Mitolohiya: Filipino Deities and Where to Find Them

◈ Creation Myth • Bukidnon

The universe had its beginning with only a small circular space of intense brightness called a banting, surrounded by a rainbow. At that time there were only three beings in existence.

Two of them sat facing each other in the narrow confines of the banting—one was good, the other evil. One was the supreme planner, a good being that looked like man. His name was Diwata Na Magbabaya, which means "pure god who wills all things." The bad being also had a human body but with ten heads that constantly drools sticky saliva. His name was Dadanhayan Ha Sugay which means "lord from whom permission is asked."

These two were held up by a third being suspended above them who had a hawk-like head, powerful wings, and a human body. This being was continuously flapping his wings in order to balance the banting because of the two beings in it who were constantly bickering. The beating of his wings produced the wind, and only the he could cool their heads and thus, he was considered their guardian. His name was Agtayabun which means "adviser" or "peace-maker."

One day, Diwata Magbabaya thought of enlarging the banting. To steady it, he needed to create earth underneath the banting so that all three of them could rest. Diwata Magbabaya was a good planner. He knew, however, that he would have need of the soil from the ten-headed being of whom was always so difficult to talk to. The winged god immediately saw the problem. Swiftly, Agtayabun swooped down and scooped some soil from under Dadanhayan Ha Sugay.

The ten-headed being then asked furiously, "why'd you took what's mine without asking?"

"Don't be angry," said Diwata Magbabaya. "I've got a plan, and it'll be a win for all of us. If you'd let me use some of your soil, I'll steady the banting and enlarge it. Then there'll be enough space to stretch our legs and walk around so we don't have to fight all the time."

And so the earth was created. The hawk-like Being could at last rest his wings.

But the soil with which the earth had been made soon became extremely dry. Again, Diwata Magbabaya looked thoughtfully at the sticky saliva drooling out of Dadanhayan Ha Sugay's ten heads. "I've been thinking. With a bit of your saliva, we could shape the world and make it look nicer," the planning god suggested. The ten-headed being was flattered to become part of any beautification project, and so he consented.

Diwata Magbabaya took some of the saliva and mixed it with the soil. A great rain fell, and for endless days water flowed over the earth. When it receded, the beings saw that various shapes had been created. There were mountains, hills, valleys, plains, and canyons. Enough water remained for streams and rivers which flowed into a big hole called the ocean. Lush green grass, trees and flowers sprang from the earth and enveloped it. The earth had indeed become beautiful. The three Beings were delighted.

They called the place Haldan Ta Paraiso which means "Garden of Paradise."

The supreme planner had a new idea.

"Since we can't always be here, wouldn't it be wise to have beings like us to watch over the earth?" Agtayabun thought it was a great idea, and Dadanhayan Ha Sugay grudgingly agreed to it.

The three walked around the beautiful garden, gathered some earth to serve as the flesh, and water to serve as blood. They cut some fine rattan to for the veins and arteries, and the soft wide wood of the andalugung tree to serve as the bones. The Being moistened the earth with water trying to form the figures, but the soil kept crumbling.

Again Diwata Magbabaya looked towards Dadanhayan Ha Sugay and the sticky saliva drooling from his many mouths.

"Can we have a little to mold these figures?" He asked. Afraid of being left out of the interesting operation, the ten-headed being agreed.

Now Diwata Magbabaya stood up, put his arms on his hips, and told Dadanhayan, "you can make the figures, but you have to copy my form on them exactly." Dadanhayan was not quite convinced but he had no argument at hand and so he resentfully did as he was told.

Soon seven figures, each with only one head and no drooling saliva, were finished by Dadanhayan. The three beings were pleased with the result. Diwata Magbabaya put the figures side by side.

"Let them alone for a while," he told the two others. "I'll just be at the sky coming up on how to further perfect them."

While the supreme planner was gone, however, the ten-headed being decided to work on the figures on his own. He had a few ideas himself. When Diwata Magbabaya happened to look down from the banting, he was horrified to see that six of the seven figures were already beginning to move. He rushed down at once.

"Didn't I tell you not to touch anything?" Diwata Magbabaya scolded.

"What makes you think only you can make them perfect?" answered Dadanhayan. "Why do you think only you know how to create?"

"Maybe not," said Diwata Magbabaya. "But so far it was my ideas and my plans that have enabled us to create the earth. And it was after my image that the figures were made."

"Yeah," said the ten-headed Being. "But all the materials used were mine, you had none. Therefore, I have as much right as you to do what I want with them."

Each Superbeing had his point and could defend his own arguments. As usual the Agtayabun, with his wings, served as judge and head-cooler. Since neither one would give in, it was agreed that there should be an armed duel. The victor should be recognized as "the greatest," and could decide what to do with all the figures.

Each unsheathed a sword, and a duel began. The two opponents struck their weapons as if each were the final blow, their flashing blades producing lightning. The combatants were able to go around the world fighting. The wind referee declared a recess so they could go to paradise to appraise their wounds, but neither of the two suffered a single scratch.

And so, the duel continued. The battle became even fiercer and more furious. Whenever a being's feet landed on the ground a loud thunderclap was produced. They battled each other so fast and furiously that they went around the world seven times.

After the seventh round, the three again retired to Haldan Ta Paraiso to examine their bodies. And each one was still unscathed. But this time the swords and metal scabbards on their belts had all melted. Their equipment slid down their bodies, sank into the ground and became the metals found under the earth.

Since neither the good being nor the bad being could win nor lose, they decided to settle the matter amicably. Diwata Magbabaya said, "Since you've already worked with the six figures, just finish them. Let me work on the last one though."

Thus, the six figures that were finished by the ten-headed being became incantus or guardian spirits, the talabugta was assigned to look after the soil for cultivation, the ibabagsuk oversaw the growing plants, the bulalakaw became guardian of the water and all its living creatures, the mamemelig was to watch over the forest, the lalawig had as its special charge the beers and their honey, and the mamahandi was to guard over whatever wealth man acquired. Therefore, his cows and carabaos, his crops and his farmhouse.

Like all the creatures made from the efforts of the superbeings, the incantus contained both good and evil qualities (as does man). They take care of nature and will give of its fruits, but they expect respect and gratitude in the form of prayers and sacrifices of pigs and chickens. The six creatures take quick offense and send drought or flood, or pestilence or sickness to those who do not thank them or seek their permission to build a house, or harvest to the field, or to cut the first slice of meat.

Diwata Magbabaya also finished his figure. As a distinguishing feature, he endowed it with intelligence. He had created the first human being, and to the first man was entrusted the Haldan Ta Paraiso.

The small bits of clay cut off from the seven diwatas as they were being carved were not wasted. They became other living creatures. Those scooped from the armpits became birds, fowls, insects, and other flying creatures. The clay sliced from the backs of the figures became the food that had to be carried on one's back such as deer, wild pigs, and the like. The bits cut out from between the fingers became the fished and other water creatures that are caught with the fingers. Those cut from the crotch became the animals that one must ride astride such as horses, cows and carabaos.