The Bakunawa, also spelled Bakonawa, Baconaua, or Bakonaua, is a dragon in Philippine

mythology that is often represented as a gigantic sea serpent. It is believed to be the cause
of eclipses.[1]
It appears as a giant sea serpent with a mouth the size of a lake, a red tongue, whiskers, gills, small
wires at its sides, and two sets of wings, one is large and ash-gray while the other is small and is
found further down its body.
The Visayan (Cebuano) term bakunawa is the direct translation of the word 'eclipse'. Binakunawa is
a verb to mean "to cause an eclipse".

[2]

Mythology[edit]
Tales about the Bakunawa say that it is the cause of eclipses. During ancient times, Filipinos believe
that there are seven moons created by Bathala to light up the sky. TheBakunawa, amazed by their
beauty, would rise from the ocean and swallow the moons whole, angering Bathala and causing
them to be mortal enemies.
To keep the moons from completely being swallowed by the Bakunawa, ancient Filipinos would go
out of their homes with pans and pots, and would make noise in order to scare the Bakunawa into
spitting out the moon back into the sky. Some of the people in the villages would play soothing
sounds with their musical instruments, in hopes that the dragon would fall into a deep sleep. Thus,
the brave men of the village hoped that while the dragon was hypnotized by the musical sounds they
could somehow slay the dragon. Although the dragon was known as a "moon eater" it was also
known as a "man eater".
Other tales tell that the Bakunawa has a sister in the form of a sea turtle. The sea turtle would visit a
certain island in the Philippines in order to lay its eggs. However, locals soon discovered that every
time the sea turtle went to shore, the water seemed to follow her, thus reducing the island's size.
Worried that their island would eventually disappear, the locals killed the sea turtle.
When the Bakunawa found out about this, it arose from the sea and ate the moon. The people were
afraid so they prayed to Bathala to punish the creature. Bathala refused but instead told them to
bang some pots and pans in order to disturb the serpent. The moon is then regurgitated while the
Bakunawa disappeared, never to be seen again.
The island where the sea turtle lays its eggs is said to exist today. Some sources say that the island
might just be one of the Turtle Islands.
Others tell how the Bakunawa fell in love with a human girl in one of the native tribes. The head of
the tribe found out about their affair and had their house burned to ashes. TheBakunawa, finding out
about this, became immersed in anger and tried to take revenge by eating all the 7 moons. When
the Bakunawa was about to eat the last one, Bathalatook action and punished the Bakunawa by

banishing it from its home away from the sea. It also tells that the reason of the eclipses is how
the Bakunawa is trying to come back to its home and deceased family.
Some Filipino elders Bakunawa is a moving isle with communities mounted at the back, it is said to
believe that has 2 classification the flying Bakunawa and the land Bakunawa.

other version[edit]
In other versions of the stories Bakunawa was a beautiful diwata in the sea, some say she was
a naga and was the most powerful. One night she saw the seven moon and was captivated by their
beauty and longed to possess them. one of the embodiment of the moon descended to the sea to
swim with the mermaids it was Bulan the adolescent aspect of the moon, the boy moon did not
noticed Bakunawa, thinking the boy had ignored her beauty to play with the mermaids enraged her.
The following night she transformed herself into a dragon and devoured the moons. When she had
swallowed the last moon Bathala intervened so she spit out the moon.

Literature[edit]
There is a short Hiligaynon song in 3/4 time that children used to sing during lunar eclipses:
Ang bulan namon sang una, sang una

Our moon long ago, long ago

Guin ka-on sang bakunawa

Was eaten by the bakunawa

Malo-oy ka man, i-uli, i-uli

Please have pity, return it, return it

Korona sang amon hari.

The crown of our king.