Story about Lagkunagwa
Told by Bernadette Panao
As for Lagkunagwa, long time ago’, was a very beautiful lady. She did not like any of the men in the whole Butbut. Many went,one after the other, to court her. They were handsome men but she could not choose from any of them. Those who went to court her would criticize each other but she had no feelings for these men.
There is one man in Chagwagwa his name was Chulliyaw who was already old that when he walked he would use a staff and he was limping. He was informed about Lagkunagwa and he said, <<Ah, I am the one who will court her.>> Chulliyaw started off and he took his staff. He ws limping as he walked with his staff. When Chulliyaw reach a village of one man that was always courting Lagkunagwa, Chuyaw saw Chulliyaw.
And he said, <<Where are you going Chulliyaw walking with a staff and the day is very hot.>>
And Chulliyaw said, <<I will go and take Lagkunagwa as my wife.>>
And Chuyaw said, <<How can you when you are old!>>
Then Chulliyaw again said, <<Let’s bet since I have a cow to bet.>>
And Chulliyaw continued walking and Chuyaw smilingly looked at Chulliyaw.
Chulliyaw passed by that all of ten villages he made pustahan to the handsome men that Lagkunagwa frustrated. And when Chulliyaw reach the village of Lagkunagwa that very far, he ask people that he said, <<Where is the house of Lagkunagwa?>>
And then the people pointed and he went then the people ask they said, <<Anong kailangan mo kay Lagkunagwa?>>
Chulliyaw said, <<I will take her as my wife.>>
And people laughed and said, <<How much more to you the very old man, see those many handsome men went to court her one after the other but she don't like.>>
And Chulliyaw smile and said, <<Let us put pustahan mayroon akong baka na ipusta.>>
Chulliyaw entered to the house of Lagkunagwa and he put aside his-edible part of the rattan sooth that one bundle. Lagkunagwa entertained him as her visitor because she did not know that the purpose of Chulliyaw is to take her as his wife. Chulliyaw said to Lagkunagwa, <<Cook some of that rattan sooth so that we have viand.>> And Lagkunagwa cooked some then when they finish eating Lagkunagwa asked Chulliyaw saying, <<What is your purpose Chulliyaw that you come here in our place (which is) very far?>>
And Chulliyaw said, <<My purpose in coming is to take you as my wife.>>
Then Lagkunagwa laughed and said, <<Why I marry you a very old man, that even the young men that are not old men I don't like, how much more to you.>>
And then Chulliyaw turned side the house of Lagkunagwa then Lagkunagwa was shouting saying, <<What is this you are doing Chulliyaw, even though you are going to destroy my house I will not come to you.>>
Then Chulliyaw again turned side her house and he flooded also their village. And the villagemate of Lagkunagwa said, <<Just go with him hindi puwede ang ganyan na basta na lang ma flood ang lugar natin nang dahil sa iyo.>>
And Lagkunagwa was crying aloud after that she changed her cloth with dirty rugged. Then she put black charcoal dust on her body then she went with Chulliyaw.
Then the people said to each other, <<That's what you found Lagkunagwa whom you will marry because you did not like the handsome gentlemen na.>> And what Lakunagwa did was crying aloud. When they reached the village of Chuyaw then Chuyaw saw (them), he hid because of his shame to Chulliyaw for the words he has spoken to Chulliyaw before when Chulliyaw was passing to them when he was about to go and (court) Lagkunagwa. But the people laughed at the same time they are criticizing Lagkunagwa and said, << That's what you found to become your husband a very old man and he is very weak because you have high pride. On their way where Lagkunagwa saw the water she was pretending to be thirsty and said, <<Wait a minute and I will first drink water.>> Then Chulliyaw turned his thumb down. And the water is dripping from his thumb and said to Lagkunagwa, <<No need for you to exhaust walking there on the water because the water is here. Just drink.>> And Lagkunagwa was very angry and said, <<I don't like that and I want to go to that water.>> And Chulliyaw said, <<Okey you go.>> At Lagkunagwa went smiling and after she drank water she ran. And she ran and ran far away. But when she reached, she reached the place where Chulliyaw is. And she was surprised saying to her mind, <<Why this happen.>> When they are walking again Lagkunagwa saw a very beautiful bird. And she said again, <<Can I go and get that bird.>>
Then Chulliyaw said, <<It is here in my hand.>>
And then Lagkunagwa was very surprised and she said, <<I don't want anyway.>> They reached the village of Chulliyaw then they reached the house of Chulliyaw. Chulliyaw said, <<You pound (rice) so that we will cook because there is no rice.>> Lagkunagwa pounded but it is not pounded well and she cooked because of her very angry. Whenever Chulliyaw is going to eat he is always removing the rice hull which is not pounded well and he ate slowly.
After three days Chulliyaw became bored for what Lagkunagwa done to him.
One day that was lunch time Chulliyaw and Lagkunagwa were eating, there is one handsome man who passed by to them and Lagkunagwa was surprised. And she notice Chulliyaw that his reaction does not change. And she said in her mind, <<This old man maybe know this young man who passed by here while we were eating.>> Chulliyaw was just silent that he does not tell until Lagkunagwa will first ask him. Until finally Lagkunagwa said, <Who is that man?>>
And Chulliyaw said, <<That is my son Juanna I took for him a wife why do I marry you for I am very very old.>> And Lagkunagwa was very ashamed and said, <<Why didn't you tell before.>> After that Lagkunagwa went to take a bath in spring. And she wore a beautiful dress. After that she came back into the house of Chulliyaw and Juanna is there welcoming her and said, <<I would not show myself to you if I did not pitied my father whom you gave him food to eat that it is not well pounded.>>
Lagkunagwa was very ashamed and said, <<I thought that he is the one whom I am going to be my husband. Why are you not the one came to our village to get me?>>
And Juan said, <<I was afraid because I thought that you don't like me also. They have two children boy and girl who were big and healthy but Chulliyaw died already. Juanna said to his two children and his wife, <<We will go to visit in the place of your mother.>>. And their two children were very happy. They pounded sticky rice which they are going to cook for them to bring in their destination. When they arrived in Lagkunagwa's place the people said, <<Who are your companions Lagkunagwa?>>
Then Lagkunagwa said, <<They are my family.>> This is my husband Juanna, they are our two child.>>
The parents of Lagkunagwa were very happy and they butchered cow. Finish.
