THERE is a Manuvu legend that explains why Mindanao is so endowed. Accordingly in the beginning there was Manama, the creator of many things. In his solitude he felt the need for assistance and so created the diwatas and anitus. After these he created the world by cutting his finger nails and molding them into a mass. The waterways and rivers he made by scratching the surface of rocky matter. But this was not enough. The world was barren and no plants would grow on it except a tree called katungaw-tungaw. Frustrated, Manama left the earth alone.
ONE day he came upon the lush green world of Oggasi, the one-eyed god. Manama was filled with envy for it was beyond his powers to create anything like it. So he assigned a diwata to secure its secret for him – the answer, soil! The diwata created bees and wasps to search for soil. They found it only in Oggasis world. By sticking the soil to their feet they succeeded in bringing it out unseen and so escaped the wrath of Oggasi. Then they proceeded to their creator, the diwata who was visiting the earth in a place between two rivers in Central Mindanao. The diwata welcomed his pets and scattered the soil. To show the creator his work he left some rocks uncovered. These became the cliffs and mountains. Seeds stolen from the world of Oggasi started to sprout into what we now call the coconut, breadfruit, and betelnut. Oggasi in learning of the theft became a constant source of evil to man. It is said that his evil assistants hide among certain trees and animals, jumping at any opportunity to thwart man. In turn Manama’s diwatas and anitus, the keepers of his creatures, stand ready to assist man.
SOURCE: LINIBUNG: Spiritual Longing for Immortality
Presidential Commission for the Rehabilitation and Development of Southern Philippines, 1980.
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Jordan Clark is a Canadian born descendant of Scottish immigrants living on the homelands of the Lekwungen speaking peoples. His interest in Philippine myth and folklore began in 2004. Finding it difficult to track down resources on the topic, he founded The Aswang Project in 2006. Shortly after, he embarked on a 5 year journey, along with producing partner Cheryl Anne del Rosario, to make the 2011 feature length documentary THE ASWANG PHENOMENON – an exploration of the aswang myth and its effects on Philippine society. In 2015 he directed “The Creatures of Philippine Mythology” web-series, which features 3 folkloric beings from the Philippines – the TIKBALANG, KAPRE and BAKUNAWA. Episodes are available to watch on YouTube. Jordan recently oversaw the editing for the English language release of Ferdinand Blumentritt’s DICCIONARIO MITOLÓGICO DE FILIPINAS (Dictionary of Philippine Mythology) and is working on two more releases with fellow creators scheduled for release later this year. When his nose isn’t in a book, he spends time with his amazing Filipina wife of 20 years and their smart and wonderful teenaged daughter.
