BAKUNAWA

“The Story of Bakunawa and the Seven Moons” is a traditional Filipino myth that has been passed through generations, but its original scriptures were first documented in Mga Sugilanong Karaan (Sugbo, 1913) by Fernando Buyser. The story gained wider recognition when it was published in 1926 as part of the Mga Sugilanong Pilinhon (Folklore Filipino) collection where Buyser ends with his personal experience surrounding the belief in Bakunawa. The story as a whole explains the phenomenon of a lunar eclipse; though, in the myth, Bakunawa is described as an evil serpent creature that attempts to devour the seven moons God has created (with the purpose of these moons to illuminate one night of the week), causing distress and panic among the people in the village. God tries to plant bamboo on the remaining moon and the people guard it heavily so Bakunawa wouldn’t devour the said moon. However, Bakunawa attacked the remaining moon and the people begged the creature to return their moon. At last, the Bakunawa spit out the remaining moon and the people rejoiced.

Source: Clark, Jordan. BAKUNAWA and the SEVEN MOONS: The Original Story (with Translation and Annotations). The Aswang Project, 10 July, 2019, http://highbanks.ca/BAKUNAWA%20and%20the%20SEVEN%20MOONS%20The%20Original%20Story%20_with%20translation%20and%20annotations.pdf