Cagayan Warrior

Have you heard of the man?
Who defended his land for his beloved one.
Have you heard of his tale?
His little escapade under the nightingale

Long ago beside the river of Cagayan
Lies the village tribe of Mayan
And his wife Singsing
A happy couple being

But every 2nd month of the year
A demon comes out as they tremble in fear
He takes away the wives of men
As an offering to his dominions den

But Mayan wanted him to go away
“We don’t need to be someone’s prey
We are Kagay-anons!
A strong and mighty blood”

As the day goes dark
While everyone is in slumber
The demon comes out
Like an inconspicuous monster
Taking their wives and Singsing along
Putting them in his graveyard
Where they belong

As Mayan heard of his beloveds cry
He took his bolo and was prepared to die
Running towards the deepest forest
As he reached the entrance
Of the demon spawns nest

He prayed to Bathala
For strength and courage
To remove the demon
In his very wretched place

“Oh akin ginoo! Kaisog hatagi ko!
Nga akong matugyan ang yawa diri
Oh ginoo! Kaisog hatagi ko!
Nga akong maluwas ang gehigugma
sakong kasing kasing
Oh ginoo! Kaisog hatagi ko!”

As he entered the gate of demise
A voice that echoed from the abyss
“Kinsay bagag nawng nga nisulod sakong balay?Tsk2 Mayan ang maisog nga gabinugok!”

As the demon strucked him with his hand
Mayan fell but took his stand
As he saw his wife looking at him from afar
He saw a bright white star
He stood up and in battle position
Repeating his very incantation
As the demon charged with full speed
He strucked it under and made it bleed
As the demon died and the darkness gone
He saved the women for it is done

As they came back they all praised him
“Mayan ang maisog! Mayan ang maisog!
The day the couples get back together
The day love came back again
On the 2nd month of the year
Where they call February
On the 14th day of sanctuary.

For those who are wondering, Cagayan is the name of the city I grew up in. It’s full name is Cagayan De Oro City which is located in Northern Mindanao, Philippines.

8th paragraph translates to: Oh God give me strength so that I may vanquish the evil. Oh God give me strength, so that I can save my beloved. Oh God give me strength.

“Kinsay bagag nawng nga nisulod sakong balay?Tsk2 Mayan ang maisog nga gabinugok!” This translates to: Who dares enter my house? Mayan the strong but a dumb one.