The Wild Tribes of Davao District, Mindanao: The R. F. Cummings Philippine ExpeditionCole, Fay-Cooper
History
The Wild Tribes of Davao District, Mindanao: The R. F. Cummings Philippine Expedition
Cole, Fay-Cooper
Ethnology -- Philippines -- Mindanao Island
3. Busau. Among the Mandaya at the north end of Davao Gulf this spirit
is also known as Tuglinsau, Tagbusau, or Mandangum. He looks after the
welfare of the _bagani_, or warriors, and is in many respects similar to
Mandarangan of the Bagobo.[117] He is described as a gigantic man who
always shows his teeth and is otherwise of ferocious aspect. A warrior
seeing him is at once filled with a desire to kill. By making occasional
offerings of pigs and rice it is usually possible to keep him from doing
injury to a settlement, but at times these gifts fail of their purpose
and many people are slain by those who serve him.
[117] p. 106.
4. OMAYAN, OR KALALOA NANG OMAY, is the spirit of the rice. He resides
in the rice fields, and there offerings are made to him before the time
of planting and reaping.
5. MUNTIANAK is the spirit of a child whose mother died while pregnant,
and who for this reason was born in the ground. It wanders through the
forest frightening people but seldom assailing them.[118]
[118] The belief in a similar spirit known as Mantianak is widespread
throughout the southern Philippines.
6. Magbabaya. Some informants stated that this is the name given to the
first man and woman, who emerged from the _limokon_ eggs. They are now
true spirits who exercise considerable influence over worldly affairs.
Other informants, including two _ballyan_ denied any knowledge of such
spirits, while still others said _magbabaya_ is a single spirit who was
made known to them at the time of the _Tungud_ movement.[119] Among the
Bukidnon who inhabit the central portion of the island the _magbabaya_
are the most powerful of all spirits.
[119] p. 179.
7. Kalaloa. Each person has one spirit which is known by this name. If
this _kalaloa_ leaves the body it decays, but the spirit goes to
Dagkotanan--"a good place, probably in the sky." Such a spirit can return
to its former haunts for a time and may aid or injure the living, but it
never returns to dwell in any other form.
In addition to those just mentioned Governor Bolton gives the following
list of spirits known to the Mandaya of the Tagum river valley. None of
these were accepted by the people of Mayo district. According to rank
they are Mangkokiman, Mongungyahn, Mibucha Andepit, Mibuohn, and Ebu--who
made all people from the hairs of his head.
For the neighboring Mangwanga he gives, Likedanum as the creator and
chief spirit, Dagpudanum and Macguliput as gods of agriculture, and
Manamoan--a female spirit who works the soil and presides over
childbirth. All of these are unknown to the Mandaya of the Pacific
coast.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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