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

Overview

In José Ma. Katigbak’s Tagalog tale, Pedro becomes wealthy selling the large white leaves of a tree near a mountain, then cuts it down to sell everything at once. A large snake emerges from the stump, says that it supplied the leaves and demands his three daughters as punishment. The daughters agree to go; when their father brings them to the mountain, they disappear. Years later their younger brother finds them married to the kings of lions, fishes and eagles, whom the narrator calls the snake’s friends. The serpent is expressly described as an enchanter, but receives no personal name, human form or further appearance. A footnote calls the plant Colis; it does not establish a modern botanical identification or make every such tree the same individual spirit.

Emerges from a cut stumpClaims responsibility for profitable leavesDemands three daughtersFriend of three animal kings
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Origins & earliest records

Philippines; José Ma. Katigbak of Lipa, Batangas, from Angel Reyes

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Records & interpretation

Complete tale and shared comparative notes read in the retained 1921-edition transcription.

Selected bibliography

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

  1. 01

    Filipino Popular Tales

    Dean S. Fansler, collector and editor; narrated by José Ma. Katigbak from Angel Reyes · 1921

    Tale 18, Juan and His Adventures, pp. 171–175; full comparative notes and footnote pp. 175–178; American Folk-Lore Society

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

Complete main account and all comparative notes read

Dean S. Fansler, Filipino Popular Tales (American Folk-Lore Society, 1921)

Part I, Hero Tales and Drolls. Tale 18, pp. 171–175; notes pp. 175–178

Cache fansler-18.txt/master fansler1921.html. José Ma. Katigbak heard from Angel Reyes. Pedro-and-Giants only supplied abstract, not independently collated original. Bird-life and separate egg-strength, animal husbands remaining animals, and snake-friend relationship kept literal.

Inspect the digitized plate · Source collection manifest

References

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

  1. Historical collected folktaleFansler, tale 18, Juan and His AdventuresResearch 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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