Gugurang and the Yasaw

 

Gugurang and the Yasaw a folktale from Albay

Long ago, Gugurang, the powerful god of the Bicolano people, descended from Kamuaray (the heavens) in human form. He took the shape of a robust man with long white hair, his presence commanding but his appearance humble. Gugurang often came down from the heavens to walk among his people, watching over them and the land, particularly the sacred Mayon Volcano at whose foot he now stood.

As he walked the serene landscape, a mischievous Yasaw lurked behind the trees. In Bicol mythology, the Yasaw are small, dark-skinned creatures resembling children, known for their playful tricks that often cause fright, but never real harm. The Yasaw delighted in moonlit nights, hiding in the shadows of trees, ready to scare passersby for fun. On this particular night, the Yasaw spotted the man with the long white hair and decided he would be its next target.

Concealing itself behind a large tree, the Yasaw waited for the perfect moment. It leapt from its hiding place, letting out a startling cry meant to scare the man. However, the Yasaw had no idea that this man was actually Gugurang in disguise. Startled by the sudden prank, Gugurang instinctively reacted, releasing a bolt of lightning from the heavens. The lightning struck the Yasaw, reducing the poor creature to ashes.

In an instant, the playful prank turned tragic. Gugurang, filled with sorrow for what had occurred, realized the harmless creature had not meant any harm. The Yasaw, like all its kin, only sought to frighten for fun, lurking under the trees to scare mortals without ever causing them harm. Their eerie cries, like that of an infant, often unsettled travelers, and it was said that if someone heard the Yasaw cry and saw its dark figure at the same time, it was an omen of death.

The Yasaw had been a playful, harmless being, but Gugurang's surprise had turned fatal. From that moment, the shadow of the Yasaw vanished from the lands, and its cries of mischief became rarer, as if Gugurang’s act had frightened the rest of its kind. Still, Bicolanos believe that, on moonlit nights, the Yasaw may return, hiding in the shadows of trees, ready to play its tricks once again—but always mindful of Gugurang’s lightning.

Gugurang