Daragang Magayon
Encyclopedia
Daragang Magayon is the heroine that appears in the legend of Mt. Mayon in Albay
, Philippines
. Her name means "beautiful lady" ("daraga" - "lady or maiden"; "magayon" - "beautiful").
One day, Panginorin/Panganoron/Ulap (cloud
), the chief of the Karilaga tribe of the Tagalog
region, showed up in Rawis. Unlike the other suitors, he had come a long way just to see the beauty of Magayon. For many days, he simply stole glances of Magayon, from a distance, as she bathed at the Yawa River. After a few more meetings with Magayon, Panginorin signified his intention to marry her by thrusting his spear at the stairs of Magayon's father's house. The two were overjoyed, but the wedding will be held in a month's time, for Panginorin had yet to inform his people to gather the provisions for the celebration.
The news spread fast and reached Pagtuga, who became furious. He laid in wait for Makusog to hunt and took him and sent word to Magayon that unless she agreed to marry him, her father will die and a war will be waged against Rawis.
Panginorin abandoned the preparations for their wedding to go to Pagtuga. They fought each other until Pagtuga was slained by Panginorin. The joyous Magayon rushed to embrace Panginorin but she was hit by a stray arrow
. While Panginorin held the dying Magayon in his arms, Linog (earthquake
), Pagtuga's henchman, hurled his spear at Panginorin's back, killing him instantly. Makusog swung his mighty arms and stuck down Linog with his minasbad.
Instead of rejoicing over a wedding, there was wailing over the dead. Makusog dug a grave for Magayon and Panginorin. Tenderly, Makusog laid them together on each other's arms as they died.
As the days followed, they saw the grave rising higher and higher, accompanied by muffled rumblings, earthquakes, and red-hot boulders bursting from the crater
. When this occurs, old folks believe that Pagtuga, aided by Linog, agitates the volcano
to get back his gifts, which following ancient custom, was buried with Magayon.
On certain days, when the tip of the volcano is covered by clouds, old folks say that Panginorin is kissing Magayon, and afterwards, rain
trickles caressingly down the gentle slopes
of the volcano, with the insistence that it was the tears of Panginorin.
They named the volcano as "Bulkang Magayon", describing its perfect cone
-shape, like the beauty of Daragang Magayon. But as time passed, the name "Magayon" was shortened and it became "Mayon".
Albay
Albay is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Legazpi City and the province borders Camarines Sur to the north and Sorsogon to the south. Also to the northeast is Lagonoy Gulf....
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Her name means "beautiful lady" ("daraga" - "lady or maiden"; "magayon" - "beautiful").
Basic legend
Daragang Magayon was the only daughter of the Makusog (strong), tribal chief of Rawis, whose mother died shortly after giving birth to her. Magayon grew up to be a very beautiful and sweet woman that struck the swains from faraway tribes who vied for her attention. But not one of these young men have captivated the heart of Magayon, not even the handsome but haughty Pagtuga (eruption). He is a hunter and the chief of the Iriga tribe. He gave fabulous gifts to Magayon and vied for her attention.One day, Panginorin/Panganoron/Ulap (cloud
Cloud
A cloud is a visible mass of liquid droplets or frozen crystals made of water and/or various chemicals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of a planetary body. They are also known as aerosols. Clouds in Earth's atmosphere are studied in the cloud physics branch of meteorology...
), the chief of the Karilaga tribe of the Tagalog
Tagalog people
The Tagalog people are an ethnic group in the Philippines. The name Tagalog comes from either the native term tagá-ilog, meaning 'people living along the river', or another native term, tagá-alog, meaning 'people living along the ford', a ford being a shallow part of a river or stream where people,...
region, showed up in Rawis. Unlike the other suitors, he had come a long way just to see the beauty of Magayon. For many days, he simply stole glances of Magayon, from a distance, as she bathed at the Yawa River. After a few more meetings with Magayon, Panginorin signified his intention to marry her by thrusting his spear at the stairs of Magayon's father's house. The two were overjoyed, but the wedding will be held in a month's time, for Panginorin had yet to inform his people to gather the provisions for the celebration.
The news spread fast and reached Pagtuga, who became furious. He laid in wait for Makusog to hunt and took him and sent word to Magayon that unless she agreed to marry him, her father will die and a war will be waged against Rawis.
Panginorin abandoned the preparations for their wedding to go to Pagtuga. They fought each other until Pagtuga was slained by Panginorin. The joyous Magayon rushed to embrace Panginorin but she was hit by a stray arrow
Arrow
An arrow is a shafted projectile that is shot with a bow. It predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.An arrow usually consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end, with fletchings and a nock at the other.- History:...
. While Panginorin held the dying Magayon in his arms, Linog (earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
), Pagtuga's henchman, hurled his spear at Panginorin's back, killing him instantly. Makusog swung his mighty arms and stuck down Linog with his minasbad.
Instead of rejoicing over a wedding, there was wailing over the dead. Makusog dug a grave for Magayon and Panginorin. Tenderly, Makusog laid them together on each other's arms as they died.
As the days followed, they saw the grave rising higher and higher, accompanied by muffled rumblings, earthquakes, and red-hot boulders bursting from the crater
Volcanic crater
A volcanic crater is a circular depression in the ground caused by volcanic activity. It is typically a basin, circular in form within which occurs a vent from which magma erupts as gases, lava, and ejecta. A crater can be of large dimensions, and sometimes of great depth...
. When this occurs, old folks believe that Pagtuga, aided by Linog, agitates the volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
to get back his gifts, which following ancient custom, was buried with Magayon.
On certain days, when the tip of the volcano is covered by clouds, old folks say that Panginorin is kissing Magayon, and afterwards, rain
Rain
Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of the atmosphere to have temperatures above the melting point of water near and above the Earth's surface...
trickles caressingly down the gentle slopes
Slope
In mathematics, the slope or gradient of a line describes its steepness, incline, or grade. A higher slope value indicates a steeper incline....
of the volcano, with the insistence that it was the tears of Panginorin.
They named the volcano as "Bulkang Magayon", describing its perfect cone
Cone (geometry)
A cone is an n-dimensional geometric shape that tapers smoothly from a base to a point called the apex or vertex. Formally, it is the solid figure formed by the locus of all straight line segments that join the apex to the base...
-shape, like the beauty of Daragang Magayon. But as time passed, the name "Magayon" was shortened and it became "Mayon".
Appearance
Local tradition describes Magayon thus:She’s a beautiful lady that visitors look forward to see even for a day or two. No one can compare her majestic shape and amazing size, her magnificence and fame, her invulnerable beauty and fury.