Deities of Philippine mythology

Deities of Philippine Mythology

The deities of Philippine mythology are the gods, goddesses and diwatas worshiped by ancient Filipinos before the Christianization of the natives after the Spanish conquest of the Philippines. While not as widely known as its European and Asian counterparts, they have similar elements and characteristics when compared to other mythologies.

List of Gods and Goddesses

Ancient Philippine mythology varies among the many indigenous tribes of the Philippines. During the pre-Spanish era, some tribes believed in a single supreme being who created the world and everything in it, along with lesser deities. Others chose to worship a multitude of trees as an act of animism. Below are some of the gods and goddesses of the various ancient Philippine tribes:

Ancient Tagalog Deities

This section includes the deities of the Ancient Tagalogs from a certain pantheon story. The first part as shown below were the residents of Kaluwalhatian (the Ancient Tagalog counterpart of Christian's Heaven).[1]

Name God(dess) of... Generation
Bathala The supreme god of being; creator of man and earth and addressed sometimes as Bathalang Maykapal. He dwells in Kaluwalhatian together with the lesser gods and goddesses. Aside from the lesser gods and goddesses, he sent his anitos in order to assist the daily lives of every human. When most of the natives were converted to Christianity during the Spanish Era, he was referred to the Christian God.[2] First[A]
Amanikable Originally this god was worshipped as the god of Hunters. In more modern stories he has become associated as the ill-tempered god of the sea, replacing Aman Sinaya among of the first generation gods (aside from Bathala), he was never married after his love was spurned by a beautiful mortal maiden, Maganda. In frustration, he swore vengeance against the humans by sending turbulent waves and horrible tempests in order to wreck boats and to drown men.[3] First[B]
Idiyanale The goddess of labor and good deeds. Natives used to call for her guidance in order to make their works successful. She married Dimangan and had two offspring.[4] First[C][D]
Dimangan The god of good harvest. He was married to Idiyanale and had two offspring.[3] First
Lakapati The goddess of fertility and the most understanding and kind of all the deities. Also known as Ikapati, she was the giver of food and prosperity. Her best gift to mankind was agriculture (cultivated fields). Through this, she was respected and loved by the people. Later, she was married to Mapulon and had a daughter.[4] First[E]
Mapulon The god of seasons and husband of Lakapati of whom they had a daughter.[3] First
Mayari The goddess of the moon and one of the three daughters of Bathala by a mortal woman. She was the most charming of all the goddesses. She had two sisters, Tala and Hanan.[5] Second[F][G]
Tala The goddess of the stars; sister of Mayari and Hanan and one of the three daughters of Bathala by a mortal woman.[5] Second[H]
Hanan The goddess of morning; sister of Mayari and Tala and one of the three daughters of Bathala by a mortal woman.[5] Second
Dumakulem The strong, agile guardian of mountains and the son of Idiyanale and Dimangan. His sister was Anitun Tabu. He later married Anagolay.[3] Second
Anitun Tabu The fickle-minded goddess of wind and rain. She was the daughter of Idiyanale and Dimangan and the sister of Dumakulem.[3] Second
Anagolay The goddess of lost things and the only offspring of Lakapati and Mapulon. She was married to Dumakulem.[3] Second
Apolaki The god of sun and the chief patron of warriors. He was the son of Anagolay and Dumakulem.[5] Third (or Second)[I]
Diyan Masalanta The goddess of love, conception and childbirth and the protector of lovers. She was the daughter of Anagolay and Dumakulem and youngest of all the deities. Third

Other definitions

  • A^ In some sources, Bathala is the father of Apolaki, aside from Mayari and Tala hence excluding Hanan.[6]
  • B^ In some sources, Amanikable is referred as a sea deity of the Manobo tribe.[7]
  • C^ In some sources, Idiyanale is identified as the goddess of agriculture.[8]
  • D^ In some sources, aside from being a goddess of agriculture, Idiyanale is also identified as the goddess of animal husbandry.
  • E^ In some sources, Lakapati is identified as a hermaphrodite.
  • F^ In some creation myth, Mayari is the sister of Apolaki.[9]
  • G^ In some sources, Mayari is identified as a one-eyed goddess.[6]
  • H^ In some creation myth, Tala is the sister of Mayari and Apolaki and the daughter of Bathala.[6]
  • I^ In some creation myth, Apolaki is the brother of Mayari and the son of Bathala.[10]

The list includes the god/goddess-like, residents of Kasamaan (Ancient Tagalog counterpart of Hell). They were the evil entities all opposed to Bathala and the rest of his deities.

Name Definition
Sitan The guardian of Kasamaan and the keeper of all souls therein, the counterpart of Satan. He had four agents whose task was to lead man to sin and destruction.[3]
Manggagaway She was the first agent of Sitan and was primarily blamed as the cause of diseases. Sometimes, she would change herself into a human form, appearing as a false healer. If she wished to kill someone, she employed a magic wand.[11]
Manisilat The second agent of Sitan, she was tasked to destroy and break every happy and united family that she could find.[3]
Mangkukulam The only male agent of Sitan, he was to emit fire at night and when there was bad weather. Like his fellow agents, he could change his form to that of a healer and then induce fire at his victim's house. If the fire were extinguished immediately, the victim would eventually die. His name remains today as witch.[3]
Hukluban The last agent of Sitan could change herself into any form she desired. She could kill someone by simply raising her hand and could heal without any difficulty as she wished. Her name literally means "crone" or "hag."[12]

Other Tagalog Deities

The list includes the gods and goddesses who don't have a unified pantheon within the Tagalog deities mentioned in Table #1.

Name God(dess) of
Aman Sinaya She is the primordial goddess of the ocean and protector of fishermen. She was one of the three original deities along with Bathala and Amihan. She sent tempests into the heavens, to which Bathala responded by throwing boulders which would become the Philippine Islands. Amihan flew back and forth between them, making peace.
Galang Kaluluwa (Wandering Spirit) The winged god present in some creation myths who loves to travel. He is identified as a close friend of Bathala.[13]
Haik god of the sea.
Lakambakod The protector of the growing crops.[3]
Lakambini is known as the "pure maiden" for his incomparable beauty, ironic that he is a male diwata. He was originally known as the god of "kapurihan"(purity) and is also the god of food, festivity and anti-gluttony. worshiped mainly by men: they pray to Lakambini to let them find a beautiful maiden to wed. An obscure deity called "abogado dela garganta" (throat advocate) by the Spaniards and was turned into the god of gluttony.
Lingga a phallic god.
Ulilang Kaluluwa (Orphaned Spirit) It is a serpent god present in some creation myths that was killed by Bathala after an ensuing rival.[14]

Ancient Bikolano Deities

The list includes the deities of Ancient Bikolanos living in Ibalon (present Bicol Region).

Name God(dess) of
Languiton The god of the skies and endless firmament
Tubigan was the god of water and the celestial ocean
Gugurang The supreme god who dwells inside of Mount Mayon where he guards and protects the sacred fire in which Aswang, his brother was trying to steal. Whenever people disobey his orders, wishes and commit numerous sins, he would cause Mount Mayon to burst lava as a sign of warning for people to mend their crooked ways. Ancient Bikolanos had a rite performed for him called Atang.[15][16]
Asuang The evil god who always try to steal the sacred fire of Mount Mayon from his brother, Gugurang. Addressed sometimes as Aswang, he dwells mainly inside Mount Malinao. As an evil god, he would cause the people to suffer misfortunes and commit sins.[15][16] Enemy of Gugurang and a friend of Bulan
Okot The guardian of the forest and of animals, he is the god of forest and hunting
Onos The god of storms and flood. He was the guardian of the fair maiden Tacay
Haliya The masked goddess of the moonlight and the arch-enemy of Bakunawa and protector of Bulan. Her cult is composed primarily of women. There is also a ritual dance named after her as it is performed to be a counter-measure against Bakunawa.[17]
Bulan The god of the pale moon, he is depicted as a pubescent boy with uncommon comeliness that made savage beast and the vicious mermaids (Magindara) tame.
Magindang The god of the seas and ruler of the all that is underwater. He coveted Bulan thus the reason of the rising of the tides "reaching for the moon"
Bakunawa A gigantic sea serpent deity who is often considered as the cause of eclipses. As the devourer of the sun and the moon, this serpent became an adversary of Haliya.[18]

Ancient Visayan Deities

This section includes the deities of the Visayans from a certain pantheon story.[19]

Name God(dess) of Generation
Kaptan The supreme god who dwells in the sky. He is the Ancient Visayan counterpart of Bathala. Of all the supreme deities in the Visayas, he is the most worshiped by the natives. He had a son named Lihangin.[20] First
Maguayan/Magwayan The goddess of the sea and death. She had a daughter named Lidagat who died and after that, she ferried the souls of the dead to the underworld, Sulad.[21] First
Lihangin The god of the wind and the son of Kaptan. He later married Lidagat and had four children.[22] Second
Lidagat The goddess of the sea, daughter of Maguayan. She later married Lihangin and had four children.[23] Second
Likabutan The god of the world and the eldest children of Lihangin and Lidagat.[24] Third
Liadlaw The god of the sun and the second children of Lihangin ang Lidagat.[25] Third
Libulan The god of the moon and the third children of Lihangin and Lidagat.[26] Third
Lisuga The goddess of the stars. She was the youngest children of Lihangin and Lidagat. The deity in which Silalak and Sibabay came from.[27] Third

Other Visayan deities

The list includes the gods and goddesses who haven't have a unified pantheon within the Visayan deities mentioned in Table #5.

Name God(dess) of
Adlaw God of the Sun
Alunsina She was the virgin goddess of the eastern skies.
Bangun Bangun God of time and cosmic movements.
Barangaw He is the god of the rainbow.[28]
Bulalakaw Bird god, causer of illness.
Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan Goddess of greed and vengeance.
Dalikamata The many-eyed goddess, cures eye illnesses.
Inaginid and Malandok God invoked for success in battle and plunder.
Kan-Laon The supreme god worshiped by the Ancient Visayans who lived in the Negros Island that dwells in Mount Kanlaon. As well as Kaptan, he is the Ancient Visayans counterpart of Bathala).and he is the god of time [29]
Kasaraysarayan sa Silgan God of rivers.
Lalahon She is the goddess of fire, volcanoes and harvest.[30] In ancient times, Ancient Visayans blamed her for sending armies of locusts to destroy their harvests. In response, natives will offer her gifts in order to please her and prevent her from doing that.[31]
Lubay-Lubyok Hanginun si Mahuyokhuyokan was a well-kept and secluded princess who became powerful enough to make love potions and command soft winds
Luyong Baybay Goddess of the tides.
Magdang Diriinin God of the lakes.
Maklium sa Tiwan God of the valleys and plains.
Maklium sa Tubig God of the sea, He coveted the goddess Alunsina and the boy moon Bulan
Malandok god of war and plunder, battled Sidapa over the boy moon Bulan to be his consort
Munsad Buralakaw God of politics and affairs of men.
Nagined, Arapayan, and Makbarubak God who could be appealed to when concocting poisonous oil.
Nagmalitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata the goddess of empowerment,lust, seduction and demons, the sister of Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan and the wife of Saragnayan
Pahulangkug God of seasons.
Paiburong God of the middle world. He was once a mortal who was transformed by Macaduc into a god
Pandaki God who rescues the deserving for a more pleasant fate.
Panlinugun Ruler of the underworld, god of earthquakes.
Ribung Linti God of lightning and thunder.
Santonilyo God of graces.
Saraganka Bagyo God of storms.
Saragnayan God of darkness and justice.
Sidapa the handsome god of death who is said to reside on top Mt. Madja-as, he is considered very demonic and took a boy moon Bulan as a lover
Siginarugan He is identified as the god of the underworld.[32]
Suimuran and Suiguinarugan Gods of hell, the final destination for all deceased souls.
Suklang Malayon Goddess of homeliness, sister of Alunsina.
Sumalongson God of the rivers and the sea.
Sumpoy God of the afterlife.
Tungkung Langit Upper world and supreme god, counterpart of Bathala.
Ynaguinid and Macanduc Gods of war/battle and poisons

Tboli deities

Ilokano deities

The list of Ilokano deities below is from Llamzon (1978:38).[33]

The Ilokanos also believed in the following anito (spirits).

Other mythological creatures are:

Kapampangan deities

B'laan deities

Batak deities

There are also lesser gods in the Batak pantheon, some of whom are Siabuanan, Bankakah, Paraen, Buengelen, and Baybayen. They are deities of great strength.

Palawan Deities

Bukidnon Deities

Isneg Deities

The spiritual world of the Isneg is populated by more than 300 anito (spirits) who assume various forms. There are actually no gods or hierarchical deities in the otherworld of the Isneg, only good or bad spirits.

There are spirits who come to help the reapers in gathering the harvest. They are known as Abad, Aglalannawan, Anat, Binusilan, Dawiliyan, Dekat, Dumingiw, Imbanon, Gimbanona, Ginalinan, Sibo, and a group of sky dwellers collectively known as the Ilanit.

Tiruray Deities

Minaden – The goddess who creates of the world, had a brother named Tulus, also called Meketefu and Sualla.

Tulus - Is the chief of all good spirits who bestow gifts and favors upon human beings. He goes around with a retinue of messengers called telaki. Tulus is said to have rectified some errors in the first creation of the world and of human beings.

Mangyan Deities

Mahal na Makaako – The Supreme Being who gave life to all human beings merely by gazing at them.

Binayi – Owner of a garden where all spirits rest.

Binayo - Is a sacred female spirit, caretaker of the rice spirits or the kalag paray. She is married to the spirit Bulungabon. The kalag paray must be appeased, to ensure a bountiful harvest. It is for this reason that specific rituals are conducted in every phase of rice cultivation. Some of these rituals include the panudlak, the rite of the first planting; the rite of rice planting itself; and the rites of harvesting which consist of the magbugkos or binding rice stalks, and the pamag-uhan, which follows the harvest.

Bulungabon – The spirit aided by 12 fierce dogs. Erring souls are chased by these dogs and eventually drowned in a cauldron of boiling water. He is Binayo’s husband.

Tinguian Deities

Bagatulayan – The Supreme Being and Creator of the world. He lives and rules the celestial realm, directing its activities.

Kadaklan - Is a deity subordinate to Bagatulayan. He is a friendly spirit who teaches the Tinguian how to pray, harvest their crops, ward off evil spirits, and overcome bad omens and cure sicknesses.

Apadel or Kalagang - A deity who is known to be the guardian and dweller of the spirit-stones called pinaing which play an important role in the spiritual world of the Tinguian. Of various sizes and shapes, the pinaing are usually found in sports marked out as hallowed ground, often under old trees, and are deemed to be the protectors of such places and of the creatures who live in the forests.

Makaboteng (one who frightens) – A benevolent spirit who dwells in the natural surroundings, believed to be the guardian of the deer and the wild pigs.

Talaandig Deities

Magbabaya – The Supreme God.

Dadagunan hu Suguy – A house spirit who guard of the lawn of the house.

Anilaw ha Sumagda – A house spirit, the guard of the door.

Sinyuda Kahibunan – A house spirit, the keeper of the hall.

Diwata ha Manilib – A house spirit who records the activity of people inside the house

Diwata Pinatanlay – A house spirit who guard the house at the ridge of the roof.

Gaddang Deities

Nanolay - Is both creator of all things and a culture hero. In the latter role, he is a beneficent deity. Nanolay is described in myth as a fully benevolent deity, never inflicting pain or punishment on the people. He is responsible for the origin and development of the world.

Ofag - Nanolay's cousin.

Dasal - To whom the epic warriors Biwag and Malana prayed for strength and courage before going off to their final battle.

Bunag - The god of the earth.

Limat - The god of the sea.

Ifugao Deities

Mah-nongan - The chief god generally refer to as the honorary dead and creator of all things, even though Ifugaos do not consider any of their deities as supreme.

Liddum - Is regarded as the chief mediator between the people and the other gods.

Monlolot - The winder of thread on the spindle, one of the twenty-three different deities preside over the art of weaving.

Mamiyo - Stretcher of skeins, one of the twenty-three different deities preside over the art of weaving.

Bumigi - In charge of worms, one of the eleven beings importuned to stamp out rice pests.

Lumadab - Has the power to dry up the rice leaves, one of the eleven beings importuned to stamp out rice pests.

Ampual - Of the Fourth Skyworld, is the god who bestowed animals and plants on the people and who controls the transplanting of rice. He is one of those gods who expects gifts in return for his blessings.

Wigan - Is the god of good harvest.

Puwok - Controls the dread typhoons.

Yogyog and Alyog - Cause the earth to quake. They dwell in the underworld.

Ilongot Deities

Abal – He and his brother Cain are the creators and guardian lords of all things. They are benevolent and their particular care is that of the people who live on earth. They are invincible and live in the sky Taon, sometimes on the sun Elag, or the moon Dalan, or perchance some star Pandac. Their messengers are called Binangunan or Cabuligian. Cain and Abal travel from place to place. Their road is called Keat (lightning). Kidu (thunder) follows the road. In the beginning, Cain and Abal lived together in the sky; but they had a quarrel and separated, as Abal wanted to live on earth where he could herd his animals. He was the one who created the lowlanders, who have the use of his carabaos and other animals.

Cain - Created all the mountain people, including the Ilongots. He gave them their customs, which they have followed throughout the centuries. He was a killer and a head-hunter; so they are also. Abal is stronger and more powerful than Cain and so there are more lowlanders than mountain people.

Oden – The rain, they worship him (it) for its life-giving water.

Elag - The sun, they worship him (it) so as the moon and stars because they give life and growth. He has a great, magnificent house in Gacay. When he gets tired giving light and goes into his house, it is night.

Delan - The moon, usually he and Elag are congenial and take turns giving light; but sometimes they quarrel and Elag covers Delan more or less with a great, huge winnowing biga-o (basket). Thus we have the different phases of the moon.

Gemang - The guardian of wild beasts. When a party of men is starting on a hunt, they build a fire, take hold of the dogs and the weapons and pass them one by one through the smoke. The last dog to be passed through the smoke is the leader of the pack. After taking it out of the smoke, the owner spits on its face, and rubs the saliva down its back and sides. Meanwhile, he has been talking and shouting to Gemang, saying: "Do not let our dogs get sick. You must give us one of your animals. Do not take the form of a wild beast so that the dogs chase you by mistake. If you will let the dogs catch one beast, then we will give you to eat and drink and likewise your wife." Following this ceremony, the part starts out in a successful hunt.

Lampong - The dwarf shepherd of the wild animals.

Agta Deities

There are four manifestations of the "great creator" who rules the world: Tigbalog is the source of life and action; Lueve takes care of production and growth; Amas moves people to pity, love, unity, and peace of heart; while Binangewan is responsible for change, sickness, and death.

Gutugutumakkan – The Supreme Being.

Kedes - The god of the hunt.

Pawi - The god of the forest.

Sedsed - The god of the sea.

Other Igorot Deities

Kabunian

Lumawig

List of Famous Diwatas

Main article: Diwata

Aside from the gods and goddesses, ancient Filipinos also worshiped numerous forest deities known as diwatas (Filipinos counterpart of nymphs/enchanter or enchantress). There are lot of diwatas in the Philippine mythology and folklore but this section includes only the list of well-known.

Name Definition
Maria Makiling The most famous of all the enchantress in the Philippine mythology and folklore. She was the protector and guardian of Mount Makiling located in Los Baños, Laguna. Thus, modern sightings of her were even reported. Maria Makiling is a common subject among Filipino artists, ranging from painters and sculptors to graphic novelists [34]
Maria Sinukuan She was the resident and protector of Mount Arayat located in Arayat, Pampanga.[35]
Maria Cacao She dwells in Mount Lantoy, Argao, Cebu where she had cacao trees, hence a plantation outside her own cave. After harvest, rain comes that wash down the mountain, enabling her to float down to the towns below in her golden ship to sell her products.[36]
Diwata ng Kagubatan (Enchantress of the Forest) Also known as Virgen Del Monte, she was worshiped by the ancient Cuyunon of Cuyo Island, Palawan. She is honored in a celebrated feast, periodically held atop of Mount Caimana in the mentioned island. When most of the natives were converted to Christianity during the Spanish Era, about 2/3 of the converted Cuyunon are still celebrating her feast that upset the Spanish authorities. The situation led the Spanish authorities to intensify their evangelization and governance efforts.[37]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Sonia M. Zaide, Gregorio F. Zaide, pp. 69
  2. ↑ Leticia Ramos Shahani, Fe B. Mangahas, Jenny R. Llaguno, pp. 27, 28, 30
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 F. Landa Jocano
  4. 1 2 Leticia Ramos Shahani, Fe B. Mangahas, Jenny R. Llaguno, pp. 30
  5. 1 2 3 4 Sofronio G. Calderon
  6. 1 2 3 Mabel Cook Cole, pp. 99–101, 124
  7. ↑ Rebecca Ramilio Ongsotto, Reynaldo Castillo Ramilo
  8. ↑ Rebecca Ramilio Ongsotto, Reynaldo Castillo Ramilo
  9. ↑ Erlinda D. Lalic, Avelina J. Matic, pp. 33
  10. ↑ Erlinda D. Lalic, Avelina J. Matic, pp. 33
  11. ↑ Thelma B. Kintanar, Jose V. Abueva, pp. 75
  12. ↑ Thelma B. Kintanar, Jose V. Abueva, pp. 79
  13. ↑ Leticia Ramos Shahani, Fe B. Mangahas, Jenny R. Llaguno, pp. 27, 28
  14. ↑ Leticia Ramos Shahani, Fe B. Mangahas, Jenny R. Llaguno, pp. 27, 28
  15. 1 2 "Asuang Steals Fire from Gugurang by Damiana L. Eugenio". Retrieved 2010-04-03.
  16. 1 2 Clark, Jordan (2011) The Aswang Phenomenon Animation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goLgDpSStmc
  17. ↑ "Inquirer NewsInfo: Bicol Artist protest Natl. Artist awardees". Retrieved 2010-04-03.
  18. ↑ "GMANews: Eclipse; Bakunawa eats the sun behind a curtain of clouds". Retrieved 2010-04-03.
  19. ↑ Efren R. Abueg, Simplicio P. Bisa, Emerlinda G. Cruz, pp. 17–18
  20. ↑ Efren R. Abueg, Simplicio P. Bisa, Emerlinda G. Cruz, pp. 17–18
  21. ↑ Efren R. Abueg, Simplicio P. Bisa, Emerlinda G. Cruz, pp. 17–18
  22. ↑ Efren R. Abueg, Simplicio P. Bisa, Emerlinda G. Cruz, pp. 17–18
  23. ↑ Efren R. Abueg, Simplicio P. Bisa, Emerlinda G. Cruz, pp. 17–18
  24. ↑ Efren R. Abueg, Simplicio P. Bisa, Emerlinda G. Cruz, pp. 17–18
  25. ↑ Efren R. Abueg, Simplicio P. Bisa, Emerlinda G. Cruz, pp. 17–18
  26. ↑ Efren R. Abueg, Simplicio P. Bisa, Emerlinda G. Cruz, pp. 17–18
  27. ↑ Efren R. Abueg, Simplicio P. Bisa, Emerlinda G. Cruz, pp. 17–18
  28. ↑ Rebecca R. Ongsotto, Reena R. Ongsotto, Rowena Maria Ongsotto, pp. 58
  29. ↑ William Henry Scott, pp. 80
  30. ↑ Rebecca R. Ongsotto, Reena R. Ongsotto, Rowena Maria Ongsotto, pp. 58
  31. ↑ Lalahon - goddess of fire, volcanoes and harvest
  32. ↑ Rebecca R. Ongsotto, Reena R. Ongsotto, Rowena Maria Ongsotto, pp. 58
  33. ↑ Llamzon, Teodoro A. 1978. Handbook of Philippine language groups. Quezon City, Philippines: Ateneo de Manila University Press.
  34. ↑ "The Legend of Maria Makiling retold by Gat Jose Rizal". Retrieved 2010-04-03.
  35. ↑ "The Legend of Maria Sinukuan". Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  36. ↑ Rene O. Villanueva
  37. ↑ "Cuyunon Island by Lydia Mary De Leon". Retrieved 2010-04-03.

References


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