The Legend of the Sampaguita Flower

A long time ago, there lived a datu and daughter, Liwayway. His daughter loved picking flowers every day. One morning, Liwayway was distracted by the beauty of the jungles. She had wandered close to the neighboring village. The son of the datu of that neighboring village Lakang was out deer hunting on that same morning. Time stopped when the two met each other’s eyes. Liwayway had a bundle of flowers in her arms, the chirp of maya birds filled the air and Lakang strode towards her to introduce himself. Every day they visited each other. When their parents found out, they urged the two to marry.

But they had to postpone the wedding because Spanish conquistadors came to Lakang’s village. Bravely Lakang lead the troops against the invaders. Lakang and his men glided upon the seas in their boats, but the conquistadors came in ships that were like wooden castles. Their cannons killed Lakang and his men.

Liwayway waited faithfully for him, not knowing that Lakang had perished at sea. Every morning, she went to the woods where she first laid eyes on him. Months passed, then those months turned to years. In her sorrow, Liwayway fell ill and soon passed. They buried her body where her and Lakang would meet every morning. After a few days, a small plant bearing small white and fragrant flowers sprang from where Liwayway was buried.

From the flowers Liwayway left behind, it became practice for suitors to offer a garland of Liwayway’s flowers to their loves. If the girl wears the garland, she has accepted her sweetheart. The couple promise to be faithful. With hands joined, they say “Sumpa kita.”

One day a foreigner saw the flowers and asked what the name of the flowers were. A villager answered “sumpa kita”. The foreigner tried to repeat the word but twisted its name, so now the flower is known as “sampaguita”.

Why Dogs Wag Their Tails

Once upon a time, there was a princess in a distant kingdom who suddenly fell ill. A King asked his two servants, a cat and a dog to take a magical ring to the princess, which could heal her. The cat was quick, nimble and careful. The dog was old and toothless, but he was strong. The King told the cat to carry the ring during their adventures, since she was very careful.

The cat and dog set off on their journey, once stopping to play in a coconut grove. One day they came upon a river which seemed impassable.

“I cannot swim,” said the cat.

“Give me the ring,” the toothless dog demanded of the cat.

“But our master asked me to carry the ring.”

“It is clear you cannot swim well. You will drop the ring, so give it to me!” The two argued until the dog barked, “Give it to me or I will kill you!”

Scared, the cat placed the ring on the grass. The dog snatched it up in his mouth and began to swim. The cat swam behind him and struggled forward. The two made it to the other side of the river, but the dog realized the ring was no longer in his mouth.

The two frantically searched the riverbed and around the river for the ring, but it was lost. The dog ran into the woods in shame. The cat called out to the dog, tried to find him but as night fell, she knew he was gone. The cat had no choice but to return to the kingdom by herself. She walked through the coconut grove in silence.

When she returned, the King demanded to know what happened. When the cat told him the ring was lost and what happened at the river, the King ordered his servants to find the toothless dog. If they found him, the King commanded they cut his tail off.

To this day, in order to prove their innocence, dogs will wag their tails and show their teeth.