Five hundred years ago there lived in Pagao an old man, and his son named Juan. The latter had a wife. As Juan’s father was very weak on account of old age, and could not do any work in the house, Juana, his daughter-in-law, became discontented. One day the old man became sick. He moaned day and night so constantly, that Juana could get no sleep at all. So she said to her husband, “If you do not drive your father away from the house immediately, I shall go away myself. I cannot sleep, because he is always moaning.” Juan then drove his poor father away for the sake of his wife.
The poor old man went begging about the neighborhood. After a long walk, he found at last a cave where he could live. After he had recovered his health, he found in the cave a bag of ashes. He further discovered, that, whenever he took some of the ashes and exposed them to the light, they became money. Now the old man went back to his son with the magic bag. On his arrival, he was welcomed, for the couple saw that he was carrying a bag that might contain something useful for them.
The old man next gave his son a certain sum of money, and said, “Juan, with this you may find another wife.” So Juan gladly took the money and went and bought him another wife. When he returned, the old man gave his son some more money, and said, “Go over there, Juan, and buy an old man in that house to serve us as our servant.” When Juan reached the house where the other old man was, he said, “I want to buy your father, the old man.” Juan had scarcely got the sentence out of his mouth when the son of the old man fell on him with a whip and drove him away. Juan went running to his father, and said, “Father, I only said that I wanted to buy their father, but they began to whip me. Why did they do that?”
“You see,” said the old man, “you can buy a wife with money, but not a single father can you buy.”
Compare this last story with [No. 31].
Cochinango.
Narrated by Felix Y. Velasco, who heard the story from his grandmother, a native of Laoag, Ilocos Norte.
Once upon a time there lived in a small village on the border of a powerful kingdom a poor farmer, who had a son. This son was called a fool by many; but a palmer predicted that Cochinango would some day dine with the king, kiss the princess, marry her, and finally would himself be king.
Cochinango wondered how he could ever marry the princess and himself be king, for he was very poor. One day he heard that the king had summoned all those who would like to attempt to answer the questions of the princess. It was announced that the person who could answer them all without fall should marry her. Cochinango thought that the time had now come for him to try his fortune, so he mounted his ass and rode towards the king’s palace.
On his way Cochinango had to pass through a wide forest. Just at the edge of the wood he met a weary traveller. Cochinango had forgotten to bring buyo with him, so he asked the traveller for some. The traveller said, “I have with me a magic buyo that will answer any question you put to it. If you give me some food, I will give you my buyo.” Cochinango willingly exchanged a part of his provisions for it. Then he rode on.