Minokawa is described as a gigantic bird that is associated with the dragons.
Appearance
A Bagobo tale explained that the Minokawa is a bird that is as big as an island. The feathers of this bird are like the sharp swords, its eyes are like mirrors while its beaks and likes are like steel. It dwells on the eastern horizon outside the sky.
Power
According to the belief of the early people, eclipse occurs when the Minokawa swallows the sun. It is so big, lives in outer space and can gulp the sun, the moon and the earth.
Legend
A long time ago, a large bird known as Minokawa swallowed the moon. The people were too scared that they started to scream and made noises. The bird got curios on the noise so it glanced down to see what’s happening and opened its mouth. As a result, the moon jumped out and escaped.
The bird is as big as the island of Negros or Bohol. Minokawa’s beak and claws are like steel, its eyes are mirrors and its feathers are like sharp sword. It lives outside the sky and aims to snatch the moon. However, after failed efforts the Minokawa would travel and haunt the earth.
Since the moon feared the Minokawa, it had eight holes in the eastern horizon to come out and eight homes in the western horizon to go in. Everytime the moon comes out from the eastern horizon, the bird tried to swallow her. When the Minokawa swallow the moon and the sun, it will go down to earth and swallow men too. Then, the Bagobo people will scream and beat gongs because of fear. Their noises will make the bird look down and open its mouth.