The Story of Loku

There is a lizard found in the islands of the Philippines which calls out the name 'loku loku' all the time. 

This is its story

Once upon a time there was a king. The king's name was Loku.

The king was unjust and very often he put the people, who did not do his bidding, to death. 

He had a huge army and he also attacked all the neighbouring countries and kingdoms. He always looked to conduct more and more war against all the other kingdoms. 

One day God saw all the massacre and wanted Loku to mend his ways. 

God sent his angel to meet Loku and to give up his old ways. 

However, the arrogant Loku did not listen to the words of the angel. "You are only a messenger. I will not listen to you. I am the great Loku. I am feared everywhere because I am Loku.”

Suddenly the entire palace was shaken by a thunderous voice. "All you know is your name. So that is all that you will call out from every single crevice for the rest of your life."

The other ministers ran to the king's room hearing the voice and after seeing the palace shake. 

The royal clothes of the king lay scattered everywhere. 

But the king was nowhere to be found. 

All they saw was a lizard.

Though the ministers looked everywhere the king was never to be found again. 

However, that lizard is found in the place even now and it calls out the name ‘loku’ as per the curse it had.

Adapted from folktales of Philippines

The Dragonflies and the Monkeys

Once in a huge forest, in Luzon, there was a strong tree. The tree had families of monkeys living in it.

The forest was very hot at that time of the year.

A dragonfly had been flying in the forest all day and she was tired. She came to the branch of the strong tree and realized that she needed to rest for some time.

She landed on the branch of the tree and that was when she saw a huge monkey smirking down at her.

“What do you think you are doing?” The monkey demanded angrily from her.

The dragonfly caught her breath and looked earnestly at the monkey. “Please sir, let me rest here. I am tired and the forest is too hot.”

“I will not let a weak creature like you rest on my tree!” The monkey told the dragonfly angrily and the monkey threw a twig on the little dragonfly.

The dragonfly was faster and she dodged the twig. She was shaken, but not hurt.

She flew to her brother, who was the king of the dragonflies and told him all that had happened.

The king of the dragonflies was very angry after hearing his sisters. He sent three of his messengers to the monkeys and asked them to make amends for treating dragonflies with cruelty.

Naturally, the monkey scoffed at the messengers of the dragonflies. The dragonflies were too tiny and the monkeys felt that there was nothing that the dragonflies could do to them.

The king of the dragonflies heard the story of the messengers and decided to attack the monkeys. So with no weapons and relying only on their flying skills the dragonflies flew to the strong tree of the forest.

The monkeys were ready with their clubs to swat down the dragonflies.

That was when the king of the dragonflies had an idea.

“Land on the heads of the monkeys.” The king told his soldiers.

That is what the dragonflies did.

They landed on the head of every monkey. The monkeys were waving their clubs haphazardly, trying to bring it down on the dragonflies.

But the dragonflies flew off because they were very quick.

The club instead landed on the head of the other monkeys.

One by one, the monkeys hit each other with their own clubs and fell off the tree and fell down.

That was how the little dragonflies won against the big monkeys.

Folk Tales from Philippines