The Prayle and the Poor Student

CEBU, Philippines - Once upon a time, during the old Spanish time in the town of Cebu, there was a prayle - a priest - who held classes for the young children of the community. Most of the times, he loved to have a snack of camote cue and buko juice in the afternoon and a dreamy siesta afterwards. Every time before he would start the lessons, he ate so much that he could barely move.

Soon after the beginning of the class he would fall into a siesta and slept until the bell for the end of the lessons sounded.

The son of a poor villager was a student in the same school. His name was Juan. One time Juan asked the prayle, "I'm sorry to ask you, Teacher. But may I know why do you sleep in all our lessons?"

The prayle, who was yawning with still sleepy eyes, told his student without any embarrassment, "My child… it just seems that way. During these minutes when you see me as asleep, I'm actually meeting with the 'Dios Nuestro Padre,' our Father God, and am listening to His wise words. That's why I try to sleep as much as I can."

One time Juan was taking care of his sick father during a whole night, and the boy fell asleep at school in the morning. He slept so deeply that he didn't hear the bell, which instead woke the prayle.

When the prayle saw the boy sleeping, he got very angry, took Juan by the ear and started ranting, "Ah! you, little weasel! How dare you fall asleep in my class?"

Quickly awakened by the hurting pinch in his ear, Juan sat straight and answered to the prayle's angry demeanor, "Teacher! It just seemed that I was sleeping. But in fact I was with 'Dios Nuestro Padre' and was listening to His wise words."

"And what did the all-powerful 'Dios Nuestro Padre' tell you?" asked the prayle with one eyebrow raised up while his arms were crossed over his protruding belly.

"The all-powerful 'Dios Nuestro Padre' told me, 'Child, not even once have I seen your teacher!'"

MORAL OF THE STORY: A lie told soon begets another lie.

(Reference: http://www.worldoftales.com/Asian_folktales/Asian_Folktale_2.html)