An old man named Labangan,
cried out in fear and hunger,
Oh, Kabunian in the sky
above!
I will not live much longer.
I've searched here, there,
high and low
for fruits, and fishes too.
I wish I were already dead
I don't know what else to
do!
Kabunian heard Labangan's
cry
and threw him a length of
rope,
He pulled him up to heaven
and gave Labangan hope
He gave Labangan food to
eat
He called it grains of rice,
It was steamy white and
filling,
a treasure at any price.
But Kabunian did not plan
to give
The gift of rice to the
earth,
He did not want the old
man
to leave with this divine
worth.
And so He gave Labangan
bad grains to plant and
sow,
But the old man did not
want it
for he knew it would not
grow.
Labangan stole a good grain
And hid it in his hair,
He even hid it in his pants
But Kabunian still found
it there.
Kabunian checked Labangan's
mouth
And the old man could not
have sung
A song of joy or sadness,
For a grain hid under his
tongue.
So now we thank Labangan
For pulling off this feat
He planted good grains everywhere
So that everyone has rice
to eat.
