Southern Philippines
Mindanao
A broad island-scale gateway for several distinct traditions recorded in a historical collection; the shared marker does not imply a shared culture.
How the Moon and Stars Came to Be
A Bukidnon story explains that the sky once hung close to the earth until a woman’s pounding raised it; her comb became the Moon and scattered beads became stars.
Read the entry →The Origin of the Bagobo
A historical Bagobo narrative follows Toglai and Toglibon through drought and migration, then explains the dispersal and naming of their descendants across the land.
Read the entry →The Story of Creation
In a Blaan account printed with the historical spelling Bilaan, Melu forms the earth and human bodies, while Tau Tana’s intervention explains a feature of human anatomy.
Read the entry →The Story of Bantugan
Bantugan is a renowned prince whose death, recovery, and return unfold through heroic travel, loyalty, and conflict in a Mindanao narrative recorded under the broad label Moro.
Read the entry →Place records are discovery aids. Traditions can span regions, languages, migrations, and modern political borders.