the origin of Locust

 the legend of the locust

In a bygone era, a head man ruled over a mystical valley, lush with enchantment and governed by his greed. His dwelling, nestled in the heart of this fertile land, echoed with the whims of his rule. Far from a benevolent leader, his insatiable desire led him to covet every grain of rice harvested by his people. Year after year, he extracted as much as he could from his subjects, filling his granaries until they teetered on the brink of bursting.

As fate wove its tapestry, the fifth year brought a blight upon the crops, and the people faced the ominous specter of starvation. They knew their salvation rested in beseeching their ruler to share the bounty stored in his barns. At first, fear gripped them, anticipating the datu's refusal. However, as the toll of hunger claimed the lives of countless children, desperation forged an alliance, compelling them to dispatch ambassadors to plead for mercy.

Seven chosen emissaries, in a quest for sustenance, ventured to the abode of the datu, invoking their dire need for rice to feed their families. Their pleas echoed through the mystical valley. Upon hearing their cries, the datu, shrouded in a cloak of arrogance, approached the door and gestured as if to cast the petitioners off the ladder ascending to his dwelling. In an unexpected turn, he lost his balance, plummeting to the ground, his head meeting the ladder's base with a resounding thud.

Believing their ruler had succumbed to the fall, the seven men made no move to aid him. Instead, they returned home, prophesying the imminent abundance of rice for all. Yet, the datu, not meeting his demise but rather left in a state of profound stupor, awoke the next morning to an eerie revelation. His granaries, pulsating with magical energy, erupted in a cacophony of sound, and the rice transformed into ethereal insects that dispersed into the mystical realm, disappearing from his sight. These mystical insects, born of the rice, were christened doron, owing to the enduring resilience of their ethereal skin.

the legend of the locust 

Many years ago, there was a leader who lived in a fertile valley, governing all its inhabitants. Unfortunately, he wasn't a good ruler; his greed led him to hoard all the rice produced by his people. Each year, he squeezed as much rice as possible from his subjects, filling his granaries to the brim over four years. In the fifth year, however, the crop failed, and the people faced starvation. Knowing they needed rice from the ruler's barns, they hesitated to petition him at first, fearing rejection. But as hunger took its toll, they decided to send representatives to beg for rice.

Seven men were chosen as ambassadors. Upon reaching the ruler's house, known as the datu, they pleaded for admittance, explaining their desperate need for rice to feed their families. In response, the datu, angered by their request, made a threatening gesture that caused him to lose his balance and fall. Striking his head on the ladder, the seven men assumed he was dead and, without offering help, returned home, spreading the word that rice would soon be plentiful for everyone.

Contrary to their belief, the datu survived the fall but was badly stunned. The next day, while inspecting his granaries, there was a loud explosion, and all the rice transformed into insects, disappearing from sight. These insects, originating from the rice, were named doron (from the Spanish word "duro" due to their tough skin).

REMINDER

The orally transmitted mythology of the Philippines is intended for sharing and understanding, not for appropriation, commercial exploitation, or the promotion of foreign products. It is a dynamic narrative tradition that evolves over time, distinct from the standardized mythologies found in Western and European cultures. Unlike these established mythologies, the Philippine government has not mandated standardized versions of stories and legends.

Orally transmitted stories undergo variations and evolve over time, resulting in numerous different versions. There are many different version told by Filipinos,and retold by Filipinos.