BAYBAYAN: PHILIPPINE EPIC MYTH PART FIVE

Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of this epic myth of the Bukidnon people of the Philippines.

PART FIVE

The massive craft called the Salimbal at last arrived and landed on the mountaintop where Baybayan and his hundreds of surviving followers had gathered. The bells which had signaled its approach were saliyao bells, the same bells worn by Philippine dancers on their ankles and neck. 

Music from the Salimbal filled the air and sprites from the Skyland home of the gods hovered around the ship sent down by the supreme deity Magbabaya. The craft shone even more brightly than the sun itself and could be seen for miles around.

One by one Baybayan invited his disciples to approach the entranceway to the divine craft. Two kampilan swords hung above that doorway and as each of the pilgrims sought entrance to the Salimbal the swords remained motionless for the truly pure of spirit. When any disciples who were judged unfit to reach Skyland tried to enter the craft the kampilans would turn on their hilts like on hinges and slice that would-be passenger in two.  

Before risking the entranceway each disciple of the demigod Baybayan would recite this prayer to Magbabaya:

Alara kay, kampilan (Protect us, kampilan)/ Linka a kay, bayadao (Deliver us, bayadao) / Guimba a kay, Amay day (Bless us, our father) / Boyawana kay, Hinolod na Lumay (Glorify us, creator of All)

After all of the worthy disciples had passed through the entranceway to the Salimbal, Baybayan himself entered and the craft rose from the ground to begin its long and perilous journey to Skyland. The impure forces of nature that had tempted away many of Baybayan’s disciples on the journey up the mountain now paniced.

They all revealed their true colors and expressed their frantic desire to join the pilgrims in the faraway land of the gods. The rivers moaned and groaned, the wind sobbed and all plant life pleaded to be taken with the travelers so that they might bloom in Skyland.

Animal life of all kinds began a mad rush up the mountain to reach the Salimbal. The ground shook and the rivers began to flow up the mountain in hope of overtaking the divine craft. The Salimbal rose further and further into the sky, causing all those forces of nature to scream and cry out even louder.

On board the ship, Baybayan and his followers watched all the chaos and turmoil beneath them as they left the Earth behind amid lightning and thunder. +++

Balladeer’s Blog will continue this story soon. Check back once or twice a week for updates.

FOR PART ONE CLICK here .

FOR ANOTHER EPIC MYTH CLICK HERE: https://glitternight.com/2013/03/17/iroquois-epic-myth-hodadeion/

FOR SIMILAR ARTICLES AND MORE OF THE TOP LISTS FROM  BALLADEER’S BLOG CLICK HERE: https://glitternight.com/top-lists/

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