BUNGISNGIS – Legend of The Philippine Cyclops
BUNGISNGIS – Here are the important things you need to know about this one-eyed giant or Philippines cyclops.
Bungisngis is a one-eyed giant found in the folklore of the Philippines. This giant hails from Meluz, Orion, Bataan, and is known for having only one eye and a perpetual grin. The name “Bungisngis” is derived from the Tagalog word “ngisi,” which means “to smile broadly.”
This giant has a human-like appearance, with large teeth always on display, and its upper lip covers its face when it’s upside down. It has two long fangs protruding from its mouth.
The creature only has one eye, located in the middle of its forehead, but compensates with exceptionally strong hearing. It also possesses extraordinary strength.
The one-eyed giant’s origin can be traced back to the Ibalong Epic, a folk epic from the Bikol region of the Philippines. In this epic, the cyclopean giant is known as “Buring.”
Similar figures exist in other Philippine epics influenced by Indian Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharta, such as the Ilocano epic “Biag ni Lam-ang.” Bicol and Batangas, where the creature’s stories are common, were part of the Indianized areas of the Philippines.
In the story “The Three Friends – The Monkey, the Dog, and the Carabao,” the giant is capable of lifting a carabao and hurling it to the ground. However, despite its strength, it is easily fooled. In “The Three Friends” tale, the monkey deceives the entity, leading to its demise.
Even though the bungisngis is a mythological creature, its existence in Philippine folklore enriches the country’s history and demonstrates the creativity and imagination of its people across generations.
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