Bikol [Bicol] Folklore by Rosario Bonto

Transcribed from the Beyer Ethnographic Collection of the National Library of the Philippines this tells a Bicolano creation myth with some elements becoming popular throughout the archipelago, mainly the story of Malakas and Maganda, the first man and woman coming out of a bamboo, and how different ethnicity came to be, which in reflection sounded offensive.

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THE CREATION OF THE WORLD

Thousands and thousands of years ago, there was a time when the space occupied by the universe was vacant. The moon, the sun, the stars, and the earth were conspicuous by their absence. Only the vast expanse of water and the sky above it could be seen. The kingdom of the sky was under the rule of the great god Languit while the water was under the sovereignty of the god Tubigan.

Languit had a daughter called Dagat, the Sea, who became the wife of Paros, the wind, who was the son of Tubigan.

Four children were born to Dagat and Paros, three of whom were boys called Daga, Aldao, and Bulan, and one a girl named Bitoon.

Daga, a strong man possessed a body of rock; Aldao, a jolly fellow had a body of gold; Bulan, a copper-made man, was a weakling, while the beautiful Bitoon was made of pure silver. 

After the death of their father Paros, Daga being the eldest son succeeded in the control of the winds. Soon after, Daga, the mother died leaving her children under the care of the grandparents Languit and Tubigan.

 

After assuming the control of the winds, Paros [Daga?] became arrogant and ambitious desiring to gain more power, so he induced his younger brothers to attack the kingdom of Languit. At first they refused, at  Daga’s anger, Bulan and Aldao were constrained to join Daga in his plot.

Preparation were made and when everything was ready they set out on their expedition and began to attack the gates of the sky. Failure to open the gates, Daga let loose the winds in all directions so that the gate was destroyed and the brothers succeeded in gaining an entrance. But they were met by the enraged god Languit she sent out three bolts of lighting after them. All of them were struck by the lightning. The copper body of Bulan melted into a ball so also with the golden body of Aldao. Daga’s body fell into the sea and became what is now the earth.

Their sister Bitoon on discovering the absence of her brothers went out to seek for them. But upon meeting the enraged god Languit, Bitoon was struck also by another bolt of lightning which broke her body into many pieces. 

Then Languit descended from the sky and called Tubigan and accused him of helping their grandsons in their attack on his kingdom. But Daga [Tubigan?] defended himself saying he has no knowledge about the attack for he was asleep far down into the sea. Tubigan succeeded in pacifying Languit and the two regretted and wept [at] the loss of their grandchildren. Since they could not revive them, they gave each body a light.

Thus the body of Bulan became the moon, Aldae became the sun, and the beautiful Bitoon became the stars in heaven. But to Daga they did not give a light and his body gave rise to the land of earth.

Tubigan then planted a seed which grew into a bamboo tree. From one of its branches, came a man and a woman, she became the first parents of the human race. Three children were born to them. One called Maisog invented a fish trap. One day he caught such a very big and grotesque looking whale that he thought it was a god. So he ordered his people to worship it. The people gathered around and began to pray; but no sooner had they begun when gods from the sky appeared and commanded Maisog to throw the whale to the water and to worship no one but the gods. But Maisog was not afraid and defied the gods. Languit the king of the sky struck Maisog with a lightning and stunned him. Then he scattered the people over the earth as a punishment. In this way the earth was peopled.

Maisog’s body was blackened by the lightning and all his descendants are all black.

Maisog’s first son was carried to the north and became the parents of the white people.

His other children were brought to the south where the sun was so hot that it scorched their bodies so that all their people were of brown color.

The other people were carried to the east where they had to feed on clay due to scarcity of food. Because of this diet, their descendants were of yellow color. 

In this way the earth came into being.

Manila

December 21, 1926

Source:

Bonto, Rosario. "Bikol Folklore." National Library of the Philippines. Accessed on March 23, 2024. URL: https://nlpdl.nlp.gov.ph/OB01/NLPOBMN0002002065/bs/datejpg.htm