{"collection":"asia","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/asia/pfs/pfs13.htm","path":"asia/pfs/pfs13.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/asia/pfs/pfs13.htm","text":"Philippine Folklore Stories, by John Maurice Miller, [1904]\nThis is a tale from Panay. It probably originated with the Spanish fathers, who wished to impress the doctrine of the Seven Deadly Sins on the natives. The islands are just off Iloilo.\nA little way from Iloilo there once was a beautiful island called Polobulac, or Isle of Flowers. Its shores were covered with beautiful trees and plants; splendid gardens of flowers were found everywhere; fruits grew in abundance; fountains sparkled in the sunlight; and the people were the happiest in the world. They danced and sang to gay music, and were free from every care and sorrow.\nFilled with confidence in their good fortune, and proud of their beautiful island, they began to slight the people of the neighboring islands, and to treat them with insolence and scorn.\nOne night the sky was darkened, the lightning flashed, the rain fell in torrents, and a voice cried from the clouds, above the roar of the thunder:\n\"I am Pride. Avoid me or perish.\"\nTerrified, they prayed to God for protection, but with the morning sun their fears left them and they continued as before.\nDays passed and the people grew richer, but, not satisfied with their wealth and with their own beautiful island, they longed to possess the lands of their neighbors.\nAgain came the storm, and again a voice cried from the heavens:\n\"I am Covetousness. Come to me and die.\"\nOnce more they appealed for protection, but they did not change their ways.\nWeeks went by, and with wealth came low and base desires. The storm came as before and brought the warning:\n\"I am Evil Desire. Fly from me or be lost.\"\nBut again it sounded to sealed ears. Months rolled on. The people quarreled with their neighbors, and sent forth an army to make war upon them. The voice thundered:\n\"I am Anger. I give eternal torment.\"\nYears followed, and the tables of the people of Polobulac were loaded with the finest foods and wines. Day and night found them feasting. The cry sounded above them:\n\"I am Gluttony. I devour my children.\"\nThe winds alone echoed the warning.\nTime flew by. Each man sought to outdo the others in display of luxury and magnificence. The poor grudged the rich their fortunes, and sought in every way to injure them. Again a voice came through the darkness:\n\"I am Envy. My people are condemned.\"\nBut they closed their ears and would not hear.\nMore wealth brought greater luxury. They lolled in idleness. They idled in the midst of magnificence. The voice warned:\n\"I am Sloth. I bring final warning.\"\nThey were used to the voices now, and gave them not the slightest heed. Their insolence and greed grew greater. The fair island shook with dissension and strife.\nOne day the sun was hidden by blackness. A fearful tempest burst over the land. The people on the other islands saw Polobulac wrapped in seven huge pillars of flame.\nWhen the sky cleared, Polobulac was nowhere to be seen. In its place, seven blackened rocks marked the spot where stood the beautiful isle.\nThey are there to this day. You can see them as you leave the harbor for southern ports. Sometimes they appear as one. Again they seem to group in twos and threes. But there are seven.\nThey are called the Deadly Sins.","title":"Philippine Folklore Stories: The Fall of Polobulac","type":"page"}