Beliefs as to the origin of the earth, and of the men, animals,
plants, and various topographical features found in it, seem to
survive with greater persistence than any other trait of primitive
culture. These beliefs lie at the base of nearly all religions, and
the myths in which the beliefs are preserved are the foundation of
literature. The preservation and study of origin myths is, therefore,
of much importance in the reconstruction of the history of mankind
which is the chief aim of anthropology.
The peoples of the Philippines have a rich and varied mythology
as yet but little explored, but which will one day command much
attention. Among the Christianized peoples of the plains the myths
are preserved chiefly as folk tales, but in the mountains their
recitation and preservation is a real and living part of the daily
religious life of the people. Very few of these myths are written;
the great majority of them are preserved by oral tradition only.
Until recent years, it has been believed that all ancient records
written in the syllabic alphabets which the Filipinos possessed at
the time of the Spanish conquest had been lost. It is now known,
however, that two of these alphabets are still in use, to a limited
extent, by the wild peoples of Palawan and Mindoro; and ancient
manuscripts written in the old Bisaya alphabet have been lately
discovered in a cave in the Island of Negros. Many of these Negros
manuscripts are written myths, and translations of them are shortly
to be published. The Bisaya peoples, in general, have preserved
their old pagan beliefs to a greater extent than have the other
Christian Filipinos, and it is to be hoped that the discovery of
these manuscripts will stimulate further investigations.
Among the pagan mountain peoples, with which this paper will chiefly
deal, there are no written myths except those which have been recorded
by Europeans in modern times. Some of the myths are sung or chanted
only, while others are repeated in the form of stories. In nearly
every case, the repeating of the myths forms an important part of
the religious ceremonies of the people. Many different grades of
culture are represented among these mountain peoples, and we find a
correspondingly unequal development of their mythologies. All classes
are represented: primitive, such as the beliefs of the Mangyans of
Mindoro, the Tagbanwas of Palawan, and the Ilongots of northern Luzon;
mediocre, as the beliefs of the pagan tribes of Mindanao; and highly
developed, such as the elaborate polytheisms of the Ifugaos, Igorots,
Kalingas, and the other peoples of the Mountain Province in Luzon.
Most of the myths and legends recorded here were collected by men
well acquainted with the dialect of the people from whom the myth or
legend was obtained; they are, therefore, of much greater value than
if they had been secured through interpreters.
I shall next discuss a few myths from each of the classes just
mentioned.