The Quarrel Between the East and the West Bachelors

The Quarrel Between the East and the West Bachelors

Philippine Literature, The Quarrel Between the East and the West Bachelors



The Quarrel Between the East and the West Bachelors

Rodiomoda Mamitua Saber
Sakayo, Marawi City


There once lived two young men Kanakan sa Sebangan(East Bachelor) and Kanakan sa Sedpan(West Bachelor). Both made an agreement to engage in farming, put an equal share of the capital expense, and divide equally their farm produce. Their farm was located at Lembaka a Lopa(Midland Area).

East Bachelor lived in his house in the east(sebangan), while West Bachelor dwelt in his own in the west(sedpan). They only met at work on their farm in the midland.

Every day they went to their farm at the same time beginning at sunrise and returning to their respective houses at sunset. Besides sharing equally their farming capital expenses such as the purchase of work animals, tools, and other necessities, both worked and sacrificed equally for the success of their venture.

Due to their mutual cooperation, they soon began to see the coming success of their farm. Their rice field promised a bountiful harvest, which they soon realized.

But after harvesting, threshing and measuring the total produced and when they began to partition the grain they got into trouble between themselves. Each man claimed that he should get a bigger share seems to be, thinking that he had sacrificed more than his companion had.

Both men, however, realized that they were good friends and each would not want to injure the other. They therefore agreed to bring their trouble to wise settlement to three wise datus, namely, Radiya Indarapatra, Radiya Ismayatin, and Radiya Sahimardan. The three datus asked each bachelor farmer to narrate the true story of their farm agreement, including their desire to share equally their harvest crops.

After hearing the identical stories or claims of both bachelor farmers the three wise datus jointly advised; "You have no trouble. Why don't you just fulfill your agreement to share equally your produce?"

Not satisfied with the wise judge's advise. Each Bachelor replied: "Well, it is true that my partner and I agreed to work, as we did, on our farm equally, spend for our farm equally, and share equally our produce. But datus, please see and consider how I suffered more than my partner. Every day when I went to our farm at early sunrise, the sun burned the back of my neck and my back. And when I returned home before sunset the same parts of my body were also burned by the blistering sun. Therefore, for such suffering, I pray for justice to receive a bigger share than my partner's share of our farm produce." The three judges asked the other bachelor farmer. "What then is your answer to your partner's claim?"

West Bachelor replied: "I admit the entire report of my partner about our agreement to work on our farm with equal effort, equal expense, and equal share of our farm in the morning I face squarely the blistering heat of the sun. Again, when I walk home before sunset, I also face the sun. Look how badly burnt are my face, breast, and stomach. For this suffering, I pray for justice to receive a greater share of our farm produce."

Upon hearing the competing claims of the two bachelor farmers Radiya Indarapatra, Radiya Ismayatin, and Radiya Sahumardan whispered for a moment to agree on their judgment.

The decision rendered was to give a great share of the farm produce to West Bachelor. It was based on the fact that it is greater suffering to have a sunburned face, breast, and stomach than to have a sunburned back.

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