Two Eastern Fables / Dalawang Pabulang Silanganin - Page 7 of 15

by Dr. José Rizal

(Tagalog translation by Federico B. Sebastian) Bilingual (English-Tagalog) version

This is the Philippine tale of the monkey and the tortoise.  The Japanese fable, Saru kani kassen, or Battle of the Monkey and the Crab, as published by Kobunsha at Tokyo is as follows:

Ito ang kuwentong Pilipino ng matsing at ng pagong.  Ang pabulang Hapon, Saru kani kassen, o ang labanan ng matsing at ng alimango, na inilathala ng Kobunsha sa Tokyo ay ang sumusunod :

A monkey and a crab once met when going around a mountain.

Isang matsing at isang alimango ang nagkatagpo samantalang lumiligid sa isang bundok.

Learn this Filipino word:

ningas-kugon