Toglai and Toglibon

Overview

The Bagobo origin account begins with the man Toglai and woman Toglibon. Their first son and daughter leave across the waters; later children remain at Cibolan on Mount Apo until the parents die and become spirits. A severe drought then scatters the descendants, whose journeys and carried objects explain named communities. Two siblings too weak to leave survive on water from sugar-cane and become ancestors of the Bagobo.

The story also incorporates Spaniards and Americans as descendants of the earliest departing pair. This is a historical witness to an explanatory ancestry narrative, not a biological classification of those peoples. Cole’s age and cultural-development claims in the note are editorial judgments. The parents’ change into spirits is explicit, but their appearance and later actions in that state are not described.

Origins & earliest records

Philippines; Bagobo accounts as grouped by Cole

Records & interpretation

Complete relevant story, collection preface, regional introduction and attached notes directly read.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Philippine Folk Tales

   Mabel Cook Cole, compiler and annotator · 1916

   Bagobo, Origin, pp. 133–134 and note12

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Primary records and illustrations

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Historical collected narrative and editorial notesCole, Philippine Folk Tales (1916), Bagobo, Origin, pp. 133–134 and note12Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.