Sa gitna ng malawak na taniman ng palay sa Maranao, isang kakaibang ulap ang napansin ng mga tao. Hindi ito puti o kulay abo tulad ng karaniwang ulap—ito’y dilaw na dilaw, at tila lumulutang nang mababa sa lupa tuwing dapithapon. Ayon sa mga matatanda, may sumpa ang dilaw na ulap. Sinumang malapitan nito ay mawawala at hindi na makikita pa.
Isang araw, kumalat ang balita na may tatlong bata mula sa nayon ang nawala matapos makalapit sa ulap. Takot ang lahat, kaya’t walang nangahas na pumunta sa taniman, kahit ang matatapang na mga mandirigma. Ngunit si Pilandok, na kilala sa kanyang talino at tapang, ay nagboluntaryong hanapin ang nawawalang mga bata.
“Kung tunay na sumpa ang nasa ulap, kailangang malaman natin kung paano ito mapipigilan,” sabi ni Pilandok sa mga taga-nayon.
Kinagabihan, dinala ni Pilandok ang kanyang sako, tali, at isang lampara. Pumunta siya sa taniman at inabangan ang paglitaw ng dilaw na ulap. Hindi nagtagal, nakita niya ito—parang gumagalaw na ilog ng liwanag, tahimik na bumaba sa lupa. Sa gitna ng ulap, may narinig siyang mahihinang tawag, parang boses ng mga nawawalang bata.
“Ano kaya ang meron sa ulap na ito?” tanong niya sa sarili.
Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit, hawak ang lampara. Napansin niya na ang dilaw na ulap ay hindi gawa ng mahika kundi ng libu-libong maliliit na insektong kumikislap sa dilim. Ang bawat isa sa mga ito ay may dala-dalang liwanag na parang alitaptap, ngunit mas maliwanag. Sa gitna ng ulap, nakita niya ang tatlong bata—tulog na tulog at napapalibutan ng mga insekto.
Naunawaan ni Pilandok ang nangyayari. Ang mga insektong ito pala ay hindi nakakatakot, kundi protektor ng taniman. Dumadapo sila sa sinumang nagtatangkang sirain ang tanim o kumuha nang hindi nagpapaalam. Ngunit dahil hindi nagising ang mga bata mula sa pagkakatulog, kinailangan ni Pilandok na gumawa ng paraan.
Kumuha siya ng dahon ng niyog, sinunog ito, at ginamit ang usok upang maitaboy ang mga insekto. Unti-unting naghiwalay ang dilaw na ulap, at tuluyan niyang nailigtas ang mga bata.
Pagbalik nila sa nayon, ipinaliwanag ni Pilandok ang nakita niya. “Ang dilaw na ulap ay hindi sumpa, kundi mga insektong nagpoprotekta sa taniman. Hindi natin sila kailangang katakutan, ngunit dapat tayong mag-ingat at irespeto ang kalikasan.”
Mula noon, natutunan ng mga taga-nayon na igalang ang taniman at ang mga nilalang na nagbabantay dito. Si Pilandok ay muling pinuri sa kanyang talino at tapang.
Aral ng Kwento
Ang takot ay madalas nagmumula sa hindi natin nauunawaan. Sa pamamagitan ng kaalaman at paggalang sa kalikasan, natututo tayong harapin ang ating mga pangamba.
English Translation
Pilandok and the Yellow Cloud
In the vast rice fields of Maranao, a strange cloud caught the people’s attention. It wasn’t white or gray like ordinary clouds—it was bright yellow, floating low to the ground during twilight. According to the elders, the yellow cloud was cursed. Anyone who got too close would disappear and never be seen again.
One day, news spread that three children from the village had vanished after approaching the cloud. Everyone was terrified, even the bravest warriors. But Pilandok, known for his cleverness and courage, volunteered to find the missing children.
“If this cloud is truly cursed, we need to understand it and stop it,” Pilandok told the villagers.
That night, Pilandok prepared his sack, a rope, and a lantern. He went to the rice fields and waited for the yellow cloud to appear. Soon, he saw it—a glowing river of light silently descending to the ground. From within the cloud, he heard faint voices calling, like the cries of the missing children.
“What could this cloud be?” he wondered.
Carefully, he approached with his lantern in hand. He noticed that the yellow cloud wasn’t magic but made up of thousands of tiny insects glowing in the dark. Each insect carried a small light like a firefly, but brighter. In the middle of the cloud, he saw the three children—fast asleep and surrounded by the insects.
Pilandok realized the truth. These insects weren’t dangerous; they were guardians of the rice fields. They landed on anyone who threatened the crops or trespassed without permission. But since the children didn’t wake from their sleep, Pilandok had to find a way to help them.
He took a coconut leaf, burned it, and used the smoke to drive the insects away. Slowly, the yellow cloud dispersed, and he rescued the children.
When they returned to the village, Pilandok explained what he had discovered. “The yellow cloud isn’t a curse. It’s made of insects protecting the fields. We don’t need to fear them, but we must respect nature and tread carefully.”
From then on, the villagers learned to honor the fields and the creatures guarding them. Once again, Pilandok was praised for his wit and bravery.
Moral of the Story
Fear often stems from the unknown. Through knowledge and respect for nature, we can overcome our fears and learn to coexist with the world around us.