A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

The king sends Benito on repeated dangerous missions to obtain a captive princess and then satisfy her demands. After the boy brings water from heaven and from the lower world, the princess asks the king to cut her in two and apply the heavenly water. He cannot bring himself to do it, so she cuts herself and is restored when he pours the water, emerging extraordinarily beautiful.

The king then seeks the same improvement but asks for the water from the other cup. After cutting himself, he has the princess apply it and becomes a creature described only as ugly and horrible; it soon vanishes. No horns, wings, animal species or destination are supplied. The princess chooses Benito as her husband and they rule together. The supernatural contrast belongs to this tale’s two waters, not a universal account of heaven or the lower world.

Human ruler who becomes a dreadful creature after imitating a miraculous renewalSpecific 1916 narrative witness
01

Origins & earliest records

Philippines; Tagalog tale as presented by Cole

02

Records & interpretation

Complete The Story of Benito and its editorial note directly read.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Philippine Folk Tales

    Mabel Cook Cole, compiler and annotator · 1916

    Tagalog: The Story of Benito, pp. 189–195 and note 8

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Primary records and illustrations

Direct primary record

Philippine Folk Tales

Tagalog; The Story of Benito. Tagalog: The Story of Benito, pp. 189–195 and note 8

Whole Benito story and note8 directly read. Helper deaths, two water origins and undescribed transformed creature retained without added anatomy. Editorial European-origin assertion attributed, not independently verified. Original paraphrase.

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References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Historical collection / primary recorded narrativeCole, Philippine Folk Tales (1916), Tagalog: The Story of Benito, pp. 189–195 and note 8Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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