Bulalakaw - A Southeast Asian deity?

Abstract

Bululakaw is now regarded by Filipinos as a mythical bird, but in the past Bululakaw was worshipped as a god and not only by the people of the Philippines. There is a tradition told by the old people of Panay that Bululakaw was a god of the early Malay settlers of the islands. This tradition is corroborated by the Maragtas accounts as recorded by Father Tomas Santaren and Pedro Monteclaro.

According to the Maragtas of Santaren and Monteclaro, soon after the Borneans had acquired the island of Panay by barter grom Marikudo, their leader, Datu Puti, told their priest Bangotbanwa to make an offering to their god Bulalakaw and inquire from the god whether it was wisefor them to stay in Sinogbohan or to move to another place. Bangotbanwa amde the offering and after the ceremony he reported to Datu Puti that it was the wish of Bulakakaw that they should establish their settlement in another place to the west of Sinogbuhan.