AMOMONGO – (Western Visayas) The term amomongo has not only been used to describe a gorilla in traditional Visayan folktales, such as “Amomongo and Iput-Iput (The Ape and the Firefly), but also to describe a man-sized being that attacked people in 2008. I’m not big into cryptozoology, but accounts like the following certainly pique my interest.
In Brgy. Sag-ang, La Castellana, Negros Occidental, the term amomongo was used to describe a man-sized creature that attacked two residents and disemboweled goats and chickens in the area. Elias Galvez and Salvador Aguilar reported to Mayor Alberto Nicor and the police that they were separately attacked by a “hairy creature with long nails,” on the nights of June 9 and 10, 2008. Brgy. Sag-ang residents described the creature to be about 5 feet and 4 inches tall, and looks like a monkey. Sag-ang Brgy. Capt. Rudy Torres has confirmed reports of the existence of such creature, called amomongo (gorilla) by residents. Brgy. Sag-ang in La Castellana is located at the foot of Mt. Kanlaon , which has many caves where the creature could live.
Amomongo and Iput-Iput (The Ape and the Firefly)
One evening the firefly was on his way to the house of a friend, and as he passed by the ape’s house, the latter asked him: My, Firefly, why do you carry a light?
The firefly replied: Because I am afraid of the mosquitoes.
Oh, then you are a coward, are you? said the ape.
No, I am not, was the answer.
If you are not afraid, asked the ape, why do you always carry a lantern?
I carry a lantern so that when the mosquitoes come to bite me I can see them and defend myself, replied the firefly.
Then the ape laughed aloud, and on the next day he told all his neighbors that the firefly carried a light at night because he was a coward.
When the firefly heard the ape had said, he went to his house. It was night and the ape was asleep, but the firefly flashed his light onto his face and awakened him. The firefly was very angry and said: Why did you spread the report that I was a coward? If you wish to prove which of us is the braver, I will fight you on the plaza next Sunday evening.
The ape inquired: Have you any companions?
No, replied the firefly, I will come alone.
Then the ape laughed at the idea of such a little creature presuming to fight with him, but the firefly continued: I shall be expecting you on the plaza about six o’clock next Sunday afternoon.
The ape replied: You had better bring someone to help you, as I shall bring my whole company, about a thousand apes, each as big as myself. This he said, thinking to frighten the strange little insect, who seemed to him to be crazy. But the firefly answered: I shall not need any companions, but will come alone. Good-bye.
When the firefly had gone, the ape called together his company, and told them about the proposed fight. He ordered them to get each one a club about three feet long and to be on the plaza at six o’clock the next Sunday evening. His companions were greatly amazed, but as they were used to obeying their captain, they promised to be ready at the appointed time and place.
On Sunday evening, just before six o’clock, they assembled on the plaza and found the firefly already waiting for them. Just then the church bells rang the Angelus, so the firefly proposed that they should all pray. Immediately after the prayer, the firefly signified the he was ready to begin. The ape had drawn up his company in line, with himself at the head.
Suddenly the firefly lighted upon the ape’s nose. The ape next in line struck at the firefly but succeeded only in striking the captain such a terrible blow on the nose as to kill him. The firefly meanwhile, seeing the blow coming, had jumped upon the nose of the second ape, who was killed by the next in line just as the captain had been killed; and so on down the whole line, until there was but one ape left. He threw down his club and begged the firefly to spare him. The firefly graciously allowed him to live, but since that time the apes have been in mortal terror of the fireflies.
(sources: Philippine Folk Literature: An Anthology, Eugenio, UP Press 2007 | sunstar.com.ph “Creature terrorizing residents of farms”)ART: William R. Leigh “A Gorilla Hunt” early 20th century.
ALSO READ: The Monkey and the Turtle | Ilokano Folk Tale
Jordan Clark is a Canadian born descendant of Scottish immigrants living on the homelands of the Lekwungen speaking peoples. His interest in Philippine myth and folklore began in 2004. Finding it difficult to track down resources on the topic, he founded The Aswang Project in 2006. Shortly after, he embarked on a 5 year journey, along with producing partner Cheryl Anne del Rosario, to make the 2011 feature length documentary THE ASWANG PHENOMENON – an exploration of the aswang myth and its effects on Philippine society. In 2015 he directed “The Creatures of Philippine Mythology” web-series, which features 3 folkloric beings from the Philippines – the TIKBALANG, KAPRE and BAKUNAWA. Episodes are available to watch on YouTube. Jordan recently oversaw the editing for the English language release of Ferdinand Blumentritt’s DICCIONARIO MITOLÓGICO DE FILIPINAS (Dictionary of Philippine Mythology) and is working on two more releases with fellow creators scheduled for release later this year. When his nose isn’t in a book, he spends time with his amazing Filipina wife of 20 years and their smart and wonderful teenaged daughter.
