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The Legend of the Butterfly

A long, long time ago, when Philippines was still attached to Asia, there lived in the wilderness of Panay a queen fairy. One day she had in leisure weaved a set of beautiful wings. It was made of lovely silk colored by the enchanting flowers of paradise.

With magnanimity the queen fairy called all land creatures in her realm and addressed them.

“ I will place these wings on top of a giant Acacia tree. Any creature that gets the wings will have the privilege of wearing it permanently.”

When the creatures saw the towering tree they were dumbfounded.  “The tree seems to touch the clouds” they groaned. That day all land creatures went home with wings on their dreams and weight on their feet.

After some time, the elephant finally took courage. “My strength will help me get those wings!” he boasted. “It’s not by accident that I am the king of the jungle.”

The elephant wrapped his considerable nose around the giant tree and tried uprooting it. He pulled with all his might and mightily he tried - but to no avail. He tried it every day until he gave up, but not before his nose became a trunk as long as we know it today. Because of shame the elephant deserted Panay and hid in the deep forest of India.

Long after the elephant gave up, the giraffe gave it also a try.  “There’s no harm in trying. My long legs will surely help me.” she mused. “If I get those wings I will be the most beautiful land creature. I will fly around every day, and males will court me no end. Oh it will be lovely having those wings.”

And so everyday she jumped and stretched her neck to reach the top of the acacia tree, but at last she gave up. For a long while she became the butt of jokes for the unnatural leg and neck she developed, that is until she decided to swim to the faraway continent of Africa.

Now, the land creatures seemed to have considered the task impossible. Then one day the wings floated down. Every land creature gathered around the tree in the hope of catching it; even the queen fairy was there to see who would be the lucky catcher.

The wings floated for seven days and during those times no creature dared to go home, eat or sleep. Then on the seventh day there was a great uproar, for then they realized the wings were not falling rather they are fluttering; a land-crawling creature – the caterpillar was wearing them.

A great silence fell when the fairy queen addressed the victor. “I will keep my promise. From now on you will wear these wings permanently.” The queen fairy pronounced.

 “How did you reach those wings?” was the booming demand of the land creatures.

“Yes, indeed.” The queen fairy agreed. “Tell us, lucky one, how did you achieve it?”

“Your Excellency, I did it by crawling to the top… wiggle by wiggle.”

          ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~