108 Traditions of the Tinguian 



Not long after Gaygay6ma looked down on the sugar cane and she 

 was anxious to chew it. "Ala, my father Bagbagak, 1 send the stars 

 to go and get some of the sugar cane which I saw, for I am anxious to 

 chew it," she said, for she was pregnant and desired to chew the sugar 

 cane. Not long after, "Ala, you Salibobo 2 and Bitbit6wen s let us go 

 and get the sugar cane, for Gaygayoma is anxious to chew it," said Bagba- 

 gak. Not long after they went. As soon as they arrived where the sugar 

 cane was, they went inside of the bamboo fence and some of them 

 secured the beans which Aponibolinayen had planted. The stems of 

 the bean pods were gold, and they got five of them. Most of them got 

 one stalk of sugar cane. As soon as they secured them they went back 

 up. When they arrived Gaygay6ma chewed one of the sugar cane 

 stalks and she felt happy and well, and she saw the beans with the 

 golden stems and she cooked and ate them. 



When she had chewed all the sugar cane which the stars had secured, 

 she said, "Ala, my father Bagbagak, come and follow me to the place 

 where the sugar cane grows, for I am anxious to see it." Not long after, 

 "Ala, Salibobo and Bitbitowen we are going to follow Gaygay6ma, 

 for she wishes to go and see the place of the sugar cane. Some of you 

 stay outside of the fence to watch and see if anyone comes, and some of 

 you get sugar cane," said Bagbagak to them, and the moon shone on 

 them. Soon they all arrived at the place of the sugar cane and they 

 made a noise while they were getting the sugar cane, which they used 

 to chew. Gaygayoma went to the middle of the field and chewed 

 sugar cane. As soon as they had chewed all they wished they flew up 

 again. 



The next day Aponltolau said to Aponibolinayen, "I am going to 

 see our sugar cane, to see if any carabao have gone there to spoil it, for 

 it is the best to chew." So he went. As soon as he arrived he saw that 

 the sugar cane was spoiled, and he looked. He saw that there were 

 many places near the fence where someone had chewed, for each one of 

 the stars had gone by the fence to chew the cane which they wished. 

 When he reached the middle of the field he saw the cane there which had 

 been chewed, and there was some gold on the refuse and he was surprised 

 and he said, "How strange this is! I think some beautiful girl must 

 have chewed this cane. I will try to watch and see who it is. Perhaps 

 they will return tonight." Then he went back home. As soon as he 

 reached home he said, "Ala, Aponibolinayen cook our food early, for 



1 One of the big stars. 



2 A different kind of star. 



3 Reduplicated form of bitowen= many stars. 



