A long time ago, according to a local legend, a tribe
king named Datu Montake-e lived in deep forest of Agusan.
He has a son whose name is Tagakupan and who was the most handsome, strongest and
bravest among the men of his tribe.
One day,Tagakupan asked for his father's blessing and permission
to go to the plains to travel. Datu Montake-e was hesitant
knowing the dangers his son might go through especially
among the fierce natives of the plains, but in the
end, he gave in to his son's insistent plea.
Tagakupan fiercely fought against dangerous and wild forest animals
he encountered along the way until he reached the plains.
He was cruising along a big river, named Agusan when he
happened to pass by a settlement near the river. There, he saw
the most beautiful girl he has ever seen in his life,
frolicking among her girl companions by the river. But
when the lady saw him, she and her friends took flight
into the settlement.
Tagakupan knew that he met the girl of his dreams and
decided right there and then to follow the lady, not
knowing that the concerned lady is a princess, the daughter
of the brave and warrior Datu Tumalik. He was challenged
in fierce fights by the loyal warriors of the king and princess
but Tagakupan beat them all. Datu Tumalik was amazed
at the young man's strength and courage and so ask for
his name and from where he came from. Tagakupan answered
calmly that he came from the forests of Bubunawan
and that his father is Datu Montake-e.
When Datu Tumalik heard that Tagakupan is the son of
a great Datu, his anger vanished and he invited the young
man to a celebration in his palace. Among those who
attended the occasion is Princess Labnigan, the beautiful
daughter of Datu Tumalik. She is the same beautiful lady that Tagakupan
saw by the river. Tagakupan lost no time proposing to
her and Labnigan who was also deeply impressed by his charm
and bravery told him that he must seek her father's
blessing first, implying her feelings for Tagakupan.
Because of the bravery that Tagakupan has shown, Datu Tumalik
readily accepted his proposal and soon the young couple
were wed.
It has been the tradition in that place that when the
children marry, they must live independently from their
parents. The newly-wed Tagakupan and Labnigan were given
a place of their own on the mountain near the river. It was there that
Tagakupan built their house, as big and as grand as a
palace, overlooking a lake on the northern part and
the river on the south. Tagakupan and Labnigan never get
tired of gazing at the beauty around them.
Time passed until one day, in the latter part of 1872, the
the whole tribe was jolted by the loud sound of agong
made by the sentries posted on the western and southern part
of the river. This is the signal for enemies coming.
Tagakupan and the rest of the warriors went
down immediately and engage the enemies in fierce battle.
But the enemies, the Spaniards who came from far shores have superior
weapons and were able to subdue the natives. Blood and water flowed on the river.
The Spaniards continued their conquest, claimed the land
and the settlement governed by Tagakupan. Datu Tumalik
fell on their hands, and they imprisoned Tagakupan and
Labnigan. Tagakupan died a valiant death on the face of
the Spaniards' cruelty.
Labnigan and Datu tumalik were able to return to their place.
Labnigan was unconsolable over her husband's death that she
asked her father to take her to their home by the
mountain and leave her there alone. When morning comes, Datu Tumalik
and her royal court found her dead, her blood flowing out
from a knife wound she inflicted upon herself.
They buried her on the top of the mountain, upon the place
she and Tagakupan loved so much. A day passed and the
tribe was astonished to find tall, elongated and
sharp-edged grasses growing abundantly on Labnigan's
burial place. The grass was locally known as cogon.
Since then, the mountain was called Talacogon in fond
memory of Tagakupan and Labnigan, Ta coming from
Tagakupan, la coming from Labnigan
and cogon for the grass that covered their ground.
Reference:
_______English translation of Ang Alamat ng Talacogon taken
from Lake Himbang Portfolio, Municipality of Talacogon. Agusan del Sur Retrieved from:http://www.oocities.org/athens/cyprus/8446/talacogon.html
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento