Legend of Manatong
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Atong and his wife, Manda, were a childless couple. They lived on the side of Buguias mountains in Benguet, and they were the richest people in the place. All the wide tracts of land around belonged to them. They had many hogs, cattle, and fowls.
The man was stone-hearted and selfish. The woman was kind and understanding. She gave rice, vegetables, and fruits to their neighbors when her husband was out.
One day Atong learned that his wife was giving free to the people. He became angry and scolded his wife. He dug a cave on one side of the mountain and kept everything inside it. They lived inside the cave. When they went out to work Atong locked it.
The rainy season came and the people could not go out to work, so they went to the couple for their food. Manda, who was understanding and kind, shared some of what they had. Atong, on the contrary, shouted at them. He drove them away with harsh words. Atong locked the door so that nobody could come in.
One night when Atong was asleep, Manda heard a soft knock at the door. She opened it and found an old beggar trembling with cold. She begged Manda to let her in and feed her. While the beggar was eating, Atong woke up and drove her out. Manda tried to stop him, but he did not listen.
Instead, he pushed her out of the cave. Manda pitied the beggar so she went out to look for her in spite of the darkness and heavy rain.
Not long after, there was big earthquake and the cave was covered. The selfish man was buried alive with a burning fire.
The following day, the people found a small crater where hot water was coming out. They tasted the water and it was salty because of the salt stored inside the cave. The water was hot because of the burning fire. The people also found a stream of cold water beside it which was believed to be the tears of Manda when she tried to appease Atong.
Up to this day, people in the vicinity as well as visitors use the hot springs as a bathing resort. They call these hot springs Manatong after Manda and Atong.
Reference
Anonymous. “Legend of Manatong.” In Folk Tales of Mountain Province: Retold for Children-Grade V. 1st ed. Baguio City: n.p., 6-7.
Notes
This folk tale was produced by Area - - A during a Division Curriculum Workshop held in Baguio City, Philippines on February 9-17, 1960. The workshop’s theme was “Enriching the Curriculum Through the Development of Local Materials.”
“Division” in Division Curriculum Workshop refers to a schools division of the Department of the Education. It could have been then the “Mountain Province Schools Division.” (YBelen,6December2014)