Martes, Mayo 17, 2011

The Fly and the Buffalo (Si Langaw at si Kalabaw)

The Fly and the Buffalo (Si Langaw at si Kalabaw)

This is a very old Filipino political fable – or should I say, more of a Zoomorphism or Anthropomorphism. Its origin – unknown - but it is so popular that it is being used across all Philippine dialects.

Si Langaw at si Kalabaw - Tagalog
Ni Ngilaw ken ni Nuang – Ilocano
Si Langaw buda si Damulag – Bicolano
Si Langaw ug si Kalabaw – Cebuano
Ketang Lango ampong Damulag - Kamampangan


We always refer to a person who looks, pretends, acts, feels, presents his/her self and – sometimes - actually is - smarter, bigger, bolder and more capable than his/her superior as the “Fly on top of the Buffalo”

We say “Ganun talaga, ang langaw na nakatungtung sa kalabaw eh mas mataas pa kesa sa kalabaw” when we see a person that fits into the descriptions above. From a superficial ethical standpoint, we use this phrase to describe a person who leverages his/her superior’s name, achievements, position and reference to showcase his/her own. To some, this is an act of incredibility, a defiance of the corporate ethics, the dark side of politics. In our colloquial expression – “Plastic”

But if we look deeper into the scientific facts behind the “Fly on top of the Buffalo” we will be surprised with the degree of political significance the phrase implies.

1) The Fly is on top of the buffalo because it feeds on the latter’s dead skins and microbes that reside there – this relationship runs a fine line among a) Mutualism – since the buffalo can also benefit from the dead   skins taken off so cell renewal and maturity become faster with the help of the sun b) Commensalism – since the buffalo can neither lose nor gain anything form the fly’s adventures on its dermis and c) Parasitism – since the buffalo may suffer from health problems inflicted by the bacteria from the Fly’s feet and mouth it got from the fields manure.
2) The fly is on top of the buffalo to feed on the latter’s blood excreting from wounds inflicted by mosquitoes (Some species of fly don’t have the ability to bite off skin as tough as that of a buffalo’s – this can either
    be a) Mutualism since the buffalo can also use some blood loss to renew dirty blood or b) Parasitism – only the fly benefits from the relationship which is harmful to the buffalo
3) The Fly is on top of the buffalo to lay its eggs in the buffalo’s wounds so the larvae mature more rapidly feeding on the nutrients under  the buffalo’s skin
    this can either be a) Mutualism since the larvae can help boost the buffalo’s immune system by acting as anti-bodies battling harmful bacteria b) Parasitism – only the fly
    benefits from the relationship which is harmful to the buffalo

Give it to the Fly

If you read carefully, there is an equal weight given from a possibility perspective to Mutualism and Parasitism – meaning the buffalo can either lose or gain from the relationship. One can almost automatically conclude that the Fly gets all the benefits. It feeds on dead skins, it sucks blood, it propagates under the skin and ultimately – in line with the saying – It looks taller than the buffalo.

But come to think of it – there is great risk in staying on top of a buffalo – you can look taller than the buffalo and get all the benefits -  but a swallow can always spot you from afar and swoosh and swipe to eat you. Your death can benefit another animal to continue the circle of life and the buffalo will never be shaken – when you’re gone, another fly will take your place – Feeding on dead skin, sucking blood, and propagating to ensure the survival of your species.

Needless to say – this fable is far from fiction in the corporate world.

9 (na) komento:

  1. Sometimes the buffalo needs to dip in a pool of mud to get rid of the fly! This is when the task gets dirty... A buffalo's got to do what a buffalo's got to do!

    TumugonBurahin
  2. Flies can be very,very dangerous...

    a)Asilidae - "robber fly" can kill other flying insects while in flight
    b)Flesh-fly - can be found around compost piles/dead body
    c)Scathophagidae - predators on other small insects
    d)Musca domestica- "house fly" considered a pest that can carry serious diseases
    e)Haematobia irritans "horn fly" - known as a strong flier and bloodsucking flies
    f)Tsetse Fly - carriers of deadly diseases

    So which fly was on top of the buffalo?

    TumugonBurahin
  3. the fly I was aiming is the highest flier. The one who can soar as high as the sky just to have its dream materialize. It doesn't care who and what it bumps into the concern is for it to appear better than the buffalo. But i'd give it to the fly... it takes some gut... a lot of gut

    TumugonBurahin
  4. @ Pareng tol - sometimes the buffalo doesn't even need to do anything... just let it be.. a thousand flies won't harm him, but its a thousand flies in the swallow's menu.

    TumugonBurahin
  5. Tart - i have a dear inclination toward the horn fly... I bet its horny

    TumugonBurahin
  6. This is a sad Fable because the Fly was not given a chance to be a Buffalo. No matter how hard the fly tries he still ends up to be the swallow's prey. The only option that the fly has is to move to another buffalo or end up on a pile of manure. The moral of the story for me is, be a Buffalo and have your own fly, because no matter how hard that fly tries he can never be a Buffalo.
    On the other hand if the buffalo offers the fly to eat the dead skin on his ass the relationship could have been saved because the swallow ain't filthy. Now you have a fly kissing the Buffalo's ass. Preach!

    P.S. is the horn fly the same as the Korean Bug?

    TumugonBurahin
  7. @ tarty: i thought so... :D hmmmm...

    TumugonBurahin
  8. @ don roy: can be! :D

    TumugonBurahin
  9. There was a Cholera Epidemic in July 16, 1832, and this was the first reported case of cholera which came from a buffalo..in May 29, 1901, anthrax coming from a large herd of buffalo, and on 1918, influenza, but all had medications..honeybees like flies can be killed by viruses, did that fly heard of that news?

    TumugonBurahin