Note 61 — Tales of the Mythical Period

This brings us to a most interesting question, namely: Are the chief actors in our tales to be considered as celestial beings and spirits, or as human heroes? We have already made note of the fact that in the first tale Aponītolau is identified with Ini-init whom, we are told, was “the sun,” “the man who makes the sun,” “a round stone which rolls.” In this tale he marries Aponībolinayen, a maiden whose name may possibly be construed to mean “the woman in the moon.”61 However, we find Aponītolau abandoning his place in the sky and going to reside in Kadalayapan. This tale comes from the town of Langangilang where, as we have already seen, the celestial beings are regarded as spirits. Tale fifteen, coming from the same town, shows us this same Aponītolau going up to the sky, where he marries the spirit Kabkabaga-an, but as before he returns to his home below. A further indication of his celestial character is perhaps afforded us in tale fourteen, which was recorded in Patok, a valley town in which the sun, moon, and stars are now regarded as “lights” belonging to the spirit Kadaklan. Here we find that Aponītolau marries the star maid Gaygayóma, who is the daughter of the big star Bagbagak, and Sīnag—the moon. In this same tale Aponībolinayen Page 26appears as the first wife of Aponītolau, and it is clear that in the mind of the story teller she is not identified with Sīnag. Aponītolau appears in the other tales without any hint of celestial qualities. Aside from her name and the fact that she is once pictured as visiting the sky, there is nothing to indicate that his wife Aponībolinayen is to be considered as the moon. A careful study of the other characters who reside in Kadalayapan and Kaodanan fails to yield any evidence that they are considered as celestial beings.