"Analysis of the Bagobo myth about the cosmology entitled: The Sun And The Moon"

The Bagobo people, an indigenous group from Mindanao in the Philippines, have a rich tradition of storytelling, which includes myths and legends that explain the origin of their world and their cosmology. One of the most well-known Bagobo myths is "The Sun and the Moon," which explains the creation of the sun and the moon and their role in the world.

According to the myth, in the beginning, the world was dark, and the only light came from the stars. At the center of the world was a large tree called the "world tree," which had branches that reached up to the sky. At the top of the tree was a bird named Malaki T'olentino, who was responsible for guarding the tree and keeping it alive.

One day, Malaki T'olentino noticed a beautiful woman named Malyari bathing in a nearby stream. He was immediately smitten with her and asked her to be his wife. Malyari agreed, but only on the condition that he would bring her light to see by, as she was tired of living in darkness.

Malaki T'olentino thought about it for a while and decided to cut off one of the branches of the world tree and place it in the sky. The branch became the sun, and Malyari was overjoyed. However, Malaki T'olentino soon realized that Malyari needed a companion, so he cut off another branch of the world tree and placed it in the sky. This branch became the moon.

The sun and the moon were happy together, and they began to chase each other around the sky. The Bagobo people believed that this was the reason for the day and night cycle. They also believed that the sun and the moon had the power to create and destroy life on Earth.

Overall, the Bagobo myth about "The Sun and the Moon" provides an explanation for the creation of the sun and the moon and their significance in the world. It also reflects the Bagobo people's close relationship with nature and their belief in the power of the supernatural.