Tale of Si Tanggang

Good morning to honorable judges, loyal timekeeper, teachers and fellow friends.

Today I am going to tell a story entitled “Tale of Si Tanggang”

There once lived two parents, Si Talang and Si Deruma who had a son named Si

Tanggang. Si Tanggang and his family were poor. Despite living in poverty, Si

Tanggang was a far-sighted boy. He had ambition and dreams to be a rich man.

Si Tanggang grew older. Si Tanggang decided to leave his family for life at sea,

promising he would be back one day. After Si Tanggang left, he worked for a rich

man who owned a ship. Si Tanggang worked very hard until one day the rich man

said, "Oh Si Tanggang! You worked so hard for me, so in return I allowed you to

marry my daughter and be the captain of my ship in the future".

Later in the year, Si Tanggang married the rich man's beautiful daughter. Si

Tanggang wanted to keep up the work and so he sailed the ship with his wife to an

unknown country. Once they arrived, they just so happen to reach Si Tanggang's

home village. Everybody was shocked and surprised at how Si Tanggang had

changed. Si Tanggang's parents, Si Talang and Si Deruma heard the news of their

homecoming son. So, they quickly came to meet Si Tanggang and offered him some

of his favourite banana cakes that Si Deruma had specially made for him.

Si Tanggang's wife was shocked, and asked him, "Were they your parents?"

Si Tanggang looked at his parents who were dirty and dressed in rags. He replied,

"What! Of course they're not! My parents died ages ago!"

Si Tanggang's heartbroken mother said, "Oh my son Si Tanggang! I’m your mother!

I just thought you'd like your favourite banana cakes". Si Tanggang's mum was

clinging on Si Tanggang's ship, one hand with the banana cakes.

"Go away!” shouted Si Tanggang. He hit his mother's fingers until his mother and

the banana cakes fell into the sea.

Si Tanggang's parents went back to the shore upsetly. Si Tanggang's mum looked

up to the sky, stretched her two hands high and cried, "Oh my dear God, please

show my son Si Tanggang that I’m his mother!”

As soon as the mother ended her sad wail, the sky suddenly turned dark and black

cloud covered the village. Thunder and lightning struck the village! The wind grew

hard and the waves began to smash the ship.

Si Tanggang then realised that he had done a bad sin towards his mother who had

raised him up. Si Tanggang shouted, "Oh mother! I’m sorry! Please forgive me! I

admit that I’m your son! ". But, it was no use. It was too late for forgiveness. Si

Tanggang, his wife, the ship and the sailors had turned into huge stones.

Boys and girls, the moral of this story is that we have to honour our parents. We

need to shower our parents with love and respect. Thank you.