RABOT

Rabot is a monster in Bicolano mythology, mentioned in Ibalong. Considered the last of the ancient monsters of Ibalong, Stories about him are told all throughout Bicol.

Ang huling Halimaw ng Ibalong.

When the hero Handiog came and purged Ibalong from all its beasts and monsters, In the end he fell in love with one, the demigoddess Oryol.  He and Oryol thought the people the cultivation of rice, how to make sailboats, pottery and even writing. Under their rule Ibalong became bountiful.
They handed down the colonies to Bantong. Who would kill the last powerful monster in Ibalong Rabot and after that humans were able to survive on their own with products and skills given to them by their warrior ancestors.

Rabut
Art by Naz

Rabot was the last of the monsters that resided in Ibalong. He is a strong bipedal creature half-human half-beast, His upper body is of a muscular man but his lower body is that of a water buffalo some say its of a horse(similar to a tikbalang but his face was human). Had golden sharp teeth and could turn people into stone. Immeasurably strong and fast like the beast of the forest. His voice is loud and booming like a roar. He also had huge bat wings that seemed to cover the moon when he flies at night. Rabot was almost undefeateble but Baltog was able to find out it's secret, that Rabot sleeps during the day (in some stories it was the demi goddess Oryol who told Baltog who to kill the Rabot)

Tandayang sa Opon and Rabot

 Legend tells that he was a son of a beautiful young commoner who collected limpets. The girl would collect limpets by the beach. One day as she was doing about her daily chore she saw a warship. From fear, she froze on the spot and could not run. Three men came from the warship rode a small boat towards her. The three men were monstrous with tattoos covering their face and their exposed bodies but as they came nearer the sun revealed that they were handsome men, radiant in manhood and clad in gold.  She was captivated by their golden glow and muscular allure. They took turns with her on the beach under the morning sun. When the sun had set she woke up with piles of gold by her side. She is happy but notices her belly is big, not a day has passed but she was impregnated by the three handsome men and is about to give birth. The full moon revealed her baby had a monstrous appearance and was big for a newborn. She screamed and wanted to crush the baby's head with a stone but then the moons silvery light distracted her and she heard a soft voice. It was the moon god who told her to have pity on the newborn, She prostrated her self to the god of the moon and said that she would kill herself after killing her newborn baby.  

The gods of the moon descended with an entourage of  wind sylphs (taong lipod) 
 Haliya wanted to smite the mother and child on the spot, Bulan who had a tender heart stoped his twin and cried tears that turned into pearls, Bulan then told the mortal he would hide her transgressions. The lunar deity sensed strong power from the baby. If Gugurang or the other gods saw her baby they would smite him. and  took her newborn baby and placed it in a cave near the beach where the mermaids reside. The child will remain in the cave and will be cared for by the mermaids but the mother must visit her child to teach it kindness and human ways. Bulan touched the head of the monstrous child and kissed it, he said that the child will grow ever strong but to balance the strength the child would grow up always feeling sleepy so that it could do no harm to others with its future strength. So the girl often visited her son in the cave near the beach, bringing a basket of fruits. 

Her son grew big and taller than any man he had ever seen, Big and hulking but with the mind of a child. She named her son Rabot.  Years had she would go to the beach to the cave and bring her son a basket of fruits and the mermaids would give him fish, her son grew bigger and taller body thick with muscle and more monstrous. One day she did not come, outside the cave strong winds and rain fell. The god of the storms Onos had passed by and had swept the colony and have drowned most of its people, including Rabot's mother. Rabot came out of the cave to see the ruins of the colonies and villages of Ibalong due to the deluge caused by the storm god.  He saw his mother among the dead. The god Asuang saw what a magnificent beast he was. The evil deity realized how strong the Rabot was when it picked up trees and other debris from the flood like they weight nothing. Asuang saw potential but he also realized the Rabot is like child. Asuang used Rabot's childlike mind to his benefit.  

 Asuang tricked Rabot that it was the villagers who had killed his mother. Angered by this Rabot went on a rampage and turning people into stone. After that he would sleep. He awoke and remembered what the god Asuang had said that the villagers were to blame, and again he went turning people to stone. A thousand men could not defeat him.

Rabot was strong, aside from turning people to stone it roar was so loud that it could fling the men and even deflect arrows and stones when it screams.  It was the cunning hero Bantong (Oryol told him the secret how to defeat the Rabot, wait for it to fall asleep) who waited until Rabot fell asleep and with one stab killed the beast.  When Bantong killed the fierce half-man and beast, Rabot. Curiously, Handyong was saddened by Rabot's death.

it signals the passing of an era, when men proved to be more vicious than any monsters with free will and the skill of the hunt, magic and ceremonial incantations, that men simply snuff out life.

Rabot in Bicol mythology

Rabot's Appearance and Abilities:

Rabot, a colossal bipedal creature with a muscular human upper body and the lower body of a water buffalo, possesses an aura of fearsome strength. His visage is both captivating and terrifying, with golden sharp teeth and the power to turn people into stone and a strong booming voice and roar. The monstrous hybrid also boasts wings that can eclipse the moon when he takes flight, showcasing a blend of monstrous features that define his mythic existence.

RABOT

Origin and Tragic Tale:

Legend tells that Rabot was born to a commoner, a young woman who encountered three handsome men radiating in golden allure. What seemed to be a divine encounter turned into a tragic twist as the woman discovered her pregnancy and the monstrous appearance of her newborn child, Rabot. The godsof the moon intervened, sparing the child's life and placing him in a cave near the beach, cared for by mermaids.

Rabot's Tragedy Unfolds:

Rabot, growing larger and stronger than any man, lived a life of solitude in the cave, visited only by his mother, who taught him kindness and human ways. However, tragedy struck when a storm god, Onos, unleashed a deluge upon Ibalong, drowning Rabot's mother and devastating the colonies. Misled by the cunning god Asuang, Rabot believed the villagers were responsible and unleashed his wrath, turning people into stone with a mere glance.

The Heroic Intervention:

Despite Rabot's immense strength and the havoc he wreaked, the hero Bantong, embodying cunning and bravery, waited for the opportune moment. When Rabot fell asleep, Bantong seized the chance and delivered a fatal blow, ending the monstrous reign and signaling the passing of an era.

The last monster of Ibalong

Rabot's tale in the mythos of Ibalong is a poignant narrative that explores themes of tragedy, betrayal, and the cyclical nature of life. While rooted in the fantastical, the story of Rabot mirrors the complexities of human existence, where divine intervention, tragic twists of fate, and the actions of heroes and monsters shape the destiny of a mythical land. As with many myths, Rabot's significance lies not in its literal truth but in the profound lessons and cultural reflections it imparts, serving as a timeless piece of Bicolano folklore.

REMINDER

The orally transmitted mythology of the Philippines is intended for sharing and understanding, not for appropriation, commercial exploitation, or the promotion of foreigners and foreign products. It is a dynamic narrative tradition that evolves over time, distinct from the standardized mythologies found in Western and European cultures. Unlike these established mythologies, the Philippine government has not mandated standardized versions of stories and legends.

Orally transmitted stories undergo variations and evolve over time, resulting in numerous different versions. There are many different version told by Filipinos,and retold by Filipinos.