In 1908 a religious movement known as _tungud_ started among the
Manobo[123] at the source of the Rio Libaganon. Soon it had spread over
practically the whole southeastern portion of Mindanao, and finally
reached the Mandaya of the Pacific Coast. According to Mr. J. M. Garvan,
of the Philippine Bureau of Science, the movement was instigated by a
Manobo named Mapakla. This man was taken ill, probably with cholera, and
was left for dead by his kinsmen. Three days later he appeared among the
terrified people and explained, that a powerful spirit named Magbabaya
had entered his body and cured him. He further stated that the world was
about to be destroyed and that only those persons who gave heed to his
instructions would survive. These instructions bade all to cease
planting and to kill their animals for, he said, "if they survive to the
end they will eat you." A religious house or shrine was to be built in
every settlement, and was to be looked after by divinely appointed
ministers. Those persons who were at first inclined to be skeptical as
to the truth of the message, were soon convinced by seeing the Magbabaya
enter the bodies of the ministers, causing them to perform new, frantic
dances, interrupted only by trembling fits during which their eyes
protruded and gave them the semblance of dead men.
[123] Not the Kulaman.
By the time the _tungud_ had reached the Mayo district it had lost most
of its striking features, but was still powerful enough to cause many of
the Mandaya to kill their animals and hold religious dances. The coast
Moro, who at that time were restless, took advantage of the movement to
further a plan to drive American planters and Christianized natives from
the district. The leading Mandaya were invited to the house of the Moro
_pandita_[124] "to see the spirit Diwata." During several nights the son
of the _pandita_ impersonated the spirit and appeared in the darkened
room. Over his chest and forehead he had stretched thin gauze and
beneath this had placed many fire-flies, which to the imaginative people
made him appear superhuman. His entrance into the room was attended by a
vigorous shaking of the house, caused by a younger brother stationed
below. A weird dance followed and then the spirit advised the people to
rise and wipe out the whole Christianized population. The Mandaya had
become so impressed by the nightly appearance of Diwata that it is more
than probable they would have joined the Moro in their project had not
an American planter at Mayo learned of the plot. He imprisoned the
leaders, thus ending a scheme which, if successful, would have given new
attributes to at least one of the spirits.
[124] The religious head of the settlement.