The Myth of Zamboanga’s Pulong Bato

By:

Pulong-Bato, a high rocky mountain located eight kilometres from the City ofZamboanga, has recently become a favourite
of adventurers. It is only about2,000 feet above sea lovel but to react its summit, one has to have skill, stamina and
patience. The trail leading to its ridge is dangerous. However, a climber is richly rewarded with panoramic view of the
entire city below, the blue sea yonder, and the distant islands. In the evening, the lights from the city, harbour and fishing
boats create a scenery to behold. Like most mountains, Pulong-Bato has its origins. In the distant past, long, long before
white strangers set foot on the shore of Mactan there lived in Zamboanga-so an aged Imam(Moslem Priest) says-a very
powerful Sultan named Dakula. Sultan Dakula was known far and wide for his wise rule, fearlessness in combat, fabulous
wealth, and a harem composed of sixed beautiful women. As is always the case in any harem, a favourite exists. The
favourite in this case was a beautiful young girl named Sumping Pote (white flower).
Sumping Pote was the very life of the Sultan. All of Dakula’s attentions were showered on her that finally the five other
women in the harem revolted. Dakula abolished his harem and took Sumping Pote as his sole wife.The Sultan and his wife
lived happily and began to stretch their commerce to lands beyond horizons. One day, a young handsome prince named
Wata from a kingdom in Celbs, came to negotiate for a treaty of commerce with Sultan Dakula. The Prince, having heard
from sailors about the fabulous wealth of Sultan Dakula, convinced his father to open a treaty of commerce with the
Sultan.
The lakes, rivers, hills, and mountains, of Sultan Dakula’s domain were so fascinatingly beautiful that the young Prince
immediately fell in love with them.But what captivated the Prince most was the lovely Sumping Pote. Her charming ways
somehow outclassed all the beautiful princesses he knew back home. Before the treaty could be finalized, Sultan Dakula
had to leave for a punitive expedition against a powerful pirate chief who plundered one of his coastal towns or one long
month, Sultan Dakula was away. When he returned, he sensed that something was wrong with Sumping Pote. And one
moonless night, unable to sleep, the Sultan decide to take a walk. To his horror he came upon his lovely wife in the arms
of the young Prince at the seashore. They were ready to set sail. Were the Sultan armed with his kris (Moro bladed
weapon) he would have immediately put his unfaithful wife and the Prince to death. But as it was, he was temporarily
helpless and the Prince has two dozen armed men. The Prince and Sumping Pote were already far out in the sea when the
enraged Sultan with his warriors overtook them in swift vintas. There was a fierce sea battle, but because of overwhelming
odds, the Prince’s men were all killed. Only the lives of the Prince and Sumping Pote were spared. Sumping Pote pleaded
for forgiveness, but the Sultan, having been hurt beyond repair, turned down her pleadings. It was not an easy task for
him. For many night he could not sleep thinking where he had failed his wife. But he could not forgive her and he
condemned the Prince. He had made a law that an unfaithful wife, together with her paramour, shall be put inside a
bamboo cage and drowned in the sea. On the day of the execution, however, the Sultan realized his wife was not entirely
to blame. It was the treacherous act of the Prince that has drawn Sumping Pote into the web of unfaithfulness. He decided
then that the Prince must suffer a more dreadful punishment-one that will set an example to other for ages to come-long
after he (the Sultan) had ceased to live on the face of the earth. Sumping Pote pleaded that the Prince be spared and
allowed to set sail for home. But all the pleas of Sumping Pote fell on deaf ears. The Sultan had been greatly wounded and
therefore must be appeased. So, with great sorrow in his heart, he sent his wife to a watery death. As his punishment, the
Prince was sentenced to build a monument, one that would tower the sky for all the world to see, wonder about and draw
a lasting lesson from. Everyday, under heavy guard, the Prince carried stones from a nearby river and piled them in one
place. The Prince’s father sent two mighty expeditions to rescue his son, but the sultan’s warriors were too much for them
to conquer. Hence, the Prince had no other recourse but to continue piling rocks. Years passed and the rocks rose to a
dizzy height. And one day the Prince, now a weary old man, dropped dead on top of the mountain of rocks he had built.
He was buried on the spot on which he died. The rocky mountain is what is now called Pulong-Bato, which is translated
into English, means Stone Mountain.