Philippine Visayas Mythology
Philippine Visayas Mythology
Philippine Visayas Mythology
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).
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.
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,
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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.”
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2014,
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Accessed 16 Sept. 2020.
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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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“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.