The Flood Story - A Filipino Folktale

Summary

In this episode of the Folktale Project, Dan Shawls narrates a unique Philippine flood myth. Two brothers, sons of the Great Spirit, flood the world to create mountains for hunting, inadvertently drowning all but a brother and sister in a cave. Luma Wig, the Great Spirit, sends his dog and deer to fetch fire for the survivors, leading to a humorous struggle against the flood. The tale culminates in the world returning to normal, with mountains and a repopulated earth, offering a fresh perspective on the classic flood narrative.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The story is set in the Philippines and revolves around a flood myth that differs from the well-known Biblical account.
• 👬 Two brothers, sons of the Great Spirit Lu, Malik, are central characters who enjoy hunting but are frustrated by the lack of mountains.
• 💡 The older brother proposes a plan to flood the world to create mountains, hoping to trap wild animals and improve hunting conditions.
• 🌊 The brothers execute their plan, causing a flood that covers the entire world, leading to the creation of mountains.
• 🪤 They set a trap using a head basket, which results in capturing not only animals but also many people, causing a great loss of life.
• 👀 Luma Wig, observing from the sky, notices the disaster caused by his sons and the survival of only one brother and sister in a place called Pocus.
• 🔥 Luma Wig sends his dog and deer to fetch fire for the survivors, but they struggle to bring it through the flood.
• 🐕🦌 The dog and deer's attempts to bring fire are repeatedly thwarted by the flood, highlighting the challenge of their task.
• 🛑 Luma Wig himself goes to retrieve the fire after the dog and deer fail, emphasizing his direct involvement in the rescue.
• 🔥 Upon reaching Pocus, Luma Wig successfully builds a large fire that warms the survivors and leads to the evaporation of the floodwaters.
• 🏞️ The world returns to its previous state, now with mountains, and the brother and sister repopulate the earth, continuing the human lineage.
• 📚 The story is presented as a unique flood narrative that follows the creation, offering a fresh perspective compared to the Biblical flood story.
• 🎙️ The podcast encourages listeners to subscribe, follow on social media, and support the show through Patreon for early access to stories.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the folktale from the Philippines discussed in the podcast?

The main theme of the folktale is a flood story involving two brothers, a great flood, and the survival of a brother and sister who repopulate the earth.

Who are the two brothers mentioned in the story, and what are their roles?

The two brothers are sons of Lu, the Great Spirit. They cause a flood to cover the world in an attempt to create mountains for better hunting grounds.

Why did the brothers cause a flood?

The brothers caused the flood to create mountains, as they believed it would provide better places to hunt wild pigs and deer.

What was the brothers' method for catching animals after causing the flood?

They used a head basket from the town as a trap to catch the animals, including deer and people, as the floodwaters rose.

Who is Luma Wig, and what does he do when he sees the flood?

Luma Wig is the father of the two brothers in the sky. When he sees the flood, he descends to help the surviving brother and sister by providing them with fire.

How does Luma Wig attempt to provide warmth to the survivors?

Luma Wig commands his dog and deer to fetch fire for the brother and sister, but when they fail, he goes after them and brings the fire himself.

What challenges do the dog and deer face while trying to bring fire to the survivors?

The dog and deer face the challenge of keeping the fire lit while swimming through the flood, as the water extinguishes the fire multiple times.

What happens to the world after Luma Wig builds a big fire for the survivors?

The fire warms the brother and sister, and the water evaporates, returning the world to its previous state but now with mountains.

Who are the only people left alive after the flood, and what do they do?

A brother and sister who lived in Pocus are the only people left alive. They marry and have children, leading to the repopulation of the earth.

What does the narrator, Dan Shaw, particularly enjoy about this flood story?

Dan Shaw particularly enjoys the unique elements of the story, such as the involvement of the dog and the deer in bringing fire, and the story's differences from the biblical flood narrative.

How can listeners support the Folktale Project podcast?

Listeners can support the Folktale Project by subscribing to the podcast on various platforms, following them on social media, or contributing as little as a dollar a month on Patreon for early access to stories.