Title of Mt. Isarog Literature

Story English Translation

Culture/Place

Ang Agama

(The Crab)

A huge crab sleeps on the crater of Mt. Isarog to guard the mountain. This agama, once disturbed in its sleep the mountain would erupt not lava but water and huge rocks.

Respect for tranquility

Comfort zone/Goa, Tigaon Tinambac

Agama at Kasili

(Crab and Fish)

The fighting Agama (Crab) and Kasili (Fish) in the crater of Mt. Isarog. These two were fighting for control of the crater’s strength. When one of them surrenders, the mountain’s strength will explode, causing an eruption.

Competition/Ocampo

Ang Angongolkol

A fearful story about a man who was a black water fairy that guarded the river in Mount Isarog. Most children and women were afraid to stay alone in this small water form.

Authoritarian/Ocampo

Ang Bulawan na Baka (The Golden Cattle)

This story was the traditional weather forecast of the natives. The appearance of the golden cattle which was the sentinel of Mt. Isarog. Once it was winged to other nearing mountains to Tinambac and Lagonoy, it was the sign of the coming calamity and signaled the native villagers to be ready for the calamity.

Social Mobility/Tinambac, Naga and Goa

Ang Engkanto (The Enchanted)

These were the captivating beautiful fairies (mga diwata) who stayed in the mountain to protect the natural resource. They were protecting them from illegal loggers, forest intruders, and those who disturb the tranquil woods. Some of them were lost in the forest or experienced heavy rain the forest.

Compassion/All places

Ang Kasili (The Eel)

A big freshwater fish is said to be the sleeping guard of Mt. Isarog, claimed not to be disturbed for once it happened the mountain would soon spray its wrath.

Respect for tranquility,

Comfort zone/Naga

Balete sa Sakduhan

(Balete Tree at Well)

This Balete tree is resided by a mysterious creature. It has remained in the tree to safeguard the water source on Mt. Isarog. Some native camarinense in Calabanga experienced the presence of this unseen creature while they fetched their potable water. They would say, “Tabi, tabi po!” which means excuse me, asking permission from the unseen creature to allow the native to fetch water without suffering incantation. Even the children were taught to utter the words “Tabi, tabi po.”

Respect, Protection, and Conservation/Calabanga

Bisitang Gurang (The Old Visitor)

This story is a true experience of an official in Barangay Panicuason, Naga City. She admitted that she has a third eye. She claimed that sometime in her mid-30 an elderly woman visited her to entrust the great obligation to take care of the mountain because Isarog is the source of life for the people around. According to the respondent, she believed that her old guest was the goddess of Mount Isarog who was seeking the assistance of humans in protecting the environment.

Delegation, Trust, or Acceptance of responsibility/Naga

Bulawan na Mag-inang Kabayo (The Golden Mare and Foals)

This story is about a mother and child horse that flew away toward other mountains that give the sign of coming danger or calamity to the natives. They were protectors of Mt. Isarog and also the traditional forecast for upcoming typhoons or eruptions of the mountain.

Social Mobility/Tigaon

and Pili