FOLK TALE
IlluSTraTIon bY rYan KabIGTInG
THE MAN IN THE MOON The first people of Mindanao were all pagans. They fought among themselves as well as against people from other lands. One day a member of one of the tribes, weary of the petty battles of his people, went to the witch doctor of this community and asked that sage to help him find a way to stop his people from fighting. The witch doctor readily agreed to do his best. The tribal doctor disguised himself and visited the chief of the greatest enemy of his tribe. He informed the old chief that he had found a way to reach the moon, and he invited the old chief to go along with him. The invitation was accepted, and the two immediately began making a long ladder with trees from the forest. When it was finished the witch doctor erected it against the moon. Then they started climbing. The chief was an old man, so he had to stop now and then for a rest. Encouraged by his companion, he at last reached his goal, but being tired he lay down and slept. While the chief was sleeping the witch doctor descended as quickly as he could, and the moment he reached the ground he cut down the ladder. Thus to this day the old chief still sleeps on the moon. When he turns over in his sleep he covers the face of the moon and we have what we call an eclipse; when he stretches himself he kicks off some pieces of the moon which we see on earth as shooting stars.
THE MYTHS Philippine Folk Literature by Damiana L. Eugenio Published by the University of the Philippines Press, 2001. Paperback, 513 pages. University of the Philippines Press, E. de los Santos St., University of the Philippines Campus; ( (+632) 928 2558; * up.press@gmail. com; : www.press. up.edu.ph.
Moon MYTH buSTEr. The idea of a “Man in the Moon� is born out of dark spots seen in the moon that may resemble a face, head, or body. This is just an illusion however, created by the presence of maria or plains in the moon. 64 I Mabuhay Magazine I June 2012