I ONCE heard of a legend popular among the locals of Northern Benguet and uplands of Ilocos Sur. Up in the highlands of Bakun, Benguet with an elevation of about 1,400 meters above sea level, there is a mountain called Mount Kabunyan and it is a favorite destination of mountain trekkers because of its scenic spots, enchanted caves, and most especially the legend of Doligen or Dokligen.
If one follows a trail and cross the mountains of Sugpon and Alilem Ilocos Sur from Tagudin or Sudipen, La Union via Kayapa of Bakun just like the upland traders of the famed Igorot gold during the early trading with salt, porcelain jars and plates and bronze gongs with Chinese merchants, their journey might well be within the historical loop of the legend of Doligen.
According to what my late father Marcelo Tibaldo narrated when we were young, Doligen, a hungry and tired hunter found a cave while foraging a forest somewhere between the highlands of Bakun (Benguet) and Alilem (Ilocos Sur) so he decided to rest. As he sat wearily with a deep breath, presto, food and water were offered before he served in sparkling golden spoon and porcelain plates. He accordingly finished his meal, burped, and thanked whoever served him food but he also took and bagged the plates with him.
Accordingly, Doligen was later nowhere to be found and when some villagers happened to reach the cave, they noticed a human-like formation plastered in the cave ceiling and they believed that it must be Doligen who was punished by the unseen spirits called Temengaw or Tumengaw for doing something unright. The mystic food and water served by unseen hands at the cave were no longer heard about and the story goes that sparkling clear water that spurts and drips from what appears to be a penis is that of Doligen.
The story about Doligen was rarely heard even within the community itself. Learned tour guides in the area who must have read about natural formations of stalactites and stalagmites only point out to mountain trekkers that the Doligen cave has human rock formation and the penis looking object that used to spurt water for people to drink has long been dried up.
Today, water has long disappeared at the cave, and travelers are advised to get drinking water at a spring at the foot of the hill or bring bottled water to drink. There is however a sign that reads "Remember, this mountain is guarded by Spirits" according to a post by a traveler who visited the site.
Other local tales and legends such as the Footprint of Angalo and the river water swallowing giant called Aran are unheard of nowadays. It's perhaps because bedtime storytelling is no longer a thing that young children would look forward to and instead would rather have more time with youtube or Netflix on their iPads like the 7-year old kid in my household. Or if not, perhaps the parents or elders such as myself who have watched all the James Bond series and Star Wars episodes only have little knowledge of local tales and fables. What about the Kapre, Tikbalang, Manananggal that used to scare us when we were innocent and small? It is good that at least some Filipino classic films such as the "Ang Panday" of the late Fernando Poe Jr. and Eddie Romero's "Ganito Kami Noon Paano Kayo Ngayon" however, I look forward to seeing more remakes and classics restored.
What about the exploits of Bernardo Carpio? Bernardo Carpio whose name is seldom heard of nowadays is a legendary figure in Philippine mythology who is said to be the cause of earthquakes. Though there are other versions about this mythical figure, other sources say that Bernardo Carpio is a giant, as supported by the enormous footsteps he has reputedly left behind in the mountains of Montalban just like the footsteps of Angalo along the Amburayan River. Other accounts say Carpio has pre-colonial origins and is likewise a hero during the Spanish colonization. There's also that story of "Si Malakas at Si Maganda" with Malakas having the strength as that of Bernardo Carpio and other local strong men-heroes like Lam-ang.