1 Theo Reflections On Local Tales

Vhen Jesus E.
Fernandez
Creation-Eschatology
Theological Reflections on Local Tales
THE CREATION OF THE EARTH AND THE FIRST PEOPLE
(The Folk Literature of the Subanons of Zamboanga del Sur, pp. 100-104)
By Virgilio M. Resma
The creation of banwa (earth, a newly discovered abode just under heaven) happens because of
the love of the supreme ruler, Diwata, to his beloved son, Demowata, a rather nave being who
has gone tired living together with his father and wants to live in another place.
In this creation story is no creation ex nihilo. Rather, earth was discovered and later
enhanced for it to be a liveable and suitable place for Demowata. Such an account is
contrary to Christian traditions Gods free act of creation out of nothing (CCC 296).
Instead this creation narrative is made not out of the love, per se, of the Father that impels
him to manifest his divine will, but simply out of his love for his son. The earth is a
manifestation of the love of Diwata to Demowata.
However, in the Scriptures, all things do come into being because of Jesus Christ, the
only Son of the Father (Cf. Col. 1:6-7). This implies that everything created is destined
for the gratification of the son; the reality of Gods saving plan is somehow next to a
foreign ideology. The eschatological foundation of such a creation, though, denies the
fact that we should give pride to our existence by doing good works, and loving and
caring other created things so that we can attain eternal happiness with our creator and
experience eternal bliss in his presence. Since the world has no other purpose than to
satisfy Demowata, then Christian values, such as loving each other and caring for
creation, bear no merit at all.
Aside from the two, there too exists another being named Balag, who glitters in his golden body
and is the trustee of Diwata.
The existence of other beings aside from the supreme ruler and his son is also present in
the Christian traditionthe angels for example. Balag may be considered Lucifer (whose
name means light), the leading light of the archangels. He later became ambitious and led
the uprising against the supreme ruler.
The sun, installed by Diwata, gives light to the earth. A circular shape is drawn and inside of
which appears the land; outside, the water. Trees, plants and animals then are created next. Gone
tired of enjoying the new place and playing with the animals, Demowata requested Balag to
ascend to heaven to ask from Diwata to put off the light of the sun, and torches, big and small, be
lit up for the night. Small torches were scattered around the heavens; these were the stars. Diwata
also provided a larger torch which we consider as the moon.
Light, from the sun, the moon and the stars, isnt created from the creative power of
Gods word, dabar. Instead, it was simply installed.
Then God said, Let the water under the sky be gathered into a single basin, so that the
dry land may appear. This passage from Genesis may also be related to how Diwata has
separated the land from the water. Yet, Diwata does the separation by simply drawing a
circle on the earth, and from which appears the land. This may also support that creation
of the world, is not perfect yet. Some creatures are added simply out of Demowatas
convenience.
The Subanons also acknowledged the creation of giants, and elves and dwarves; yet all are to
accompany Demowata. But in the later part of this tale, they conspired with Balag against
Demowata. Balags jealousy over Demowata led him to be punished.
Balags punishment seemed to correspond to that of Lucifers: total change of physical
appearanceBalag, from a handsome with glittering body of gold to a black, lowly and
ugly creature with no feet to help him stand; Lucifer, from the bearer of light to the prince
of darkness.
It has also been said that after conspiring with Balag to kill Demowata, the giants, elves
and dwarves are gone hiding from the wrath of Diwata. This is somehow supported by
the Christians profession of faith, I believe in the seen and the unseenbe it a giant, a
dwarf or an elf. Likewise, conspiracy before the creation and fall of man has already
happened.
Although in the Christian tradition, the Fall of Man is considered the first instance or the
very moment that allows sin to enter into this world, still, no one can deny the fact in the
beginning some angels, who have sinned against God because of pride and jealousy, are
condemned. It can also be considered that Balags sinful action leads him to be the cause
of introducing sin in the world, so is in the case of the serpent in Genesis.
The creation of two beings which must be of the same build, size and appearance as Demowata
was by mere a chance. The supposedly one clay-molded figure cracked into two, named Le and
Lebon, had no sexual category, the same in everything but still distinct from each other. They too
were supposed to just accompany Demowata and play with him, nothing more.
Demowatas longing for having another companion resulted to the creation of two the
same yet distinct beings, who later in the story, became man and woman. Dominion over
the created things is reserved solely to Demowata since everything has been created for
him. Only by chance, and not from the nature of Gods love, does man and woman come
into existence. This may be a very valid claim denying the primacy of man over the
created things.
On one hand, however, this version of mans creation may also change todays worldview
on the nature and purpose of man. On the other hand, all human beings, be it a man or a
woman, are equal in every respect both has come from a supposedly single being; no
gender is superior/inferior than the other.
Le and Lebons complete transformation into man and woman, respectively, is caused by the
temptation of the Balag, now punished and transformed into the worlds first black eel, to drink
from the water of the river of the forbidden garden. Despite the barriers and the warning, Lebon
drank first, but Le managed to carry her away from Balag. But Lebon once again drank from the
river and was able to convince Le to do as well.
Like the Christian traditions Adam and Eve, Le and Lebon were also given all that they
needed. They too were warned and forbidden to go near a particular place in this case,
the river wherein Balag livesotherwise they would die.
Lebon seemed to have been given the chance not to completely disobey the warnings by
the rape of Le. Unfortunately, Lebon, motivated to fully become a woman, went back to
the river and drank from it, and was able to convince Le to do the same. This may
tactlessly imply that man has sinned because of the woman.
Afraid of what might happen to them should Demowata, or Diwata, knew of what had happened,
Balag assured Le and Lebon of their safety and hid them in his belly. But Demowata looked for
them, found out what happened, and tried his best to win them back.
Both must have descended into sin (inside the tummy of Balag), but Demowata showed a
very meaningful picture of God saving his creation. Demowata, the son of the supreme
leader, fought against Balag to free the twojust as Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son,
self-emptying, taking the form of a slave (Phil 2:7) to win everyone back to Gods
kingdom.
Then there was a rather long fight between good and evila constant struggle, so to
speak. Then came Diwata, upon the begging of mercy by Demowata, to rescue and give
order to chaos. It may be considered that such struggle still happens even today. But
hopeful for the coming of the divine intervention, the creation may be restored back to its
beautiful nature.
Demowata went back to the heaven with his father, while Balag crept to the underworld. Le and
Lebon were immortals, but after the sin, they were condemned. Le had to till the land to feed
himself and Lebon. And both had to die.
It is better to point out that in the later part of the Subanons creation narratives, man is
immortal before his disobedience. However, after Diwata has helped his son, Le and
Lebon had to experience the consequences of their sins and to endure the pain of their
labour. Despite the struggles they had to undertake, Diwata gave them an assurance that
they would be reconciled with Demowata should they live a good lifethis should be
their consolation; otherwise, they would spend their lives with Balag in the underworld.
After what happened, mans eschatological foundation has also changed: from just
entertainers and companions of Demowata to striving hard in leading good lives to be
reconciled with him who showed them compassion and had given them another chance.

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