The locals of Albay are as restless as Mt. Mayon for days now. Their resident volcano has been spitting lava and ash since Saturday, making the province under a state of calamity. Striking photos and videos of the almost-perfect cone-shaped mountain with glowing crater and lava flows are also making rounds on the social media.
And yesterday, a Twitter user shared a noteworthy observation on a video of the volcano.
A post on Facebook, on the other hand, included another character, Panganoron, who seems to be kissing the volcano.
Now, who are Magayon and Panganoron, and why are they on Mt. Mayon? Alright, story time.
According to legends, Daragang Magayon is a beautiful princess of Ibalon led by Rajah Makusog. Her beauty and agility attracted men from different tribes including Iriga chieftain Pagtuga. Pagtuga courted Magayon and her father with excessive gifts.
But Magayon’s heart belonged to someone else—to Panganoron, son of a tribe leader in the Tagalog region. The two met when Panganoron saved Magayon from drowning in a river one rainy night.
Time passed by and the two fell in love with each other. They were set to marry until one day, upon knowing the momentous event, Pagtuga captured Makusog. Pagtuga told Magayon that he’d kill her father if she refused to be his bride instead. Days after, Magayon grievously married Pagtuga.
When Panganoron learned of what happened, together with his warriors, he battled with Pagtuga. The Iriga chieftain was slain and Magayon celebrated. Magayon was rushing to her lover when a stray arrow hit her in the back and killed her. Grievously, Panganoron hurried to cradle the maiden, but then Pagtuga’s follower swiftly killed him with a spear.
Makusog buried the lovers together. Eventually, the Ibalon people noticed the grave rise. And every day, as it grew higher, it started spewing red-hot boulders from its crater preceded by quakes. “Old folks explain the phenomenon as Pagtuga, aided by Linog, agitating the volcano to retrieve his gifts, which, following ancient custom, were buried with Magayon,” the legend said. And when the tip of the volcano is veiled in clouds, they say that Panganoron is kissing Magayon.
Just like in the video of the Mt. Mayon we’re watching now.
Cover photo courtesy of the original video taken by Drew Zuniga
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