Bakunawa

In the dawn of time, Bathala created seven lunar sisters to occupy the heavenly kingdom. Their beauty was unparalleled and the people rejoiced as they brightened up the evening sky.

Unbeknownst to the townsfolk, the Bakunawa, a colossal dragon that ruled the sea, was in awe of the beauty of the moon sisters. He fell in love with them and longed to possess them.

One night, the Bakunawa flew to the sky and swallowed one of the moons whole. He returned to his lair, elated with his conquest. Over time, the moon melted and so the Bakunawa flew back to the sky to devour another moon whole. Six times he tried, and six times he succeeded, each moon melting away in his possession.

The Bakunawa flew back to the sky to claim the last moon. But this time, the people were ready. Upon seeing the Bakunawa’s approach, they all ran out of their homes, taking their pots and pans with them, banging and clanging to make loud noises.

Surprised and disoriented, the Bakunawa spat out the moon and quickly retreated to his cave.

Every now and then, the Bakunawa comes out to try and claim the last moon, swallowing it into darkness before being thwarted by the townsfolk once more.

This is what we now know as eclipses.

In Luzon, Tagalogs believed in Laho, a serpent-like dragon that causes eclipses. In Mindanao, it is the Minokawa, a giant bird, that devours the moon.

This collection is inspired by the most famous Visayan story of the Bakunawa and the 7 Moons.