Mga Kwentong Bayan / Philippine Folktales in English

 

The Iguana and the Turtle

(Folktale / Kuwentong-bayan)

Once upon a time there lived two good friends -- an iguana and a turtle.  They always went fishing together.  One day the turtle invited the iguana to go catch fish in a certain pond that he knew of.  After they had been there about two hours, the old man who owned the pond came along.  The iguana escaped, but the turtle was caught.  The old man took the turtle home, tied a string around its neck and fastened it under the house.

Early in the morning the iguana went to look for his friend the turtle.  The iguana wandered everywhere looking for him, and finally he found him under the old man's house, tied to a post.

What are you doing here, my friend? said the iguana.

That old man wants me to marry his daughter, but I do not want to marry her, said the turtle.

Now, the iguana very much wanted a wife, and he was delighted at this chance.  So he asked the turtle to be allowed to take his place.  The turtle consented.  So the iguana released the turtle, and was tied up in his place.  Then the turtle made off as fast as he could.

When the old man woke up, he heard someone saying over and over again, I want to marry your daughter.  He became angry and went down under the house to see who was talking.  There he found the iguana saying, I want to marry your daughter.  The old man picked up a big stick to beat its head, but the iguana cut the string and ran away.

On his way he came across the turtle again, who was listening to the sound produced by the rubbing of two bamboos when the wind blew.  What! Are you here again? said the iguana.

Be quiet! said the turtle.  I am listening to the pipe of my grandfather up there.  Don't you hear it?
The iguana wanted to see the turtle's grandfather, so he climbed up the tree, and put his mouth between the two bamboos that were rubbing together.  His mouth was badly pinched, and he fell down to the ground.  The turtle meanwhile had disappeared.

MORAL: This teaches that one who believes foolishly will be injured.

(Source: http://www.kabisig.com/philippines/english-version-of-folktales-mga-kuwentong-bayan-the-iguana-and-the-turtle-folktale-kuwentong-bayan_319.html)

The Monkey and the Crocodile

(Folktale / Kuwentong-bayan)

One day a female crocodile told her husband that she could not eat any kind of food except the lungs of a monkey.  The husband replied that he would bring her the desired food.

The next morning, he started hunting for a monkey.  Finally, he found one on top of a guava tree.  The crocodile said, Oh my dear monkey, why are you eating the leaves of the guava tree?  There are plenty of delicious fruits near my bathing place.
Is that so? asked the monkey.

Yes, replied the crocodile, Just go with me, ride on my back and I will take you there.


The monkey gratefully agreed, and right away stepped on the back of the crocodile.  When they were in the middle of the river the crocodile said, Mr. Monkey, now that I have caught you, I must take your lungs for my beloved wife's food.
My lungs!... the monkey exclaimed in mock surprise.  I have left them on the guava tree yonder.  If you need them let us go back and get them.  The crocodile immediately brought the monkey back to the shore, and upon reaching the land, the monkey hastily climbed up the guava tree and cried out to the crocodile: Oh, foolish crocodile! Have you ever seen an animal leaving his lungs in any place besides his body?  The crocodile was very much disappointed, so he decided to think of another plan of capturing his prey.


The next day, the crocodile went to the bathing place of the monkey.  When the monkey took a bath the crocodile caught one of his legs.  Do not bite my cane, my friend crocodile.  This is the only cane I have.  Please let it loose.  The crocodile released the monkey's leg, believing that it was not his leg but his cane.  Again the monkey escaped from death and was happy.  The crocodile's plan to bring lungs to his wife was a failure.

(Source: http://www.kabisig.com/philippines/english-version-of-folktales-mga-kuwentong-bayan-the-monkey-and-the-crocodile-folktale-kuwentong-bayan_1017.html)