The Legend of Marinduque as told by Dindo Asuncion and illustrated by Ton Monteagudo

Millions of years ago, the country we now call the Philippines was composed of  a single, contiguous landmass; not the archipelago of 7,107 islands we know  today. It was then called Kayaman, its length and breadth could be traveled without the  use of any watercrafts.  This one big island was inhabited by the race called Kayumanggî who lived by hunting  and fishing. They lived in harmony, abundance and peace; sharing the land's natural  bounties. This made the Bathalas and Bathalumans (gods and goddesses) happy.

Origins of the Archipelago

Nonetheless, as is often said - the only constancy of this world is change: As the  population grew, the natives became selfish and tribal wars started. To stop them from  wiping out each other from the face of the earth, the gods decided to split the big landmass  into more than 7,000 islands to separate the warring tribes.

As a punishment, each tribe was given a separate dialect to avoid bickering and  arguments. The northern Island called Lusong was peopled by the Ilokanos and  Kapampangans. On the central plains were the Tagalogs and on their south were the  Biko/anos. On the islands located mid-archipelago were the tribes that spoke Bisaya,  Ilonggo, Waray, Hiligaynon, and Cebuano. Down south were those who spoke in  Mindanawin: the Tausugs, the Maranaos, and the like. 

Yet these conditions did not prevent the race from seeking to destroy each other. They  learned to make boats, not for fishing but to reach other islands to battle other tribes.  When they learned to use sails, they even reached farther. 

Again, the gods were bothered . They needed to stop all of these or the race they were  trying to protect would vanish through these tribal wars. And so the gods and goddesses  assembled once again. Dimaloma, the river goddess, spoke, "Peace comes from love:  love could only come from the heart. We have separated Kayaman into an archipelago  of more than 7,000 islands, given each tribe a separate dialect yet the fighting never  stopped. We have learned a lesson, the solution must come from within the Kayumangis  themselves, with a little help from us."

It was then decided to send a chosen demigod to live among the  Kayumangis, to mingle among the different tribes to teach and to pave  way for the long-sought peace and understanding among the race.

Deux ex Machina

Gat Duke, the only son of Peanila, gentle goddess of the plains, and  the mortal poet Dosanhali - raised steeped in lessons and born a natural  role model.

For five years, the demigod Gat Duke traveled and lived with the  different tribes, teaching them new ways of hunting and fishing. He  also taught them to catch only what was needed for sustenance and  to conserve the bountiful resources of the land. And to supplement  their needs, the tribes learned to plant and take care of the land through  the patient lessons of Gat Duke. Oftentimes, the young man would  entertain them with his kudyapi.

Gat Duke's examples began to take effect. The Kayumangis, once  again, learned to share, having re-learned that there would always be  enough to share if nature was respected. This made the gods happy,  who in turn, blessed the archipelago with more bounties,  

Mariin of Bulakawin

From the mountains of Matutum in the south, the lad traveled north till he reached the land of Bulakawin, a place in Lusong abundant with cotton trees. The tribe was under the rule of Datu Batumbakal, father of the beauteous Mariin, a weaver of delicate cotton cloths, poetry,  and music.

The arrival of Gat Duke made the Datu and the whole tribe happy for  he brought them seeds of palay, taught them how to plant, harvest,  and eat rice. He also introduced the concept of fish-farming. 

In- the first few months, Marin and Gat Duke did not pay much attention  to each other. Yet, the mutual propensity for music and the arts had  brought them closer and closer till the inevitable happened... they  fell in love.

When this news reached the Datu, he was bothered for he had  promised Mariin to the eldest son of a lakan from the North. In those  days, a man kept his promise, much more a Datu, no matter what the  cost. Although Datu Batumbakal liked Gat Duke and his winning ways,  he had a promise to keep,

And so the Datu spoke softly to her ever-obedient daughter, but as often said, it is impossible to hold water in  your hands; the forbidden love of Gat Duke and Mariin continued. One day not long after, the Datu proclaimed that  after the sun had risen 30,times, the  lass would be married to the heir of the  Lakan from the north. The betrothed  maiden simply bowed her head, not to  signify surrender, but to hide her  welling tears.

The Moon's Promise  

When she was alone, Mariin softly  spoke to the moon, as she used to do.  "Oh great moon, my bosom friend,  bless my love for Duke. Give us your  light and guidance so we may travel in  the night to seek our own island, where  I and my love can live in happiness and  peace." The moon, to signify her approval, shone brighter than ever that night.

When he learned of the plan from the lips of Mariin, Gat Duke, son of a god and mortal spoke, "I have the guidance of the gods so long as I do not fall in  love with a mortal. When I fell in love with you, this was taken away from me and I am now on my own. Yet, with my natural abilities strengthened by your inspiring love, we will live a simple, happy life together. Much like you, Mariïn, I need no riches; all I need is you.  

Right there and then, the lovers left Bulakawin and traveled south, looking for an island to start their new home.

The lovers knew that no one would ever help them except themselves and, perhaps the moon. They traveled swiftly by night under the guiding light of the moon, hid and rested in the thick forest by day.

In this manner, the lovers reached the shores of Mongpongan Sea near the kingdom of Gat Duke Tayablan. The familiarity of Gat Duke of these areas gave the pair the chance to elude the pursuit of Datu Batumbakal's and the Lakan's combined group for the moment. Gat Duke made a raft with sails and supplied it with wild fruits and water in bamboo containers for the sea crossing.

Meanwhile, the pursuers, without the aid of the moon continued searching for their prey during nighttime, drifted west to the area called Batangan. Rajah Balkasusa and Rajah Dumangsol, rulers of the neighborhood tribes in the area warmly welcomed the Datu and the Lakan, in the hope of establishing trade with tribes from the central parts of Lusong. Upon learning of the search, the Rajahs lent the pursuers their swiftest boats manned by their best seafarers to help find Mariin and Gat Duke.

When the sun set that day, Mariin and Duke boarded their raft, traveling in the night, guided by the moon.

Why the Moon Waxes and Wanes

Unknown to the couple, they were being observed  closely by the gods who were now powerless to  help them. The gods also noticed the continued  guidance extended to the lovers by the moon.  And the gods spoke to the moon, "Dear Moon,  Duke was warned not to fall in love with a mortal.  Yet he broke the rule of the gods. From then on,  no one, including the gods, could help him- Duke  must now be on his own."  

"But I am guiding the path of Mariin, not Duke's.  And this I do because of my promise to Mariin,  not to Duke," the moon softly replied.

"This we know and we believe you but the gods have decided. So you may keep your promise to Mariin, you will continue to guide and light them in your full state tonight. But from now on, your size, shape, and light shall continually change. From a full moon, you shall slowly wane till you are gone from the skies. Then you shall slowly  regain your shape and strength to complete the cycle. And this cycle will repeat itself every thirty days, forever. This will serve as a reminder to mankind of your enviable virtue to stand by your promise, no matter the cost," the gods sadly chorused.

Though the moon continued shining in full glory,  the inky black and thick clouds of Asakan, the  god of clouds and rain, covered the moon that  night. Duke lost not only the light of the moon  but also the guidance of the stars to find his  bearings while sailing with Mariin.

The Sea Tracker  

It was midnight when Ramdalam tasted the subtle change in the air above the waves. Ramdalam was the best seafarer of Batangan who could smell, feel, and hear of things related to the sea. He eventually became the ruler of a tribe that settled on an island southeast of Batangan called Badíyaw.  

Although Duke was also a good seafarer, he could not match the abilities of Ramdalam, the lead guide of the Datu Batumbakal's group, who had the ability to taste the salty air of the sea with his sensitive tongue and discern the smallest peculiarities in it.

Because of the dark clouds, there were no moon  or stars to guide Gat Duke. Besides, his seafaring skills were no match to those of their pursuers. Further, the bamboo raft of Marin and Duke was no equal to the swift paraws lent to Batumbakal's group, who used rowers aside from large sails.

On the first light of dawn, Duke saw the swiftly  approaching kaskos and instantly knew that the  pursuit was drawing to an end. For the first time, Mariin saw the worried face of her man and she spoke calmly, yet tearfully as she held his hand. "Duke of Mariin, promise me that you will not  surrender me 'back to the Datu, my father, whatever happens. All I have ever wished is to be with you in an island of our own, forever. Swear to me, my love, that we shall be together, ever."

Duke tightly embraced her as he promised "Mariin, we shall always be together. And if it needs be, this will be our chosen place under the sun." With twine, he slowly bounded Mariin to his body without taking his gaze from her lovely face. In response, Mariin, with the sweetest of smiles, gently nodded her head. 

The Comforting Embrace of the Depths

Datu Batumbakal's boat was just several arm's length away from the raft. By dawn's early light, the pursuers saw the lover's happy faces as both jumped into the sea. Then, everything went still. The sea turned to a mirror-like smoothness as if giving its nod to the turn of events as Mariin and Duke chose it to be. The sun was already at its peak yet nothing move, even the lover's raft was motionless as if time had halted; it seemed waiting to be boarded back by the two when they return  to the surface.

After sunset, Datu Batumbakal, the beloved father of Mariin, decided to leave the place but ordered that the raft be left untouched. For twenty days the Datu's group returned to the place in the hope of finding the bodies of Marin and Duke only to find the raft, unmoved by neither wind nor tide.

An Island Rises..  

Yet the following day, Batumbakal and the searchers were shocked to see a new island on that part of the sea. They traveled around the island till they arrived at its southern end, marked with a mountain shrouded in clouds. There, they heard the voice of Peanila, mother goddess of Duke. "Stop searching for Mariin and Duke, you will never see them again. Duke was sent by the Kabathalaan to bring back love, understanding,  and peace to Kayaman. His work was almost completed when he saw your sweet daughter Mariin. By falling in love with Mariin, he had chosen to go the way of the mortals." 

"The two decided to be together forever and their wish came true. This island was formed right at the geographic heart of the archipelago. It was also shaped in the form of a heart to remind the race of Kayumanggi that peace, understanding  and abundance can only come if love comes from within. Remember this and Kayaman shall prosper," ended Peanila,.  

And this island was called Pulo ni Mariin at Duke (Isle of Mariin and Duke) - nurtured by the waters of Mongpong Straits, Bay of Tayabas, and Sibuyan Sea. As time passed, this was shortened to Marlin-Duke till it reached its present form, MARINDUQUE.

As one looks closer, the island of Marinduque has been well endowed with the gentle beauty of Mariïn through her streams, rivers, and placid plains while the strength of Duke characterizes its mountains, forests, and coastal seas. Marinduqueños have been blessed with an abundance of mixed and insular heritage resulting in a distinctive blend of natural warmth and inveterate friendliness that can only come from their hearts, embedded in their culture and traditions preserved through the centuries.

On this island, one cannot help but recall the motionless raft of Mariin and Duke: Time seems to stand still... giving one all the while one needs to take all of these in.

Only in the heart of the Philippines...