Gods and monsters of Bicol

the origin of Locust

 the legend of the locust

In a bygone era, a head man ruled over a mystical valley, lush with enchantment and governed by his greed. His dwelling, nestled in the heart of this fertile land, echoed with the whims of his rule. Far from a benevolent leader, his insatiable desire led him to covet every grain of rice harvested by his people. Year after year, he extracted as much as he could from his subjects, filling his granaries until they teetered on the brink of bursting.

As fate wove its tapestry, the fifth year brought a blight upon the crops, and the people faced the ominous specter of starvation. They knew their salvation rested in beseeching their ruler to share the bounty stored in his barns. At first, fear gripped them, anticipating the datu's refusal. However, as the toll of hunger claimed the lives of countless children, desperation forged an alliance, compelling them to dispatch ambassadors to plead for mercy.

Seven chosen emissaries, in a quest for sustenance, ventured to the abode of the datu, invoking their dire need for rice to feed their families. Their pleas echoed through the mystical valley. Upon hearing their cries, the datu, shrouded in a cloak of arrogance, approached the door and gestured as if to cast the petitioners off the ladder ascending to his dwelling. In an unexpected turn, he lost his balance, plummeting to the ground, his head meeting the ladder's base with a resounding thud.

Believing their ruler had succumbed to the fall, the seven men made no move to aid him. Instead, they returned home, prophesying the imminent abundance of rice for all. Yet, the datu, not meeting his demise but rather left in a state of profound stupor, awoke the next morning to an eerie revelation. His granaries, pulsating with magical energy, erupted in a cacophony of sound, and the rice transformed into ethereal insects that dispersed into the mystical realm, disappearing from his sight. These mystical insects, born of the rice, were christened doron, owing to the enduring resilience of their ethereal skin.

the legend of the locust 

Many years ago, there was a leader who lived in a fertile valley, governing all its inhabitants. Unfortunately, he wasn't a good ruler; his greed led him to hoard all the rice produced by his people. Each year, he squeezed as much rice as possible from his subjects, filling his granaries to the brim over four years. In the fifth year, however, the crop failed, and the people faced starvation. Knowing they needed rice from the ruler's barns, they hesitated to petition him at first, fearing rejection. But as hunger took its toll, they decided to send representatives to beg for rice.

Seven men were chosen as ambassadors. Upon reaching the ruler's house, known as the datu, they pleaded for admittance, explaining their desperate need for rice to feed their families. In response, the datu, angered by their request, made a threatening gesture that caused him to lose his balance and fall. Striking his head on the ladder, the seven men assumed he was dead and, without offering help, returned home, spreading the word that rice would soon be plentiful for everyone.

Contrary to their belief, the datu survived the fall but was badly stunned. The next day, while inspecting his granaries, there was a loud explosion, and all the rice transformed into insects, disappearing from sight. These insects, originating from the rice, were named doron (from the Spanish word "duro" due to their tough skin).

REMINDER

The orally transmitted mythology of the Philippines is intended for sharing and understanding, not for appropriation, commercial exploitation, or the promotion of 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.

Summoning the Moon goddess in myths

 Summoning the Moon goddess in myths

"Halia" was a ritual performed during the full moon. Tribespeople would exit their homes, gather in the streets, and create a cacophony of noise to deter the serpent Bakunawa from devouring the moon. The ceremony also aimed to dispel malevolent spirits.

The ancient ritual of Halya, once a simple celebration of the full moon, gradually transformed over time into a mythical summoning of the goddess of the Moon, known as Haliya. As stories and myths evolve through generations, the Halya ritual took on deeper spiritual significance, incorporating elements of divine intervention and protection.

Originally, the festival of Halya was marked by extravagant festivities, characterized by the thunderous noise of drums, tambourines, and hollowed-out logs. The purpose of the celebration was to honor the full moon and ward off the threat of the Baconaná (Bakunawa), a feared creature believed to devour the moon, plunging the world into darkness. The disappearance of the moon during eclipses reinforced this belief, as the people interpreted it as evidence of the Baconaná's influence.

Haliya Moon goddess

As the ritual evolved, so too did the mythology surrounding it. Over time, the people began to personify the protective forces of the moon, giving rise to the concept of Haliya, the goddess of the Moon. Haliya became a symbol of strength and defense, defending the male lunar deity Bulan from the threat of the Bacunawa

In the revised narrative, participants in the Halya ritual not only celebrated the beauty of the full moon but also invoked the protective powers of Haliya to safeguard their world from darkness and disaster. The ritual took on a deeper spiritual significance, as participants believed they were actively engaging with divine forces to ensure the prosperity and well-being of their community.

The culmination of the ritual was marked by feasting and revelry, as participants indulged in tuba and enjoyed the bounty of the land. However, underlying the festivities was a sense of reverence and awe for the mythical beings they invoked and the cosmic forces they sought to appease.

Thus, the ancient ritual of Halya transformed into a mythical summoning of Haliya, the goddess of the Moon, as the people's beliefs and traditions evolved over time.

Bulan the god of the Moon and Haliya 

The ritual of Halia was originally performed during the full moon, where tribespeople would gather in the streets, making loud noises to scare away the serpent Bakunawa, believed to try to devour the moon. The ritual was also meant to ward off evil spirits.

Over time, this simple ceremony evolved into the Halya ritual, which took on greater spiritual meaning. People began to believe they were calling upon Haliya, the goddess of the Moon, to protect the lunar god Bulan from Bakunawa's threat.