The origin of the Bais Island

Title

Creator

Cabugnason, Cesario

Language

English

Source

The Young Citizen : the magazine for young people 6 (5) May 1940

Year

1940

Subject

Legends--Philippines--Negros Oriental

Folklore--Philippines--Negros Oriental

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Abstract

Bais Islands, they have a name of their own. One island, which is about one and a half kilometers wide and two kilometers long, is called Ukyot. The other, circular in form and with a diameter of about one kilometer, is called Malingin.
On Mt. Camboylao, in the mainland of Negros, lived a gray-haired. named Ukyot and his wife Malingin. Ukyot was possessed with a supernatural power. At his command he could give the people rain and sunshine and rich or poor crops. That is why the people
of Bais feared and respected him. Once a year when the harvest was good, they
set aside a day for feasting and merrymaking in honor of and gratitude to Ukyot and his wife.
Ukyot got angry to the villagers, because they disobeyed him by planting rice. Taking pity on the villagers, Malingin spoke to her husband on the people's behalf, assuring him that they would not disobey him again. Ukyot was doubly angered by Malingin's entreaty. Ukyot tore one-half of the mountain and carried it to the Bais Bay. There he settled himself comfortably.
He became very lonesome. He wanted his wife to be near him, and so he placed the other half of Mt. Camboylao beside him. Today we find the two islands in the bay, lying
peacefully and dreaming of the days when they were rulers of a happy, contented
people. Ukyot's wrath has not yet fully subsided, for while the mainland has abundant rice and fish, rice would not grow on the two islands and fish is seldom caught.

Fulltext

May, 1940 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 175 THE ORIGIN OF BAIS ISLAND By CESARIO CABUGNASON ' IN the beautiful, blue Bais Bay lie two islands which look like two giant monsters waiting for prey and guarding the progressive town of Bais, about a mile away, from unfriendly invaders. The two islands are green with bamboo and coconut trees, and the rolling hills which are like the backs of prehistoric animals serve as good landmarks to sailors and fishermen. Althouh they are conveniently known as )his Islands, they have a name of their own. One island, which is about one and a half kilometers wide and two kilometers long, is called Ukyot. The other, circular in form and with a diameter of about one kilometer, is called Malingin. There is a legend connected with these two islands. Long, long ago the beautiful Bais Bay was a blue expanse of sea. The people of the then Bais village could look far into the horizon, for the two islands were not yet existing. The villagers, an agricultural folk, wer·e happy and contented. On Mt. Camboylao, in the mainland of Negros, lived a gray-h.aired 111an . named Ukyot and his wife Malingin. Ukyot was possessed with a supernatural power. At his command he could give the people rain and sunshine and rich or poor crops. That.is why the people of Bais fear·ed and respected him. Once a year when the harvest was good, they set aside a day for feasting and merrymaking in honor of and gratitude to Ukyot and his wife. One day Ukyot was very angry with the villagers because they had disobeyed his orders. He had ordered them not to plant·rice on a certain region, except corn and sugar cane. In need of rice, the villagers secretly planted rice between the corn. When Ukyot found this out, he was so angry that he let Mt. Camboylao shake and rumble in loud detonations and belch forth burning lava and ·ashes. 1'he whole island of N egros shook, and the people thought that· the end of the world had come. They trembled with fear and sought the help of Malingin, Ukyot's wife, who was generous and kind-hearted. Taking pity on the villagers, Malingin spoke to her husband on the people's behalf, ·assuring him that they would not disobey him again. Ukyot was doubly angered by Malingin's entreaty. "So you love those disobedient, dishonest people more than you love me," Ukyot thundered. "Leave me alone. I know what I am doing. Because by speaking for them you virtually disapprove·of my act, we shall be separated henceforth. You stay liere with those whom you love (Please 'turn to page 195) May, 1940 THE YOUNG CITIZEN 195 THE ORIGIN OF BAIS ~ ... (Continued from page 175) while I go away." Speaking .thus, he tore one-half of the mountain and carried it to the Bais Bay. There he settled himself comfortably. Soon, however, he became very lonesome. He wanted his wife to be near him, and so he placed the other half of Mt. Camboylao beside him. Today we find the two islands in the bay, lying peacefully and dreaming of · the days when they were rulers of a happy, contented people.. likyot's wrath has not yet fully subsided, for while the mainland has abundant rice and fish, rice would not grow on the two islands and . fish is seldom caught. THE ORPHAN (Continued from page I 76) voice that he now heard. "I heard you talking about Flora." "So it was only a dream," the boy said, in a disappointed tone. "But it was so real! Mother was so real-I-I-" Enrique broke into sobs. "But she said she is coming back." Enrique's father who was sitting on his son's bed was silent all the while. Finally he said in his old calm voice, "We shall pack up tomorrow. We shall go on a long trip far away. We shall come home in time for the opening of school. Get a nice sleep, Enrique," he said, smoothing the blanket of the boy. Enrique felt the change in the manner of his father. He noted the old quality of his voice, calm but firm, without any trace of harshness which had of late made him sound unkind. And that gesture of smoothing the blanket-that was his mother's gesture. "Father loved Mother so much," Enrique thought. "He SECURING A COLLECTION OF .... (Continued from page 194) Then, too, there are some fine specimens of Philippine marble to be had. If you live in or near Manila you can get some small specimens of marbles, both polished and unpolished, from a dealer. You should have in your collection varieties of limestone, marble, and chalk. Quartz offers immense possibilities; and a collection could be formed by using this one kind of mineral. Alum, sulphur, and manganese can be secured from various parts of the Philippines. Local minerals are always of great interest. You may be able to secure specimens of faulted rock, mineral veins, volcanic tock, and rocks worn or scratched by erosion. EDUCATIONAL CROSSWORD PUZZLE ( The answer) must have been upset by her going away -just as I have been."

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