The Cosmic Tale of the Moon-Eater: Bakunawa and other Sun and Moon-Eating Creatures

What happens when the night sky is no longer safe? This week on LilWeird, we explore the haunting tale of the Bakunawa, the mythical sea dragon from Filipino folklore, known for devouring the moon. Dive into a world where ancient myths meet cosmic wonders, revealing how early Filipinos explained lunar eclipses and their connection to the cycles of nature and time.
From the Bakunawa’s shimmering, starlit scales to the seven moons it consumed, we’ll uncover the origins of this epic legend and its surprising connections to cultures across the globe. You’ll learn why communities gathered to beat drums and shout into the night during lunar eclipses—and how this powerful story continues to inspire awe today.

A Note to Our Listeners:

This episode delves into Filipino mythology and the cultural importance of these stories. Interpretations may vary across regions, and while we strive to present them respectfully, we welcome your insights or corrections to keep the conversation going. Additionally, this content is for entertainment and educational purposes and is not intended as a scholarly resource. It’s all about celebrating and exploring the beauty of these myths.
Whether you’re a lover of myths, curious about cultural heritage, or fascinated by the mysteries of the cosmos, this episode will leave you enchanted by the beauty and depth of Filipino folklore.

Show Notes:

In This Episode, We’ll Explore:

• The origin story of the Bakunawa and its connection to lunar eclipses and celestial myths.
• How the Bakunawa legend ties to ancient Filipino agricultural practices and the Ilongo lunar calendar.
• Cross-cultural parallels with moon-devouring creatures like Norse wolves, Indian celestial demons, and Chinese dragons.

Other fascinating Philippine mythical beings that echo similar cosmic themes, including:

• Tambanakaua: The giant crab from Mandaya and Bukidnon myths, whose anger and attempts to swallow the moon symbolize the tides and lunar eclipses.
• Minokawa: A monstrous bird from Bagobo lore that pursues both the moon and sun, threatening to devour the skies.
• Olimaw: The Ilocano winged serpent or dragon, believed to plunge the world into darkness if left unchecked.
• Laho: A shadowy devourer in Tagalog mythology whose name means  "to vanishing."

Modern Connections:

• The discovery of Iniistius bakunawa, a fish with eclipse-like markings, named after the mythical dragon, and its role in biodiversity conservation.

References Mentioned:

• Creatures of the Midnight by Dr. Maximo Ramos
• The Soul Book by Francisco R. Demetrio and Gilda Cordero
• The Aswang Project: In-depth articles on the Bakunawa, Minokawa, and other mythical creatures
• Stories from Kiniray-a, Ilongo, Mandaya, and Bagobo folklore
• Indian, Norse, and Incan mythology comparisons

Join the Conversation:

What’s your favorite myth about the moon or celestial creatures? Do you have a family story that reminds you of the Bakunawa or similar beings? Let us know! We’d love to feature your thoughts in a future episode! 

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X (formerly Twitter): @LilWeirdJane

References: 

• Creatures of the Midnight by Dr. Maximo Ramos
• The Soul Book by Francisco R. Demetrio and Gilda Cordero
• The Aswang Project: In-depth articles on the Bakunawa, Minokawa, and other mythical creatures
• Stories from Kiniray-a, Ilongo, Mandaya, and Bagobo folklore
• Indian, Norse, and Incan mythology comparisons

Credits:
Closing Music: 'Dystopia' by Neutrin05


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lilweird-podcast--6099720/support.

Episode Transcript

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Imagine this. It's a quiet, warm night. The air is
with the scent of the ocean, and above you the moon,
houseful and bright against the dark sky. Its light is
so pure, so brilliant, that you almost feel a pull,
like it's switching out just for you. But then something shifts,
A shadow moves across that's so very light, and the

(00:55):
world around you grew suddenly team You look up again,
and in the moonsplea you see something impassable, an enormous shape,
scales glittering faintly, jaws wide enough to devour a mountain
and you realize it's not just a shadow, it's alive
the night or diving deep into one of the most
hunting tales in Filipino mythology, the story of the Barganaua,

(01:18):
the dragon of the deep but devours. This creature is
no ordinary dragon in the myats passed down through generations.
The Baganaua is as vast as the ocean itself, a
being both beautiful and terrifying, one that rises from its
dark home in the sea to consume the very light
of the night. So what makes it seek out the

(01:38):
moon and why do people, when they see the moon
vanish gather together, shout, beat drums, and scream into the
darkness to dry this creature away. Well, it turns out
that the story of Barganawa is more than just a
bedtime til It's a glimpse into how the early Filipinos
saw the universe, how they understood things like the tide eclipses,

(02:01):
even the cycle of life. It is this is the
story of the Baronao, the beast who devours the a
creature born of darkness with just that swallows starlight and
a hunger that only the heavens can satisfy. It is
said that when the Barona arises, even the ocean holds
its breath and the sky deems as if in fear.

(02:22):
Some say this dragon lurks at the edge of the world,
watching and waiting, drawn to the moon's brilliance like a
mouth of flame. Others say it is cursed wherever, bound
to chase the light, it can never keep. But one
thing is certain, and that shadow falls and begins to vanish.
The real below remembers because the Bagonaua is more than

(02:43):
a myth. It is a warning, a reminder of the
cosmic dance between light and darkness, creation and destruction. Hey there, everyone,
welcome back to the Little Weird. Very dive deep into
the strange, the mydical, and the mysteries that make us thunder.
And if this is your first time joining us, you
pick a perfect night to tunin, because tonight we're talking

(03:06):
about a creature so powerful it could devour the very
light of the night sky. Yes, I'm talking about the Bakonawa,
the moon eating dragon of Ailipino folklore. Now you might
think you've heard every kind of dragon story out there,
but trust me, the Baganawa is something else. This isn't
a night versus dragon kind of tale. It's cosmic. It's

(03:28):
about hunger and beauty, fear and power. The Bakonawa legend
is one of those rare myths that survived through generations,
keeping people looking up at the night sky with a
mix of wonder and maybe a bit of an ease.
So here's what they're going to do tonight. We'll start
to the story of how the Bakonawa came to be,

(03:49):
will follow its joiny from the ocean depths to the
heights of the night sky, chasing those Dominus moons, And
then we'll explore the deeper meaning behind the meat. While
people feared it, respect it, and why even today the
story is still shared and celebrated in Filipino culture. Personally,
I've always been fascinated by these kinds of myths. I mean,

(04:10):
have you ever felt that strange energy during a lunary glipse,
the way the real feels a little off. There's something
primary about watching the moon disappear, even for just a moment,
as if the universe is reminding us of just how
small we are. And for the early Philippinos, they believed
they knew exactly what was causing it. It was the Bakonawa,

(04:31):
a dragon born of shadows, rising to claim the moon.
All right, let's get started. Picture this a time when
the night sky was lid by seven bright moons, each
one glimmering like a beacon in the dark. But those
moons wouldn't stay safe for long, because somewhere down in
the depths of the ocean, something was steering, something that

(04:54):
would change the skies forever. Long long ago, the night
sky over the ancient Philippines was very different from what
we see right now. Imagine looking up and seeing not
one lone moon, but seven, seven brilliant moons lighting up
the night. It shone as bright and as full as
the nex. These moons were more than just beautiful. They

(05:15):
made the night a place of comfort and wonder, feeding
the darkness with soft, silvery light. But the pinit ocean,
something else has its eye on those moons. A creature
enormous and ancient rested in the depths of the sea.
This was a bacon, a dragon, But unlike any dragon
you might imagine, its body was as long as the horizon,

(05:38):
its the scales shimmering with the light of the ocean.
At night, and its mouthed so vast that it could
swallow the moonhole. One night, the Bacona arose to the
surface and saw the moons in the sky glowing like
treasures just beyond its reach. For a creature that spent
its life surrounded by darkness, the sight was overwhelming hypnotics.

(06:00):
The Baganaa was captivated. It wanted those moons for itself,
and so driven by a desire that even it couldn't
fully understand, it made its move. With one mighty leap
from the sea, the Barganava opened its jaws wide, stretching
so far it seemed to touch the stars, and it
devoured the first down It went into the creature's vast,

(06:24):
endless belly, where it could keep the moon's light all
to itself. The people of the islands were horrified. They
watched us. One of their beloved moons vanished, swallowed by
the Baccanawa's hunger. But the dragon wasn't that. Night after
night it rose from the ocean, swallowing another moon and another.
Each time the night grew darker, the sky and fear

(06:47):
until finally only one army the people knew they had
to act. They remembered stories about the Baccanawa, how it
could be scared away by loud sounds and fierce cries.
So when the dragon rose once more to take that
final moon, the people gathered along the shores. They beat
their drums, clum pots and pants, shout it into the

(07:10):
night with all their might, bleeding for the moon to return,
and at work, just as the Baganaga opened its just
to swallow the last moon. The noise is startled. The
creature hesitated, then release its is, spitting the moon back
into the sky before diving back into the depths, defeated
but still lurking in the ocean's shadows. From that day,

(07:31):
the people staying vigil ready to make noise if the
Baganawa ever returned to steal their last month. And as
the legend goes, each time there's an eclipse, it's a
reminder the Bagonawa has returned, hungry as ever, reaching once
more for that last bit of light in the sky.
So that's the legend of the Baganawa and the Sevens,

(07:52):
a story deeply rooted in the Philippine midst and folklore,
yet not as widely known as the others. It's not
something typically find in textbooks, are here in classrooms, but
it's one of those rare, beautifully intricate tales that deserve
to be told. Stories like these are treasures of our
cultural heritage, carrying the imagination, fears, and beliefs of those

(08:15):
who came before us. So what drew me to this
particular myth to things? Actually, First, it's fascinating to think
that we have our own version of the dragon creature
that feels universal yet uniquely adapted to the Philippines. And second,
the story of mon devouring creature isn't just ours. It

(08:35):
connects us to a broader tapestry of meats worldwide, where
different cultures have their own son and moon leaders. Even
within the Philippines, these beings go by different names across regions,
meving a web of shared wonder and mystery. So in
this episode, let's die deeper into the Baghanawa. Let's explore

(08:56):
its name, its origins, and the rich cultural layers behind
this mythical being. Because every story, especially one as younique
as this, also a little piece of who we are.
So to truly understand the Baghanawa, we need to start
with its name, because even in its etymology, its legend
begins to take shape. The word Baghanawa comes from Sebano

(09:17):
or Visayan words. Bako means to bend or to cover well.
Nahwa can mean disappearance or to lose, but together it
can be translated as to one who causes things to
disappear and doesn't that perfectly align with the meat. The
Baarganawa is one that covers the moon, swallowing its light
and living the night in shadow. The name itself captures

(09:39):
the essence of its power, so let's move onto the
physical descriptions of this creature. The Barghanawa is not ordinary dragon.
It's actually a force of nature. Legends describe it as
a gargantuan sea serpent or dragon. Gargantuan means enormous or large,
so it is among the creatures in Philippine folklore that

(10:00):
is as big as the ocean, or even as vast
as the sky. When it rises, so un much in
size and power, its body is said to be covered
in shimmering scale like skin that reflects light like a
constellation filled night. Sky come off, fludging it as it
stalks the moon. Its fiery eyes burn like embers, and

(10:23):
its mouth is so vast it can devour the moon whole.
Doctor Maximo Ramos, in his book Creatures of the Midnight
he classified the Baghanaua as a fish like dragon, likening
it to the Leviatin of Jewish Volker. The Leviatin is
depicted as a closive sea serpent in sharp tit, armored scales,
and immense destructive power. The connection shows how stories of

(10:46):
powerful oceanic creatures resonate across cultures, reflecting all of the
unknown depths in Canadian eye mythology, there's an intriguing twist.
The baganalasystomach determines the type of eclipse. If the dragon
has a transparent stomach, it causes a partial eclipse when
it swallows the moon.

Speaker 1 (11:05):
But if the.

Speaker 4 (11:05):
Stomach is thick walled, the eclipse is total and the
world is plunged into darkness. From its name and its form,
the Baghanava embodies both cosmic mystery and human imagination. It's
not just a creature of the sea. It's a being
that connects the heavens to the depths, a symbol of
awe and fear, creation and destruction. These descriptions give us

(11:28):
a glimpse of how our ancestors made sense of celestial events,
crafting a creature that is as terrifying as it is fascinating.
Now that we've explored what the Baganava looks like and
how its name captures its mythic role, it's dive deeper
into where this history might have come from. Uncovered the
origins of the Bahanava legend will travel back to the

(11:50):
animal's beliefs of early Filipinos, a topic we have touched
in previous episodes. These early spiritual use shape how people
connected celestial events to natural forces, and interestingly, there's also
a fascinating link between the legend of the Baganagua and
the ancient Ilongo lunar calendar. So let's explore to understand

(12:12):
where the Baghanawa legend might have come from, we need
to go back way back to the animals beliefs of
the early Filipinos. In these station times, people didn't just
see the sea, the sky, or the moon as in
animate objects. They believe these natural elements were alive, powerful,
and deeply interconnected with their lives. This world view shaped

(12:33):
the way they explained the world around them, including phenomena
that felt beyond their control. The clunar eclipses. For example,
imagine looking up at the Moon, a constant source of
light in the dark night sky, and seeing it suddenly vanished.
For early Filipinos, this is also just an astronomical event.
It was a cosmic warning, an omen of disaster. The Bagana,

(12:55):
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Moon Swallowing Joss explanation for this terrifying disappearance. Similar stories
can be found across the world. Whether it's a wolf,
a celestial dragon, or a giant serpent, eclipses are almost
always tie the means of catastrophe and the struggle to
restore balance. Now here's something fascinating. The legend of the

(14:18):
Baganawa Alliance closy with the ancient Ilongo lunar calendar. The
Ilongos divided their year into twelve lunar months. But what
makes this calendar unique is that only seven or eight
of these months had names, and these were arbitrary. They
were tied to important agricultural and natural cycles, reflecting the

(14:40):
rhedom of life itself. Each of the name months corresponded
to specific stage in the agricultural process or a notable
change in the environment. The first month Ulalen begins when
the Pleades constellation appears in the night sky making the
start of the year. It's like nature's signal that it's
time to prepare for the cycle ahead. Then there's the

(15:03):
gun Kahwei, the month for felling trees to prepare the
fields for sawing, and the gun in bulan, the period
when the felt wood is gathered from the fields. These
months show how a tun Daylongos were to the needs
of the land and how they relied on the moon
to guide them. As the year progresses, we reach el killing,

(15:24):
the time to burn the fields in preparation for planting,
and inabuyan when the ponankas or gentle winds blow, signaling
a seasonal change. These months reflect the natural transitions that
dictated life in an agricultural society. Finally, the last two
name months are tied to the rise harvests. Irara pun

(15:44):
marks the beginning of the harvest, and Mana Lulsul signifies
its completion, a time of gratitude and celebration. The remaining
months of the year were left a name, likely because
they were in tied the significant agricultural activities requie times
periods of rest or preparation for the next cycle. It's

(16:05):
fascinating to think that the reedom of life was so
closely aligned with the faces of the moon and the
work of the fields. Now here's where it gets really interesting.
Some speculate that the seven name months may have inspired
or aligned with a story of the seven moons in
the Barghonanawa legend. Each moon swallowed by the Baghonawa could
represent the passing of time or the challenges of maintaining

(16:28):
harmony with nature. This connection shows how the Ilongos saw
the moon not just as a celestial body, but as
an essential guide for their survival and will be. While
the Barganawa is a uniquely Philippine a legend, it's far
from the only tale of celestial monsters devouring the sun
hermund Similar myaths appear across cultures and even within the
diverse islands of the Philippines. So let's take a moment

(16:50):
to explore these stories and see how they reflect our
shared wonder and fear of the cosmos across the world.
Meets about shining celestial beings in the moon or sun
seem almost universal. These tales offer a glimpse into humanity
shared attempts to explain the mysteries of the sky and
maintain a sense of control over cosmic events that felt

(17:13):
larger than life. From the Philippines to Scandinavia, similar stories emerge.
In many of these myths, The moon's disappearance was seen
as cosmic struggle, a fight between light and darkness. Communities
would come together, making loud noises or performing ritols to
drive the creature away and restore balance. It's fascinating to

(17:34):
see how universal this theme is despite the diverse cultural contexts.
In Mongolia, the legend of the Monk da Czar tells
of a ravenous wolf that swallows the moon. Similar to
other cultures, the people believe that creating noise and commotion
would frighten the wolf, forcing it to release its celestale prey.
In China, the tale of a celestiale dragon consuming the

(17:57):
sun or moon during an eclipse is one of the
most and during meats. Historically, people bound drums or shot
arrows into the sky to scare the dragon away. This
practice mirrors the Filippino tradition of creating noise during the
lunar eclipse to drive away the bagana. In Thailand, midst
of Naga, a serpent like being, are associated with the

(18:18):
moon and its faces. Though not explicitly tie the eclipses.
Naga legends often involve their influence on celestial and natural cycles.
Indian mythology offers one of the most compelling origins for
these stories. In Vedic mythology, the tale of Rahu and
Khatu stands out. Rahu, a decapitated demon, seeks revenge by

(18:39):
devouring the Sun and moon, causing eclipses. His counterpart, Katu,
represents the lower half of his body, symbolizing the unseen
forces that influence cosmic events. These stories spread across Asia's shape,
many of the moon eater meats we know today. As
Hinduism expanded into Southeast Asia, the story of Rahu merged

(19:00):
with local animist beliefs in the Philippines. This influence likely
contributed to the evolution of the baghonaa, blending the concept
of aventual celestial being with a local reverence for sea
and nature spirits. Moving beyond Asia, Norse mythology introduces is
Cold and Hatti, two monstrous wolves that pursue the Sun
and moon across the sky. When one of the wolves

(19:22):
catches its spray and eclipse occurs. The Vikings believe these
cosmic cheeses would end with Ragna Rock, the version of
the apocalypse, when the wolves would finally succeed in devouring
the Sun and moon forever. In the Slavic regions, this
miker in each a dragon like creature, is sometimes linked
to cosmic battles and the disruption of natural order. Though

(19:44):
not explicitly tied to eclipses, its legend emphasizes the connection
between dragons and celestial power. Among the Inca of South America,
eclipses were seen as battle between the jaguar and the moon.
During these events, people with clung metal objects make loud
noises to scare the jaggar away, believing that if it
succeeded in eating the moon, it would come for the

(20:06):
Earthnekes in North America, the choc to the people told
of a black squirrel trying to consume the sun or moon.
Similar to other cultures, the solution was to make noise
to drive the creature away and restore light to the sky.
These stories didn't just explain celess stale phenomena, They evolved
alongside cultures. At first, they depicted these beings as neutral

(20:28):
cosmic forces, immense and unknowable, but as video systems develop,
layers of morality, vengeance, and even love were added, reflecting
human concerns and values. For example, Rahu's act of swallowing
the moon in Indian mythology isn't just an explanation for
an eclipse. It's also a story of ambition, divine justice,

(20:51):
and eternal pursuit. Through these myths, we see a beautiful
thread connecting cultures across the globe, assured fascination with the
heavens and a desire to bring order to the chaos
of the cosmos. The Baganawa, with its deep Indian influence
and uniquely Philippine rules, stands as one of the most
vivid representations of this universal story. And now let's shift

(21:13):
our focus to the sun and moon eating creatures in
Philippine mythology. So across the islands of the Philippines, the
diversity of myths about celestial creatures devouring the sun and
moon reflects the richness of our cultural tapestry. These legends,
rooted in animism and enriched by external influences, show the

(21:34):
unique grease Filipinos across regions understood and revered the cosmos. First,
let's talk about the Tambanokawa, and we've talked about the
mighty tamban Akawa or Tambanocano before in Little Word Podcast
episode five, The Earth and the Cosmos. According to Philippine
folk beliefs, this legendary giant crab was just tied to
the moon. He also played a key role in shaping

(21:56):
the tides and natural rhythms of the sea. According to
Mandaya and Bookian Meats, Tambanokawa was a child of the
Sun and Moon. Known for his immense power, He lived
in a vast underwater hole. His movements influenced the tides,
but his temper caused celestial chaos. In his anger, Tomanokawa
would attack his mother, the Moon, attempting to swallow her whole.

(22:19):
This act, of course, symbolized a lunaric glipse. To save
the Moon, people would rush outside, shouting and banging gongs
to frighten the grub away, a ritto to the United
entire communities in Cosmic Defiance. There's also an interesting connection
between Tombanokawa and the great fed Meat in Philippine culture,
a story I'd love to explore in more depth in

(22:39):
future episode. For now, we'll keep our focus on his
road as moon eating creature from in the now. The
Bogobos tell of the Minokawa, a monstrous bird so enormous
that its mouth was said to be the size of
the islands of Bohol and Negroes, with talons and beak
made of steel, feathers, a sharp swords, and eyes like mirrors.

(23:01):
The Minahawa struck fear into the hearts of those who
saw it. Unlike most myths that focus on the moon,
the Minahawa didn't stop there. It pursued the sun as well.
But Gobbo elders believe that if the Minahawa ever devoured
both celess stale bodies, it would the center Earth to
consume everything in its path. To prevent this catastrophe, people
made loud noises and chanted to drive it away, much

(23:24):
like they did for the Baganaua and Tambanokawa. In thea
Gallog mythology, the Laho represents a more mysterious, less stale
being described as a dragon or shadow the devours the moon.
The Lahos name fittingly means the vanish This is where
the word Naglahou and Tagallog came from. The Laha's presence
during and eclipse evoke fear and awe, with communities rallying

(23:46):
together to create noise to scaret away. In the Ilawa's region,
the moon eater is the Alimao, a winged serpent, dragon
or a phantom. The name Alimao is a cognate of
the word halimao, meaning monster, and it shares straight with Arimuan.
The Alimau, like other celestial creatures, was believed to plunge
the world into darkness if left unchecked, inspiring the same

(24:10):
noise making rittles to ensure the moon's safety. The Maranao
people of Mide the out tell of Themana, a mythical
lion with even intentions toward the moon depend it off.
People would rub their thumbnails together or create deafening noise,
believing these actions with this truck or weakened the lion
that Rimuanga's story adds a unique dimension to Philippine mythology

(24:32):
by introducing a feeling predator into the celestial narrative. In contrast,
the Manobo people have a different take to them. Tambanagawa
isn't a crab, but a tarantala or a scorpion that
slowly envelopes the moon in its dark embrace. Men would
rush outside, shouting, slashing trees, and beating drums to threaten

(24:52):
the mon survey. Meanwhile, women participated by sticking needles into
the walls of their homes, erecting their defiance at the
celest stale enemy. This communal effort reflects how mets galvanized
entire communities during cosmic events. As we've turney through these
stories from across the islands, it becomes clear that the
Baconawa and its fellow celestial creatures are more than meats.

(25:15):
Their mirrors reflecting humanity's deepest shares of darkness, chaos, and
the unimagine our ancestors standing under a darkened sky, watching
as the moon, their guide in the night, seemed to
vanish into the jaws of an unseen beast in that moment.
These myth experiential histories. They were explanations, a way to

(25:35):
make sense of a world that could feel vast and uncontrollable.
But they were also something more. They were acts of hope.
By shouting, banning gongs, and coming together as a community,
our ancestors were just scaring off monster. They were reclaiming
a light, restoring balance, and proving that even in the
face of the overwhelming fear, unity and belief could bring

(25:58):
back the stars. The Bakonawa and it's keen remind us
of the universal human struggle to confront you. And whether
it's a dragon, a crab, or a bird swallowing the heavens,
these creatures symbolize the fears we all share and the
courage it takes to face them. Even today, these stories
whispered of us, urging us to stand together to create

(26:19):
light in the darkness, and then never stop looking up.

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Speaker 4 (27:24):
Now that we've explored the mythological sun and un eaters
across the islands of the Philippines, the Shift gears and
talk about a fascinating connection to the discovery of a
new fish species name after our mythical maakwanal meet the
Inestius Makanawa, also known as the eclipsed spot razors. This
fish stands out not just for its striking beauty, but

(27:47):
for its remarkable resemblance to the mythical dragon. It's named
after its flod body shuecases, huse of billy yellow to
jgreen reminiscent of shimmering dragon scales. It has large, prominent
da the tibet affairs almost adverardly appearance, but what truly
sets it apart. Is the black spot with a white
outline on its dorsal fin, perfectly mimicking an eclipse discovered

(28:11):
by Kent Sargon and his team in Sandy non coral
reef habitats. This fish highlights how much of our oceans
by diversity remains overload. These areas, often passed over by
divers and researchers, are proven to be home to unique,
any sterious species like it Istius bacanaal. Sorgan's discovery is

(28:32):
not just a celebration of our natural heritage, but also
a weak up call to protect it. Sorgon has emphasized
the need for more funding and research in taxonomy to
document marine bi diversity, especially in these under explored habitats.
Understanding the ecosystems these species rely on can help guide

(28:52):
environmental policies and resource management, ensuring we preserve the delicate
balance of marine life. This discovery find us that much
like the mythical Bagonawa, our oceans are filled with mysteries
weaiting to be uncovered, and just as our ancestors came
together to protect the moon, we must now come together
to protect these natural wonders before they're lost to us. Forever.

(29:16):
The story of the Baghonawa is more than just a
tale of a mythical dragon chasing the moon. It's a
piece of our cultural so a reminder that our ancestors
look up at the same sky as we do now,
saw its mysteries involved with their fears, dreams, and understanding
into these legends. In a way, stories like this are

(29:37):
a proof of the richness of our heritage, the depth
of thought and connection our ancestors had tbitorial around them.
Think about it on the Elongos name there months not
just to mark time, but to honor the cycles of
the earth and the rhythms of agriculture. Each name reflects
a respect for the natural world and a deep understanding

(29:58):
of how life and the cosm us are intertwined. And
then there's the Baganava, our version of the dragon found
in other cultures, but with its own unique ties to
our seas, skies and sense of community. And the Baganawa
threatened to devour the last moth. It wasn't just a
fight for light. It was a fight for light. Imagine
entire communities gathering together, banging paths, shouting into the night,

(30:22):
and standing shoulder to shoulder to protect what they believe
was essential, not just for themselves, but for humanity as
a whole. These acts of collective courage show us something profound,
that even in the face of the unknown, there is
a strength, immunity, and in that unity, a deep cultural
bot But somewhere along the way, many of us lost

(30:43):
touch with easy stories. How many of us know that
we have our own myths as reached as any deal
of Norse wolves or Chinese dragons. How many of us
know that we have our own names for the months,
to the land, the moon, and the stars. These stories
are just folklore. They're a testament to who we are,
to the imagination and resilience of our people, and they're

(31:06):
still here waiting for us to rediscover them. As we
look up at the moon tonight, let's remember the Bacano,
but see in it the vastness of our heritage, the
beauty of our meats, and the strength of our communities
that came before us. That it inspire us to protect
not just our stories, but the very world they came from,
our seas, our skies, and each other. Because when the

(31:30):
darkness comes, as it always does, these stories to remind
us that we can face it together. Thank you for
joining me tonight as we uncover the legend of the Bachanaua.
Stories like these remind us of the depth of our
culture and the imagination of our ancestors. It is a
proof that our history is as rich and fascinating as

(31:53):
to meets without. If this episode spark your curiosity, I'd
love to hear from you. Share your thoughts, favorite meat,
or even stories from your family. You can find me
on social media Early a Woman. Wherever you're listening, and
if you've enjoyed this journey, share the podcast with a friend,
or leave or review. It's a small act that helps
keep these tales alive for future generations. Don't forget to

(32:16):
follow the show so you don't miss the next episode,
where we'll dive into another story that reminds us of
the wonder and mystery all around us. To get there,
let's keep exploring these meets, their meanings, and the lessons
they still hold for us today until next time. Stay
curious you're exploring, and remember a little awareness makes life interesting.

(32:39):
Thanks for listening.

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