Lumawig on EarthSummary: This Igorot myth tells of the deeds of the Great Spirit Lumawig when he lived for

a time with mortals on earth. After seeing two sisters from his place in the sky, Lumawig uses his powers to help their family multiply their harvest of beans and raise their livestock, then marries one of the maidens, Fugan. Though he also magically provides rice and pigs for their wedding feast, Lumawig receives nothing but animosity from his brother-in-law. Lumawig eventually punishes this mortal after he chides the god for not immediately creating water for the people. After a time, Lumawig decides to return to the sky, but, before leaving, he places Fugan in a coffin guarded by a dog and a cock and sets it afloat on a river towards Tinglayen. There, a widower finds Fugan and marries her.

How the first head was taken [Igorot] Summary: According to this folktale, the Igorot practice of headhunting began when Kabigat, the Moon, decapitated the son of Chal-chal, the Sun. The serpent eagle [Igorot] Summary: In this Igorot folktale, a mother orders her two sons to gather firewood daily, yet always sends meager food for their trips, saying it is all she can only give them because they bring her poor wood for cooking. One day, one of the boys climbs a tree and tells his brother to gather the branches that he will cut off. Yet instead of throwing down branches, the boy throws down his bones and transforms into a serpent eagle.

The tattooed men [Igorot] Summary: In this Igorot story, two friends tattoo each other then quarrel for one man tattooed the other beautifully, while the other did not. As they fight, the beautifully-tattooed man turns into a lizard and the other becomes a crow.

Tilin, the rice bird [Igorot] Summary: This Igorot story traces the origin of the tilin to a young girl who is transformed into the rice bird after falling into a basket containing the grain while looking for the food denied her by her mother.

The creation [Igorot] Summary: In this Igorot myth, Lumawig, the Great Spirit, comes from the sky and creates people from pairs of reeds which he placed all over the world. Each pair speaks a different language, which they pass on to their children and future generations. Seeing that the people need things to use, Lumawig creates salt and gives it to the people of Mayinit, who understood his directions on how to use it. He then instructs the people of Bontoc to make clay pots but eventually grants the gift of pottery to the people of Somaki, for making the jars that please him most.

The flood story [Igorot] Summary: In this Igorot version of the great flood and the acquisition of fire by humans, Lumawig's sons cause the earth to be covered by water, thinking that this would lead to the formation of mountains. Everyone in the world drowns except for a brother and sister, who face the threat of freezing to death. Lumawig sends his dog and deer to bring fire to the siblings so they can warm themselves, but the fire is extinguished as the animals swim through the flood. Lumawig then decides to bring fire to the siblings himself. Upon reaching them, Lumawig builds a fire so great that the water evaporates. When the flood clears, there are already mountains on earth. The brother and sister marry and begin to populate the world again. Written by Sabrina L. Oliveros; Edited by Jack Victor M. Nera