The Negrito are several ethnic groups who inhabit isolated parts of Southeast Asia. Their current populations include Andamanese peoples of the Andaman Islands, Semang peoples of Malaysia, the Mani of Thailand, and the Aeta or Agta, Ati, and 30 other peoples of the Philippines.
The Negrito peoples show strong physical similarities with Negrillos (African Pygmies), but are genetically closer to other Southeast Asian populations. They may be descended from ancient Australoid-Melanesian settlers of Southeast Asia, or represent an early split from the southern coast migrants from Africa.
Mangian is the generic name for the eight indigenous groups found on the Philippine Island of Mindoro – each with its own tribal name, customs and language.
Legend About the Creation of the World as Told by the Mangians and the Negrito
Away back in the long ago the earth did not exist, and there was only a vast immense sea formed by a huge ocean.
Once after the end of the long and painful imprisonment of King Manaul by his opponent King Tubluck Lawi after a bloody war which they fought with the result of the rout of King Manaul, and after Manaul had broken the enormous chain with which he was fastened, he went out flying into space with the intention of avenging himself on his most fierce and feared enemy, Tubluck Lawi.
Many years passed during which King Manaul wandered through the air, flying hither and thither without finding any place where he could alight and rest from his long and tiresome journey. He declared himself the enemy of the earth and of the sky. These, in fury at such boldness, tried to punish King Manaul. The liquid element sent out waves which raised themselves in anger, like tremendous peaks, scattering foam and minute particles of water into space. The sky, in its turn, called to its assistance Canauay and Aminhan, the gods who rule the air, to send out furious winds. The sky discharged a torrential rain. They tried to punish him, but King Manaul, light and agile, with his powerful wings, always escaped and mocked at the infuriated elements, withdrawing lightly from their colossal discharges.
Days and months went by, and then years. But no one yielded a bit in his boasting. At last both grew weary, and having resolved to conclude their long and quarrelsome rivalry, begged to know each other’s desires.
King Manaul begged that he be given light, and instantly there appeared revolving about him an immense number of little lights produced by a multitude of fireflies. Further, he desired counselors, and in a trice he had every kind of bird at his side.
Seeing some exceedingly fine chicks, he could not restrain his gluttony, and in one bound ate up all that were there. Since there were no other chicks on which to satiate his appetite, he began successively to devour and eat, first among the smaller birds, and ending with the largest ones.
His other bird counselors, on the other hand, began to devour his small fireflies, until not the least sign of them appeared.
Angered by so gross an insult, he called his owls, which by chance were passing that place, and swore to them that they should be punished for such a villainy. So he obliged them to stay awake during the night, and gave them double-sized eyes, so that in the future they might see better and not eat his beloved fireflies. From that time, and the desires of King Manaul having been fulfilled, we see owls with their big eyes that are wakeful during night, suffering still the punishment of King Manaul.
Enter the king of the air, many of whose counselors Manaul had devoured. His wrath was boundless. He stamped his feet, and vomitted up terrible lightnings, thunderbolts, and whirlwinds. He sought aid from King Kaptan of the Higuecinas (a subdivision of the ancient Bisayas), or the genius of the men of the sea, in order to punish the boldness of Manaul. He (Kaptan) sent from the sky huge rocks and stones to crush Manaul, but this had no result, for it was avoided by King Manaul.
Here the earth found its beginning, for then Manaul, finding a support in those big stones made them remain fixed forever. They became his dwelling, where King Manaul lived happily forever. Those lands had their beginning from that time and are still here today. Thanks to the rage of Kaptan against Manaul, the world had its beginning.
SOURCE: The Robertson Translations of the Pavon Manuscripts of 1838-1839 D. “Stories of the Indios of the Olden Time and of Today,” pp. 3-4.
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VISAYAN Origin Myth: Creation of the Sun and Moon
IGOROT Origin Myths: The Creation
MINDANAO Origin Myths: The Earth and its Inhabitants
IFUGAO Origin Myth: The First Man & Woman
BICOL Origin Myth: The Creation of the World
The TAGALOGS Origin Myths: Bathala the Creator
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.
