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Sagani Becomes a Great Hunter
Sagani Becomes a Great Hunter
From Orlando S. Benoza’s
Philippine Folklore and Other Stories
(Vibal Publishing House 1967, p. 49)
To become a great hunter entails walking
unseen among animals. With great
patience and determination, he
became one.
Part I – The White Heron’s Egg
Sagani’s forefathers were great hunters, so was his father. He was a good hunter too but he wished to be great as his father. His father told him that to become a ‘truly great hunter’ he must approach his prey unseen and he can do so if he can find the white heron’s egg.
The white heron’s egg, according to stories Sagani heard was a charm to make hunters invisible to animals and that his great grandfather was the only one who found it. Sagani’s father had to find it himself by catching a white heron with his bare hands; otherwise, the charm would have been broken.
Sagani had doubts because the white heron among all birds is the most sensitive to any threat.
Part II – Sagani Catches the White Heron
Sagani was determined to catch a white heron. He learned to move noiselessly without disturbing the tall grasses and dried leaves and branches. He learned to be patient in waiting for hours, waiting for the right time to act.
His efforts paid at last. He was able to catch a white heron with his bare hands. He searched everywhere for the heron’s egg but it was nowhere to be found. Frustrated, he cried earnestly thinking that he would never become a great hunter. Sagani complained to his father that he did not find an egg and that stalking the herons was just a waste of time. His father explained that Sagani has already achieved invisibility by walking among the herons. He even caught one just using his bare hands. Was there a better passport in becoming a great hunter? After all, could really a heron’s egg make anyone invisible?
Published: October 17, 2007
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