Si Kabunian de Begas (The Story of Kabunian of Begas)

(The Golden Arrow, Mt. Makikilang, and Other Cordillera Folktales)

Editor/Writer: Alfredo M. Latoza
In the heart of the majestic mountains of the Cordillera, there is a sacred place known as
Begas. This land is revered as the home of Kabunian, the Supreme Being, creator of the world,
and the god of the mountains. The story of Kabunian is a tale of creation, balance, and respect
for the natural world that is still told by the people of the Kankanaey, an indigenous group from
the Cordillera region.

Long ago, before there were people, there was only the earth—wild and untamed. The
mountains were jagged, the rivers dark and turbulent, and the forests thick with mystery. It was
in this chaos that Kabunian, the great spirit of the heavens, looked down upon the earth and
saw the potential for harmony.

Kabunian decided that the world needed balance, peace, and life. From the skies, he
descended to the land of Begas, a sacred place nestled deep in the heart of the Cordilleras.
With his powerful hands, he began to shape the earth.

He molded the mountains with the strength of his arms, making them rise tall and proud, their
peaks reaching into the heavens. From the mountains, he carved out the rivers, which would
flow like veins through the land, nourishing the earth and all living things. Kabunian created vast
forests, where trees would stand tall and strong, and animals would roam freely. The winds and
the mist that rose from the mountains were Kabunian’s presence, and they enveloped the land
with a peaceful calm.

And so, the land of Begas became beautiful, filled with natural wonders, blessed with fertile soil,
and abundant with life.

After Kabunian had completed his work, he called upon the spirits of the land to help him
populate the earth with life. He created humans, the Kankanaey people, from the very soil of
the mountains. These people were chosen to live in Begas, in the sacred land that Kabunian had
shaped with his own hands.

The Kankanaey people, under Kabunian’s guidance, lived in harmony with the land. They were
taught to honor the mountains, the rivers, and all of nature. They built their homes carefully,
using what they needed and never taking more than was necessary. The people’s hearts were
pure, and they revered Kabunian, giving thanks to him for the abundance of the land.

As a sign of his favor, Kabunian gave the people a blessing: he gave them the pine trees that
would grow on the mountains of Begas. These trees, strong and enduring, were meant to remind
the people of Kabunian’s presence and his protection over them. The scent of the pine trees
was said to be Kabunian himself, watching over the land and the people.

The people of Begas built their homes beneath the pine trees, feeling the cool breeze from the
mountains and hearing the whispers of the wind, which they believed were the voices of
Kabunian, speaking to them from afar.

For many years, the people of Begas lived in harmony with nature, taking only what they needed.
They respected the land, and the mountains provided for them. However, as time passed, some
of the people began to forget Kabunian’s teachings. They grew greedy and began to take more
than they needed from the earth.
They cut down trees for wood, not realizing that the trees were sacred and connected to
Kabunian. They overhunted the animals of the forests, not respecting the delicate balance of life
that Kabunian had created. They grew careless and selfish, thinking only of their own desires.

One day, Kabunian looked down upon the land of Begas and saw the destruction caused by the
greed of the people. He was angered by their disregard for the sacredness of the land and the
balance of nature that he had created. To teach the people a lesson, Kabunian decided to show
them his power.

He summoned a great storm that swept across the mountains of Begas. The winds howled
fiercely, and the rivers that flowed peacefully for so long swelled with the rains. The mountains
trembled as lightning struck the peaks, and thunder rumbled in the heavens.

The people of Begas were terrified. The rivers overflowed, flooding their homes and fields. The
winds uprooted the trees, and the land seemed to shake under the fury of Kabunian’s wrath. The
people realized that they had angered the great god, and they knew they had to make things
right.

The elders of Begas, remembering the old ways, called the people together to ask for
forgiveness. They prayed to Kabunian, acknowledging their mistakes and promising to honor
the land once again. They vowed to live in harmony with nature, to protect the forests, the rivers,
and all living things as Kabunian had taught them.

Their pleas reached the heavens, and Kabunian, hearing their repentance, decided to end the
storm. The rains stopped, and the winds calmed. The rivers returned to their beds, and the land
began to settle. The people of Begas saw the clouds part, and sunlight began to shine once
again on the mountains.

Kabunian appeared before the people in the form of a great mist, his voice carried by the wind.
He told the people that while he had forgiven them, they must always remember the importance
of living in balance with the earth. They must never forget to respect the land, the trees, and all
of nature, for it was his creation.

He left the people with a final blessing: from that day forward, the pine trees would remain
strong and tall, symbols of the bond between the people and Kabunian. The scent of the pine
trees would always remind them of Kabunian’s presence, and the mist that clung to the
mountains would be his watchful gaze, forever guarding the land and the people.