In the beginning there was only the vast sea stretching into space, its gentle undulating waters were touched lightly by the cool night zephyr the sun had not dawned nor was there land the heavens had not been spread forth nor had mountains stood erect there was neither man, tree, flower not any living beast not a house nor village there was only solitude and profound loneliness and the great God Almighty, in His glory.
Now when our Creator, the almighty Bathala in the solitude pondered on those things that he needed to make His Creation perfect, as we know it now, he first made one being as His messenger and assistant in His creative enterprise He called him Dian Masalanta after which he made several lesser divinities or diwatas each one especially endowed with the power and the skill to mold, to design with grace and beauty those aspects of nature which God wanted made. With Masalanta at his side and with divine counsel, the supreme deity set about on one most momentous task
In an outburst of divine energy, there sprang from His powerful hands bits of earthy loam. As Dian collected bits of the loam Bathala tossed them and tossed them up until those clods took form like huge eggs These He caused to rise above from His divine breath; then He blew with great force till a giant egg with golden brown shell came floating and bobbing like an immense buoy right overhead It stood still, suspended.
Now, when His creative hand made it rotate. slowly at first then speed increased, then he said the magic words of command "Crack now, huge brown shell!" like lightning there sounded, a clap or thunder as the great round shape with an explosive noise fell apart into two gigantic halves like an enormous clam's shell. the sun's golden radiance fell in a shaft of brightness to the ocean surface.
At that precise moment when those golden rays kissed the waters, life emerged there on the great body of waters; from it appeared one immense giant. Balanak by name whose massive arms spanned from pole to pole. Bathala smiled, pleased by creation. He named the newly risen land of water Masadia it was also at this opportune moment Dian Masalanta, ever loyal and observant noticed a bit of golden light hovering near his hand. He reached quickly for it as it settled within His palm a tiny little ball, soft with delicate light He raised to gaze on this beautiful phenomenon to his surprise a miniature bird had taken shape, its exquisite features were so graceful. It twittered as though bidding them well. "A golden maya!" Masalanta proclaimed in the divine delight he forgot himself, releasing it unawares it soared into the ether.
In great displeasure his master spoke severely reprimanding him for being remiss in duty His creative powers were taken away but to console Dian , God let that little gold maya be its master's symbol of divine favor so in every creation thereafter Dian Masalanta left his signature mark by fashioning tiny golden mayas of different sizes hidden somewhere so skillfully woven in nature's wonders. These hidden bird motifs may be found on flower petal tips embedded on a spider web, under a mushroom lid on an ornate fish's body on a pebble by the roadside the list is so very endless for these symbols represent Bathala's blessing on any part of His creation. When you find those golden mayas thank His name.