Long time ago, the horse, the cow and the carabao (water buffalo) were among God’s favorite creations. He gave them each clothes fitting to their built that were neither tight nor loose for their comfort. He set them at a place with abundant water and a narrow strip of grassland which is today Acop Poblacion, Benguet.

Beneath the shade of an Alnus tree, with the sun overhead, the cow, the horse and the carabao lay on their stomachs as they munch in conversation.

“I get bored grazing along the narrow grass space. I get my horns stuck in the bushes when I move forward without looking.” The carabao commented. “Same here, I bump my butt at a tree eating backwards…” The cow said. The horse cleared his throat then made a proposal. “Maybe we should go, find a place somewhere. I hear that if we go south, there is a wider space enough for as many herds there is. I get back aches bending under branches and vines. Who goes with me?”… “We all go,” chorused the cow and the carabao.

So they set forth, stumbling over rocks, thorns and vines until they reached a small lake. Tired and thirsty, they drank and ate the grass that was tall and green. The place was spacious and there were no bushes among the grass. The trees were far apart and there were no low-lying branches and vines. So the threesome grazed till they were full.

“Nice place, isn’t it? I think we stay here.” The carabao suggested. “Yeah…”The cow and the horse agreed. “Let’s go take a swim. The lake is ours now. “

They raced towards the lake stripping off their clothes tossing it behind them and waded in the water. Enjoying the cool water, they were not aware of hunters approaching until their dogs started to bark; something that was strange to the three.

Scared, the threesome raced back to the bank, each picking up clothes and putting them on. The carabao picked up the horse’ clothes and put them on no matter how tight. The clothes of the carabao were too loose on the cow especially at the neck down to its chest and stomach. Such was the case of the horse whose cow’s clothes were unfit for its height that it got torn at the nape with the trouser left unzipped.

Nevertheless, each one managed to escape in three different directions. The cow towards the south, the horse towards the east and the carabao wobbled towards the north-west and up to this time, they still wear the same clothes they picked up on their escape which wasn’t theirs.