Creation Story (Bilaan - Mindanao)

 

The Bilaan creation story from Mindanao revolves around the giant being Melu, residing in the clouds, who crafted the earth from his own dead skin. Melu then created two smaller beings resembling himself, but Tau Tana from below the earth insisted on assisting and turned their noses upside down. Despite initial challenges, Melu and Tau Tana brought the beings to life.

A crisis arose when a heavy rain threatened the people on earth, as water ran off their heads into their inverted noses. Melu intervened, saving them by reversing their noses. In gratitude, the people pledged to fulfill Melu's requests. Feeling lonely on the vast earth, they shared their concerns, leading Melu to instruct them to save hair and dry skin for his next visit, promising to create companions. This marked the beginning of the human population on earth, according to the Bilaan creation narrative.

Creation Story (Bilaan - Mindanao)

In the ancient times, there existed a colossal being named Melu in the clouds, surpassing any known comparison in size. Melu's teeth gleamed with pure gold, and his pristine white skin resulted from his meticulous self-rubbing. As he rubbed off dead skin, creating a growing pile, Melu pondered what to do with it.

Ultimately, Melu decided to fashion the earth from this accumulated skin. After strenuous effort, he molded two smaller beings like himself to inhabit the newly-formed earth. Yet, when Melu was almost done, Tau Tana emerged from beneath the earth, offering to assist him.

Despite Melu's reluctance, Tau Tana prevailed in making the noses, placing them upside down. Once completed, Melu and Tau Tana whipped the forms into motion. Melu then returned to his abode above the clouds, while Tau Tana went back below the earth.

Things went smoothly until a torrential rain descended, causing water to cascade off the people's heads into their inverted noses. Witnessing their peril from the clouds, Melu swiftly descended to earth, rescuing them by reversing their noses.

Grateful for their lives, the people pledged to fulfill any request Melu made. Expressing their loneliness on the vast earth, they shared their plight. In response, Melu advised them to save their hair and dry skin, promising to create companions for them during his next visit. Thus, the earth became populated with numerous people in this unique and mythical manner.