Philippine Folklore Stories | Page 4

tree, but must change a boy or girl into the fruit if he
wishes to eat of it.
Quicoy waited a long, long time and then knocked on the shell in the
hope that some one would hear him. All that night and the next day and
the next he knocked and cried and knocked, but, though people passed
under the tree and found the bolo, he was so high up they did not hear
him.
Days and weeks went by and the people wondered what had become of
Quicoy. Many thought he had run away and were sorry for his poor
mother, who grieved very much to think she had terrified him by
calling the Ongloc. Of course the boys who had sent him to the grove
could have told something of his whereabouts, but they were frightened
and said nothing, so no one ever heard of poor little Quicoy again.
If you pass a cocoanut grove at night you can hear a noise like some
one knocking. The older people say that the cocoanuts grow so closely

together high up in the branches that the wind, when it shakes the tree,
bumps them together. But the children know better. They say, "Quicoy
is knocking to get out, but he must stay there a hundred years."

The Passing of Loku
The tale of Loku is applied to a large, ugly lizard which climbs to the
rafters of houses and gives the peculiar cry that suggests its name. This
lizard, although hideous, is harmless; it lives on centipedes. Its strange
cry may be heard everywhere in the Philippine Islands.
Hundreds of years ago a very wicked king named Loku ruled the
Philippines. He was cruel and unjust, and condemned to death all who
refused to do his bidding. He had vast armies and made war on all until
his name was feared everywhere.
His power was very great. He conquered every nation that opposed him
and killed so many people that the god, viewing the slaughter from his
throne above, sent an angel to order him to cease from warfare and to
rule the land in peace.
Loku was in his palace, planning an assault on his neighbors, when a
soft light filled the chamber, and a beautiful angel appeared and
delivered the mandate of the master.
The cruel king paid no heed, but dismissed the holy messenger in scorn.
"Tell your master," said he, "to deliver his message in person. I do not
deal with messengers. I am Loku. All fear my name. I am the great
Loku."
Hardly had he spoken when the palace shook to its foundations and a
mighty voice thundered, "Is it thus thou Slightest my word? Thou art
Loku. All shall indeed know thy name. From every crevice thou shalt
forever cry it in a form that suits thy ill nature."
The courtiers, alarmed by the shock, rushed to the king's chamber, but
Loku was nowhere to be found. The royal robes lay scattered on the
floor and the only living thing to be seen was an ugly lizard that
blinked at them from among the plans on the table.
They searched far and wide, and when no trace of the king could be
found the courtiers divided the kingdom and ruled so wisely and well
that there was peace for many years.
As for Loku, you may still hear him fulfilling his punishment. From
crack and crevice, tree and shrub, he calls his name from dark till dawn:

"Lok-u! Lok-u! Lok-u!"
And he must cry it forever.

The Light of the Fly
The firefly abounds everywhere in the Islands.
I
The King of the Air was in terrible rage, For some one had stolen his
ring; And every one wondered whoever could dare To do such a
terrible thing. He called all his subjects together and said, "To him that
shall find it I'll give Whatever he asks, and this bounty of mine Shall
last while his family live."

II
Away went his good loyal subjects to search, And no one remained but
a fly. "Be off!" said the King, "go and join in the search; Would you
slight such a ruler as I?" Then up spoke the fly with his little wee voice:
"The ring is not stolen," he said. "It stuck to your crown when you put
it away, And now it's on top of your head."

III
The King in surprise took the crown from his head, And there, sure
enough, was the ring. "No wonder you saw it, with so many eyes; But
what is your wish?" said the King. "O King," said the fly, "I work hard
all the day, And I never can go out at night. I should like to go then and
be