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...
Generatio
n
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]
Amanikabl
e
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
Dumakule
m
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
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.[1]
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]
Manggaga
way
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]
Mangkukula
m
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]
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
Lakambakod
Lakambini
is know 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]
God(dess) of
Guguran
g
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][17]
Haliya
The masked goddess of the moon and the arch-enemy of Bakunawa. 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. [18]
Bakuna
wa
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.[19]
Name
God(dess) of
Generati
on
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. [21]
First
Maguayan/Magwa
yan
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.[22]
First
Lihangin
The god of the wind and the son of Kaptan. He later married Lidagat and had four children. [23]
Second
Lidagat
The goddess of the sea, daughter of Maguayan. She later married Lihangin and had four children. [24]
Second
Likabutan
The god of the world and the eldest children of Lihangin and Lidagat. [25]
Third
Liadlaw
The god of the sun and the second children of Lihangin ang Lidagat. [26]
Third
Libulan
The god of the moon and the third children of Lihangin and Lidagat. [27]
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.[28]
Third
God(dess) of
Adlaw
Alunsina
Bangun Bangun
Barangaw
Bulalakaw
Goddess of greediness.
Dalikamata
Kan-Laon
The supreme god worshiped by the Ancient Visayans who lived in the Negros Island that dwells in Mount Kanlaon. As well as
[30]
Kasaraysarayan sa Silgan
God of rivers.
Lalahon
She is the goddess of fire, volcanoes and harvest. [31] 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.[32]
Lubay-Lubyok Hanginun si
Mahuyokhuyokan
Luyong Baybay
Magdang Diriinin
Maklium sa Tiwan
Maklium sa Tubig
Munsad Buralakaw
Nagmalitong Yawa
Sinagmaling Diwata
the goddess of lust, seduction and demons, the sister of Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan and the wife of Saragnayan
Pahulangkug
God of seasons.
Paiburong
Pandaki
Panlinugun
Ribung Linti
Santonilyo
God of graces.
Saraganka Bagyo
God of storms.
Saragnayan
God of darkness.
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
Suimuran and
Suiguinarugan
Suklang Malayon
Sumalongson
Sumpoy
Tungkung Langit
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 Baos, Laguna. Thus, modern sightings of her were even reported. Maria Makiling is a common subject among
Filipino artists, ranging from painters and sculptors tographic novelists [35]
Maria Sinukuan
She was the resident and protector of Mount Arayat located in Arayat, Pampanga.[36]
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. [37]
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. [38]
Tboli deities[edit]
Cumucul - The eldest son who was given a cohort of fire, a tok
(sword), shield, and the magical horse, Kaunting, who can be as small
as a mouse when not ridden and who can be kept in a box (This
reflects the honor given by the Tboli to eldest sons and the value they
accord horses). Cumucul is married to Boi Kabil.
Sfedat - The second son who married his sister, the second
daughter, Bong Libun. This marriage produced no progeny, leading to
Sfedat's despondency. One day, he asked his wife to kill him. His
corpse became land from which sprouted all kinds of plants and trees.
Dwata - The third son who married two of his sisters, Sedek We
and Hyu We. His request for one of the powers granted Cumucul is
refused. Thus, he left the sky with his wives and seven children from
Hyu We (Litik, Blanga, Teme Lus, Tdolok, Ginton, Lmugot Mangay, and
Fun Bulol) and six from Sedek We. For a place to stay, he asked Bong
Libun for the land that was once Sfedat's body. Bong Libun agreed on
the condition that she married one of his sons. Dwata spread the land,
and planted the trees and other vegetation; the result is earth. The
first people were created after Dwata breathed life into the clay
figurines made by Hyu We and Sedek We. However Dwata did not fulfill
his side of the bargain with Bong Libun, because his sons will not have
her as wife.
Buni - God
Parsua - Creator
Nga - Are serpent deities known for their protective nature. Their
presence in structures are talismans against fire.
B'laan deities[edit]
Melu The Supreme Being and creator. He has white skin and gold
teeth. He is assisted by Fiuwe and Tasu Weh.
Katataoan - giants
Apng Malyari The moon god who lives in Mt. Pinatubo and
ruler of the eight rivers.
Diwata - Provided for the needs of men and women, and gives out
rewards for good deeds. Sanbay is a ritual in honor of Diwata, who is
asked by the people to bless them with generous harvests of palay
(unhusked rice) and honey. This ritual takes place inside a forest, about
23 km from the beach. Two huts are constructed for the ritual. Palay is
placed in one of the huts. A replica of a beehive, meanwhile, is
situated in another small hut. Prayers are recited to Diwata by the
babaylan, after which the people in attendance gather together in
festive eating, drinking, and dancing.
Angoro - Lives in Basad, a place beyond this world where the souls
of the dead go, and it is there where they come to know if they are to
proceed to Lampanag (heaven)or be cast into depths of the Basad,
where fire and boiling water await these hapless ones.
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[edit]
Ampu - The god who wove the world and created several kinds of
humanity, hence he is also called "Nagsalad", the Weaver. He is the
supreme deity in a system of religious thought that can be qualified as
"theist" and "animist." He is a protective watching presence, always
invisible to tawbanar or the real people. In the verticality of the
universe, andunawan represents his abode. While people live on dunya
or earth.
Alupundan - Causes the reapers' toes to get sore all over and
swell.
Arurin - She sees to it that the harvest is bad, if the Isneg farmers
fail to give her share.
Bukidnon Deities[edit]
Magbabaya (The Ruler of All) - The supreme god who has minor
gods and goddesses beneath him to do specific jobs and take care of
certain things, he is also the god of the west.
Bulalakaw - The spirit who watches the rivers and takes care of
the fishermen's catch.
Anlabban - The spirit who looks after the general welfare of the
people and is recognized as the special protector of hunters.
Pilay - Rice pudding is offered to Pilay, the spirit of the rice, who
resides on the paga, a shelf above the Isneg hearth. This is the pisi,
the ritual offering of food to the spirits. The old woman who performs
this utters the following prayer: "Ne uwamo ilay ta ubatbattugammo
ya an-ana-a, umaammo ka mabtugda peyan" (Here, this is yours, Pilay,
so that you feed my children fully, and make sure that they are always
satisfied). Another ritual is performed right in the fields where the
harvest is going on. The amulets inapugan, takkag (a kind of fern), and
herbs are tied to a stalk of palay, which later will be place in the
granary before the other palay. Again, these are reserved for Pilay. In
case a new granary is built, and the contents of the old granary
transferred, the spirit's special share is also transferred to the new
place. It is never consumed.
Tiruray Deities[edit]
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[edit]
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
Binayos husband.
Tinguian Deities[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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 live
d 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[edit]
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[edit]
Kabunian
Lumawig