A famous folktale in San Miguel Bathan is the story of Bathan, a beautiful lady taken to Jolo by the Moro pirates.

        Bathan was sold as a slave to a Datu, who gave her the impossible task of making the white clothes black, and the black clothes white, after washing. Grief-stricken and longing for her parents, she cried her heart out in the river.

        To her surprise, a voice from under the water told her, ‘’Stop crying, I will take you back to your parents homeland.’’ She was taken aback to see that the voice came from a huge crocodile who introduced herself as Bela. She told Bathan to stop washing and prepare for her long journey home.

        The two sailed for five days and five nights. They arrived Sabang, now Sta. Cruz, on the fourth day and sailed to the river in Cabadsan. She requested a friend to relay to her father in Sta. Cruz about her return. When they arrived Cabadsan, her parents had already decorated the river with young coconut leaves and prepared a hut for the crocodile.

        The people feasted for three days. Three carabaos where butchered for this occasion.  Everybody in the village was overjoyed to see the homecoming of Bathan.