m e b u y a n p e a c e p r o j e c t

The Journey of the Soul
by Datu (Tribal Chief) Mangadta Sugkawan
as told to Kaliwat Theatre Collective

When a person dies, his/her soul goes to Maibuyan (Mebuyan), the diwata (deity) of the afterlife who takes care of all the souls before they receive Manama's (Supreme Being) judgment.

In Maibuyan's domain, candles are alit - the candle being the symbol of the human being's twin which he/she was born with. The length of the candle symbolizes the length of one's life. Upon the death of the person, the light of his/her candle is blown out.

The soul embarks on a long journey from the earth to the other world. It passes through a hole at the bottom of a hill named Lipaw. It lands in Liyngayon (a small cogon grassland), then on the bamboo land. Here the soul would lose its sense of sight if it looked back to its place of origin. The soul then notices a balete tree. It will pick a leaf from the tree and throw it back at the tree.As if by cue, a tikwe (hawk-like bird) flies and cries "kulihiii!" Then the soul encounters a big boar and has to jump over it. If the soul is of a child, it should pass by the ass or the head of the boar. If the body of the soul died of stab wounds, it would next follow a red path, then a yellow path.

The soul passes another balete tree and a kolingaw, a huge root. Here the soul completely forgets its origin. In between the balete and the kolingaw, the soul removes its clothes and leaves them behind. The clothes will later turn into a black mountain. If the soul is of a child, it should strike the kolingaw with a bolo.

Finally, the soul passes by a tree before reaching a creek called Sumuwow which is believed to be the passage to Maibuyan's land. In Sumuwow, Maibuyan's assistant and water guardian Ingdarapit, bathes the soul before it finally enters Maibuyan's domain where a mountain and trees are seen yonder.

Eventually, the soul meets Maibuyan and Tunhawa, the deity who resides where the sun sets. Maibuyan then asks the soul many questions, including the cause of the death of the soul's body. Often, the soul also asks, "Am I really dead?" To which Maibuyan replies, "Yes, your candle is nowhere to be found. It has melted. You are now destined to be at the end of this world where all souls stay until Manama's judgment. This is not yet heaven. This is the first destination of good and bad souls. Your sins on earth will still be accounted. In the meantime, I shall take care of your soul."

Maibuyan's entire domain is of pure gold on which the soul could clearly see its reflection. The souls there only talk about good and sensible things. If one starts to talk, everybody else listens. There is no need for food. Maibuyan's domain in the underworld is where the soul lives a second life after its body—the physical twin—dies.




	the goddess :: journey of the soul The Journey of the Soul by Datu (Tribal Chief) Mangadta Sugkawan as told to Kaliwat Theatre Collective When a person dies, his/her soul goes to Maibuyan (Mebuyan), the diwata (deity) of the afterlife who takes care of all the souls before they receive Manama's (Supreme Being) judgment. In Maibuyan's domain, candles are alit - the candle being the symbol of the human being's twin which he/she was born with. The length of the candle symbolizes the length of one's life. Upon the death of the person, the light of his/her candle is blown out. The soul embarks on a long journey from the earth to the other world. It passes through a hole at the bottom of a hill named Lipaw. It lands in Liyngayon (a small cogon grassland), then on the bamboo land. Here the soul would lose its sense of sight if it looked back to its place of origin. The soul then notices a balete tree. It will pick a leaf from the tree and throw it back at the tree.As if by cue, a tikwe (hawk-like bird) flies and cries "kulihiii!" Then the soul encounters a big boar and has to jump over it. If the soul is of a child, it should pass by the ass or the head of the boar. If the body of the soul died of stab wounds, it would next follow a red path, then a yellow path. The soul passes another balete tree and a kolingaw, a huge root. Here the soul completely forgets its origin. In between the balete and the kolingaw, the soul removes its clothes and leaves them behind. The clothes will later turn into a black mountain. If the soul is of a child, it should strike the kolingaw with a bolo. Finally, the soul passes by a tree before reaching a creek called Sumuwow which is believed to be the passage to Maibuyan's land. In Sumuwow, Maibuyan's assistant and water guardian Ingdarapit, bathes the soul before it finally enters Maibuyan's domain where a mountain and trees are seen yonder. Eventually, the soul meets Maibuyan and Tunhawa, the deity who resides where the sun sets. Maibuyan then asks the soul many questions, including the cause of the death of the soul's body. Often, the soul also asks, "Am I really dead?" To which Maibuyan replies, "Yes, your candle is nowhere to be found. It has melted. You are now destined to be at the end of this world where all souls stay until Manama's judgment. This is not yet heaven. This is the first destination of good and bad souls. Your sins on earth will still be accounted. In the meantime, I shall take care of your soul." Maibuyan's entire domain is of pure gold on which the soul could clearly see its reflection. The souls there only talk about good and sensible things. If one starts to talk, everybody else listens. There is no need for food. Maibuyan's domain in the underworld is where the soul lives a second life after its body—the physical twin—dies. —excerpt from the book Arakan, Where Rivers Speak of The Manobo's Living Dreams, Copyright 1996 Kaliwat Theatre Collective, MALUPA, and TFPCDI