The Legend of Banana

Legend of Bananas

In Bicol, a long time ago, there lived a lovely girl named Malinay.

She was a brave and spirited girl. She was not afraid to go deep into the forest all by herself.
Ever since she was a small girl, Malinay heard stories about the fairies. The people in her village would often talk about hearing the fairies calling each other at night. She was told that these supernatural beings lived in nearby springs and lonely caves. In spite of all these talks, no one had actually seen a fairy. And Malinay, being a young girl, became curious. So she started wandering near the caves and springs, hoping that she could see a fairy.

Unknown to this lovely Bicol lass, a handsome young fairy was watching her, this fairy’s name was Baltong. He was the son of the chief of the fairies.

Day after day Baltong watched the young Malinay play around the springs and caves. Soon he felt himself falling in love with her that he made himself visible in the form of a human being.

One afternoon he waited for Malinay. And when the girl came, he approached her. The girl was frightened at first. However, he told her not to be alarmed because he meant no harm.
This first meeting was followed by many.

 As days went by the two young people became friends. This started the romance of the forest. Once a week Malinay and Baltong would meet at the same place. Soon they longed for each other’s company.

Baltong spoke to Malinay about his love. As the girl had also fallen in love with him, without much trouble, accepted his love.Then came the day when Baltong could no longer stay in human form. It was prohibited by the traditions of the supernatural beings for any fairy to stay in human form forever.

Malinay could not understand it when Baltong said good-bye. He tried to explain, but this only made things worse. Malinay cried and cried.

“I want to go with you” she wept. “I can’t live without you.”
“I know, But I can not stay on,” said Baltong tearfully. “My time as a mortal being is over. I have to go back to where I belong.”  In her grief, Malinay embraced Baltong very tightly. She begged and begged him not to leave her. But the young man’s borrowed time had come and his leaving could not be postponed. His body slowly faded away.

Malinay tried her best to hold on to her lover. She clasped him very tightly. However, what was left, by this time, was the hands of the young man. The rest of the body had disappeared.
As Malinany held these hands in grief and sorrow she heard a voice. “Bury these hands in remembrance of me.”

Malinay did as her lover told her. The following day, she saw a beautiful plant with soft stalks and wide green leaves. Each day she watched it grow. Until one day, it bore some strange-looking fruits which resembled human hands – and those where bananas....

 Alamat ng Saging

Noong unang panahon, isang magandang babae ang nakakilala ng isang kakaibang lalaki. Ito ay isang engkanto. Masarap kausap ang lalaki at maraming kuwento. Nabihag ang babae sa engkanto. Ipinagtapat naman ng engkanto na nagmula siya sa lupain ng mga pangarap, at hindi sila maaaring magkasama. Gayunman, umibig ang babae sa lalaki.

Isang araw, nagpaalam ang binata. Sinabi niyang iyon na ang huling pagkikita nila. Nang magpaalam ang engkanto, hindi nakatiis ang babae. Ayaw niyang paalisin ang lalaki. Maghigpit niyang hinawakan ang kamay ng lalaki para huwag itong makaalis. Pero nawala ang lalaki, at sa matinding pagkabigla ng babae, naiwan sa kanya ang kamay nito. Nahintakutan ang babae. Dali-dali niyang ang kamay sa isang bahagi ng bakuran.

Kinaumagahan, dinalaw niya ang lugar na pinagbaunan ng kamay. Napansin niyang isang halaman ang tumutubo. Makaraan ang ilang buwan, tumaas ang puno na may malalapad na dahon. Nagkabunga rin ito na may bulaklak na itsurang daliri ng mga kamay. Ito ang tinatawag na saging ngayon.

My summary of the myth is...

Malinay was smitten with a fairy Baltong, but their love was forbidden. He faded away but left his fingers for Malinay who buried them as she was told and watched them grow into bananas.