The Court of Sinukuan
Retold by Virgilio S. Almario
Original illustration by Gilbert Torres
Re-illustrated by Mitzi Villavecer
(MUSIC)
Long ago, Maria Sinukuan was queen of Mount Arayat.
The people who lived at the foot of the mountain respected her.
And because she was also a goddess, the animals respected her.
They say that Maria had a court on Mount Arayat, and here animals were tried.
One day, Martines the bird came to Maria Sinukuan's court, crying.
She immediately showed Maria the broken eggs she was carrying.
"What happened to your eggs?
Why are they broken?" asked Maria.
"It's because last night, Horse leapt and leapt and trampled on my nest,"
Martines complained while crying.
Maria called for Horse.
"Why did leap and leap last night, breaking Martines' eggs?"
Maria asked the horse when he arrived.
"It's because I was surprised at Frog's sudden croaking," Horse explained.
Maria called the Frog.
"Why did you suddenly croak last night,
which caused the Horse to leap and leap,
breaking Martines' eggs?"
Maria asked Frog when he came.
"It was only because I was calling for help, for Turtle was carrying his house on his back
and I was scared that it would fall on me," Frog explained.
Maria called for the Turtle.
"Why were you carrying your house on your back last night
which scared Frog and made him croak,
which caused Horse to leap and leap,
breaking Martines' eggs?"
Maria asked Turtle when he came.
"It's because Firefly was carrying fire and
I was scared that it would burn my house," Turtle explained.
Maria called for the Firefly.
"Why were you carrying fire last night
which made Turtle carry his house,
which scared Frog and made him croak,
which cause Horse to leap and leap,
breaking Martines' eggs?"
Maria asked Firefly when he came.
"It's because I was scared that Mosquito would stab me with the bolo knife he carries day and night
and fire is my only defense," Firefly explained.
Maria called for Mosquito.
"Why do you bring a bolo knife day and night which caused Firefly to carry fire,
which made Turtle carry his house,
which scared Frog and made him croak,
which cause Horse to leap and leap,
breaking Martines' eggs?"
Maria asked Mosquito when he came.
"It's because I'm looking for Crab," Mosquito explained.
"Why are you angry at Crab?"
Maria asked Mosquito.
"It's because he once tried to snip me when I passed his house.
I was lucky his pincers snipped me only slightly.
I did not carry a bolo knife than.
When I came back for him, he had already hidden and I don't know where we went.
But wherever he's gone, I'll find him!" Mosquito angrily said.
Because of his great anger, Mosquito, without thinking, waved his bolo knife.
Frog was hit and he croaked so loudly.
Startled, Horse leapt and leapt.
Martines, Firefly, Turtle and the other witnesses ran for their lives.
Maria Sinukuan's court was in confusion.
Maria Sinukuan was angered by this and decided to punish Mosquito.
"You are too rash, Mosquito," she said.
"If Crab offended you, you should have brought your complaint here
and I would be the one to punish him.
We have laws and a court for bad deeds done.
But because of your rash behavior, even your neighbors were affected.
Even the peace of this court was disturbed by your hasty actions."
Maria sentenced Mosquito to spend three days in jail.
She also banned him from carrying a bolo knife.
She also had Mosquito pay for Martines' broken eggs.
And she advised Martines not to build a nest on the ground.
Mosquito was scared of getting punished again.
So when he was freed, he stopped carrying a bolo knife.
But he still continues to look for his enemy, the Crab.
Crab, on the other hand, stays in holes, hiding from Mosquito.
Whenever there's an insect hovering and whispering in your ear,
that's Mosquito.
He has mistaken your ear for Crab's hiding place.
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