He lashes out, scratching the girl’s face and cursing her to become a fish for the rest of her life. On one such occasion, the king of the crabs approaches her from the water and is instantly rebuffed. ![]() The titular character is beauty incarnate, if the story is to believed–she is so gorgeous that her parents keep her from doing any work around the house, and she subsequently becomes so vain that she spends her time admiring her reflection in the river. In a similar vein, “The Girl Who Turned Into a Fish” is a legend that may have been meant as a cautionary tale, warning girls against vanity and pride, but in the hands of a capable writer, it has the potential to be a striking commentary on sexism and the male gaze. ![]() When I remember this story, I can’t help but imagine a YA novel where the moon and stars disappear one day, and a Filipina teen remembers her own mother telling her this legend, and she wonders–but no, it can’t possibly be–but really–could Inday be a real person who finally managed to get her jewelry back from the sky? There are so many possibilities for a retelling of this myth, from humour to romance to paranormal, and I would read every single one of them. The movements of the mortar and pestle pushed against the cloud, and without her noticing, her comb had become the moon in the sky, and her necklace’s beads the stars. Her parents had given her jewelry to complement her beauty, and she had hung her comb and necklace on a cloud to keep them safe as she worked. A beautiful young woman named Inday was husking rice one day, her mortar and pestle pounding away at the grains. As the legend goes, the sky was once low enough to touch with one’s hand, to part the clouds with a brush of one’s fingers. Should your interest be more mythical in nature, “The Necklace and the Comb” might be a little more your style. By signing up you agree to our terms of use Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Despite Lara and Joselito’s efforts, Maria grew to love Juan best, as she admired his devotion to his work. Captain Lara was a charming Spanish soldier, Joselito was a mestizo (half-Spanish, half-Filipino) student, and Juan was a diligent Filipino farmer. There are many legends about Maria, but my younger, more romantic self fell hard for “The Three Suitors.” Set during the Spanish occupation (1521-1898), this particular story details how three men fell in love with Maria, and tried to win her heart. Depending on who you ask, Maria can be either a fairy or forest nymph, and she makes her home on Mount Makiling in the province of Laguna. One of the first stories I ever read was an account of Maria(ng) Makiling, or Maria of Mount Makiling. But as the young adult genre begins to explore childhood stories outside the United States and Europe, I’d like to put forth some of my own favourite yarns as candidates for YA retellings. Learning about Filipino folk tales and legends took a little bit more effort and time. ![]() How could I not, when they’ve been told and retold so often in almost every kind of mainstream media? Paul Bunyan, “The Little Mermaid,” even “Chicken Little”–I can rattle them off with ease. I’ve always had a weakness for folk/fairytales and legends, but like many Filipino kids living in the diaspora, the ones I know by heart are Western.
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