THE LEGEND OF PULONG BATO
Some centuries ago in the highlands of Zamboanga lived the lovers Pulong and Maryam.
Pulong was a Subanen and Maryam a Muslim and the difference in the lovers’ ethnic backgrounds
did not sit well especially with the girl’s family. Although a datu, Pulong never managed to win the
favor of Maryam’s family, who did eve1rything to separate the two. Things went a turn for the
worse when they prohibited Maryam from seeing Pulong altogether. They assigned her brother to
keep an eye on her all the time making the separation unbearable for the lovers.
One night when the moon was abroad and the whole village fast asleep, Maryam quietly
managed to sneak out of their house and hastily fled for Pulong’s place.
Seeing his girl
approaching, Pulong immediately grabbed his stag, scooped Maryam and raced off with her as fast
and as far as they possibly could.
When Maryam’s brother discovered her gone, he roused the whole village and everyone
joined in on the search. They combed through the mountains and the rivers until the lovers were
eventually located. A hot pursuit ensued bringing the lovers to the edge of a steep and rocky cliff.
Maryam’s brother threatened to kill the two if Maryam did not return to her family. The lovers,
however, knew that they would never be able to see each other again if Maryam did what she was
told. Hands together, they gazed at each other one last time, turned their backs on Maryam’s
brother and jumped off the cliff.
The cliff where the lovers perished came to be known as Pulong Bato after the hero of the
tragic tale and after the huge, white, solid rock that is a distinguishing feature of the cliff that bore
witness to a love stronger and bolder than death.
It is believed that the cries of Pulong and Maryam can be heard by the cliff until today.
May Temple-Maravilles. Literatures of Mindanao. Languages Department. School of Liberal Arts. Ateneo de Zamboanga University.