La-on and the Pesky Bakunawa

CEBU, Philippines - Hey, kids! Are you familiar with Mount Kanlaon?

It is the highest point in the Visayas at 8,050 feet above sea level. It ranks 27th in the 30 highest mountains in the Philippines and is the country’s third most active volcano.

It has been said that this mountain in Negros Island was named after La-on, a fearless Bacoleño warrior.

A local story had it that some tribes also hold Mount Kanlaon to be the center of the universe. Its crater is said to be a portal into the unknown source of fire and energy.

Children in Guintubdan, at the foot of Mount Kanlaon, grew up to the tales of “La-on and the

Pesky Bakunawa”. Pesky means annoying or irritating.

In this tale, a bakunawa (resembling that of another mythical creature – the dragon) appeared from the mountain. Actually, it would want to lord over the other animals in the said mountain. So, it wreaked havoc in the whole of Negros Island to scare village folk and the animals. In order to appease the bakunawa, the people had to sacrifice one beautiful maiden each year. But one day, the people realized there was only one single, pretty woman left — the village chieftain’s daughter.

The chief got so depressed that he began offering a reward to anybody who could slay the bakunawa. Forward came a warrior named La-on.

It was retold to the children that La-on had the ability to connect with the forces of nature and talk with animals to rally behind him. It was through his power to communicate with the wind, the rain and the sun, as well as the animals that helped him kill the bakunawa.

When the bakunawa attacked La-on, the rain extinguished the flames every time fireballs blew out of its mouth; the wind thrashed hard that the bakunawa’s wings and tail broke in two until it fell on the ground with a crash; then the sun’s flares sent its body cracking. After which the animals, led by the spotted deer and the Visayan warty pig, often scared to death by the presence of the troublesome bakunawa, gathered around its body for a feast.

Hence, the mountain was named after the hero Kan La-on, as a tribute to his feat. Kanlaon means “The Exalted One”.