Bakunawa (The Moon-Eating Serpent)
The Bakunawa is a massive sea serpent or dragon in Visayan and Bicolano mythology believed to cause eclipses by attempting to swallow the moon. Originally a beautiful sea goddess transformed into a serpent as punishment for loving a mortal, the Bakunawa rises from the ocean depths to chase the moon across the sky. According to legend, the supreme god Bathala created seven moons to illuminate the night, but the Bakunawa, amazed by their beauty, swallowed six of them. To prevent the loss of the final moon, people make loud noises with pots, pans, and drums during eclipses to frighten the serpent