tungkung langit and alunsina story

Tungkung Langit and Alunsina
(Panay-Visayan)One of the stories about the creation of the world, which the old people of Panay,especially those living near the mountains, do not tire relating, tells that in the beginningthere was no sky or earth—only a bottomless deep and a world of mist. Everything wasshapeless and formless—the earth, the sky, the sea and the air were almost mixed up.In a word, there was confusion.Then from the depth of this formless void, there appeared two gods, TungkungLangit and Alunsina. Just where these two deities came from, it was known. However, itwas related that Tungkung Langit had fallen in love with Alunsina; and after so manyyears of courtship, they got married and had their abode in the highest realm of theethereal space, where the water was constantly warm and the breeze was forever cool.It was in this place where order and regularity first took place.Tungkung Langit was an industrious, loving and kind god whose chief concernwas how to impose order over the whole confused set-up of things. He assumedresponsibility for the regular cosmic movement. On the other hand, Alunsina was a lazy, jealous and selfish goddess whose only work was to sit by the window of their heavenlyhome and amuse herself with her pointless thoughts. Sometimes, she would go downthe housesit down by a pool near their doorsteps, and comb her long, jet-black hair allday long.One day Tungkung Langit told his wife that he would be away from home for some time to put an end to the chaotic disturbances in the flow of time and in theposition of things. However, despite this purpose Alunsina sent the breeze to spy onTungkung Langit. This made the latter very angry upon knowing about it.Immediately after his return from his trip, he called this act to her attention,saying that it was ungodly of her to be jealous, there being no other creature living in theworld except the two of them. This reproach was resented by Alunsina and a quarrelbetween them followed.Tungkung Langit lost his temper. In his rage, he divested his wife of powers anddrove her away. He did not know where Alunsina went; she merely disappeared.Several days after Alunsina had left, Tungkung Langit felt very lonely. Herealized what he had done. Somehow, it was too late to even be sorry about the wholematter. The whole place, once vibrant with Alunsina’s sweet voice, suddenly becamecold and desolate. In the morning when he woke up, he would find himself alone; and inthe afternoon when he came home, he would feel the same loneliness creeping deep inhis heart because there was no one to meet him at the doorstep or soothe the achingmuscles of his arms.