Tungkung Langit and Alunsina
(Panay-Visayan)
One of the stories about the creation of the world. which the old people of Panay, especially
those living near the mountains, do not tire relating. tells that in the beginning there was no sky or
earth—only a bottomless deep and a world of mist. Everything Was shapeless and formless—the
earth, the sky, the sea and the air were almost mixed up. In a word, thereyy was confusion.
Then from the depth of this formless void, there appeared two gods, Tungkun8 Lan8it and
Alunsina. Just where these two deities came from, it was known. However, it was related that
TungXung Langit had fallen in love with Alunsina; and after so many years of courtship, they got
married and had their abode in the highest realm of the ethereal space, where the water was
constantly warm and the breeze was forever cool. It was in this place where order and regularity first
took place.
Tungkun8 Langit was an industrious, loving and kind god whose chief concern was how to
impose order over the whole confused set-up of things. He assumed responsibility for the regular
cosmic movement. On the other hand. Alunsina was a lazy, jealous and selfish goddess whose only
work was to sit by the window of their heavenly home and amuse herself with her pointless thoughts.
Sometimes, she would go down the housesit down by a pool near their doorsteps, and comb her long,
jet-black hair all day long.
One day Tungkung Langit told his wife that he would be away from home for some time to put
an end to the chaotic disturbances in the flcrw of time and in the position of things. However, despite
this purpose Alunsina sent the breeze to spy on Tungkun8 Langit. This made the latter very angry upon
knowing about it.
Immediately after his return from his trip, he called this act to her attention, saying that it was
ungodly of her to be jealous, there being no other creature living in the world except the two of them.
This reproach was resented by Alunsina and a quarrel between them followed.
Tungkung Langit lost his temper. In his rage, he divested his wife of powers and drove her
away. He did not know where Alunsina went; she merely disappeared.
Several days after Alunsina had left, Tungkung Langit felt very lonely. He realized what he had
done. Somehow, it was too late to even be sorry about the whole matter. The whole place, once
vibrant with Alunsina's sweet voice, suddenly became cold and desolate. In the morning when he
woke up, he would find himself alone; and in the afternoon when he came home. he would feel the
same loneliness creeping deep in his heart because there was no one to meet him at the doorstep or
soothe the aching muscles of his arms.
For months, Tungkun8 Langit lived in utter desolation. He could not find Alunsina, try hard as
he would. And 50, in desperation, he decided to do something in order to forget his sorrows. For
months and months he thought. His mind seemed pointless; his heart weary and sick. But he must do
something about his lonely world.
One day, while he was sailing across the regions of the clouds, a thought came to him. He
would make the sea and the earth, and the sea and the earth suddenly appeared. However, the
somber sight of the lonely sea and the barren land irritated him, so he came down to earth and
planted the ground with trees and flowers. Then he took his wife's treasure jewels and scattered them
in the sky hoping
Home Books Audiobooks iDocuments
