Philippine Folk Tales | Page 5

to cook a stick?" asked Ini-init in surprise.
"So that we can have fish to eat," answered his wife.
"If you cook that stick for a month, it will not be soft," said Ini-init.
"Take this fish that I caught in the net, for it will be good."
But Aponibolinayen only laughed at him, and when they were ready to
eat she took the cover off the pot and there was plenty of nice soft fish.
The next night and the next, Aponibolinayen cooked the stick, and
Ini-init became greatly troubled for he saw that though the stick always
supplied them with fish, it never grew smaller.
Finally he asked Aponibolinayen again why it was that she cooked the
stick instead of the fish he brought, and she said:
"Do you not know of the woman on earth who has magical power and
can change things?"
"Yes," answered the Sun, "and now I know that you have great power."
"Well, then," said his wife, "do not ask again why I cook the stick."
And they ate their supper of rice and the fish which the stick made.
One night not long after this Aponibolinayen told her husband that she
wanted to go with him the next day when he made light in the sky.
"Oh, no, you cannot," said the Sun, "for it is very hot up there, [6] and
you cannot stand the heat."
"We will take many blankets and pillows," said the woman, "and when
the heat becomes very great, I will hide under them."
Again and again Ini-init begged her not to go, but as often she insisted
on accompanying him, and early in the morning they set out, carrying
with them many blankets and pillows.
First, they went to the East, and as soon as they arrived the Sun began

to shine, and Aponibolinayen was with him. They traveled toward the
West, but when morning had passed into noontime and they had
reached the middle of the sky Aponibolinayen was so hot that she
melted and became oil. Then Ini-init put her into a bottle and wrapped
her in the blankets and pillows and dropped her down to earth.
Now one of the women of Aponibolinayen's town was at the spring
dipping water when she heard something fall near her. Turning to look,
she beheld a bundle of beautiful blankets and pillows which she began
to unroll, and inside she found the most beautiful woman she had ever
seen. Frightened at her discovery, the woman ran as fast as she could to
the town, where she called the people together and told them to come at
once to the spring. They all hastened to the spot and there they found
Aponibolinayen for whom they had been searching everywhere.
"Where have you been?" asked her father; "we have searched all over
the world and we could not find you.'
"I have come from Pindayan," answered Aponibolinayen. "Enemies of
our people kept me there till I made my escape while they were asleep
at night"
All were filled with joy that the lost one had returned, and they decided
that at the next moon [7] they would perform a ceremony for the spirits
[8] and invite all the relatives who were mourning for Aponibolinayen.
So they began to prepare for the ceremony, and while they were
pounding rice, Aponibolinayen asked her mother to prick her little
finger where it itched, and as she did so a beautiful baby boy popped
out. The people were very much surprised at this, and they noticed that
every time he was bathed the baby grew very fast so that, in a short
time, he was able to walk. Then they were anxious to know who was
the husband of Aponibolinayen, but she would not tell them, and they
decided to invite everyone in the world to the ceremony that they might
not overlook him.
They sent for the betel-nuts that were covered with gold, [9] and when
they had oiled them they commanded them to go to all the towns and

compel the people to come to the ceremony.
"If anyone refuses to come, grow on his knee," said the people, and the
betel-nuts departed to do as they were bidden.
As the guests began to arrive, the people watched carefully for one who
might be the husband of Aponibolinayen, but none appeared and they
were greatly troubled. Finally they went to the old woman, Alokotan,
who was able to talk with the spirits, and begged her to find what town
had not been visited by the betel-nuts which had been sent to invite the
people. After she had consulted the spirits the old woman said:
"You have invited all the people except Ini-init who lives up above.
Now you must send a betel-nut