Filipino Magicks

Tagalog Deities in Ancient Philippine Mythology

The first part as shown below were the residents of Kaluwalhatian (the Ancient Tagalog Skyworld).  The list is divided into generations based on common beliefs about the offspring of the gods.

FIRST GENERATION GODS:

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.

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.

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.
Dimangan The god of good harvest. He was married to Idiyanale and had two offspring.

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.

Mapulon  – The god of seasons and husband of Lakapati of whom they had a daughter.

SECOND GENERATION GODS:

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.

Tala  – The goddess of the stars; sister of Mayari and Hanan and one of the three daughters of Bathala by a mortal woman.

Hanan  – The goddess of morning; sister of Mayari and Tala and one of the three daughters of Bathala by a mortal woman.

Dumakulem  – The strong, agile guardian of mountains and the son of Idiyanale and Dimangan. His sister was Anitun Tabu. He later married Anagolay.

Anitun Tabu  – The fickle-minded goddess of wind and rain. She was the daughter of Idiyanale and Dimangan and the sister of Dumakulem.

Anagolay  – The goddess of lost things and the only offspring of Lakapati and Mapulon. She was married to Dumakulem.

THIRD GENERATION GODS:

Apolaki  – The god of sun and the chief patron of warriors. He was the son of Anagolay and Dumakulem.

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.

Some variations exist depending on what source material you are referencing.  Some of these differences include:

In some sources, Bathala is the father of Apolaki, aside from Mayari and Tala hence excluding Hanan.
In some sources, Amanikable is referred as a sea deity of the Manobo tribe.
In some sources, Idiyanale is identified as the goddess of agriculture.
In some sources, aside from being a goddess of agriculture, Idiyanale is also identified as the goddess of animal husbandry.
In some sources, Lakapati is identified as a hermaphrodite.
In some creation myth, Mayari is the sister of Apolaki.
In some sources, Mayari is identified as an one-eyed goddess.
In some creation myth, Tala is the sister of Mayari and Apolaki and the daughter of Bathala.
In some creation myth, Apolaki is the brother of Mayari and the son of Bathala.

Harmful Tagalog Deities in Ancient Philippine Mythology

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

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.

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.

Manisilat  – The second agent of Sitan, she was tasked to destroy and break every happy and united family that she could find.

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.

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.”