Tuesday, April 10, 2012

I is for Ibong Adarna

The Ibong Adarna, or the Adarna bird, is a legendary bird of the Philippines. It is believed to have a very long, fancy tail with numerous shiny metallic colours. It knows a total of seven songs that are believed to lull anyone to sleep as well as cure any type of affliction; it changes its feathers into more colourful hues and shades after each song. After the last song, it excretes waste, then finally sleeps with its eyes wide open. It is said that its dung can turn any living organism into stone.

Though her song was believed to be so dangerous, any one can still nullify the curse-effect of her song, if and only if, that person wounded his palm and at the same time squeeze a kalamansi (a citrus fruit from the Philippines that looks just like a small lime). And by staying awake, anyone has the chance to catch her and ask for her curing abilities of any kind of sickness.

4 comments:

S. L. Hennessy said...

It pains me to say that in all my mythical creature research, I've never heard of the Ibong Adarna before. Thanks for posting.

DL Hammons said...

That's one wicked bird! :)

Angela Brown said...

I'm sure I'd be lulled to sleep and turned to stone given I love beautiful music.

Jean-Patrick said...

kalamansi in a open wound would suck....

i like this spirit gallery, great job

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