Literature Region 2
Literature Region 2
Literature Region 2
CAGAYAN VALLEY
PROVINCE CAPITAL
BATANES BASCO
CAGAYAN TUGUEGARAO CITY
ISABELA ILIGAN
NUEVA VISCAYA BAYOMBONG
QUIRINO CABARROGUIS
THE LEGEND OF MAGAT RIVER
(TWO VERSIONS)
First Version: Magat was a handsome and
strong-willred youth who saved a lovely
maiden bathing in a stream from the
clutches of a python. He proposed marraige
to the woman, who consented on condition
that Magat would swear not to see her at
noon. One day, Magat could no longer
contain his curiosity and broke into his wife’s
seclusion. In place of his wife, he saw an
crocodile, who turned into his wife. “You
broke your promise” lamented the woman.
Having said this, she slowly turnes once
more into a crocodile and died. After
burying his crocodile-wife in his front
yard, Magat drowned himself in the
same stream where he first ispied her.
Over time, the stream grew into the
mighty Magat River. It widens and
grows, it is said, because Magat wants
to claim the remains of the wife he
buried in the heart of the town.
Second Version: From the town of
Bambang comes the origin of Magat
River, which is formed by the
confluence of four rivers: the meet,
the Abuat, the Matunu, and the
Nambuhatan. A popular tale in
Aritao narrates the story of a
mermaid in the Magat River. This
mermaid was always heard washing
clothes in the river at the midnight.
For fear offending the mermaid, the
people in the river left their houses to
look at her. One day, a girl got sick after
taking a bath in the river. Many folk
doctors tried to cure her but noone can
ascertain the causes of the illness, until a
folk doctor from another palce arrived.
The healer talked to the child to find out
what she did in the river.
The child told him that while bathing, she
caught a fingerling, palyed with it, and
when it died, she throw it again back in
the river. To appease the mermaid who
was affected by this accident, the healer
prepared an offering consisting of male
and a femal white chicken, riced cooked
in coconut milk, tobacco, and betel nut
chew all of which he took to the river at
nighttime. Days after the child slowly got
well again.
EDITH L. TIEMPO
Born in Bayombong, Nueva
Viscaya, Mrs. Tiempo
married another well-known
writer, Edilberto K. Tiempo.
Well-known for her poem,
short stories and novels, Dr.
Tiempo and her husband
also used to teach at the
Siliman University.
• Edith was born on April 22, 1919 in San
Nicolas, Bayombong, Nueva Viacaya
• Her parents are Salvador T. Lopez, an
auditor for the government, and Theresa
Cutaran.
• During her chilhood, Tiempo’s family
frequently had to move from one province
to another because of her father’s different
assignmenrs and postings
THE RETURN
Edith L. Tiempo