Bernardo Carpio is a legendary figure in Philippine mythology who is said to be the cause of earthquakes. There are numerous versions of this tale. Some versions say Bernardo Carpio is a giant, as supported by the enormous footsteps he has reputedly left behind in the mountains of Montalban. Others say he was the size of an ordinary man. Accounts of the stories have pre-colonial origins, but the name of the hero was Hispanized during the Spanish colonization. The original name of the hero has been lost in time. All versions of the story agree that Bernardo Carpio had a strength that was similar to that of many strong men-heroes in Asian epics, such as Lam-ang. Pre-Colonial Origin According to Pedro Chirino, the ancient Tagalogs believed that the earthquake is nothing more than the effect of the movements of a huge animal in the entrails of the earth which according to some, an alligator or crocodile. The ancient Tagalogs held the crocodiles in the greatest veneration and when they saw one in the water they cried out in all subjection, "Nono" (Nuno) meaning "grandfather". The birds called tigmamanok (while-collared kingfisher) are considered very sacred because they are permitted to pick a crocodile's teeth without harm. The Pasig River had a large rock (Buayang Bato – Stone Crocodile) that served as an idol for many years, they leave offering to it whenever they pass by, until the fathers of St. Augustine broke it into small bits and set up a cross in its place. Soon a small shrine or chapel, with an image of St. Nicolas of Tolentino, was built in that place. Some of the documented old Tagalog curses includes: Kainin ka nang buaya! (May a crocodile eat you!) and Lamunin ka nang lindol! (May the earthquake swallow you up!). It is clear that Bernardo Carpio is the hispanized avatar of the god of earthquakes. This human-like image of the earthquake god contrast with that of some monster hidden in the depths of the earth that is reminiscent of the dragon(s) of the Chinese. San Buenaventura (1663:76) conflate the underworld crocodile with the Devil and used it to threatened his congregation, calling it manunungab na buwaya sa impierno (the devouring crocodile of hell). In a legend about the miraculous conversion to Catholicism of a sangley (Chinese), the Buwayang Bato of the Pasig River was said to be the Devil petrified