Philippine myths and folklores

Philippine Myths and Folklores
include a collection of tales and superstitions about magical creatures and entities. Some Filipinos, even though heavily westernized and Christianized, still believe in such entities. The prevalence of belief in the figures of Philippines mythology is strong in the provinces.
The stories of ancient Philippine mythology include deities, creation stories, mythical creatures, and beliefs. Ancient Philippine mythology varies among the many indigenous tribes of the Philippines. Some groups during the pre-Spanish conquest era believed in a single Supreme Being who created the world and everything in it, while others chose to worship a multitude of tree and forest deities (diwatas). Diwatas came from the Sanskrit word devata which means "deity", one of the several significant Hindu influences in the Pre-Hispanic religion of the ancient Filipinos. Below are some of the gods and goddesses of the ancient Philippines

Philippine Mythical Creatures

Philippine folklore, unlike Greek or Roman mythologies, has not been organized into a formal pantheon, does not generally contain long epics, nor has it been relegated to history. To this day, Philippine myths still have an active role in the lives of rural Filipinos. The countless myths circulating throughout the Filipino countryside contain a large variety of mythical creatures. Although there is no scientific evidence for any of these creatures, there is also no shortage in the rural parts of the Philippines of people who believe firmly in their existence. This discrepancy is sometimes rationalized by the explanation that only pure and good mortals are able to see these creatures.

Traditionally, people create mythology to explain the world around them. Before science and empirical reasoning, myths and legends served mankind by invoking the supernatural to interpret natural events, to explain the nature of the universe, and shed light on the purpose of existence. Filipino mythology is no different. Filipino legends contain a broad spectrum of stories including legends recounting the birth of the Philippine islands, as well as accounts of supernatural creatures that are sometimes invoked to inspire fearful obedience in children or explain disease.

The Legend of Mariang Makiling|The Tale of Mariang Makiling

The Legend of Mariang Makiling

There are many stories woven about this guardian spirit. Most of them deal with her helping the poor and the sick, in the guise of a peasant girl. The precious things she lend the country folk are said to be returned to her, along with the offering of a young pullet with feathers white as milk.

A hunter has recounted a face-to-face encounter with the enigma herself. He was hunting a wild boar, he said, deep into the forest where Mariang Makiling lived. The boar suddenly crashed into some bushes and the hunter, fearing that he would not find it again, dived in after it. When he came to his feet he saw a small hut, and witnessed his prey entering it. He followed the boar into the hut, thinking it deserted, and then he came face to face with a beautiful maiden standing by the boar, who was meek in her presence. The maiden said "This boar is mine and you must not harm it. But I see that you are tired and hurt. Come in, eat, and then go your way."

The hunter felt compelled to obey her. He sat down at her table, and she served him a porridge that he found was unlike anything he had ever tasted. It invigorated him, and after eating, he felt healed. As a parting gift, Mariang Makiling filled his peasant hat, called a salakot, with yellow ginger.

The hunter, on his way home from the forest, found that his salakot was growing heavier and heavier, and so he broke a few pieces of ginger in half and threw some bits away. Upon coming home, he handed Maria Makiling’s gifts to his wife, who found that the salakot, instead of containing ginger, as her husband claimed, contained gold. The hunter regretted having thrown away a few bits of ginger/gold along the way.

Mariang Makiling is said to be more than compassionate. Once, there lived a young farmer who always seemed to be blessed. His fields were never touched by any calamity, and his livestock were always in good health. The people of his village say he is endowed with a charm, or mutya, as it is called, that protected him and his from harm. The young man himself was good at heart and simple in spirit. But he was quiet and secretive, and would not say much of his stranger activities, which included frequent visits into the wood of Mariang Makiling.

But there came a terrible time for him and his family. War had come to his fair land, and army officers came, recruiting unmarried young men who were in perfect health. So that the young man would stay safely in the village, his mother arranged for him a marriage with a most beauteous daughter of a wealthy family. Upon finding this out, the young man became more sullen than ever.

He visited Mariang Makiling’s wood one last time, a few days before his marriage. Mariang Makiling lent him a dress and some jewelry, for his wife to wear on their wedding day. "I would that you were consecrated to me," she said sadly, "but you need an earthly love, and you do not have enough faith in me besides. I could have protected you and your family." This having been said, she disappeared. The young man went back to his village with Mariang Makiling’s gifts, and presented them at once to the girl he would marry.

But the girl did not care for Mariang Makiling’s gifts. Instead she wore the pearls and dresses her mother had handed down.

Mariang Makiling was never seen by the peasants again, nor was her humble hut ever    rediscovered.

Kabunian

Kabunian

One of the gods to some tribes Ifugao,Ibaloi, Kalanguya, Kankana-ey in the cordillera mountain range, specially in Benguet Province. Benguet Kankana-eys - Many years ago, some old folks believed that he resides in Mt. Kabunian in Bakun, Benguet while Ibaloi and Kalanguya believers say he resides in Mt. Pulag straddling the boundaries of Benguet and Ifugao together with the spirits of their ancestors and anitos

Lakambini |Lacambui|Filipino Goddess of Muse

Lakambini

Lakambini became a Filipino word equivalent to English “muse” or “princess”.

 Lakambini have a lot of interpretations but some call her the Goddess of muse.

Mayari |Mallari|Negritos of Zambalez Chief God

Mayari

Mayari was the chief god among the Negritos in Zambales also known as the moon god.

Based on historical records, there is no hard evidence that she/he was also worshiped by the ancient Tagalogs, so as Anitong Tawo and Dumangan. In Pampangan mythology he/she was a sibling of Suku, he/she was also associated to the moon based on that mythology, in some informal and modern folktale version based on the said myth his/her brother was Apolaki a Pangasinense deity and their father was Bathala which is a Tagalog deity, this probably caused the misconception. The ancient Tagalogs do venerate the moon, however there is no recoded evidence that they deified it as Mayari.

Apolaki |Apolaqui|Pangasinense god of creation

 Apolaki

The ancient Pangasinenses worshipped him as their supreme deity addressed as Ama-Gaoley or Anagaoley(Supreme Father) whom they invoke for various matters such as war, trade and travel. They offered oils, incenses, and other aromatic herbs to his idol/images, slaves and pigs was also sacrificed in his honor. He was Identified to Suku a deity of ancient Kapampangans which associated him to the sun. Based on historical records, there is no hard evidence that he was also worshiped by the ancient Tagalogs, he is often not listed (just like Mayari) to the pantheon of anitos that ancient Tagalogs worshiped. In some informal and modern folktale version based on Pampangan Mythology his sister was Mayari a Zambal deity and their father was Bathala which is a Tagalog deity, this probably caused the misconception.

Diyan Masalanta |Dian Masalanta|Tagalogs goddess of love,Fecundity and childbirth

Diyan Masalanta

Tagalog patron goddess of love,fecundity,childbirth patroness goddess of lovers and gentlemen. Her name literally means “be destroyed there,” or “cannot be destroyed” .She also known in the Greek mythology as Aphrodite the goddess of beauty and love, she is in charge of femininity among the tagalog region.

Amanikable|Ama ni Cable|Ama ni Coable|Tagalogs patron god of hunters

Amanikable

Tagalogs patron god of hunting, he takes care of wild life at the same time he maintains the balance of the forest, he is also mistaken as a sea deity.

Amansinaya|Aman Sinaya|Tagalogs god of fishery

Amansinaya

Tagalogs god of fishes, he takes in charge of aquatic lives, Fishermen worship him to provide Aquatic abundance and a good catch to help their family.

Idiyanale |Idianale|Philippine god of animal husbandry and aquaculture

Idiyanale

Known by the Tagalogs as the god of animal husbandry and aquaculture  by others the god of agriculture,

the god who is in charge of animal welfare and aquatic resources, he usually lives in the woods and guards the animals from hunters, also on waters takes in charge of the fishes and other marine life.

Lakambakod| Lachan Bacor |Philippine god of Crops

Lakambakod

Also known by the Tagalogs as a phallic god who was the protector of growing crops and healer of diseases, his name literary means bakod or fence he is not only the protectors of crops but also he serves as a fence or protector of houses.

Pati|Anito of the Rain

Pati

The anito of the rain is called Pati by the Ifugaos.

They Worship Pati to bring rain to their dried land. 

Lakampati Lacapati/Lacanpate|Lacapati

Lakampati Lacapati/Lacanpate

 She is major fertility deity of the ancient Tagalogs. Farmers with their children brought offerings for him at the fields and invoke him to protect them from famine. Some sources also said that foods and words are offered to him by his devotees asking for "water" for their fields and "fish" when they set sail in the sea for fishing. Lakampati was a hermaphrodite deity and was commented by some authors and friars as “the hermaphrodite devil who satisfies his carnal appetite with men and women”. He is identified to the ancient Zambal goddess Ikapati although he/she also has a characteristics similar to other Zambal deities such as Anitong Tawo, Dumangan, Damulag, Kalasokus, and Kalaskas.

Old Philippine Dieties|Filipino Gods and Goddesses

  Filipino Gods and Goddesses

This are beings that exist in the past that people worship. Filipino people before they were colonized worshiped multiple beings its either the deities from the sky,nature and many more. foreign influence like the Spaniards  broke this tradition by introducing Christian faith, example of this are the worship of many saints and the worship of only one god, after many years in the hands of the Spanish government Filipinos have forgotten about this things.

Bathala

 

 Also known by the Filipinos particularly by the Tagalogs as the God of creation.

  Maykapal also Meygawa or May-ari the lord of the earth

Philippine Alamat at Kwentong Bayan|The Philippine Legends

 Philippine Alamat at Kwentong Bayan

This is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude. Legend, for its active and passive participants includes no happenings that are outside the realm of "possibility", defined by a highly flexible set of parameters, which may include miracles that are perceived as actually having happened, within the specific tradition of indoctrination where the legend arises, and within which it may be transformed over time, in order to keep it fresh and vital, and realistic.

Legend, typically, is a short (mono-) episodic, traditional, highly ecotypified historicized narrative performed in a conversational mode, reflecting on a psychological level a symbolic representation of folk belief and collective experiences and serving as a reaffirmation of commonly held values of the group to whose tradition it belongs.


Legends here in the Philippines has a wide range and varieties that come from different regions, some of the stories is how the world was made or how Bathala(God)created man
kind , their are also stories about the origins and how unseen creatures came to exist.
all have their symbolic meanings on how the people interpret it.

Wak Wak

Wak Wak

Description
The Wakwak is a vampiric, bird-like creature in Philippine mythology or said to be a witch. It is said to snatch humans at night as prey, similar to the Mananaggal and the Ekek in rural areas of the Philippines, due to its ability to fly. The difference between the Mananggal and the Wakwak is that Wakwak cannot separate its torso from its body while the Manananggal can. Some believe it is also a form a vampire takes. Other people contend that a "Wakwak" is a Philippine night bird belonging to a witch.
The sound of a Wakwak is usually associated with the presence of an Unglu (vampire) or Ungo (ghost or monster). It is also believed that this monster is called "Wakwak" due to this sound it makes when it flaps its wings while flying. When one hears the Wakwak, it is looking for possible victims. If the sound of the Wakwak is loud, it means it is far from you. Otherwise, it is near and worse yet, it is about to attack. It slashes and mutilates its victims and feeds on their hearts.

The Wakwak is often described by old folks to have long sharp talons and a pair of wings similar to those of a bat. It uses its talons or claws to slash its victims and to get their heart. Many say that its wings are also sharp as a knife.
The sound that a tiki, tike or teke (Common House Gecko) makes usually at night when out of sight was discovered by an American who spent much time in the Philippines to be the source of the sound everyone was saying was a "Wakwak".

Siyokoy

Siyokoy

Description

Siyokoy are mermen, sea creatures that have a human form and scaled bodies. The Siyokoy is the male counterpart of the Sirena. The lower extremities of a Philippine merman can either be a fishtail or scaled legs and webbed feet. They could also have long, green tentacles. They drown mortals for food. Siyokoys have gill slits, are colored brown or green, and have scaly skin, comparable to that of a fish.
Legends of merfolk occur in almost every sea-faring culture, tales of alluring mermaids possessing deceptive beauty, mighty mermen summoning destructive storms, and diminutive merchildren holding their own amid the dangers of the ocean. Some accounts portray merfolk as hostile, some beguiling, some helpful to humans, some ready to kill. The term for these ocean dwellers comes from the Old English word mere, meaning sea, but the siyoykoy don’t make an appearance in any European culture–they come from the Asian-influenced Philippine Islands.

Appearance: With unattractive features, more fish-like than humanoid, the siyokoy might hold the dubious honor of being the most hideous mermen. The scales covering their entire bodies range in color from brown to green, and gill slits positioned in various places enable them to breathe underwater. Their upper bodies vaguely resemble the form of a man, tapering down to the tail of a fish or scale-encrusted legs with webbed feet. Various legends depict them with powerful green tentacles, fins, webbed hands, claws, or other unusual appendages.

Sirena

Sirena

Description
Sirena is a mermaid, a sea creature with a human upper body and a fish tail instead of lower extremities. They attract fishermen and tourists.Sirenas are reportedly often seen ashore by fishermen, especially in the towns bordering the Pacific Ocean.

Romanian, Portuguese and Philippine the word for mermaid is respectively Sirena, Sirène, Sirena, Syrena, Sirenă, Sereia and Sirena and that in biology the Sirenia comprise an order of fully aquatic mammals that includes the dugong and manatee, add to the visual confusion, so that Sirens are even represented as mermaids. However, "the sirens, though they sing to mariners, are not sea-maidens," Harrison had cautioned; "they dwell on an island in a flowery meadow." In the Philippine mythology, the Sirena is a mythological aquatic creature with the head and torso of human female and the tail of a fish. The male version of a Sirena is called a Sireno. Sometimes it is also paired with Siyokoy. The Sirena is an engkanto which is classified as one of the Bantay Tubig or the guardians of water. In addition to the Sirena, other examples of Bantay Tubig are Sireno, Siyokoy,Kataw and Ugkoy. Bantay Tubig are part fish, part human water-dwelling engkantos which are the Filipino counterpart of the English merfolk.
It is also said that the Sirena has a very beautiful and enchanting voice that can attract and hypnotize males, especially fishermen. A Sirena would sometimes sing to sailors and enchant them, distracting them from their work and causing them to walk off the deck or cause shipwrecks. They would sing with enchanting voices while hiding among the rocks by the shore. When the men hear their song they are hypnotized and the Sirena can abduct them. Some old folk traditions claim that the Sirena carry its victims under the sea and offer them to their water deities. Other stories claim that the Sirena squeezes the life out of drowning men while trying to rescue them.
A malevolent Sirena may tease and attract human males with their spellbinding songs; but reports of Sirena grabbing the seemingly hypnotized humans and drowning them or taking them under water may only be isolated cases. Either the tempted human had tried to chase the Sirena deep into the water until he drowned or he had a heart attack upon seeing such an engkanto and plunged literally into the water to his death.

Manananggal

Manananggal

Description
Manananggal is an aswang that can fly after separating itself from the lower half of its body. It eats babies and fetuses from a mothers womb. It eats babies by means of passing their long tongue through a small hole from the roof of a house. The sharp end of the tongue touches the mother's navel to suck the blood of the fetus or unborn child. This creature's name was derived from the Filipino word, tanggal, which means "to separate" because of the manananggal's ability to separate itself from its lower body.
A manananggal can also be a sorceress that visits villages and barrios. To feed, the self-segmenter chooses an isolated place where she will leave her lower torso while she hunts at night. When she separates from her lower torso, she then gains her ability to fly. She then goes off in search of houses where pregnant women reside. Upon choosing a suitable victim, the Manananggal alights on the house and inserts her tongue through the roof. The tongue is long, hollow and extremely flexible. She uses it to puncture the womb of the sleeping woman and to suck out the fetus. At other times, she seduces men with her beauty and lures them to a private place before eating them alive. She usually eats the insides, like the heart, stomach or the liver. Sunlight is deadly to the Manananggal when she is in her monstrous form. Should her two halves still be separate with the coming of dawn, she will be destroyed. According to legend, to destroy the Manananggal, one should search for the lower torso that she leaves behind during her nightly hunts. Salt, ash, and/or garlic should then be placed on the exposed flesh, preventing the monster from combining again and leaving it vulnerable to sunlight. 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.

Stories of close encounter with the manananggal
To the rest of the world, this may sound more like fiction. But to Filipinos in any part of the world, this is a common story. One that is a known fact and one that is treated with both reverence and fear. This story happened to my mom when she went on a vacation in Cotabato City with relatives as a child.

It was a quiet moonlit night and to anybody who's used to life in the big city, a peaceful night like this one is indeed a sight to behold. The moon seemed especially bright tonight without the blinding lights of the city. I couldn't keep my eyes off the moon! I feel like I was staring at it for the first time.

I don't know how long I was admiring its beauty when suddenly; I saw a dark speck that was slowly becoming larger and larger. I went closer to the window to have a better look. What I saw next was something I will never forget all my life!

I saw an old woman and she was flying with huge bat wings! She only had the upper half of her body and she had flaming red eyes and mouth, long crooked hands and pointed fingernails. Her skin was dark as the night itself. It was the most horrifying thing I have ever seen!

She was coming towards the window and fast! I could only think of my younger brothers, how she would definitely devour us if she got to us! I mustered the remaining courage I had and I locked the thick glass windows and curtains.

I heard her shriek as she segued around our house. I stayed still, trying my best not to make a sound and listened to the deafening sound of her huge wings. It felt like forever! Then all of a sudden, she was gone. I didn't close my eyes until I saw the sun shining. It was then that I realized that no matter how advanced society has become, there are still places and entities you should never mess with.

You may all think that this is just fiction, but let me reassure you that this is 100% factual. I will do my best to tell you more stories like this one. Hope you enjoyed this.

Anggitay

Anggitay

Description
Anggitay is a creature with an upper body of a female human and of a horse from waist down. They were the Philippine counterpart for the centauride, the female centaurs. They are also believed to be the female counterpart of Tikbalang.
Sometimes, they are illustrated to have a single horn in the middle of their forehead just like a unicorn. They were usually said to be attracted to precious gemstones, and jewelries.
It is believed to be that the Anggitay usually appears when it rains although the sky is clear.