Live Your Myths

Philippine Legend | The Legend of the Alitaptap (Fireflies)

By ATellingMind

Legend Origins: Philippine

Much like many myths and legends from other cultures, ancient inhabitants of the Philippine Islands told stories to make sense of their world with what limited knowledge they had. One such story was the Legend of the Alitaptap, or the Legend of the Fireflies.

The story takes place long ago, in a valley of Pinak located in Central Luzon where there was a deep and large lake rich with fish from which the denizens of Pinak got their food. But suddenly, the river's water dried, and all that was left was a large hole and no fish. No rain fell for months, leaving their rice fields dry and withering. Because of this, the people of Pinak went hungry.

So every night they prayed to their deity Bathala, the Creator, to send them food, water, any help that could be spared.

Then one night, the faithful people of Pinak's prayers were answered. Bathala had sent forth a god and goddess to their aid, Bulan-hari and his wife Bitu-in, who appeared from the skies riding a chariot made of pure gold.

He introduced himself and Bitu-in as gods who have been sent by Bathala to rule over Pinak. He declared that from that day on, the people of Pinak would live good lives. As soon as he finished speaking, the skies opened and rain fell. The dry fields have once again blossomed, and the lake's water rose until full and swimming with life. The people of Pinak were happy once again.

Soon Bulan-hari and Bitu-in had a daughter, who was born with a star engraved into her forehead. Therefore, she was named Alitaptap. She was a beautiful woman, whose appearance caused those who saw her to fall in love. Every man sought to win the heart of Alitaptap but unbeknownst to them, she was not born a human, and did not possess a human heart. She was the daughter of beings who burst from the skies and not of Earth, gods; Alitaptap had a heart of stone, which was unable to love.

One day an old, wise woman named Balo-na who lived in mountain cave, came before King Bulan-hari with warnings and bringing news. From her crystal ball, she saw the future of Pinak and it's destruction by the warriors from the land of La-ut. They'd come with their horses and swords, to destroy their fields and crops, and would conquer Pinak.

The king asked the old woman what they could do to prevent such a catastrophe, and she answered that Alitaptap must bear a son, for it would only be he who'd be strong enough to drive away the invaders and protect Pinak.

Bulan-hari then asked his daughter to quickly pick one of Pinak's men to marry to avoid this bleak future but with her heart of stone unable to love, Alitaptap could not understand her father's request. She merely stood in silence.

Not able to get through to her, Bulan-hari's rage reached its limits. He gave her an ultimatum – either to follow his orders, or to die. Though even that could not stir Alitaptap to take action. And so, Bulan-hari drew his sword and swung it at Alitaptap's forehead, causing the star to burst into thousands of chips of light that flew around the king's hall. Alitaptap lay dead.

Balo-na's prediction came true – the people of Pinak were slaughtered by the warriors of La-ut and left destruction wherever they came. When it all ended, the valley of Pinak had become an empty, shallow swamp, and at night there was nothing that lit up the island. But soon, tiny, flying sparkles of light appeared and flickered brightly into the dark skies.

And such is the legend and birth of fireflies, which are the fragments of the star from the forehead of Alitaptap.