An Ultimate Guide To Philippine Mythology’s
Legendary Deities
Written by FilipiKnow in Hit List,Philippine Mythology
Last Updated on 06/23/2019 by Luisito Batongbakal Jr.
Imagine yourself living in ancient Philippines.
No Christianity, Islam, or any of the modern-day
religions. Everything you need to survive is literally in front of
you–food, clothes, a roof over your head, you name it.
But while things around you seem to be in perfect order, a
tidal wave of confusion starts forming in your mind.
You’re now questioning your very own existence. Questions
you never knew you needed to answer are flooding your
brain: Why is the sky blue? Where did we come from? Who
controls everything? But with no religion to rely on, how can
you possibly make sense of everything?
The answer, according to our ancestors,
is Philippine mythology.
Nope, we’re not going to talk about the whitewashed
deities you grew up watching in movies. While almost
everybody is familiar with Zeus, Athena, Aphrodite, Eros and
other legendary gods of Greek mythology, it seems that we are
all clueless about their Filipino counterparts. And that’s the
reason why we’ve decided to write this article.  knowledge embedded in our society: arts, folk literature,
Philippine mythology is much more important than
you think. It gave our ancestors a sense of direction and
helped them explain everything–from the origin of mankind
to the existence of diseases.
Bathala (creation god; [top]), a diwata (goddess/fairy,
guardian of nature; [bottom]) and the Sarimanok (center) of
Philippine mythology and folklore. Source: Wikimedia
Commons.
For them, it was not just a belief in invisible higher
beings. Philippine mythology defined who they were and
what they’re supposed to do.  The folktales are pure fiction, something that you use to
The late anthropologist H. Otley Beyer shared his own
observation:
“Among the Christianized peoples of the plains the myths are
preserved chiefly as folktales, but in the mountains their
recitation and preservation is a real and living part
of the daily religious life of the people. Very few of
these myths are written; the great majority of them are
preserved by oral tradition only.”
There’s no one-size-fits-all rule in Philippine mythology. In
other words, ancient Filipinos from every part of the country
didn’t stick to a single version of creation story nor did they
give uniform names to their deities. As a result, Philippine
mythology became so diverse that studying it now is like
staring at a list of gazillion Pokémons.  of deities, defined as supernatural beings with human
It’s impossible to cover every deity included in the chart
(remember, this is a blog post, not a book), but we’ll try to
feature the most interesting characters and make this as
comprehensive as possible–FilipiKnow style.
Now, before we go straight to the most exciting part, it’s
important that we first go back to the basics. 
Table of Contents
What exactly is Philippine mythology?
Part I: Luzon Divinities
1. Bathala.
2. Idianale.
3. Dumangan.
4. Anitun Tabu.
5. Dumakulem.
6. Ikapati/Lakapati.
7. Mapulon.
8. Anagolay.
9. Apolaki.
10. Dian Masalanta.
11. Amanikabli.
12-14. Mayari, Hana, and Tala.
15-17. Lakanbakod, Lakandanum, and Lakambini.
18-19. Galang Kaluluwa and Ulilang Kaluluwa.
20-21. Haliya and the Bakunawa.
22. Sitan.
What exactly is Philippine mythology?
Philippine mythology is a collection of stories and
superstitions about magical beings a.k.a. deities whom our
ancestors believed controlled everything.
It’s part of the folklore, which covers all kinds of traditional
customs, beliefs, and games, among others.
If you’re going to examine the folklore family tree (see the
chart below), you’ll see the folk literature branching out into
three groups: folk speech (which includes the bugtong  or
riddles and salawikain or proverbs), folk songs, and the folk
narratives.
Folk narratives are all about stories. They may be told in
prose, verse, or both. They are further divided into three sub-
categories: the folktales or kuwentong bayan, legends
or alamat, and myths.
entertain bored kids. The legends and myths, meanwhile, are
assumed to be true by the storyteller. It’s the timeline that
sets them apart.
While legends happened in a much more recent time
period, myths are believed to have taken place in
the “remote past,” meaning a period when the world
as we know it today wasn’t fully formed yet.
According to the late Damiana L. Eugenio, the Mother of
Philippine Folklore, myths “account for the origin of the
world, of mankind, of death, or for characteristics
of birds, animals, geographical features, and the
phenomena of nature.” 
Falling under this sub-category are the stories or adventures
characteristics.
These deities are either good or bad, and each of them has a
specific function. Renowned anthropologist F. Landa Jocano,
author of Outline of Philippine Mythology, explained it
further:
“Some of these deities are always near; others are
inhabitants of far-off realms of the Skyworld who
take interest in human affairs only when they are invoked
during proper ceremonies which compel them to come down
to earth.”
In this three-part series, you’ll get to know more about these
interesting deities from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. We’ll
examine their stories, special powers, and other details that
will tickle the curious child in you. Special thanks to the
talented Pinoy graphic artists whose amazing works have
helped bring these ancient deities back to life.
Note: All images presented in these articles are a modern
depiction of our ancient deities. History tells us that
representations of these gods and goddesses created by our
ancestors were burned by the colonizers. Therefore, the
point of these illustrations is not to “westernize” Philippine
mythology but to make it more appealing and engaging to
the younger readers who ought to know more about their
roots.  deity. Ifugaos, meanwhile, called their own Kabunian. The
Part I: Luzon Divinities
Based on the early accounts of Spanish conquistador Miguel
de Loarca, the ancient Tagalogs believed in one creator god.
However, they didn’t have the power to communicate with
him directly. An intercessor or “middleman” was required.
This go-between could either be the spirit of their dead
relative or any one of the lower-ranking deities. Ancient gods
were usually worshiped in the form of adobe carvings
called likha, while the dead ancestors were revered by
offering foods or gold adornments to wooden images known
as anito.  Tagalogs, this creator god rewarded his worshipers with good
Take note that the early missionaries differed on how they
defined anito.  Father Pedro de San Buenaventura, for
example, insisted that the word referred to the act of offering
(“naga-anito”) and not the spirit itself (“pinagaanitohan”).
Aside from the deities and the souls of the departed, the
ancient Tagalogs also venerated animals like the crocodiles,
believing that these wild beasts contained the human souls.
On the other hand, a tigmamanukan bird flying across
someone’s path was considered an omen. Depending on the
direction of its flight, this bird could foretell whether an
expedition would end up a success or disaster.
 
1. Bathala.
Original illustration designed by Dubai-based Filipino graphic
artist “Trix.” View her stunning portfolio at
trixdraws.deviantart.com
Also known as Abba, this highest-ranking deity was described
as “may kapal sa lahat,” or the creator of everything. His
origin is unknown but his name suggests Hindu influences.
According to William Henry Scott, Bathala was derived from
the Sanskrit bhattara which means “noble lord.”
From his abode in the sky called Kawalhatian, this deity
looks over mankind. He’s pleased when his people
follow his rules, giving everything they need to the
point of spoiling them (hence, the bahala
na philosophy). But mind you, this powerful deity could
also be cruel sometimes, sending lightning and thunder to
those who sin against him.
Interesting fact: Other indigenous groups in Luzon also
believed in a creator god, but they didn’t call
him Bathala. For instance, the Bontoks and Kankanays of the
Central Cordillera  considered Lumawig the “creator of all
things and the preserver of life.” This deity later sired two
pretty daughters–Bugan, the goddess of romance;
and Obban, the goddess of reproduction.
Bulul guardian figure of the Ifugao people. The bulul are
anthropomorphical representations of rice divinities
protecting the seeds and the harvest. Wood and sacrificial
remains, northern Luzón Island (Philippines), 15th century.
Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Those from Benguet honored Apo as their highest-ranking
latter was believed to have inhabited the “fifth region of the
universe,” and was assisted by other minor gods, among
them Tayaban, the firefly-looking god of death; Gatui, the
god of practical jokes who was also blamed for causing
miscarriages among Ifugao mothers; Hidit, gods of the rituals
responsible for giving punishments to those who broke
taboos; and Bulol (or bulul), the famous Ifugao rice god
worshiped in the form of small wooden statues resembling
their ancestors.
Early people of Zambales, on the other hand, named their
highest-ranking deity Malayari. Just like the Bathala of the
health and harvest and punished the unbelievers with disease
and famine.
Lesser divinities also assisted Malayari in carrying out his
tasks, among them Akasi, god of health and
sickness; Manglubar, god of powerful living whose task was
to “pacify angry hearts”; and the guardian
angel Mangalabar, the god of good grace.
2. Idianale.
Original illustration designed by Dubai-based Filipino graphic
artist “Trix.” View her stunning portfolio at
trixdraws.deviantart.com
If Bathala was the boss, the other lesser deities who lived with
him in the sky were his assistants. Each of these lower-
ranking gods and goddesses had specific responsibilities. One
of them was Idianale (Idiyanale or Idianali in other
sources), the goddess of labor and good deeds.
There are varying accounts as to what specific
field Idianale was worshiped for. Historian Gregorio Zaide
said that Idianale was the god of agriculture, while other
sources suggest that she was the patron of animal husbandry,
a branch of agriculture.
Idianale married Dumangan, the god of good harvest, and
later gave birth to two more Tagalog
deities: Dumakulem and Anitun Tabu.
 
3. Dumangan.
Original illustration designed by Dubai-based Filipino graphic
artist “Trix.” View her stunning portfolio at
trixdraws.deviantart.com
Dumangan was the Tagalog sky-god of good harvest,
the husband of Idianale, and father
to Dumakulem and Anitun Tabu.
In Zambales culture, Dumangan (or Dumagan)  caused the
rice to “yield better grains.” According to F. Landa Jocano,
the early people of Zambales also believed Dumagan had
three brothers who were just as powerful as him.
Kalasakas hastened the ripening of the rice stalks
while Kalasokus was responsible for turning the grains into
yellow. Lastly, the deity Damulag protected the flowers of the
rice plants from the destructive hurricanes.
4. Anitun Tabu.
Original illustration designed by Dubai-based Filipino graphic
artist “Trix.” View her stunning portfolio at
trixdraws.deviantart.com
Among ancient Tagalogs, Anitun Tabu was  known as
the “fickle-minded goddess of the wind and
rain.” She’s one of the two children
of Dumangan and Idianale.
In Zambales, this goddess was known as Aniton Tauo, one of
the lesser deities assisting their chief god, Malayari. Legend
has it that Aniton Tauo was once considered superior to other
Zambales deities. She became so full of herself
that Malayari reduced her rank as a punishment.
The Zambales people used to offer her with the best kind
of pinipig or pounded young rice grains during harvest
season. Sacrifices that made use of these ingredients are
known as mamiarag in their local dialect.
5. Dumakulem.
Original illustration designed by Dubai-based Filipino graphic
artist “Trix.” View her stunning portfolio at
trixdraws.deviantart.com
Dumakulem was the son of Idianale and Dumangan, and
brother of wind goddess Anitun Tabu. The ancient
Tagalogs revered him as the guardian of the
mountains. He is often depicted as a strong and skillful
hunter.
This Tagalog sky-god later tied the knot with another major
deity, Anagolay, known as the goddess of lost things. The
marriage produced two children: Apolaki, the sun god,
and Dian Masalanta, the goddess of lovers.
 
6. Ikapati/Lakapati.
Original illustration designed by Dubai-based Filipino graphic
artist “Trix.” View her stunning portfolio at
trixdraws.deviantart.com
Probably one of the most intriguing deities of Philippine
mythology, Ikapati (or Lakapati) was the Tagalog goddess of
fertility. F. Landa Jocano described her as the “goddess of the
cultivated land” and the “benevolent giver of food and
prosperity.”
Some sources describe Lakapati as androgynous,
hermaphrodite, and even a “transgender” god.
In William Henry Scott’s “Baranggay,” Lakapati is described
as a major fertility deity  represented by a “hermaphrodite
image with both male and female parts.”
Before planting in a new field, the ancient Tagalogs usually
offered sacrifices to Lakapati. In a 17th century report by
Franciscan missionary  Father Pedro de San Buenaventura, it
was said that a farmer paying homage to this fertility goddess
would hold up a child before saying “Lakapati pakanin mo
yaring alipin mo; huwag mong gutumin” (Lakapati, feed this
thy slave; let him not hunger).
Being the kindest among the lesser deities
of Bathala, Lakapati was loved and respected by the
people. She married the god of seasons, Mapulon, and
became the mother of Anagolay, goddess of lost things.
7. Mapulon.
Original illustration designed by Dubai-based Filipino graphic
artist “Trix.” View her stunning portfolio at
trixdraws.deviantart.com
In Tagalog mythology, Mapulon was the god of seasons.
F. Landa Jocano, in the book “Outline of Philippine
Mythology,” described Mapulon as one of the lesser divinities
assisting Bathala.
Not much is known about this deity, aside from the fact that
he married Ikapati/Lakapati, the fertility goddess, and
sired Anagolay, the goddess of lost things.
8. Anagolay.
Original illustration designed by Dubai-based Filipino graphic
artist “Trix.” View her stunning portfolio at
trixdraws.deviantart.com
Pre-colonial Tagalogs who were hopelessly looking for their
missing stuff prayed to Anagolay, the goddess of lost
things. She was the daughter of two major Tagalog deities–
Ikapati and Mapulon.
When she reached the right age, she married the
hunter Dumakulem and gave birth to two more
deities: Apolaki and Dian Masalanta, the ancient gods of sun
and lovers, respectively.
Interesting fact: In September of 2014, the Minor Planet
Center (MPC), the international agency responsible for
naming minor bodies in the solar system, officially gave
the name (3757) Anagolay to an asteroid first
discovered in 1982 by E. F. Helin at the Palomar
Observatory.
Obviously, the asteroid was named after the ancient Tagalog
goddess of lost things. The name, submitted by Filipino
student Mohammad Abqary Alon, bested more than a
thousand entries in a contest held by the Space Generation
Advisory Council (SGAC).
 
9. Apolaki.
Original illustration designed by Dubai-based Filipino graphic
artist “Trix.” View her stunning portfolio at
trixdraws.deviantart.com
Arguably the Filipino counterpart of the Roman god
Mars, Apolaki appeared in several ancient myths. The
Tagalogs revered Apolaki as the sun god as well as
patron of the warriors. He shares almost the same
qualities with the Kapampangan sun god of war and
death, Aring Sinukuan.
Early people of Pangasinan claimed that Apolaki talked to
them. Back when blackened teeth were considered the
standard of beauty, some of these natives told a friar that a
disappointed Apolaki had scolded them for
welcoming “foreigners with white teeth.”
In a book by William Henry Scott, the name of this deity is
said to have originated from apo, which
means “lord,” and laki, which
means “male” or “virile.” Jocano’s Outline of Philippine
Mythology details how Apolaki came to be: He was the son
of Anagolay and Dumakulem, and also the brother of Dian
Masalanta, the goddess of lovers.
In other stories, however, Apolaki was, in fact, the son of
the supreme god of the ancient
Tagalogs, Bathala. The book “Philippine Myths, Legends,
and Folktales” by Maximo Ramos contains the story of how
the sun became brighter than the moon. In the said
myth, Bathala sired two children from a mortal woman. He
named his son Apolaki and his daughter Mayari.
Both children had eyes so bright that they became the source
of light for the rest of the world.
When Bathala died, Apolaki and Mayari both wanted to
succeed their father. A long, bloody argument ensued as
neither one of them wanted to give up the throne. The fight
reached the boiling point when Apolaki hit Mayari‘s face with
a wooden club, blinding her one eye.
Cooler heads prevailed, and both agreed to just take turns in
ruling the world. Apolaki now occupies the throne during
daytime while Mayari, the moon goddess, provides the “cool
and gentle light” during nighttime, for she is blind in one eye.
 
10. Dian Masalanta.
Original illustration designed by Dubai-based Filipino graphic
artist “Trix.” View her stunning portfolio at
trixdraws.deviantart.com
If the Greeks had Aphrodite, our Tagalog ancestors had Dian
Masalanta. The patron goddess of lovers and
childbirth, this deity was the brother of the sun
god Apolaki to parents Anagolay and Dumakulem.
Sacrifices were offered to Dian Masalanta to ensure
successful pregnancies. The same was done for other lesser
deities who ruled specific domains, like Mankukutod, the
protector of coconut palms who could cause accidents if the
offering was not made. Haik, the sea god, was honored by sea
travelers for a safe and successful voyage, while Uwinan
Sana, the forest deity, was acknowledged so that anyone who
entered his “property” wouldn’t be punished for trespassing.
 
11. Amanikabli.
Original illustration designed by Dubai-based Filipino graphic
artist “Trix.” View her stunning portfolio at
trixdraws.deviantart.com
Depending on what book you
read, Amanikabli (Amanikable or Aman Ikabli in
other sources) could either be the ancient Tagalog
patron of hunters or god of the sea.
In the book Barangay by William Henry Scott and the
1936 Encyclopedia of the Philippines by Zoilo
Galang, Amanikabli was identified as the Tagalog anito of
hunters who rewarded his worshipers with a good game.
The chief protector of the sea, on the other hand,
was Aman Sinaya (or Amanisaya in other
references), who “gave his devotees a good catch.” In
the same book by William Henry Scott, Aman Sinaya was
described as the deity called upon by believers “when first
wetting a net or fishhook.” He was also identified as the
father of Sinaya who invented the fishing gear.
The works of anthropologist F. Landa Jocano beg to differ.
According to his relatively more modern
version, Amanikabli was one of the lesser deities
assisting Bathala in Kawalhatian. He was described as “the
husky, ill-tempered ruler of the sea,” whose hatred towards
mankind started when a beautiful mortal woman, aptly
named Maganda, rejected his love.
Since then, the sea god had made it his personal agenda
to send “turbulent waves and horrible tempests every now
and then to wreck boats and drown men.”
 
12-14. Mayari, Hana, and Tala.
Mayari, the moon goddess. Original illustration designed by
Dubai-based Filipino graphic artist “Trix.” View her stunning
portfolio at trixdraws.deviantart.com
Once upon a time, Bathala fell in love with a mortal woman.
She died after giving birth to three beautiful daughters. Of
course, Bathala didn’t want anything bad to happen to his
girls so he brought all three of them to the sky to live with
him.
Before long, these three demigods were given specific
roles: Mayari, Hana (or Hanan in other references),
and Tala became the Tagalog goddesses of the moon,
morning, and star, respectively.
F. Landa Jocano’s Outline of Philippine Mythology gave a
flattering description of the moon goddess: She was the “most
beautiful divinity in the court of Bathala.” In other Luzon
myths, however, the moon deity was anything but a beautiful
goddess.
Hana/Hanan, the goddess of the morning and sister of
Mayari. Original illustration designed by Dubai-based
Filipino graphic artist “Trix.” View her stunning portfolio at
trixdraws.deviantart.com
One Pangasinan myth tried to explain the origin of the sun,
moon, and the stars. The story started with an all-powerful
god called “Ama” giving a fiery palace to each of his two
sons: Agueo (“sun”) and Bulan (“moon”). With their palaces,
these two gods would pass across the world every day to
provide light to the people.
Agueo and Bulan are comparable to the Bible’s Cain and Abel.
Between the two, Bulan was the mischievous one. When he
overheard a group of thieves wishing for darkness so they
could steal and wreak havoc to mankind, Bulan was thrilled.
He then asked his brother, Agueo, to quickly leave the earth
so his evil friends could do their business.
When Agueo refused, a heated argument took place.
Aware of everything that happened, Bathala was furious
at Bulan. From his abode in the sky, he “seized an enormous
rock and hurled it whistling through the air.” It hit Bulan‘s
palace, breaking it into pieces. The flickering
fragments became the stars. Bulan had since been
banned from joining his brother in circling around the world.
He still lives in a fiery palace, but its dim light is only enough
to guide the thieves during nighttime.
Mayari, Tala, and Hana. Original illustration by Maria Angela
C. Simbajon (Contact No.: 09274589350). The artist grants
FilipiKnow the EXCLUSIVE license to display the artwork.
You are not allowed to re-post this on your blog, social media
account, or any other media without her permission.
Another Mayari story appeared both in Maximo
Ramos’ “Philippine Myths, Legends, and Folktales” and Dean
S. Fansler’s “Filipino Popular Tales.” According to this myth
from Pampanga, Mayari was the sister of the sun
god, Apolaki, and both of them were gifted with bright eyes
which served as a light for the whole world.
When their father died, the siblings argued on who deserved
to take the throne. The fight ended up with Mayari blinded in
one eye after Apolaki hit her with a bamboo club.
Burdened by guilt, the sun god finally agreed to just share the
leadership with her sister. Apolaki soon became the “sun”
who provides warm light during the day, while Mayari (or the
“moon”) rules every night with a cooler and dimmer light due
to her blindness.
 
15-17. Lakanbakod, Lakandanum, and Lakambini.
Lakambakod. Original illustration by Maria Angela C.
Simbajon (Contact No.: 09274589350). The artist grants
FilipiKnow the EXCLUSIVE license to display the artwork.
You are not allowed to post this on your blog, social media
account, or any other media without her permission.
Not all deities of Philippine mythology lived in the sky
with Bathala. Some of them co-existed with the ancient
Tagalogs and were easily invoked during religious ceremonies
headed by a catalonan.
Spanish lexicographers called these supernatural
beings anito, Bathala‘s agents who were assigned specific
functions. Three of the most interesting minor deities actually
had names that rhyme together: Lakanbakod,
Lakandanum, and Lakambini.
In William Henry
Scott’s “Barangay,” Lakanbakod (Lakan
Bakod or Lakambacod in other sources) was
described as a deity who had “gilded genitals as long
as a rice stalk.” 
Lakanbakod was the “lord of fences,” a protector of crops
powerful enough to keep animals out of farmlands. Hence,
he was invoked and offered eels when fencing a plot of land.
Lakambini was just as fascinating. Although the name is
almost synonymous with “muse” nowadays, it was not the
case during the early times.
Up until the 19th century, lacanbini had been the
name given to an anito whom Fray San
Buenaventura described as “diyus-diyosang
sumasakop siya sa mga sakit sa lalamunan.” In
simple English, this minor deity was invoked by our ancestors
to treat throat ailments.
Lakandanum. Original illustration by Maria Angela C.
Simbajon (Contact No.: 09274589350). The artist grants
FilipiKnow the EXCLUSIVE license to display the artwork.
You are not allowed to post this on your blog, social media
account, or any other media without her permission.
Among the ancient Kapampangans, Lakandanum was
known as the water god depicted as a serpent-like
mermaid (naga). Before the Spaniards arrived, they would
often throw livestock to the river as a peace offering
for Lakandanum. Failure to do so resulted in long periods of
drought.
Every year during the dry season, the natives would make
sacrifices for the water god to give them rain. And when the
rain started pouring, they would take it as a cue
that Lakandanum had returned, and everyone would be in a
festive mood.
In fact, the old Kapampangan new year called Bayung
Danum (literally means “new water”) started as a celebration
in honor of Lakandanum. When  Christianity came into the
picture, it was converted into the feast of St. John in
Pampanga and feast of St. Peter in other areas.
 
18-19. Galang Kaluluwa and Ulilang Kaluluwa.
Galang Kaluluwa. Original illustration designed by Dubai-
based Filipino graphic artist “Trix.” View her stunning
portfolio at trixdraws.deviantart.com
In some Tagalog creation myths, Bathala was not the only
deity who lived in the universe before humanity was born. He
shared the space with two other powerful gods: the
serpent Ulilang Kaluluwa (“orphaned spirit”) who
lived in the clouds and the wandering god aptly
named Galang Kaluluwa.  (Contact No.: 09274589350). The artist grants FilipiKnow the
Ulilang Kaluluwa wanted the earth and the rest of the
universe for himself. Therefore, when he learned
of Bathala who was eyeing for the same stuff, he decided to
fight. After days of non-stop battle, Bathala became the last
man standing. The lifeless body of Ulilang Kaluluwa was
subsequently burned.
A few years later, Bathala and Galang Kaluluwa met. The
two became friends, with Bathala even inviting the latter to
stay in his kingdom. But the life of Galang Kaluluwa was cut
short by an illness. Upon his friend’s request, Bathala buried
the body at exactly the same spot where Ulilang
Kaluluwa was previously burned.
Soon, a mysterious tree grew from the grave. Its fruit and
wing-like leaves reminded Bathala of his departed friend,
while the hard, unattractive trunk had the same qualities as
the evil Ulilang Kaluluwa.  Believing that an eclipse was actually a bakunawa attempting
The tree, as it turned out, is the “tree of life” we greatly value
today–the coconut.
Ulilang Kaluluwa. Original illustration designed by Dubai-
based Filipino graphic artist “Trix.” View her stunning
portfolio at trixdraws.deviantart.com
Such was the importance of the coconut tree that when
Bathala decided to create the first man and woman, he built a
house for them using its trunk and leaves. As for their daily
sustenance, the coconut’s juice and its succulent white meat
proved to be nourishing.
It didn’t take long before they discovered more of the tree’s
hidden gifts: Its leaves could turn into good mats or brooms
while the fiber could become sturdy ropes, among other
things.
 
20-21. Haliya and the Bakunawa.
Haliya, the masked moon goddess of ancient Bikol. Original
illustration by Maria Angela C. Simbajon (Contact No.:
09274589350). The artist grants FilipiKnow the EXCLUSIVE
license to display the artwork. You are not allowed to post this
on your blog, social media account, or any other media
without her permission.
Haliya is the moon goddess of Bicolano mythology
who periodically comes down to earth to bathe in its
waters.
Legend has it that the world used to be illuminated by seven
moons.  The gigantic sea serpent called bakunawa, a mythical
creature found in the early Bicolano and Hiligaynon culture,
devoured all but one of these moons.
In some myths, the remaining moon was saved after the gods
came to the rescue and punished the sea monster. Another
story suggests that Haliya was the name of the last
moon standing, and she spared herself from being eaten by
making noises using drums and gongs–sounds that
the bakunawa found repulsive.
Bakunawa. Original illustration by Maria Angela C. Simbajon
EXCLUSIVE license to display the artwork. You are not
allowed to post this on your blog, social media account, or any
other media without her permission.
Pre-colonial Filipinos blamed the bakunawa for causing the
eclipse. Its name, which literally means “bent serpent,” first
appeared in a 1637 dictionary by Fr. Alonso de
Mentrida. Bakunawa was deeply embedded in our
ancient culture that by the time Fr. Ignacio Alcina
penned his 1668 book Historias de las Islas e Indios
de las Bisayas, the name of the sea serpent was
already synonymous with the eclipse.
The Hiligaynon people of the Visayas believe that
the bakunawa lives either in an area between the sky and the
clouds or inside the bungalog which  is an underground
passage “near the headwaters of big river systems.”
to swallow the moon, ancient Visayans tried to ward off the
monster by creating sounds. They did this by striking the
floors of their houses or by beating cans, drums, and the like.
 
22. Sitan.
Sitan. Original illustration designed by Dubai-based Filipino
graphic artist “Trix.” View her stunning portfolio at
trixdraws.deviantart.com
In a way, our  Tagalog ancestors already believed in the
afterlife even before the colonizers introduced us to their
Bible. One proof is the pre-colonial custom of burying the
dead with a pabaon, which could be in the form of jewelry,
food, or even slaves.
The modern-day heaven and hell also had ancient
counterparts. Jocano said that the early Tagalogs believed
good guys would go to Maca, a place of “eternal peace and
happiness.” The evil sinners, on the other hand, were thrown
into the “village of grief and
affliction” called Kasanaan/Kasamaan. 
The Kasanaan is a place of punishment ruled
by Sitan, which shares striking similarities with
Christianity’s ultimate villain, Satan. However, Jocano
said that Sitan was most likely derived from the Islamic ruler
of the underworld named Saitan (or Shaitan). This suggests
that the Muslim religion already had a grip to our society way
before the Spaniards arrived.
Mangagaway. Original illustration designed by Dubai-based
Filipino graphic artist “Trix.” View her stunning portfolio at
trixdraws.deviantart.com

Just like Bathala, the vicious Sitan was also assisted by other

lesser deities or mortal agents. First was Mangagaway,
the wicked shapeshifter who wore a skull necklace
and could kill or heal anyone with the use of her
magic wand. She could also prolong one’s death for weeks
or even months by simply binding a snake containing her
potion around the person’s waist.

Mansisilat was literally the home-wrecker of

Philippine mythology. As the goddess of broken homes,
she accepted it as her personal mission to destroy
relationships. She did this by disguising herself as an old
beggar or healer who would enter the homes of unsuspecting
couples. Using her charms, Mansisilat could magically turn
husbands and wives against each other, ending up in
separation.

Mankukulam. Original illustration designed by Dubai-based

Filipino graphic artist “Trix.” View her stunning portfolio at
trixdraws.deviantart.com

Equally frightening were Hukluban and Mankukulam.

In William Henry Scott’s Baranggay, the former was

described as “the most powerful kind of witch, able to kill or
cause unconsciousness simply by greeting a person.” Jocano
added that a Hukluban was also a terrific shapeshifter
who could make anything happen–say, burn a house
down–by simply uttering it.

The Mankukulam, on the other hand, often wandered around

villages pretending to be a priest-doctor. In the same book by
Scott, a mankukulam was described as a “witch  who
appears at night as if burning, setting fires that
cannot be extinguished, or wallows in the filth
under houses, whereupon some householder will
sicken and die.”