Bakunawa and the Seven Moons

Bakunawa and the Seven Moons

Lesson 1

Background

Most of the recent literary interpretations of Bakunawa can be sourced to renowned folklorist Damiana Eugenio’s re-telling of the myth in her collected compilation “Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths“.

This, however, was imagined from an earlier documentation by Fernando Buyser, a Philippine poet, publisher, and priest.

Fernando Buyser

• Fernando Buyser, aka Floripinas, was born in Kalunangan, Leyte on May 30, 1879 and died on Nov. 16, 1946.

• He was known as a poet, fictionist and playwright. He was also an elementary school teacher.

• In 1905 he was ordained as an Aglipayan priest and was president of the Venerable Supreme Council of Bishops of the Philippine Independent Church.

Works

• He wrote over 20 books in various genres.

• He initiated the study of Visayan folklore through Mga Awit sa Kabukiran and Mga Sugilanong Karaan (Old Stories) in 1913. 

• The story of Bakunawa and the Seven Moons was first documented in Mga Sugilanong Karaan 1913 by Buyser.

•  The story gained wider recognition when was published in 1926 as part of the Mga Sugilanong Pilinhon (Folk lore Filipino).

Multiple Choice

1. Long time ago there were seven orbs in the night sky. Orbs mean:

• Spherical body

• Moon

• Both A and B

Multiple Choice

Why does Bakunawa want to swallow the moon?

• He is hungry.

• He is enchanted by their beauty.

• He wanted to play with the moons.

Open Ended

What did Libulan do to avoid being swallowed by Bakunawa?

Open Ended

What did Mayari do to avoid being swallowed by Bakunawa?

Open Ended

How about Bulan?

Open Ended

If you are placed in a similar situation where your life is threatened, would you do the same as Haliya? Explain.

Poll

What conflict do you think is present in this myth?

• man vs. himself

• man vs. man

• man vs. nature

• man vs. society

Open Ended

Do you think that the resolution given by Bathala is fair and just? Why?

Open Ended

If you are to give resolution to the conflict, what would it be?