"The Legend of Malakas and Maganda"
Ang Alamat ni Malakas at Maganda
A long time ago, the house of God was a fathomless vast of emptiness. He was saddened because he can’t see nor hear anything. The sun rose, bright as a gold and the heavens were embellished with clear blue skies. In a distance the full moon peeked amidst the darkness with thousands of sparkling and twinkling stars. God gracefully lifted His powerful hands and in just a snap, the earth was created. Trees and grasses sprouted from the lands and fragrant flowers came into bloom. Oceans waved and surged; rivers outrageously flowed. Birds flew freely in the skies and they rest to sing for a while. God then created the world. It was such a beautiful and pleasure paradise to behold! One day, the king of birds flew and explored the wild blue yonder. He proudly spread his sturdy massive wings and flew to the forest.From a distance, he saw a lofty bamboo bending from its waist as a gentle blow of wind touched it. He hurried through the bamboo and stopped for a short rest.Knock! Knock! Knock!He felt a resounding knock coming from the tall bamboo. He was sure he heard a voice! “Set me free, o, stalwart king of birds!”, was the plead. “Peck harder! I can’t breathe. It’s a confinement!” “It might be a trap!”, the bird thought. After a while, a lizard crawled up to the bamboo. The starving bird tried to grab the crawling lizard. He hardly pecked the bamboo in his attempt to catch the lizard. All of a sudden, the tall bamboo broke. To the bird’s surprise, a handsome man emerged from the bamboo. “Thanks, O, great king of the birds! My name is Malakas. Please continue pecking the bamboo. Release my partner with your grace and power! ”Once again, the bird pecked the bamboo.A modest and beautiful woman came out from the bamboo. “She is my wife. Her name is Maganda. You freed us, O, King of the birds! You must live with us forever!”“I can’t”, replied the bird. “I am but one bird and my home is the immense blue skies. I travel with the wind. My wings were intended for flight. But, I would always sing for you. Even if when I’m gone, my nestlings would also sing for you. With their rhythmic voices, they would sing the song I sang for the both of you!” “Come! Ride in my massive wings. I would bring you to the Land of the Morning. There you must live and stay!”Malakas and Maganda reached the land of green islands. It shone with the brightness of golden sun. The whole land was a vast of glistening pearls of the east!There, in the Land of the Morning, Malakas and Maganda lived together – the first parents of the Filipino race.
Filipino version...
Bago nagsimula ang panahon, ang tahanan ng Diyos ay di-masukat na kalawakan. Naging malungkutin ang Diyos sapagkat wala Siyang makita at marinig. Ang araw ay sumisikat, maliwanag na parang ginto at ang langit ay napapalamutian ng mapuputing ulap. Sa malayo ay nakasilip ang buwang kabilugan samantalang kukuti-kutitap ang libong mga bituin.Iniangat ng Diyos ang Kanyang kamay at ito’y itinurong pababa. Sa isang iglap ay nalalang ang mundo. Ang mga lunting kakahuyan ay sumibol, pati mga damo. Namukadkad at humahalimuyak ang mga bulaklak.Ang mga dagat ay umalon at ang mga ilog ay umagos. Nagliparan ang mga ibon sa himpapawid at nag-awitan. Nayari ng Diyos ang sanlibutan. Ito ay isang ginintuan at mahiwagang paraiso.Isang araw ang hari ng mga ibon ay lumipad at ginalugad ang papawirin. Pagkatapos ikinampay ang matipunong mga pakpak at paimbulog na pababa sa kakahuyan.Mula sa malayo kanyang natanaw ang mataas na kawayang yumuyukod sa mahinhing paspas ng hangin.Kanyang binilisan ang paglipad pababa. Siya’y dumapo sa naturang kawayan upang magpahinga. Tok! Tok! Tok! Nadama niya ang maririing katok na nagmumula sa loob ng kawayan. May tinig siyang narinig!“Palayain mo ako, oh, makapangyarihang hari ng mga ibon!” ang hinaing. “Tuktukin ng iyong tuka ang kawayang kinapapalooban ko. Hindi ako makahinga. Para itong karsel!”.“Baka ito’y patibong!” ang isip ng ibon. Kinamaya-maya’y may butiking gumapang na paitaas sa kawayan. Ang ibon palibhasa’y gutom, ito’y tinuka ngunit hindi nahuli. Buong lakas na tinuktok uli ng ibon ang kawayan.Nabiyak ang kawayan. Isang makisig na lalaki ang lumabas.“Salamat sa iyo,dakilang hari ng mga ibon! Ako’y si Malakas. Tuktukin mong muli ang kawayan. Iyong palabasin ang aking kasama! ”Tinuktok ng hari ng mga ibon ang isa pang kawayan.Isang mahinhin at magandang babae ang lumabas. “Ito’y si Maganda, ang aking asawa. Pinalaya mo kami, dakilang ibon. Ikaw ay magiging kasama namin habang buhay!”. “Hindi maaari. Maraming salamat,” sagot ng ibon. “Akoay ibon at ang tahanan ko ay malawak na papawirin. Ako’y naglalayag sa hangin. Ang aking bagwis ay sinadya sa paglipad. Subalit umasa kayong lagi ko kayong aawitan. Pag ako’y wala na, ang maliliit kong supling ang aawit sa inyo. Aawitin din nila ang mga awit na inawit ko! ”“Hali kayo! Sumakay kayo sa aking bagwis. Kayo’y dadalhin ko at ipakikita sa inyo ang Lupang Hinirang. Doon kayo maninirahan!”Sina Malakas at Maganda ay dinala sa mga pulong luntian at kumikinang sa sikat ng araw. Ang mga ito’y tulad ng tinuhog na kuwintas na isang mahalagang hiyas!Dito sa mga pulong ito, Perlas ng Dagat Silangan, nagsimulang namuhay ang mag-asawang Malakas at Maganda-ama’t inang pinagmulan ng lahing kayumanggi.
My summary of the myth & legend
Just a snap of God's finger, the earth was created. The king of birds freed a handsome man and a beautiful woman out of bamboo. They are the first parents of the Filipino race.
