her knees while she patted and shaped it.

Juan Gathers Guavas

Saturday, December 5th, 2009

The guavas were ripe, and Juan’s father sent him to gather enough for the family and for the neighbors who came to visit them. Juan went to the guava bushes and ate all that he could hold. Then he began to look around for mischief. He soon found a wasp nest and managed to get […]

Benito, the Faithful Servant

Saturday, December 5th, 2009

On a time there lived in a village a poor man and his wife, who had a son named Benito. The one ambition of the lad from his earliest youth was that he might be a help to the family in their struggle for a living.

How the Farmer Deceived the Demon

Friday, December 4th, 2009

Very many years ago, in a far-away land where the trees never changed their green leaves and where the birds always sang, there lived on an island a farmer with a large family. Though all alone on the island and knowing nothing of people in the outer world, they were always happy, as happy as […]

The Datto Somacuel

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Datto Somacuel was one of the seven chiefs who, coming from Borneo many years before the Spaniards conquered these islands, settled the Island of Panay. He lived in Sinaragan, a town near San Joaquin, in the southern part of Iloilo Province. His wife’s name was Capinangan.

Somacuel went every morning to the seashore to watch his slaves
fish with the sinchoro, or net.

Panaghoy Sang Ginahandos Nga Palpal

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

ni Juanito C. Marcella “Ina ang gindalikat ko sa pagkari, Tyo Danoy,” hingapos ni Mr. Tante. Wala makahulag si Tyo Danoy matapos mapahayag sa iya ni Mr. Tante ang ginkari sini sa Tapaslong. Didto sa mahanayap nga kauyaparan nalansang ang iya panulok. May ginapamatyagan si Tyo Danoy. May ginaisip-isip. Subong sang ginaaninaw niya ang iya […]

Three Brothers of Fortune

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Narrated by Eugenio Estayo, a Pangasinan, who heard the story from Toribio Serafica, a native of Rosales, Pangasinan. In former times there lived in a certain village a wealthy man who had three sons,–Suan, Iloy, and Ambo. As this man was a lover of education, he sent all his boys to another town to school. […]

Suan Eket

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Narrated by Manuel Reyes, a Tagalog from Rizal province. Many years ago there lived in the country of Campao a boy named Suan. While this boy was studying in a private school, it was said that he could not pronounce the letter x very well–he called it “eket.” So his schoolmates nick-named him “Suan Eket.” […]