BAKUNAWA: Moon Eating Dragon of the Philippines

BAKUNAWA: The Moon Eater (Documentary)
CREATURES OF PHILIPPINE MYTHOLOGY: Episode Three
During a lunar eclipse in the ancient Philippines, it was believed that a monstrous dragon, known as BAKUNAWA, was attempting to swallow the moon. Discover the origin of this giant serpent and how the colossal being evolved as both a god and demon throughout the archipelago.
#philippinemythology #folklore #dragons
Produced By Jordan Clark
2016 © High Banks Entertainment Ltd.
aswangproject.com/
The Aswang Project was created as a resource to share the rich and diverse Mythology & Folklore of the Philippines.
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[@solmae]

I am honestly screaming. Like this is my favourite Filipino legend and I want to learn more about it. Thank you for this From a Filipino Canadian.

[@MrSinfulm3]

If you could find elders from visayas they will have alot of stories to share. 'Til now most bisaya know this.

[@kaidengamingyt2665]

Why America are she bully Filipinos

[@kimtimusan5723]

I like this legend they say this was real

[@mariegraceesposo5504]

Then you should check out Alamat for the Bakunawa. It's an animated short story. Kinda cute 😊

[@user-sh2nv6vz6l]

Their are much more than just bakunawa their is also minokawa,timbakanawa,bawa,sawa,kedu,olimaw.laho,arimonga.

[@-zzz3838]

I finally got around to watching this video. The last part about folklore being a way to connect with your culture really struck me as a diasporic Filipino-I feel as though my true appreciation of the culture is best conducted and expressed when I learn about traditions and mythology. Bakunawa was one of the first ones I learned about through my own searches, and your site is my #1 go-to when I'm up for learning about our beliefs pre-colonization. Thank you for the series!!

[@phebem.ferrer7226]

You make a really interesting comment about connecting stories of Bakunawa and others to finding and discovering the Filipino Identity. As a researcher of this topic I am so intrigued by what you said. Thanks for this amazing video!

[@magnumAenus]

doing some research to draw out a dragon tattoo, and found out that we as filippinos had our own serpent dragon in our mythology and im glad for it. now i get to incorporate the bakunawa into traditional filippino tattoo

[@cassoranges2477]

That’s so funny, that’s exactly why I’m here too! I hope your tattoo turns out awesome :)

[@zhaygagnon8060]

Omg me too! So beautiful to know that we are all wanting to honor the legend of Bakunawa ❤

[@Why-sv7eo]

There's another legend about bakanawa. It goes that; Bakanawa was a Sirena demigod of sorts, being half Sirena, half god (who i don't know). Bakanawa became jealous of the gods, and saw them as cruel. So when the seven moon gods and goddesses came down, during the full moon, bakanawa would turn into a dragon and eat them, one fool moon at a time. Then there was only one moon left. This particular god, though still proud, knew that bakanawa had obsorbed his siblings' strength, so he knew he couldn't defeat her in a one on one battle. So he went to the near by tribe and told the to start banging drums and throwing spears and arrows at bakanawa when the moon just began to get dark. So they did as he said. This distracted bakanawa, long enough for the god to place a curse on her so she could no longer turn to her formal Sirena body. This way she couldn't hide from the heavens, and the god can always see when she is coming, and can inliste help from the humans when she comes.

[@kimtimusan5723]

Whait... Didn't bakonawa have a sea turtle for a sister?

[@bajekbajeklyn8447]

@@kimtimusan5723 each interpretation is different in every region. Sometimes only the name is common.

[@venusvolante9322]

I'm not hawaiian but it sure sounds like a kupua (shape shifting) dragon legend story to me. There are many dragon stories in the hawaiian mythologies.

[@xristyan]

great stuff guys! Only one issue, the bakunawa baybayin in the title is upside down...

[@eloisaannecalleja5696]

Someone needs to mention Haliya. In Bicolano myth she was the warrior goddess of moonlight who perpetually fought the Bakunawa in order to protect her docile brother Bulan, the last moon.

[@user-sb8ks1ij7b]

I was surprised that I did not see her here

[@None_CODM]

i hope you can watch music video from Felip. The song is "Bulan", it tackles about bakunawa, Haliya and Bulan thru his song. Thank you.

[@mbl_nmd_vet]

Ano naman kinalaman ng martial law sa bakunawa? Wala pang pilipinas may bakunawa na!

[@kevin080592]

just a little side note the tagalog word LAHO- meaning "to vanish, or disappear" came from the hindu god RAHU :) Laho,..now if you dig your research down a little deeper is also a dragon in philippine mythology that is responsible for eclipses...its just bakunawa and the minokawa are more popular.

[@kevin080592]

oh my pleasure (^_^)..i just love your series so far im on interest in studying pre colonial philippine culture and philippine mythology as a whole.. the topics that you are covering is only a fraction of the philippine pantheon as a whole.. because as many and diverse as the philippine islands.. we have so many stories of mythical beings and folklore as hollywood could offer. just a suggestion you should also cover about Diwatas or the gods and goddesses of animistic old

[@kevin080592]

wow i can't hardly wait for those episodes yiiieee :D. sure..i'll see to it if i can submit an article, im looking forward for some research though

[@audreysb1961]

Napunta tuloy ako d2, so ehto ang beat na nainspired si F.🌸

[@herohamza1196]

Bakunawa: The moon eater Apophis: The sun eater Jawzahr: Eater of both the sun and the moon Minokawa: devours sun and moon Green Lion: devours sun demon Rahu: eats sun Tiangou: eats sun or moon Sköll and Hati: chases sun and moon

[@KihCombact]

WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

[@Daniel_TheAnimator]

They atleast didn't eat Pokemon Sun And Moon

[@itstoughtobehumaninaworldv1872]

@@Daniel_TheAnimator Solgaleo was literally known to devour the Sun according to the Pokédex, basically every Solgaleo is an Arimaonga to Maranaoans.

[@Psycho-th8vb]

Is these all Filipino mythical creatures??

[@geminibrett]

Here's a theory from my Eclipse Studies about the Seven Moons that Bakunawa eats. Have a look at the Hebrew Calendar (which stems from the Babylonian Calendar). It's a Lunar Calendar so months alternate between 29 and 30 days to keep the 29.53-day (average) Lunation Cycle (New Moon to New Moon). To keep with the Solar Year that has 12.37 Lunations annually, an intercalendary month of 29 days must be added every three years. However, that's not perfect. The Sun and Moon cycles do align perfectly every 19 years, which is 235 Lunations. This is commonly known as a Metonic Cycle. 19 years x 12 months = 228 Months. 235 Lunations - 228 Lunations = SEVEN MOONS. 7 MOONS must be added every 19 years for the Tropical and Lunation cycles to align. I'm not sure why adding a month would be known as eating a Moon. Though there sometime is a Metonic Eclipse Cycle of 19 Years, there's still a missing link. Here's to dreaming on it. Great episode. Thank you.

[@yuuchiitachi1571]

The first time i heard the bakunawa i was so fascinated by the "BAKUNAWA" i keep searching the web about it then i found this finaly explanation for the filipino dragon "BAKUNAWA"

[@pizaclatonddd3081]

OK THIS CHANNEL IS UNDERRATED THIS MUST BE SPREAD OUT

[@francisvila187]

U need more filipino subscribers.

[@albertryan123]

Hey man! Just wanna say good job for making these vids. It's rare for me to find stuff about our mythology.

[@AnayaAntik]

There's actually another story where they mentioned the 7 Moons, Sidapa and Bulan. Though, the story didn't centered around them (except for one, which was Bulan) they were only mentioned.

[@blancrea2384]

oh my gosh!Please do more!I love the documentary.

[@PREPFORIT]

I look forward to these videos ! Always great knowledge !

[@tonigill8423]

Incredible! Thank you for your great video.

[@TriceJ]

That was another great video and well worth the wait. I can see how much effort you put in this project and I'm sure I am not the only one who appreciates it. Thanks again for all your work.

[@speedowww]

Si ito pala yun Beatrice Luigi Gomez? 😲

[@domzavaw]

Great, your channel deserves a lot of subscriber. You better make a video about DATUs to ORIPON ranking by highest to lowest. I really really wanna know about it. Thanks

[@nevertheless07]

I'm glad to have stumbled upon your site! I have always been fascinated by Bakunawa and the 7 moons story ever since I had read it as a child.

[@Omomommm88m]

A well done documentary. Thank you.

[@gauchey]

This is helping me so much with my project!

[@ixisinvestigator6009]

from france! and i love filipino folklore and the aswang project is just perfect for my research on them. A BIG THANKS

[@wisperwoods258]

Basically, Bakunawa is Necrozma trying to eat Lunala.😂😂😂

[@yourefatandlazy]

great way in distinguishing the various Bakunawa

[@lampost4ever]

Hi! These episodes are fantastic and the whole channel is really great. Is there any way that fans of the project could support your productions financially?

[@titsercriz1271]

Please more of this thank you

[@nalabaga8695]

This channel is underrated. Please make new contents like this! Subscribed!

[@kulturafilms]

This amazing ! Hope to be able to work with you guys in the coming future!

[@siklistangchef4543]

As expected of this channel another great Documentary, keep up the great work :)

[@siklistangchef4543]

***** You're welcome, We're looking forward to the next one. :)

[@mjhobbiesandcollections]

Who's here after watching Bea's National Costume? 😂

[@chimpanceinalambrico9506]

Awesome work, great and interesting culture :)

[@crazecream241]

What? How come I did not know about this channel?! It's awesome you are running a channel concerning about Philippine Folklore. There's so much to know about. I find Bakunawa really cool though : )

[@NomadicInThePhilippines]

Great episode!

[@StarCastersUniverse]

I'm currently enrolled in animation and i'm also filipino. i'm actually quite amazed about this information since I have a 3D modelling assignment to create a mythical creature. Do you happen to have any other information regarding the Bakunawa? It's a shame I never knew about our history regarding china and other countries until the Spaniards came. Thank you im subscribed!

[@MrSinfulm3]

@@AswangProject yes your blog post is the closes story/depiction.

[@Voidling_System]

Damn good, and very interesting.

[@JustinBalaguer]

Please make videos like these about the gods / deities of the Philippines like Bathala, Galang Kaluluwa, Ulilang Kaluluwa etc.

[@rheynalynbaconawa1983]

Nagsisisi akong ngayon ko lang nadiscover tong channel na to. Thank you for your amazing content. Padayon!

[@hernancortes7602]

This channel is so underrated

[@lorax4959]

This legend is so interesting!

[@kevaran1422]

The narrator said Bakunawa is known as Minokawa in Mindanao. Im confused because I grew up knowing that Minokawa is the sun devourer Bird-dragon. It is the solar eclipse, while Bakunawa is the lunar eclipse.

[@rafaelvarela7709]

Very nice series. Wishing for an episode about the tiyanak.

[@CandyGourlay]

That is fantastic. I'd love to read your original sources. Will you list them on the blog?

[@rgmercado7141]

the bakunawa ? similar to Dragon ball z, except we have seven moons. just saying.

[@policolus]

salamat sa pagmamahal sa kulturang pilipino

[@agafaithrilles6274]

I want a bakunawa tattoo!!! My boyfriend gave me the idea and im in looove 😍

[@user-rp2vc5ov2r]

I vividly remember as a kid my mum a teacher would tell me stories so i could fell asleep and she told about a dragon who eats moon, i wonder if she meant bakunawa.

[@geosustento8894]

More please! It has been months since the last upload and I've been waiting for the next episodes for a long time :)

[@geosustento8894]

Looking forward to it! And I know I'm not the only one :)

[@chineedesabille2609]

Nice

[@jefreyrobles3241]

Great and awesome documentary! OMG I am so amazed at this gem! glad I found it, might I suggest a documentary on the Mythical "'Oro Fish'" of Cagayan de Oro River, it is said that there is a giant fish hiding in the river with golden scales, legends say that when the fish moves from its post, calamities happen, I wanna learn about this more, studies about this part of folklore are very rare, origins of this storyare unclear as well, it could really help in the history of Cagayan de Oro

[@thunderazure8534]

Ang ulo daw anang isda naa sa ilawom sa simabahan

[@englishaman]

will you do more episodes? Id like to know more since im writing an adventure epic of filipino mythology and urban legends like ATLOA and or lord of the rings-esque graphic novel.

[@the_noble_heart6985]

Is the chart with different mythological terms mapped out throughout the islands available for purchase?

[@jabes3615]

A total lunar eclipse just happened tonight (May 26th, 2021) and some people here are banging their drums and shouting at the moon. I'm in the easter part of Mindanao. Is it possible that the indigenous people here also have a version of that myth or was it brought by the Visayan settlers? Whatever it is, it's still fascinating.

[@jexternatingor2666]

does the bakunawa eat the moon if they eat the moon were dead?

[@joshuavargas1790]

wow I'm a Bicolano but I only heard about the Bakunawa once I was still a child in the story of the 7 moons, then the second time is here from your channel, haha and the most recent is from the telefantasia series of channel GMA: Encantadia of 2016 😍😎🙌👍

[@juanitaduenas6858]

Joshua Vargas true

[@AndrewBoniface09]

its been one year... pls give us more video like this. :)

[@s2oop436]

Can you make a video about the 8 headed dragon of kanlaon? That folkstory is the Philippines version of Japanese yama no Orochi

[@tyratuzon]

Sidapa and Bulan story please 💕

[@AdamFuqua]

Nice episode, a few notes based on what I've read. The Mikonawa, while likely related to the Bakanawa, is a sun-eater, not a moon-eater (at least in the stories I've read, it could be convoluted in some areas as creatures often are). In Mindinao, they often used the Bakunawa as a figure on their sword hilts for his fierceness. So I'm not sure how he's represented in stories there, but he does exist there. He also exists in other stories as an enemy of Magwayen (Visayan Goddess of Oceans and Death). He killed the wind god Lihangin (Magwayen's son-in-law), while trying to conquer the ocean realm when Magwayen was away. Bakunawa is also the guardian of the gates of Sulad (the Underworld). In Bicol, there is a specific dance that used to be done to ward him off, named after their moon goddess, the Haliya Dance. I'd love to see a video of that dance.

[@AdamFuqua]

+The Aswang Project I read your article. Those heads are different than the ones I've seen associated with Bakunawa. I'll try to find a link to a picture of one when I have a moment. Unfortunately, what you're talking about regarding it being hard to discern when what aspect of the myth was added applies to almost all the Filipino myths, especially the higher mythology.

[@AdamFuqua]

This is a gamer blog, but he seems relatively knowledgeable and his pictures are nice. He has the buwaya hilt pictured (the crocodile/alligator that you reference) and the Bakunawa. I've seen that same style of Bakunawa hilt referenced as starting in Mindinao. Visually, it probably does back up your ties to the Rahu god, since its face reminds me of things you'd see in other places in SEAsia with similar influences. hariragat.blogspot.com/2015/01/my-blade-comes-with-bells-on.html

[@AdamFuqua]

Here are some Panay (Visayan) examples on a sword forum. I thought this link might interest you in specific since they seem to have some examples from Capiz and I know you spent some time there researching your original video. www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16115

[@ashleysuson3351]

because of my boy now im here! i know some story of it ,pero ung some details hindi .

[@ealdie24]

is your chart or references available on the web?

[@gregeduard2043]

hahaha..nice..bsliktad ung psgkasulat ng bskunawa....

[@Hello-jh1jn]

My teacher gave us an activity and want us to watch this and it’s pretty good, thank you for making this video. I can get more knowledge about this stuff, thank you from a Filipina with Chinese-spanish descent ❤️

[@roilucenia6713]

You can also search aliwan fiesta 2013 by tribu panayanon of iloilo. Their concept is about bakunawa or the moon eater where the myth came from panay island

[@marvicgalarion2111]

Where can I buy this book?

[@bonghernandez5541]

is there a copy of the chart mentiond here?

[@varekaiful]

Dahil sa kanta ngayon ni felip na Bulan kaya pinapanood ko ito😊

[@SOLOQ_withAPE]

When I was arround 8/9 me and two of my friends were always playing around 7pm (Indonesian time). We mostly play hide and seek or simply playing stupid tag war after getting a prayer (muslim last prayer ended around 6:45/7pm). That day the three of us saw a golden Chinese dragon eating the moon and spit it out again. (At that age I though that the moon must be so hot so he spit it out again) I don't know whether it's a dream or what but one of my friend completely forget and the other one vividly remember the scene. Well I'm the only one that clearly remember everything because the night after a cart and a horse made of light came by to my dream and almost dragging me off. It's a nightmare still. In Indonesia it self we don't have this kind of legend. And I don't know whether it's only our imagination or is it real. Till that day I always imagine what kind of answer I could get. Up untill now I still don't get it.

[@clydefernandez2140]

This is cool and also terrifying to witness. The world is so full of mysteries. I hope you'll get some answers.

[@SOLOQ_withAPE]

@@clydefernandez2140 I do hope to. But up until now (32 yo) I don't get answers at all untill I search this a dragon eating the moon. Because it's related and in my country we don't have any legend or stories like this. Well mostly dragon is Chinese culture so I don't know. I really wish I could get an answer to this before I died.

[@wulfdavinci4729]

i’ve heard before in Tausug (Ahlus Suluk) lore that there is a Naga, a dragon who swallow the moon. I can’t remember the full details of the story. I am also curious about these things and I am now 32.

[@kiroshiren]

@@SOLOQ_withAPE it was eclipse not dragon 😂

[@SOLOQ_withAPE]

@@clydefernandez2140 no answer up untill now, all i can get explanation is about the philippine legend. But i am no philippins

[@mikoabastillas9668]

When are y'all gonna do an episode on the Tiyanak or the Diwata?

[@kentz7220]

GS GOOD STORY

[@mischievousbeing4611]

😍

[@sogcreatives3918]

We would like to ask permission yo use part of you video in our documentary. This is for scholarly purposes only. We will give you due credits. Thank you!

[@minoadlawan4583]

Weird how so little discussed Minokawa is. The Sun eating giant bird. A fitting counterpart to Bakunawa.

[@patrickescol9745]

the best mythical creature in pH :D

[@bhaktapeter3501]

Its Rahu, in vedic astrology, Rahu attacks and tries to swallow the moon-- thats what causes eclipse

[@mistergiraffe9425]

the shock in my friend's faces when i talk to them about the philippines having 9-11 moon eaters- I really enjoy learning about precolonial stories

[@luketracey3269]

🍀

[@philiplesterfloro3557]

bakit po baliktad iyong baybayin ng logo ng Bakunawa?

[@JCCVTheArtist]

At 1:40 there's baybayin letter. ❤

[@MrSinfulm3]

Baybayin should be taught at school.

[@JCCVTheArtist]

@@MrSinfulm3 your right bro, ᜃᜁᜎᜅᜈ᜔ ᜋᜎᜋᜈ᜔ ᜅ᜔ ᜋᜅ ᜃᜊᜆᜀᜈ᜔ ᜀᜅ᜔ ᜊᜌ᜔ᜊᜌᜒᜈ᜔ ᜉᜎ ᜁᜉᜄ᜔ᜋᜎᜃᜒ ᜀᜅ᜔ ᜀᜆᜒᜅ᜔ ᜐᜎᜒᜎᜒᜅ᜔ ᜏᜒᜃ.

[@mjatin7736]

Here to understand Felip's Bulan better.

[@phildefnews]

Yey. Must be the dragon of Raya lol

[@santih2569]

Check aliwan 2013 dinagyang :) they used bakunawa

[@alexolotls]

hi mga beh

[@AndrewBoniface09]

This channel is very under-rated! I hate how common Filipinos tend to subscribe less to amazing content creators and tend to subscribe more to talentless but famous vloggers and make-up youtubers. SMH

[@HJ-tp5vs]

What if, gawan ng movie yan?

[@ainameable]

Im in dubai. And most filipinos that i meet here would never accept that our cultures are influenced by indians. But would proudly staelte that we are a former spanish/american colony...

[@superrainbow5127]

I wish i could meet the dragon😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@artesiningart4961]

Amaya in GMA network brought me here.... where they told about the legend of Bakunawa.

[@jenniferconos9737]

My teacher give me activity for bakunawa and what information this I'm searching for information the bakunawa . Thank you for your help 🙏♥️🙏❤️🙏🤔

[@estevesgerielisha2197]

ok im here again watching this kind of stuffs to answer my modules,anyway its cool,i cant understand anything coz y not?i cant understand whats the language hoho i think im dumb yeh wtv i need to spend my 13 minutes here but anyway thanks for your information....

[@johnramirez3247]

I grew up in cagayan de oro and my roots are from bohol. When I was a little boy and played in a certain grassy part of our backyard, my mom used to say "get away from the grass theres a bakunawa".

[@darkarcheos]

Huh so that’s where Blizzard got inspiration to make Baku the Mooneater from

[@mybutt6148]

IGNACIO!!! 😱😱😱

[@cronosnow6284]

Pretty much the Philippine version of Cthulu

[@HeathenDan]

Whatever a Bakunawa is, Blizzard should nerf it.

[@ettirobloxgameplay8990]

Pano Mag Kaka Hightide Tapos Lowtide

[@dibyong7699]

Badtrip talaga yang Martial Law

[@ibringthelastwords1358]

I am a Filipino but never heard these stories :( So sad that we know better the greek mythology than our mythologies 😓