LULAY

TAGALOG SONG LYRICS Anong laking hirap kung pagka-iisipin Ang gawang umibig sa babaeng mahinhin Lumuluhod ka na'y di ka pa mandin pansin Sa hirap ika'y kanyang susubikin. Ligaya ng buhay babaeng sakdal inam Ang halaga niya'y di matutumbasan Kahinhinan niya'y tanging kayamanan.

FREE ENGLISH TRANSLATION What a hardship it is to consider The act of loving a modest woman You may be on your knees but she still won't notice She'll test you in hardship Joy of life, a woman extraordinarily fine Her worth cannot be equaled Her modesty is exceptional treasure.

Epic

Ifugao Philippine Epics:


The Hud-Hud is about the life and heroism of the native Ifugao. The most prominent and well admired native Ifugao is Aliguyon of the Gohandan tribe.

Aliguyon possessed strange power and strength. He had the ability to travel to far away places without the need to rest, eat or sleep. He could also arrive in a place, after a long journey without feeling tired. Aliguyon had never been beaten in any fight or battle. He could catch and face any weapon from the air, and he could defeat his avenging foes. In the beginning, Aliguyon only wanted to kill the enemies of his father. But after learning that his father didn't have enemies, Aliguyon was advised by his father to just use his strength and power to win a female rightful to become his wife and companion in life.
One extraordinary event in Aliguyon's life was his duel against Pumbakhayon, a warrior who had the same fighting strength and skills as Aliguyon. Pumbakhayon was from a nearby tribe called Daligdigan. Aliguyon and Pumbakhayon had a duel that lasted a year and a half. After a brief intermission, the two resumed their fight which lasted for another year and a half. Eventually, both men realized that they will not be able to beat each other. Therefore, they made a simple arrangement.Aliguyon agreed to marry Bugan, a sister of Pumbakhayon. While Pumbakhayon married Aginaya, a sister of Aliguyon. The arrangement unified the tribes of Gohandan and Daligdigan. Here ended the story of the Hud-Hud epic.

myths

Ghost Myths of San Juan, La Union:

A headless nun, a faceless cigar smoker, a mysterious white lady at the old tower—-these are among the spooky tales that itchy ghost hunters can pry into during a short stay in the coastal town of San Juan, La Union.

San Juan was a quiet fishing town of La Union province in the North before the Americans came. Most tales are said to have originated around this time and handed down to generations. It’s still a quiet town, but pompous cottages and mansions have popped along its shores.

Modernity has caught up among its very old Hispanic buildings, with a few shops and inns budding along the main highway. It is an 8-hour trek from Manila by bus or private car.

The eerie tales persist today, though in mumbled whispers by folks wistful for the past. The present generation would just shrug apathy on them. But now and then fleeting shadows are said to cast themselves on a chosen few—-perhaps just for a fun scare.

One of the myths goes that old historical ruins of a Spanish convent were burned by the Japanese and a nun was killed and beheaded. The old ruins of the covenant still stand. On some nights when an unfortunate vacationer happens to pass by on a full moon at midnight, some bell would toll spookily. It supposedly signals the approach of the nun from behind.

First it’s a cool, creepy breeze. Then wavy long hair brushing against the nape. Looking behind, the victim would discover the spooky tale for himself.

Another myth is that, before the war, youths around an abandoned man-hole used to smoke cigars at midnight. Once, a stranger came, face overshadowed by a straw hat, asking for light. When they lent a lit cigar, the man looked up to light his, showing a spine-chilling blank where a face should have been. The faceless man allegedly still shows up, though rarely, because he prefers unbranded, native tobacco to imported ones.

The pristine beach of San Juan attracts foreign fishers who brag on their big catches of sword fish and tuna or “bariles” from the sea, which is also ideal for surfing. Old historical ruins of red bricks still stand there. It used to be part of a watch tower in pre-Hispanic times. A look-out sentry was posted watching out for pirates from the China Sea.

One of the tales on it says, in an attack, the sentry alerted the whole town. A mural on this is painted on one of the walls of the town plaza.

In recent times, tales say a laughing white lady is said to have been showing herself periodically in the old historical ruins, especially to handsome young men who brave the seashore at midnight.

Spooky tales of ghostly nuns, faceless creatures, and laughing white ladies may sound absurd and kids-stuff, but there’s always a child in us that want to find out. Well, San Juan, La Union is the perfect town to go spook-busting while checking out its historical old ruins and immaculate azure waters.