Philippine Mythology
From WikiPilipinas: The Hip 'n Free Philippine Encyclopedia
Philippine mythology encompasses a wide variety of tales and superstitions about magical creatures and entities. Long before science could explain the phenomena of the world, mythology provided the answers to questions about strange events, as well as the origin of almost every being. In recent times, many Filipinos still believe in such entities despite the spread of Western and Christian influences in the country. Philippine mythology is prevalent in the provinces where people still believe in magical entities even at present.
Philippine mythology is diverse due to the geographical composition of the Philippines. With its many islands, the Philippines is composed of different ethnic groups which have different beliefs and influences. Yet, there are still certain similarities that exist among these groups, such as the belief in Heaven (kaluwalhatian, kalangitan), Hell (impiyerno, kasanaan), and the human soul (kaluluwa).
Though Philippine mythology may not be as widely known as its European and East Asian counterparts, it contains similar elements such as their belief in deities, creation stories and mythical creatures.
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[edit] Philippine Deities
Ancient Philippine mythology varies among the many indigenous tribes depending on their beliefs and influence. Some tribes during the pre-Spanish conquest era believed in a single Supreme Being who created the world and everything in it. Others chose to worship nature and forest deities (diwatas). The following is a list of some of the gods and goddesses of the various ancient Philippine tribes:
[edit] Tagalog gods
- Bathala — formally known as Bathalang Maykapal or Maykapal for short and to the Cebuano people as Abba — is the Tagalogs chief god who is said to be the creator of humanity as well as the celestial fire (the Sun). He was possibly worshiped by the Visayans. Here is an invocation that is sung by priestesses called babaylans: "Bathala, the source of all creations, in Your hands lie Maniliw the witch, and from your chest comes out the creator Lulid Amo that can make darkness darker than the night."
- Apolake is the Tagalog god of the sun and lord of war. In most myths, he is said to be the son of Bathala and the brother of Mayari. However, in other myths, his parents are identified as Anagolay and Dumakulem and his sister is Dian Masalanta. The Pangasinenses refer to him as Ama/Apo-Kaoley. Some mistakenly call him Adlaw, the Visayan word for "Sun", even if he is a Tagalog deity.
- Mayari is the ancient Tagalog goddess who is one-eyed but extremely beautiful. She is said to be the protector of the moon. She is the daughter of Bathala and sister of Tala and Apolake. Mayari is sometimes mistakenly called Bulan by the people. Mayari and Apolake once got into an argument as to who would be the better ruler of the world. Apolake claimed superiority by virtue of his male strength while Mayari believed in equal rights. The dispute intensified as they entered a physical battle, using wooden bars as weapons. Mayari received a blow on her face and was blinded in one eye which resulted in her present appearance. Apolake was very sorry for what he did and offered his hand in friendship, as well as the mutual share in the power over the world and Mayari accepted.
- Dian Masalanta is known as the ancient Tagalog goddess of love, pregnancy, childbirth. She is also referred to as the daughter of Anagolay and Dumakulem and the sister of Apolake. She became known as ‘’Maria Makiling’’, after the arrival of the Spaniards in the Philippines.
- Lakapati also known as Ikapati’’ or ‘’Lakanpati, is the ancient Tagalog hermaphrodite deity of fertility and cultivated fields, and the protector of crops and farm animals. As Ikapati, which means “giver of food”, she is a great mother goddess to her worshipper who pray to her asking to be protected from starvation. She protects the growing food and animals of the people who acknowledge her and provides them an abundant harvest. In other myths, she is a consort of Bathala/Abba and it has been thought that she started the creation of the universe but it was Bathala who finished it.
- Anitun Tabu is the Tagalog fickle-minded goddess of the wind and rain.
- Idianale also known as Idianalo’’ or ‘’Ideale, is the ancient Tagalog goddess of works and good actions. Other legends identify her as the goddess of death. It is possible that she and Hukloban (goddess of death) are one. The ancient Tagalog people call her for guidance and success in their work, as well as help and protection for the farmers especially in animal husbandry. This is probably the reason why she is worshipped as a goddess of agriculture.
- Sitan is the Tagalog god of the afterlife. He is also the guardian of Kasanaan (realm of the evil spirits called manggalo) with the help of his follower gods Hukloban (death), Manggagaway (sickness), Mangkukulam (fire), and Manisalat (destroyer of love).
- Hukloban is the Tagalog metamorphic goddess of death. The word Hukloban is Tagalog for crone or hag and is derived from the old Tagalog word "huklob" which means enchantment.
- Manggagaway is the Tagalog goddess of disease. She inflicts her terror by disguising herself as a healer and roams the countryside to induce maladies instead of healing.
- Mangkukulam (god) is the Tagalog god of fire. Mangkukulam is a Tagalog word meaning "witch".
- Manisalat is the Tagalog god of broken families. His followers were also called manisalats, a kind of witch that can sow animosity between spouses and lovers which lead to arguments and separation. He can also prevent spouses from having sexual intercourse.
- Malyari, also known as Bernardo Carpio or (Karpyo), is the son of Bathala by a mortal woman. He is the god of strength and bravery. With his god-like abilities, Malyari became proud and selfish. Because of this, the gods punished him by trapping him between two crushing mountains.
[edit] Other gods
- Kan-Laon is the southern Visayan supreme god. He is said to inhabit Mt. Kanlaon.
- Lalahon is the Visayan goddess of fire, volcanoes, and harvest. In ancient times, natives believed that when she is angered, she would send armies of fleas to destroy their harvest. In order to prevent this, the people would offer gifts and sacrifices to please her.
- Aswang (god) is the Bicolano god of evil. He is both the brother and enemy to Gugurang.
- Haliya is the Bicolano goddess of the moon and protector of women. The Bicolano’s believe that Haliya is the only one who can protect the women from Bakonawa, the evil serpent that takes the form of a woman.
- Tadaklan is the Tinguian god of thunder who is worshiped by the people of central Luzon.
- Kimat is the lightning dog, owned by Tadaklan.
- Kabunian (Lumawig) is the Ifugao tribe supreme deity. He dwells in the Northern Cordilleras where his palace is situated at the peak of Mount Pulag.
[edit] Creation Stories
Like many other countries, the Philippines also has its own versions of how the world was created. One of the best-known accounts of creation is the story from the Tagalog people.
This is an ancient Tagalog account of creation.
In the beginning when the Earth was still young, the gods, Bathala; Aman Sinaya; and Amihan, were the only beings that existed. Bathala was god of the Sky (Langit) and Aman Sinaya was goddess of the Sea (Dagat). The two have been fierce rivals for a long time, and everyday, they would try to outdo each other. Bathala used his lighting bolts and thunder, and Aman Sinaya used her waves and typhoons.
One day, Aman Sinaya decided to send her tempests into the Sky to cause a wild commotion. In order to stop her, Bathala threw giant boulders that came from atop of the mountains. It created thousands of islands onto the surface of the Sea, which became the Philippine archipelago. Amihan, the Northeast Wind in the middle of the two realms, decided to stop the battle once and for all by taking the form of a bird. She then flew back and forth between them. This made the Sky and the Sea closer than before. At the point where the two realms met, both deities agreed to end the fight and become friends.
As a sign of friendship, Bathala planted a seed underneath the ocean floor. It soon grew into a bamboo reed, sticking out of the edge of the Sea. Amihan gazed upon it one day and heard voices, coming from inside the bamboo. "Oh, North Wind! North Wind! Please let us out!" the voices said. She pecked the reed once, then twice. All of a sudden, the bamboo cracked and slit open. Inside were two human beings; one was a male and the other was a female. Amihan named the man "Malakas" (Strong) and the woman "Maganda" (Beautiful). She then flew them onto one of the islands where they settled, built a house, and had millions of offspring that populated the Earth.
Then, the time finally came when the children were too numerous for Malakas and Maganda to control. One day, they were ordered to work in the fields, but instead, they did nothing. When the parents arrived home, they noticed that their instructions weren't followed. Asking for some guidance, they prayed to the great god, Bathala, and he came to them and said, "Let your anger be shown to everyone and it shall make them into what they are meant to be." So out of their anger, they grabbed spoon ladles and began to give blows to everyone.
All the children started running away. Some hid under the bamboo tables and became slaves. A few of them went inside the burning cauldron and turned into the Aetas of the islands. Others climbed up the rooftop and became the datus of the villages. Still others climbed to the tops of the trees and were believed to have become the commoners. Those who fled to the mountains turned into hunters and the ones who ran to the seashore turned into fishermen.
[edit] Mythological Creatures
Aswang is a ghoul or vampire that eats the dead, and has a peculiar liking for human liver. Aswangs may take the form of a human or an animal, such as a bat, a pig, or a black dog. They can change their forms at will or by the use of foul oils. They appear at night to prey on unwary travelers or sleeping people.
The myth of the Aswang is popular in the Visayas, especially in provinces of Capiz, Antique, and Iloilo.
Dila is a Tagalog word which means tongue. The Dila is a tongue of a spirit that passes through the bamboo flooring of provincial houses. It then licks certain humans to death.
Diwata, also known as fairies or nymphs, are guardian spirits of nature that reside in large trees, such as acacia and balete. They bring blessings or curses upon those who do good or harm to the forests and mountains.
Engkanto (sometimes spelled Encanto) is an umbrella term for most supernatural beings. They are commonly referred to as fairies who reside primarily in the forests and the sea.
Duwende means dwarf. In the Philippines, duwendes can be found living in houses or in trees in rural areas. Their behavior depends on they way the homeowners treat them. In order to please the resident duwende, Filipinos leave food on the floor as an offering to them.
Kapre are tall and dark giants that are known to inhabit forests under old acacia or mango trees. They are known for smoking huge rolls of tobacco. Kapres usually make people lost with their mystical powers. According to superstition when a brief shower of rain falls while the sun is shining, a pair of Kapres are being wed.
Manananggal is a sorceress that can split her body in two. She cleverly disguises herself as a pretty newcomer to a small village or barrio. When it is time for her to eat, she leaves her lower torso in a dark secluded part of the forest. She loses her beauty when she splits her body and takes the form of a monstrous creature. She grows large leathery wings on her back that give her the means to travel from one place to another. She feeds on the unborn fetus of a pregnant woman by piercing the woman’s womb with her tongue and sucking the fetus out. She also preys on men, whom, she lures to dark places while in the form of a beautiful woman. There she eats their internal organ such as heart, liver and stomach.
The only way a manananggal can be destroyed is if her monstrous form is hit by the sunlight. According to legend, in order for this to happen, one must find the lower torso of the manananggal and scatter salt, ash and/or garlic on it so that the two halves may not be able to join, thus forcing the manananggal to remain until the sun comes out.
Small containers of salt, ash and raw rice, and the smell of burning rubber are said to deter the Manananggal from approaching one’s house.
Mangkukulam are known to curse their enemies with evil and wicked spells. Common mangkukulam tools include black candles, voodoo dolls, human hair, and needles.
Mambabarang uses magical insects to bring harm to his victims. These insects search for their victims, and leave them suffering from pus-filled boils.
Matruculan is believe to impregnate a virgin. When the woman conceives, the Matruculan comes after the woman to kill her and eat the fetus inside her womb.
Multo is a Tagalog word for ghost, comes from the Spanish word muerto, which means "dead". Superstitious Filipinos believe that the multo are spirits of their former kin who have come to visit them from the grave. It is also believed that when a person dies, they are fetched by the spirits of their former kin. The Tagalog word for being visited by a multo is 'minumulto'(being haunted), or 'dinadalaw' (being visited).
Nuno sa punso are inhabitants of mounds such as anthills in the ground. Superstitious Filipinos ask the resident nuno persmission to let them pass without harming them. It is said that when a nuno is offended, they bring illness to the people who have done them ill.
Santelmo or Santo Elmo, is a fireball seen by dozens of Filipinos. They are usually seen by the people living in the Sierra Madre Mountains.
Sirena is a mermaid. They are said to be seen by fishermen near the shores of towns bordering the Pacific Ocean.
Siyokoy is the male counterpart of the sirena. They have gill slits, are colored brown or green, and have scaly skin, comparable to that of fishes.
Tikbalang is a half-horse, half-man creature. Its head and lower body are that of a horse, and its torso and arms are that of a human. Tikbalangs are very playful with people, and they usually make a person imagine things that aren't real. Male tikbalangs take interest in beautiful women, and are said to lure them into the forests where they area never seen again.
Legend says that when a person tames a Tikbalang then keeps a sample of hair from its mane, the Tikbalang will be that person's slave for life.
Tiyanak is the offspring of a woman and a demon. It can also be an aborted fetus that has come back to life to take revenge on its mother. A tiyanak is often disguised as a normal baby in the presence of human beings. Once a person comes to near a tiyanak, that is when it transforms into its monstrous form and attacks the human prey. Tiyanaks are typically described as having reddish dark skin and glowing eyes.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Barangay-Sixteenth Century Philippine Culture and Society by William Henry Scott
- Sambali. (accessed on 30 July 2007)
- Angelfire
- Gutenberg
[edit] Citation
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