The Philippines 
Visayas Mythology 
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By Betsy Tuitavuki 

 
  

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History/Geographic Info. 
Because the Philippines is a collection of islands, each with many different cultures and groups, 
I chose to focus on Visayas Mythology. Visayas is one of three main island groups in the 
Philippines. Before Spain colonized the archipelagic country, many believed in Gods, and 
creatures. In Pre-Colonial Visayas, Animism was a practice most partook in (Miller), seeing 
stars and the moon and sun as objects of respect due to its connection to folklore (Umali). 

This practice also affected their agriculture, where their 

cycle went in sync with the moon cycle (Umali). 
Pre-Colonial Visayas did Swidden agriculture where 
they’d burn a part of the forest down to make a field 
(Cruz) for planting, often rice and millet, tarp and yam 
among others. 

Filippinos followed very specific rituals and beliefs. 

They looked to shamans for medicine. Their form of 
government was ​Barangay ​which included at least 30 
families, even reaching to one hundred (De Guzman). A 
chief was always in charge to ensure alliance and 
comradery. Visayans specifically were very war central 
people, traveling by sea to raid neighboring islands 
(Umali). 

FIGURES OF FOLKLORE 
Kan-Laon 
Known from the South Ancient Visayans as the Supreme God, 
who created the world. Said to be living in the “upper heavens, 
and the entrance to his domain can be found in the peak or 
heart of the Kan-Laon volcano” (​Philippines). His story varies 
from group to group, often portrayed as a peaceful gentleman 
or as a goddess because of her unpredictability which mirrored 
the volcano. Seen even as the god of “time and cosmic 
movements” (​Philippines) who can change events. Because the 
  

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mortals he resided over did not listen or care for him, he hid away into his home in the volcano.   

Maguayan/Magwayan 
Both names, stories somewhat different, were known as the 
god/goddess of the sea. In the latter, Magwayan was 
created by Kan-Laon to be the female counterpart of 
Kaptan (Philippines), whom we’ll discuss next. In some 
myths, they are seen as Kaptan’s wife who left him, after 
they fought, and 
returned to the 
sea. In others, 
they are 
Kaptan’s rival 
who dueled against him for Kan-Loan’s throne 
(Philippines). He/She has a daughter, Lidagat, as 
shown in pictures who swims alongside them. Some 
also tell a story of Maguayan/Magwayan being the 
entire body of water, reaching far and wide even into 
the underworld.  

Kaptan 
The great god of the sky, Kaptan was most known in South Central Visayas. Some consider him 
as the king of all gods, having been made first 
by Kan-Laon. Portrayed as middle-aged and 
strong. Similar to Greek god, Zeus, Kaptan 
used lightning bolts to punish and intimidate. 
He is the only one in Visayan folklore that has 
“a proper familial lineage and relations” 
(Philippines). His kingdom is high in the sky 
with steel gates but through one window, he is 
able to see all the world (Philippines). Kaptan 
is known to be the most worshipped by 
natives. His son is Lihangin, the wind.   
  

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Lidagat 
Known as ​The Sea, ​she is the only daughter of Manguayan/Magwayan. Many call her the 
“goddess of sea life” (Philippines) fisherman 
prayed to her for a good catch. Sailors also 
prayed to her for calm seas. She was very 
important since back then, Visayans relied on 
fishing for food and export. She fell in love with 
Lihangin, Kaptan’s son and soon married, 
bearing four children. An interesting insight, in 
some myths when the world was created there 
were no fish only sea monsters. When Lidagat 
passed, her body birthed fishes and all sea life 
(Philippines). According to ​Vizayamyths, a
​ fter 
Spain invaded the Philippines, her worship had 
died and taken over by the Catholicism the 
Spanards brought (Philippines).  

Lisuga 
Only daughter of Lihangan and Lidagat, Lisuga is the deity of the stars. Made from pure silver, 
she was beautiful and very caring. The youngest of the four 
children, she always wanted to look out for her brothers 
(Philippines). Like her mother, she was an important deity 
to sailors and shaman who looked to her stars for guidance. 
When Spain came over, they twisted her story to have her 
be portrayed as an old woman who taught and protected 
one from harm (Philippines). In the myth of creation we will 
delve into later, parts of Lisuga’s body were used to create 
Sikalak and Sikabay, Visayan’s version of Adam and Eve. So, 
many believe that “she is the mother of us all” 
(Philippines).   

 
  

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Like many cultures, stories from old have been passed down through oral tradition, and has 
since been recorded and written down.   

Creation Myth 
In this tale, it describes the world as a giant sea of water and Maguayan​, ​god of water and 
Kaptan​, ​the sky god lived. This version, Maguayan is portrayed male and he had a daughter 
Lidagat while Kaptan had a son Lihangin​, ​the sea and the wind respectively. The gods arranged 
their marriage and soon four children were born. Licalibutan (rock), Liadlao (gold), Libulan 
(copper), and lastly Lisuga (silver). After Lihangin and Lidagat passed away, the grandparents, 
Kaptan and Maguayan, cared for the four in their parent’s place. Years later, the oldest became 
greedy for more power and convinced his two brothers to join hands and siege the sky from 
their grandfather, Kaptan. Though the two youngest were worried, they all agreed. Upon 
reaching the steel gates, and blowing it open they were met with Kaptan who’s anger overcame 
him. He let loose three lightning bolts on the grandsons, striking them down. Libulan and 
Liadlao melted while Licalibutan broke into pieces and fell into the sea and stuck out above it, 
now known as land.  

All the while, Lisuga was searching for her brothers. When she reached the sky kingdom, Kaptan 
was so blinded with fury he struck her as well and her silver body “broke into thousands of 
pieces” (Clark). Kaptan ripped open the sea to find Maguayan, initially claiming him a traitor 
but soon realizing he was not at fault. Together they wept for their grandchildren as they 
inserted a light to each body. Liadlao became the sun, Libulan the moon and Lisuga the stars. 
They gave nothing to Licalibutan but since he was land, he’d be a place for the new race. Kaptan 
made a seed and had Maguayan plant it. A bamboo tree grew and out of a branch appeared 
Sicalac and Sicabay, man and woman. 

Bakunawa Myth 
Prevalent in all Philippine mythology, the Bakunawa is a 
serpent-like dragon who had been attempting to eat the 
moon. It lived in the deep ocean and would arise when the 
moon shone bright. Before this, Bathala, one of the 
Philippine gods, created seven moons to shine, one for 
every night. The Bakunawa was so enamoured and 
envious, it swallowed all but one (Clark). Because of this, 
the people heavily guarded the moon. Specifically on a 
  

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lunar eclipse, the people would bang their drums to force the Bakunawa to let go of the moon 
(Clark). Many groups still practice this, believing that when an eclipse appears, the Bakunawa is 
trying to swallow the moon. In Visayan folklore, the hilts of an ancient Philippine sword, the 
Kampilan, depicts a serpent (Clark), so some deem this serpent dragon to have been true. 
However it’s not certain if the serpent represents the Bakunawa.   

The Hawk and the Hen 

​

This light tale is about a hawk who decided to marry a hen. He flew to land and asked a hen for 
her wing in marriage. She agreed on one condition, that they’d marry once she grew wings like 
his to be able to fly high with him. He consented and presented her a ring to take care of till 
then. Very happy, the hen wore it proudly 
until a cock asked her why she was wearing 
it and that she was to be his wife. The hen 
threw it away. When the hawk came around 
with a new dress for her, and asked the hen 
where the ring was, she lied. He knew she 
was being untruthful and persecuted her, 
saying that she must look for the ring and 
then he’ll make her his wife. Until then she 
“must always scratch the ground to look for 
the ring” (“The Hawk and the Hen - A Visayan Folk Tale”). Now all hens scratch the earth in 
search of the ring. 

 
  

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Works cited  

artstation.com/artwork/Qaezx 

Clark, Jordan. “Ancient Visayan Story of Creation | Philippine Mythology • THE ASWANG 
PROJECT.” THE ASWANG PROJECT, 9 Feb. 2016, 
www.aswangproject.com/ancient-visayan-story-of-creation/. Accessed 17 Sept. 2020. 

Clark, Jordan. “BAKUNAWA: The Moon Eating Dragon of Philippine Mythology.” ​THE 
ASWANG PROJECT​, THE ASWANG PROJECT, 27 May 2016, 
www.aswangproject.com/bakunawa/.​ 

Cruz, Amy. “The Past, Present and Future of Swidden Agriculture - Agroforestry World.” 
Agroforestry World, 7 May 2015, 
blog.worldagroforestry.org/index.php/2015/05/07/the-past-present-and-future-of-swidde
n-agriculture/. Accessed 16 Sept. 2020. 

De Guzman, Kimberly. “Pre Colonial Life and Culture in the Philippines.” Slideshare, 6 Oct. 
2014, 
www.slideshare.net/KhimdeGuzman/pre-colonial-life-and-culture-in-the-philippines. 
Accessed 16 Sept. 2020. 

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/bgzvd 

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/w8bVP5 

https://www.deviantart.com/kaelwithme/art/Maguayan-Illustration-for-Agla-52133138
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https://www.deviantart.com/squeegool/art/Lidagat-367548378 

​https://www.deviantart.com/squeegool/art/Magwayen-372124977 

http://www.geocities.ws/eligutan/philippine-information/philippine_map/pages/Map-of-Visaya
s.htm 

​http://vizayanmyths.blogspot.com/2013/05/kan-laon-profile.html 
  

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​Miller, Jack. “Religion in the Philippines.” Asia Society, 2019, 

asiasociety.org/education/religion-philippines. Accessed 16 Sept. 2020. 

​Philippines, Luzviminda. “Visayan Mythologies of the Philippines: Kan-Laon.” Visayan 

Mythologies of the Philippines, 5 May 2013, 
vizayanmyths.blogspot.com/2013/05/kan-laon-profile.html. Accessed 17 Sept. 2020. 

​Philippines, Luzviminda. “Visayan Mythologies of the Philippines: Lidagat.” Visayan 

Mythologies of the Philippines, 8 May 2013, 
vizayanmyths.blogspot.com/2013/05/lidagat.html. Accessed 17 Sept. 2020. 

​Philippines, Luzviminda. “Visayan Mythologies of the Philippines: Lisuga.” Visayan 

Mythologies of the Philippines, 10 May 2013, 
vizayanmyths.blogspot.com/2013/05/lisuga.html. Accessed 17 Sept. 2020. 

​Philippines, Luzviminda.​ “Visayan Mythologies of the Philippines: Magwayen / 

Maguayan.” ​Visayan Mythologies of the Philippines,​ 7 May 2013, 
vizayanmyths.blogspot.com/2013/05/magwayen-maguayan.html. Accessed 17 
Sept. 2020. 

“The Hawk and the Hen - A Visayan Folk Tale.” The Kahimyang Project, 
kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1120/the-hawk-and-the-hen-a-visayan-folk-t
ale. Accessed 17 Sept. 2020. 

Umali, Justin. “High Culture: The Visayans Before Spanish Colonization Were Badasses.” 
Esquiremag.Ph, 3 Mar. 2020, 
www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/visayan-culture-a2212-20200303-lfrm2. 
Accessed 16 Sept. 2020.