As published at Aswang Project, an educational resource on Philippine culture and mythology.
Tungkung Langit and Alunsina is a Panay-Visayan creation myth that has continued to be a breading ground for musical theater, written, and visual art adaptations to this day. In my research, I breakdown the theoretical frameworks of each of these adaptations including my own. My final output is a pop-up book and this interactive kinetic sculpture designed for storytelling.
Excrept:
One may recall reading or having to perform a skit of the Panay-Visayan creation myth "Tungkung Langit and Alunsina" also known as "Alamat ng Ulan" as part of one's required reading in high school or college. According to this myth, whenever it thunders or rains, it is Tungkung Langit, Pillar of the Sky, calling his beloved Alunsina back home after she ran away because of his wrath at her disobedience. Alunsina however is still yet to be found to this day. The creation of the world as we know it, it is said, was an attempt to make the world a better place for the lost.
"Tungkung Langit and Alunsina" depicts the creation of the world as a painful birth. He may have made the world a better place, but the world is not able to escape his tears. Just as in Genesis, separation lead to suffering. Yet the same tears that symbolize suffering is in fact a reminder that Tungkung Langit continues to reach out to Alunsina. And the fact remains that there is beauty in the world that was created. What is even more interesting in this story is that Alunsina is explicitly described to be a lazy, selfish, jealous goddess, while Tungkung Langit is kind, loving, and industrious. Yet even though Alunsina wasn't perfect, Tungkung Langit loved her anyway. He did everything he can to reach out to her, all without violating her free will. This tells us that just because there is suffering in the world (a result of free will), doesn't mean we must tire of reaching out to the lost and making the world a better place for them.
