The most popular legend in Albay is undoubtedly the story of Mayon Volcano or Mt. Mayon. But we’ve hardly heard of the epic about the mighty guardian of Legazpi. He was the most feared creature ever to walk in Albay. I’ve witnessed how he protected the inhabitants and saved our place from destruction.
Here’s my version of the story. Once upon a time, the whole Albay Province was doomed, as fear and terror cloaked the place. Monsters thrived everywhere. Human inhabitants and domestic animals were almost at the brink of extinction. To salvage the thinning race, people sought refuge in caves and burrows hundreds of feet below. They organized and planned carefully how to defend the place and to search for food. Although they had vegetables and crops that can grow without sunlight, those were not enough. They needed to hunt and look for alternative foods.
Most of the time, however, their efforts were futile. In some instances, someone even had to sacrifice to let a few survive. The leader of the tribe couldn’t take it anymore. Something needs to be done he said. The leader then gathered the group and made his life-to-death announcement. He will try to talk to the gods and beg for their help. It was a risky mission but there was no other choice. He brought with him ten of his best soldiers and headed to the outside world and to face the danger and challenges that await them. They fought, hid and ran until half the men were lost.
There was only one access to the house of gods and that was through a big, long vine extending upward from my back to the clouds. They successfully reached my place, and though exhausted, they never wasted time and instead tried with all their might to climb the vine. After hours of breathtaking ascend, they finally arrived and asked permission from the guards to talk to the gods. Soon after, they were in the presence of the gods. Kneeling and paying homage before them, they showered the gods with gifts and offerings.
The loving gods accepted their pleas, raised their arms and uttered some words. A dark cloud formed above the ocean and a flash of sharp light struck the water with utmost force creating a tremendous sound. As the water calmed down, a huge creature slowly emerged from the water as if waking up from a long slumber. It surveyed the area and made a deafening roar, which shook the whole place.
The monsters, when they learned about it, were not intimidated. Instead, they grouped themselves into hundreds of troops and in a concerted effort, attacked the creature. But the creature was just too big and too strong for them. The battle lasted an hour, after which, less than a quarter of the ones dominating monsters retreated and never looked back.
The crowd cheered as well as the gods. The leader thanked the gods as they prepared to descend. But the gods reminded them that it would be their last face-to-face encounter with humans albeit assurances that the creature will stay long to guard them.
Just after they touched the ground, a strong whirlwind forcefully uprooted the vine and fell down directly beside me creating a long channel people now call, Macabalo River. Peace and joy reigned over the entire town. Even the ferocious dinosaurs were afraid to challenge the creature they call, Untuk.
The presence of Untuk even while asleep drove the enemy away. Because of the absence of threat, Untuk finally has gone into deep sleep for thousands of years up to now. Even to this day we know not when and how Untuk will be back. Maybe someday when threat is imminent, the gods will strike Untuk’s ass once more to wake it up and protect us.
Today, Legazpeño called him Kapuntukan Hill or what is more popularly known as the Sleeping Lion.
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