Folk lore: Greed, angry love, strife trigger Mayon eruption

By CLARISSA V. MILITANTE, GMANews.Tv What is causing Mayon volcano to erupt? Is it greed for wealth and power? Is it love forbidden and unrequited? Is it strife between tribes and brothers? In real life, Filipinos have seen how all these reasons have provoked various social and political volcanoes to erupt, in recent history. In reel life, Filipino folk lore says the same reasons have triggered majestic Mayon to turn catatonic every so many years. Mayon, one of the most active volcanoes and certainly “the most beautiful" in the Philippines, has been built on two different legends. The first tells about love both forbidden and unrequited of Daragang Magayon (Beautiful Maiden) and two warriors from quarreling tribes. The second tells of two brothers, stuck in bitter rivalry for power, and typified the contrast between good and evil. The Albayanos believe that the spirit of Paratuga, the persistent and evil-minded suitor of Daragang Magayon is triggering the eruption of Mayon. The volcano, legend has it, was the grave-mound of Daragang Magayon. Local lore says that Paratuga, in order to avenge his failure to wed the beautiful daughter of Tiong Makusog, tries every once in a while to exhume the grave of the maiden. He had loved her so he heaped upon her gifts of gold, pearl and diamond. When Mayon erupts, it spews out large masses of stones and lava, such are the jewels that Daragang Magayon received from her spurned suitor. Magayon had the unfortunate experience of falling in love with Panganoron, a Tagalog. To fall in love from someone who was not from Bikolandia would bring disgrace to Magayon’s family, but her father Tiong Makusog promised to do something about her beloved daughter’s predicament. Before the father could act on his promise, Paratuga had him kidnapped and demanded Magayon to marry him in exchange for her father’s freedom. Lovers on Mayon Panganoron and his followers arrived in Kabikolan on the day of his beloved’s marriage withParatuga. Magayon was eventually killed during the battle that ensued. Upon seeing her lover, Daragang Magayon rushed to him, but a stray arrow fatally hit her. While Panganoron attended to his dying lady, somebody attacked him from behind, after which he fell bleeding to the ground and died. It is now believed that Panganoron also comes back to the site where his maiden was buried in the form of clouds. When the clouds descend to cover Mt. Mayon’s mouth, it is Panganoron who bestows her lady a kiss. When the clouds bring rains, it is still Panganoron who weeps for the love that never prospered. For the villagers living at the foot of the volcano, these rains keep the plant vegetating on the mountain slopes lush and fresh all year round. The feminists’ viewpoint In writer Merlinda Bobis’ retelling of Mt. Mayon’s myth, Daragang Magayon is portrayed as a warrior woman and not just a victim of circumstance. Feminist interpretations of Philippine lore indicate that women in Philippine myths and legends, women often suffered or died as a result of the actions —whether motivated by love or hate — of the men in their lives. Bobis believes that it is the men, not the women, who keep retelling the myths being told about Magayon, hence its masculine point of view. Sibling rivalry In a second version of the legend of Mayon, University of the Philippines Professor Damiana L. Eugenio writes about two brothers—Gugurang, the good one who lived inside Mount Mayon, and Asuang, the evil one, who resided in Mount Malinao (to the north of Albay). This legend says that Asuang had no fire in his abode and he wanted to have the same power as Gugurang, so he could scare his people into submission. Gugurang was so angered by his brother’s ambition and lust for power, he growled and erupted in rage. Still, Gugurang refused to give Asuang fire. Asuang was so consumed by envy that while he lived in “a ragged mountain," Gugurang was master of “the most beautiful mountain in the world." Asuang marshaled evil spirits and counselors to defy Gugurang, prompting the latter to order Lightning (Linti) and Thunder (Dalogdog) to strike hard against Mount Malinao. In time, Gugurang became the symbol of the good ready to punish the bad. When the people saw fire (calayo) flowing out of the crater of Mayon, they would grow afraid. They would then offer a sacrifice (atang) to him to appease the wrath of the good god, Gugurang. Sources: http://tourism.albay.gov.ph/legend2.html, Anastacio C. Anciller; The Myths: Philippine Folk Literature by Damiana L. Eugenio. Reprinted with permission from the University of the Philippines Press.