The Monkey and the Turtle: The Banana Thieves

Pampanga, Central Luzon

Story Note: There are many stories about Monkey and Turtle being friends and the former tricking the later. Monkey often fools Turtle and places them in a situation where Monkey has the advantage. But Turtle seems to know how to weasel his way out of Monkey’s tricks. In this story, Turtle finds himself in a dead end. Fortunately, Monkey’s selfishness sets Turtle free. 

Monkey and Turtle were exploring the new road near the river. A group of new settlers from the other side of the river arrived many months before. They cleared a path down by the river in this area. They planted bananas, sweet potatoes, cassava, and corn.

This meant food for the two friends! They needed to tread carefully for the new settlers were often unpredictable.

As they walked, Monkey’s eyes darted here and there, on the alert for both danger and for ripe bananas to pick. In no time, Monkey spotted a banana plant heavy with fruit. Unwilling to risk capture, he came up with a plan.

“That banana plant’s fruit look ripe enough,” he told Turtle.

“Yes, Monkey, you are right. The bananas are ready to pick. Do you think the settlers left some overripe bananas by the roadside?” Turtle asked his friend.

“Why depend on them when we can get some straight from the plants like we used to?” Monkey replied.

“But these are new settlers,” Turtle hesitated. “We do not know whether they are kind or mean!”

Monkey egged Turtle on. “There’s no harm in trying. Go get a stick and pull those ripe yellow bananas down!”

Turtle did as Monkey suggested. When he found a stick tall enough to use as panungkit , a hook, he went back. “This is something I cannot do, Monkey. It was your idea in the first place,” he said, handing the stick to Monkey.

“Then you should challenge yourself. We both know I can do it. You need to try and accomplish this feat. Hurry and get us both some ripe bananas,” Monkey coaxed.

Without another word, Turtle went to the nearest banana plant full of ripe fruits. He poked each banana until, one by one, they fell to the ground. Monkey ran near his friend to help him gather the bananas, but suddenly, two boys rushed out of the bushes. They chased after the banana thieves.

Immediately, agile Monkey climbed up a banana plant. Then, with one big leap, he swung to the top of a nearby guava tree. Turtle was left alone on the ground, scuttling to escape.

The two boys caught Turtle and bound his flippers. Afraid that the boys would hurt him, Turtle stayed still. One of the boys picked up a banana. He peeled the yellow fruit and, piece after piece, gently fed Turtle.

Monkey watched everything that was happening below. His heart swelled with envy. It was his idea in the first place to eat the banana fruit! Now, it was his friend who benefited from his idea. Monkey thought, it’s unfair!

After a few more pieces of banana, the two boys left Turtle. They ran back into the bushes they came from. This was Monkey’s chance! He jumped down from the tree and ran to his friend. He unbound him, carried him to the river, and left him wading in the water. Turtle did not know how to thank his friend. He called for Monkey to stay away from the banana trees. Turtle was afraid that something bad might happen to Monkey.

When the two boys returned, they were surprised to find a monkey on the spot where they left turtle. Monkey hoped that the boys would give him the same treatment they gave Turtle. But, much to his surprise, the two boys tied a rope around Monkey’s neck, picked up a stick, and beat him on the back. They carried him to the path by the river.

Turtle heard Monkey’s cries of pain from the distance.

How the Children became Monkeys

Bukidnon (Mindanao)

One day a mother took her two children with her when she went to color cloth. Not far from her home was a mud hole where the carabao liked to wallow, and to this hole she carried her cloth, some dye pots, and two shell spoons.

After she had put the cloth into the mud to let it take up the dark color, she built a fire and put over it a pot containing water and the leaves used for dyeing. Then she sat down to wait for the water to boil, while the children played near by.

By and by when she went to stir the leaves with a shell spoon, some of the water splashed up and burned her hand, so that she jumped and cried out. This amused the children and their laughter changed them into monkeys, and the spoons became their tails.

The nails of the monkeys are still black, because while they were children they had helped their mother dye the cloth.

Abadeha

Story Note: Abadeha is the Filipino rendition of the classic fairytale Cinderella

Abadeha is a kind and hardworking young woman. Her wicked stepmother and stepsisters abuse her and ask her to carry out impossible tasks. Abadeha asks for the help of Bathala (the creator God), her ancestors and her dead mother. At the river, her cries for help are heard by the Spirit of the Forest (counterpart of the fairy godmother). With her guidance, Abadeha is able to accomplish all that her step-family demands of her.

One day, a prince out hunting in the forest comes upon the enchanted tree by the grave of Abadeha’s mother. He sees a ring among the branches and puts it on. By the time he returns to the palace, his finger has become swollen and painful. The king calls for the Babaylan, the priest-healer of the land, but even he cannot take the ring off.

That night, the Prince learns in a dream that only a girl can remove the ring from his finger. Upon hearing this, the king announces to his people that any girl who can take the ring off his son’s finger will be offered marriage to the prince.

Of all the maidens who tried, only Abadeha was successful. And that’s how she became a princess!