The Origin of the Calao
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Long, long ago in our country, very few people lived in the mountains as people do now. Mountain people were poor, ignorant, and simple, but strong, honest, and industrious. They lived on camote. In order that food will be available during storms and on rainy days, the natives of the mountains would slice the camotes into small pieces and dry them in the sun to be preserved. When dried, the natives would gather them and keep them in their houses or granaries. These preserved camotes were called “boku” and their containers called calao by the natives.
The plains were populated by people who were rich and who knew more about life than their brothers in the mountains.
In those days, it was the practice of these two peoples to trade and exchange their crops and products. Because the people of the mountains were ignorant, they often suffered losses in the exchange. After the trade, the people of the plains would be loaded with mountain products and money. They could be seen coming down the hill jubilant over the success of their trip. This trade lasted for many years.
One day a group of men and women came up to the mountains to trade. They carried with them articles to trade and a little amount of provisions, as they usually partook of the food of the mountain people when their provisions were gone. Not long afterwards, the traders sold all their goods and started for the homeward trip.
When this group of men and women were at the outskirts of the ili or town, they saw many sliced camotes or boku being dried and many baskets nearby. Without permission, the group raced to the place and filled the baskets with boku. Each one wanted to bring home the boku to his family so that they could taste the food of the mountain people. After filling the calao or basket with boku, the group continued their homeward journey.
At the bank of the river the group could not walk anymore because of hunger and thirst, so all decided to rest. It was decided that the boku be collected among them and cooked. This, the women did while the men went to fish in the river. Not long afterwards, the men came back with plenty of fish. This was also cooked and before long, lunch was ready to serve. In picnic style the group began to eat. There was merriment and every one ate to his satisfaction. Before they knew it, all of them were changed into birds and their cargo and baskets into worms.
For many days and months, these birds lived among the trees on the banks of the river, eating up all the worms until no more could be found. Then when all the worms were gone, the birds in a flock, flew to the village where they came from. Everyday when the sun rose and set, these birds would sing their melodious songs and later on end them with an ugly call of “Calao, Calao, Calao,” meaning the native basket and “Boku, Boku” meaning also the sliced camotes.
You find these birds today in the lowlands. They are among our beautiful birds. They come to the mountains only during certain times of the year, maybe to trade, to look for food, or to see new places.
Reference
Anonymous. “The Origin of the Calao.” In Folk Tales of Mountain Province: Retold for Children-Grade V, 1st ed. Baguio City: n.p., 12-14.
Notes
This folk tale was produced by Area - - A during a Division Curriculum Workshop held in Baguio City, Philippines on February 9-17, 1960. The workshop’s theme was “Enriching the Curriculum Through the Development of Local Materials.”
“Division” in Division Curriculum Workshop refers to a schools division of the Department of the Education. It could have been then the “Mountain Province Schools Division.” (YBelen,6December2014)