the Owl and the Moon (Philippine mythology)

An oral folktale from Sibaltan, Palawan tells of how the Moon fell in love with a maiden named Bukaw, though in some versions of the story, she is called Kukung. The Moon first saw this beautiful maiden in a cashew forest and was captivated by her beauty. Night after night, he descended to meet her, and she marveled at his radiant glow.

The two would meet at a special place, where the cashew forest ended, and the waters turned from fresh to brackish—where the river met the sea. In this magical spot, they shared their time under the stars.

One night, as the Moon descended to be with Bukaw, a curious water snake, enchanted by his glow, approached and longed to taste his luminous skin. The Moon, too engrossed in his love for Bukaw, did not notice. When he returned to the heavens, he began to feel ill, his light dimming.

Bukaw waited, feeling sorrow as the Moon’s absence stretched on. When he finally returned after several nights, his glow was faint and weak. Seeing this change, Bukaw grew angry and jealous, convinced he must have found another lover. In some versions, the Moon’s glow was so diminished that she couldn’t recognize him and refused to believe it was truly him.

Heartbroken, the Moon retreated to the heavens, casting a chain of stars into the sky like a trail of sorrow. Realizing her mistake, Bukaw wept, overcome with regret. Desperate to reach him, she asked the animals and birds for help, begging each one to take her to the heavens. They tried to lift her but failed.

Finally, Bukaw approached the spirits of the Nunok tree, a sacred banyan tree, home to the beken i ameng kapareho—mysterious beings “not like us.” Moved by her despair, they took pity on her. With their magic, they transformed her into an owl, granting her wings and the power to fly so she could seek the Moon in the night sky.

To this day, people say that if you wander through the forests of Palawan at night, you may hear Bukaw’s soft calls, her wings rustling as she soars upwards, still searching for her beloved Moon, her heart filled with endless love and longing.