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The Rice Myth

This document summarizes a myth from Bohol about how rice was introduced to the local people by gods. It describes how hunters encountered gods feasting in the forest and were invited to join. The hunters were initially reluctant to eat the small white kernels served to them, believing they were worms. However, the gods assured them it was cooked rice from a plant they grew. After eating and feeling their bodies become strong, the hunters were satisfied and thanked the gods for introducing them to rice. This began the local practice of cultivating and consuming rice.

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Jasmine Projas
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33 views2 pages

The Rice Myth

This document summarizes a myth from Bohol about how rice was introduced to the local people by gods. It describes how hunters encountered gods feasting in the forest and were invited to join. The hunters were initially reluctant to eat the small white kernels served to them, believing they were worms. However, the gods assured them it was cooked rice from a plant they grew. After eating and feeling their bodies become strong, the hunters were satisfied and thanked the gods for introducing them to rice. This began the local practice of cultivating and consuming rice.

Uploaded by

Jasmine Projas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

The Rice Myth (Bohol)

(Activity 6)
There was a time, many, many years ago, when rice was not known to our people.
At that time our ancestors lived on fruits, vegetables, birds, and wild animals which
they caught while hunting in themountains or the forests. Tilling the soil was still
unknown. And poultry and hog was not yet a part of their way of living.Because our
people depended on the food which nature provided and not what they themselves
grew or raised, their stay in one place was only temporary. When there was nothing
more to be hunted or gathered in a certain place, they would go to another region
where there was plenty of food. Thus, theytraveled from one place to another.But
our ancestors were proud, thankful and happy. They were proud of the things they
had- their brownskin, the race to which they belonged, and the customs and
traditions which they practiced. They werethankful to
Bathala
, their god. And they were happy in the manner of living which they led.On a typical
day, the men could be seen going to the mountains or forests to hunt, while the
women andsmall children could be seen busily engaged in such useful tasks as
fishing and gathering of fruits and
vegetables. After a days work, all wild animals that had been killed in the hunt and
all fruits and
vegetables that had been gathered, would be divided equally among all the group
of families which madeup the
balangay
.One day, a group of hunters went out to hunt deer. In their desire to have a good
catch, they traveled far and wide until they reached the Cordillera Mountains.
Having traveled so far, and feeling dead tired, theydecided to take a rest under a
big tree. It was nearing noon and all of them were hungry.While resting in the shade
of the tree, they saw, not far from where they were, a group of men andwomen
whose features were quite different from those of ordinary mortals. The hunters
realized that theywere gods and goddesses who lived in that part of the mountain.
All at once the hunters stood up andgave the deities due respect. The gods were
glad of this gesture. In return, they invited the hunters to jointhem in their
banquet.The hunters helped in the preparation of the food. They butchered the deer
and wild boar and then placedthem one after another over the live coals.In a short
while, a servant of the gods got some bamboos and placed them over the fire. The

bambooscontained small, white kernels shaped like beads. Soon after, the cooked
kernels were placed in saucer-shaped banana leaves. The table laden with roasted
meat, cooked vegetables, and fresh fruits. Other bamboos were brought in and
these contained what looked like pure water. The hunters soon learnedthat the
crystal-like substance was not water but rather, the wine of the gods. At first, the
hunters were reluctant in joining the feasts

after seeing the small, white kernels.


We do not eat worms, the chief hunter said.

The gods smiled. These white bead -shaped kernels are not worms, replied one
of the gods. They are cooked rice. They come from a certain kind of plant which we
ourselves grow. Come and feast with us. After we have eaten, kill us if you find
anything wrong from eating rice.

After hearing the gods words, the hunters did not argue anymore. They feasted
with the gods. They were satisfied and happy, not because they were fed but
because of the energy they felt after eating cookedrice. Their weak bodies became
strong. After the feast, the hunters thanked the gods.

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