The Legend of Sampaguita Flower

Also known as Gardenia

   

In a far away land of the north there live a very beautiful lady who's name is Liwayway.   

Her beauty was being heard even in the other far away land. So, it is not impossible that she had so many suitors.   

One day a group of hunters from the south passes by in Liwayway's place. But a misfortune happen, Tanggol, one of the hunters was attacked by a wild bore. The young lad was being send to Liwayway's father to be given a first aid. And it was the beginning of their close friendship.   

Liwayway and Tanggol fell in love with each other even in a short period of time.   

When Tanggol fully recovered he asked permission to Liwayway and her parents to go home, and to get his parents because he wanted to ask Liwayway hands formally.   

Liwayway was full of hopes and dreams, while looking the young man gone away.   

But Liwayway's hopes and dreams suddenly vanished when Tanggol never came back, like what he has promised. Many months had passes since the young man gone, but she never heard or get any news from Tanggol.   

One of her old suitor make a gossip just to discredit him. He spread a bad news about Tanggol, that he won't be coming back again, because he is a married man.   

Liwayway's heart was fell into sadness, longings, loneliness, and jealousy. She got very sick. And since it's her own self that can only heal her, only a few weeks later, she became so ill and died.   

Before the young lady died, the only words that she uttered is "I cursed you... cursed you!" The words that "I cursed you... Cursed you!" Is what was the only thing that she left for Tanggol.   

After a few days of Liwayway's burial, Tanggol came back together with his parents. He said he was not being able to return so soon because his mother was ill. He can't accept the fact that the only woman he loved was now gone.   

Because of too much sorrow that he felt almost everyday that Tanggol showered Liwayway's tomb with his tears. And he even never return to his own place, just to watch over his beloved resting place.   

Just a couple of days he noticed something above in Liwayway's tomb. There's a plant grow in there, a plant which was still being showered by his tears. When the plant grew it bears a small flower and when he tried to smell it, it smells so good, a very sweet delicate fragrant. So, he calls it curse you or (sumpa kita! in Filipino words), a words that Liwayway's left before she died. And that was where the name sampaguita came from.

   

The flower is known as Gardenia in English language and according to the flower meaning, the waxy and shiny traits of Gardenia symbolizes clarity and self-reflection. It is also use in meditation, because its scent will help a person in understanding and enlightenment of oneself.   

It also symbolizes protection because it helps dispel bad feelings and negatives energies around us. 

The story was originally translated from the collection of Filipino fictional stories from the creative minds of the Filipinos. 

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