Legend of Marang

Many moons ago, in the faraway land of Mindano, the land of colorful vintas, Muslim
royalty and exotic fruits, there lived a regal datu who had a lovely daughter. She was called
Marang, and her eyes were like the stars in the heavens. Her hair was silky and dark as a
moonless night.

When Marang was very, very young, her father had promised her in marriage to the son of
another chieftain who was his good friend. When they both came of age, Marang would be
the wife of the chieftain’s son.
The years passed. Soon, Marang had a bloomed into a fair, lovely maiden. Often, she would
take a walk with her slaves in the colorful malongs to the marketplace to see the wares sold by
the merchants coming from faraway lands. She liked to feel the delicate cloths and the inspect
the curious looking trinkets.

Once, on one of these trips to the marketplace, Marang came upon a merchant selling rare
pearls and shells of different shapes and colors.

“How lovely!” Marang exclaimed soflty, lightly touching the pearl gleaming in the afternoon
sun.

Then she looked up to see the most magnetic eyes she had ever seen in the world. They belong
to a merchant from the land across the sea, who had come to sell his beautiful shells and pearls.
This man was Ahmad, and at once, Marang felt that she was in love with him. Ahmad, in turn,
was enchanted by Marang’s beauty.

But Marang was eighteen and the datu was getting old and weak. One day, he sent for his
daughter.

“My daughter,” the datu began weakly, “I feel that my life is coming to an end. Before I die, I
wish to see you married and happy.”
With tears in her eyes, Marang ran to Ahmad and told im sadly that she had been promised to a
man she did not love.

“Don’t cry, Marang,” Ahmad consoled her, “I will take you away. We will go to my home and
marry. Wait for me at the next full moon, and I will take you away!”

They parted with love and hope in their hearts.

Full moon came and settled on the gleaming clouds.

Marang’s wedding would soon take place. But, still, there was no Ahmad, not a shadow of his
tall, handsome figure.

On the morning of Marang’s wedding, her slaves all gathered around to dress the bride in the
most resplendent Muslim wedding gown delicately woven by the best weavers in the place.
Jewels sparkled on her hair. But tears glistened on Marang’s dark eyes.
Then the datu appeared on his royal chair borne by his slaves. “Marang, my daughter, I now
give you my wedding gift!” Marang slowly turned to her father with misty-eyes, and became
speechless, for there stood Ahmad, handsomely-dressed in the finest wedding clothes. With a
cry of joy, Marang ran to Ahmad.

“My daughter,” the dying datu weakly explained, “Ahmad has asked me for your hand, and
because I knew that you really love each other, I am ready to break my pledge to my friend. I
will do everything to give you happiness. Do not let my death sadden your life. Go on with
the wedding after my burial.”

And the datu closed his eyes forever.

He was buried by the seashore and after many moons, the wedding of Ahmad and Marang
took the place by his grave. At the wedding, a strange tree was found growing by the datu’s
grave. It bore fruits that looked like a jackfruit. The wedding guests who feasted on the fruits
found that the fruits were sweet and smelled heavenly. They also found that the fruit had
magical powers. It cured the sick and made the old feel young.

This fruit could only come from the golden-hearted datu, his wedding gift to Marang, a
symbol of a parent’s love and willingness to sacrifice for his daughter’s happiness.