PHILIPPINE FOLK LITERATURE-The MYTHS
I. THE GODS: THEIR ACTIVITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS
11. KABUNIAN AND LUMAWIG* (Igorot)
In the mythology of the Igorot culture area, much confusion arises as to whom the people regard as their Supreme Deity. To some, it is Kabunian; to others, it is Lumawig. Their theogony grows befuddled when one meets with similar stories, told by different groups, differing only in nomenclature. In one, the hero-god is Kabunian while in the other it is Lumawig.
As a rule, however, all the people in the Igorot culture area except the Bontok recognize Kabunian as thc highest god. The Bontoc hero-god is Lumawig, but even so, they sometimes call him Kabunian. Similarly, the Igorots use Kabunian and Lumawig interchangeably in their myths. In all probability, they are but one in their minds. But if Lumawig is but another name for Kabunian, how come the Igorots tell the following story?
Kabunian descended from his home in the sky. On earth he married a virtuous maiden named Bangan. She bore him three children. The first was Kabigat, a boy, second was Daungen, a girl. After the birth of the third child, Kabunian had to return to his home in heaven. As a god, he could not continue living indefinitely on earth. He and Bangan agreed to divide their children. Kabigat went to his mother; Daungen, to her father. They could not agree on who should have custody of the third child, so Kabunian cut him into two. And being a god, he supplied the missing parts of the halved child.
Bangan's share of the child became a girl and was called Bugan. Bugan and her brother Kabigat stayed with their mother on earth and eventually engendered the human race. Kabunian's share became a boy and was given the name Lumawig.
Having thus divided his children equally, Kabunian went back to his home in the sky. He brought with him Daungen and Lumawig who became goddess and a god, respectively, in the Skyworld.
* Paula Carolina Malay, WWM, September 2,1955.