Friday, March 21, 2008
Philippine Fairy-tales
Since early childhood I enjoy reading fairy-tales. That’s why I even add some Philippine literature to my library such as Maximo Ramos: Philippine Myts and Tales (for young readers, published in Manila, Bookman, Inc. 1957) OR Gaudenico V. Aquino/Bonifacio N. Cristobal/Delfin Fresnosa: Philippine Folktales (published in Quezon City, Phoenix Press, Inc. 1969) as well as a lot of Philippine fairy-tales, which have been published in the Philippine International Magazine, the Philippine Magazine or the Sunday Times Magazine (all Manila).
In 1978 in the former Czechoslovakia a book has been printed, entitled “Philippine Fairy-tales”, retold and adapted from the English by Jozef Genzor and translated by dr. Anna Fialova. It contents 69 Philippine fairy-tales, such as
- How the sun, the moon and the stars came into being
- Why does the sun shines brighter then the moon?
- Something about the volcano Kanlaon
- How sea horses came into being?
- Why does the fish Baka-bakahan has feeler and scales?
- Why dogs bark?
- Something about the good smelling flower Ylang-Ylang
- How people invent the rice
- Baldog and the giant
- The monkey prince
- Punished pride
- The broken promise
and many many more.
Reading Philippine fairy-tales let me love and admire this country and its people more and more. Have you try it already?
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# 1 MarcelinaWW said:
Myths and Fairy Tales. Sorry Klaus, I never had the chance to read your articles before. I love the idea that some of the ex pats are touching this subject. I believe, these stories bring out the softer or calmer side of an individual to balance out the intellectual part of us that continually drive us to compete with the Joneses.
Since I was a very young child, my father told us stories which made me believe of something other than we can touch or see with naked eyes. These beliefs which are labeled superstitions by the intellectuals,
did not hinder me from socializing in the business world - rather, it gave me a chance to start for a stimulating conversation.
One of my heroes is Joseph Campbell, a university educator, philosopher, and author of “The Power Of Myth” There are 6 video series which I highly recommend. (I used to own a bookshop)
“Follow Your Bless”
# 2 Klaus said:
Hi MarcelinaWW, thank you so much indeed for this very thoughtful comment. I am glad if I can “touch” also these sides. Of course, being a Christian or thinking in a philosophical way doesn’t mean that we can’t do business. Too be honest, Marcelina, I grew up like you and I was taught “such things’. That’s why I also love to write about these experiences, because they helped me also to overcome bad times. Many times people in business tried to hide the softer and calmer side, because in business you must fight and survive. When MY softer and calmer side comes out I can feel who will still walk together with me or who don’t. As you said: a stimulating conversation works - and “The Power of Myths” can really help doing successful and great business. Of course, we have to work on it, because nothing comes from anything. BTW, I try to get Campbell’s videos. If I might not be successful in the National Bookstore I will not hesitate to let you know. Good luck for your business and thanks for visiting my blog…
# 3 Migs said:
Maximo Ramos is a fantastic writer. I highly recommend his memoir, “Boyhood in Monsoon Country”. I’m glad you’ve been introduced to one of the Philippine literary greats!
# 4 Tina said:
Hi Klaus,
When I was growing up, this was one of the things I looked forward to in our Pilipino class. “Ang Alamat ng…” (The Legend of…) Mt. Makiling, the Ilang-ilang, etc. All these stories left me enthralled. It surely gave me a different perspective on things. We all need some magic in our lives - from childhood on, don’t you agree?
# 5 Klaus said:
Hi Migs, thanks for introducing me to Maximo Ramos. I will try to find the memoir in our National Book Store…
Hi Tina, thanks for stopping by. Yeah, I also found “The Ilang-Ilang” in a book, translated into German, published in Manila in 1974. Ang Alamat ng… - Once upon a time… my German schoolbooks (1. - 3. highschool) contain a lot of fairy tales and let me enthralled and also gave me different perspectives. Yeah, we all need some magic in our lives, I strongly agree with you!