Aswang: Mythical Creature

The awang are the most feared of supernatural creatures on the Philippines. They can enter the body of a person and through this person they inflict harm on those the they dislike. Most common are the female variety who appear as an ugly old woman with long, unkempt hair, blood-shot eyes, long nails, and a long, black tongue. She has holes in her armpits which contain oil. This gives her power of flight.

A being of enormous power, she can transform herself into any shape, even inanimate objects. She preys on children, pregnant women, and ill people. Once she has overpowered a victim, she will take a bundle of sticks, talahib grass, and rice or banana stalks, and transform these into a replica of her victim. This replica is sent home while she takes the real person back with her. Upon reaching its home, the replica will become sick and die. The victim will then be killed and eaten. She is said to be particularly fond of the liver.

I had a real experienced of seeing this monster, I was a young boy at that time and our house was in a small barrio (small town) with only few neighbors and surrounded with trees. The wife of our neighbor was pregnant at that time and their house was a small hut with windows that cant be closed, which simply means you can see the stars in their house during night time. It was a very noisy mid-night that i could not sleep, our neighbor dogs keeps howling in our backyards. So, I tried to check it, I slightly-openned our window good enough for my eyes to see everything outside, I am fascinated because the moon was so bright and there was no dogs in our backyard so i look at our neighbor's house and there i saw the howlong dogs, BUT WHEN I LOOKED AT THE WINDOW, I SAW SOMETHING DARK FLOATING - ITS LIKE A PERSON FLOATING HORIZONTALLY FACING OUR NEIGHBOR'S OPENNED WINDOW. I was very scared because its hard to describe that dark floating thing, even the surrounding was clear. I closed the window and went straight to my bed covering myself with my pillow and sleep again.

On the next day I talked to my friend about what happened last night, and i asked him if there was something unusual that happened in their house that night. He said he and his siblings were guarding their mother all the time and they were aware of the possible attacks of the Aswang. He told me had stepped something like a hairy tail and then he had thrown Garlic unto it and then it suddenly disappeared.

There are a wide variety of stories about the Aswang circulating between rural Filipinos, making it impossible to settle upon any fixed definition of their appearance or activities. However, one trademark or defining feature of Aswangs which distinguishes them from other Filipino mythological creatures is their propensity to replace live victims or stolen cadavers with a facsimile that it creates out of tree trunks and other plant materials. Aswangs are particularly feared for their fondness for eating unborn fetuses and small children. Their favorite body parts are the liver and heart.

By some accounts, Aswangs are said to be able to enter the body of a person and through this person they inflict harm on those the they dislike. Most commonly, they are female and appear as an ugly old woman with long, unkempt hair, blood-shot eyes, long nails, and a long, black tongue. She has holes in her armpits which contain oil. This gives her power of flight.

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Sigbin: Mythical Creature

The Sigbin or Sigben is a creature in Philippine mythology said to come out at night to suck the blood of victims from their shadows. It is said to walk backwards with its head lowered between its hind legs, and to have the ability to become invisible to other creatures, especially humans. It resembles a hornless goat, but has very large ears which it can clap like a pair of hands and a long, flexible tail that can be used as a whip. The Sigbin is said to emit a nauseating odor.

It is believed to issue forth from its lair during Holy Week, looking for children that it will kill for their hearts, which it fashions into amulets.

According to legend, there are families known as Sigbinan ("those who own Sigbin") whose members possess the power to command these creatures, and are said to keep the Sigbin in jars made of clay. The Aswang are said to keep them as pets, along with another mythical creature, a bird known as the Wak Wak. A Sigbin is said to bring wealth and luck to its owners. For this reason, some people believe that many successful businessmen come fromSigbinan families.

In the Eastern Visayas the Sigbin are also known as the Amamayong.

There is speculation that the legend may be based on sightings of an actual animal species that is rarely seen; based on the description of the Sigbin in popular literature, the animal species might be related to the kangaroo. With the recent discovery in the island of Borneo of the cat-fox, a potential new species of carnivore described as having hind legs that are lower than its front legs, it has been postulated that reported sightings of Sigbin may actually be sightings of a member or relative of the cat-fox species.

If you have encounters or stories about this creature please send me your stories at king_sky92@yahoo.com

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Tikbalang and Centaur (compared)

Tikbalang (also written as Tigbalang, Tigbalan, orTikbalan) is a creature of Philippine folklore said to lurk in the mountains and forests of thePhilippines. It is generally described as a tall, bony humanoid creature with disproportionately long limbs, to the point that its knees reach above its head when it squats down. It has the head and feet of an animal, most commonly a horse. It is sometimes believed to be a transformation of anaborted fetuswhich has been sent to earth from limbo.

Tikbalangs are said to scare travelers and lead them astray. Tikbalangs play tricks on travelers such that they keep on returning to an arbitrary path no matter how far he goes or where he turns. Supposedly this is counteracted by wearing one's shirt inside out. Another countermeasure is to ask permission out loud to pass by or, not to produce too much noise while in the woods in order not to offend or disturb the tikbalang.

A common saying has it that rain from a clear sky meansmay kinakasal na tikbalang. or kinakasal si ORLAN(Filipino, "a tikbalang is getting married". "ORLAN is getting Married) This was most likely derived from a similar Spanish proverb that claimed awitch was getting married when there was rain on a sunny day.

According to traditional folklore, the tikbalang can alsotransform itself into human form or turn invisible to humans. They like to lead travelers astray.

Tikbalang are generally associated with dark, sparsely populated, foliage-overgrown areas, with legends variously identifying their abode as being beneath bridges, in Bamboo or Banana groves, and atop Kalumpang or Balete trees.

By one account a tikbalang has a mane of sharp spines, with the three thickest of these being of particular importance. A person who obtains one of these spines can use them as an anting-anting (talisman) in order to keep the tikbalang as his servant. The tikbalang must first be subdued, however, by leaping onto it and tying it with a specially-prepared cord. The would-be-tamer must then hang on while the creature flies through the air, fighting madly to dislodge its unwelcome rider, until it is exhausted and acknowledges its defeat.

Centaurs

In Greek mythology, the centaurs(from Ancient Greek: Κένταυροι - Kéntauroi) are a composite race of creatures, part human and parthorse. In early Atticand Boeotian vase-paintings, as on the kantharos(illustrated below left), they are depicted with the hindquarters of a horse attached to them; in later renderings centaurs are given the torso of a human joined at the waist to the horse'swithers, where the horse's neck would be.

This half-human and half-animal composition has led many writers to treat them asliminal beings, caught between the two natures, embodied in contrasted myths, both as the embodiment of untamed nature, as in their battle with the Lapiths, or conversely as teachers, like Chiron.

The centaurs were usually said to have been born of Ixion andNephele (the cloud made in the image of Hera). Another version, however, makes them children of a certain Centaurus, who mated with the Magnesian mares. This Centaurus was either himself the son of Ixion and Nephele (inserting an additional generation) or of Apollo and Stilbe, daughter of the river god Peneus. In the later version of the story his twin brother was Lapithus, ancestor of the Lapiths, thus making the two warring peoples cousins.

Centaurs were said to have inhabited the region of Magnesia and Mount Pelion inThessaly, the Foloi oak forest in Elis, and the Malean peninsula in southern Laconia.

The Centaurs are best known for their fight with the Lapiths, caused by their attempt to carry offHippodamia and the rest of the Lapith women, on the day of her marriage to Pirithous, king of the Lapithae, himself the son of Ixion. The strife among these cousins is a metaphor for the conflict between the lower appetites and civilized behavior in humankind.Theseus, a hero and founder of cities, who happened to be present, threw the balance in favour of the right order of things, and assisted Pirithous. The Centaurs were driven off or destroyed.^[1][2][3]Another Lapith hero, Caeneus, who was invulnerable to weapons, was beaten into the earth by Centaurs wielding rocks and the branches of trees. Centaurs are thought of in many Greek myths as wild as untamed horses. Like the Titanomachy, the defeat of the Titansby theOlympian gods, the contests with the Centaurs typify the struggle between civilization and barbarism.

Fig 1. Tikbalang in Philippine Folklore

Fig 2. Female Centaur (Greek Myth)

Fig 3. Male Centaur (Greek Myth)

Fig 4. Warrior Centaur

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Aswang

An Aswang (also known as Asuwang) is a ghoul in Philippine Mythology which appears to be an ordinary human by day, and turns into a blood-sucking monster as darkness falls. Aswang are known as shape-shifters that transform into animals. They prey on weaker victims like children and old people, but will also attack any single unguarded individual. They feast on the guts or inner organs (heart and liver) of their victims.

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Deities of Philippine Mythology

The deities of Philippine mythology are the gods, goddesses and diwatas worshiped by ancient Filipinos before the Christianization of the natives after theSpanish conquest of the Philippines. While not as widely known as its European and Asian counterparts, they have similar elements and characteristics when compared to other mythologies.

List of Gods and Goddesses

Ancient Philippine mythology varies among the many indigenous tribes of the Philippines. Some tribes during the pre-Spanish era believed in a single supreme being alongside with the lesser divinities who created the world and everything in it while others chose to worship a multitude of trees as an act of animism. Below are some of the gods and goddesses of the various ancient Philippine tribes:

Ancient Tagalog Deities

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 (Ancient Tagalogs counterpart of Christian's Heaven). ^[1]

Name	God(dess) of...	Generation
Bathala	The supreme god of the Tagalogs; 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]
Amanikable	The ill-tempered god of the sea because 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 swored vengeance against the humans by sending turbulent waves and horrible tempest 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.[5]	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.[6]	First[E]
Mapulon	The god of seasons and husband of Lakapati of whom they had a daughter.[7]	First
Mayari	The goddess of moon and one of the three daughters of Bathala by a mortal women. She was the most charming of all the goddesses and had two sister namely Tala and Hanan.[8]	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 women.[9]	Second[H]
Hanan	The goddess of morning; sister of Mayari and Tala and one of the three daughters of Bathala by a mortal women.[10]	Second
Dumakulem	The strong, agile guardian of mountains and the son of Idiyanale and Dimangan. His sister was Anitun Tabu. He later married Anagolay.[11]	Second
Anitun Tabu	The fickle-minded goddess of wind and rain. She was the daughter of Idiyanale and Dimangan and the sister of Dumakulem.[12]	Second
Anagolay	The goddess of lost things and the only offspring of Lakapati and Mapulon. She was married to Dumakulem.[13]	Second
Apolaki	The god of sun and was chiefly the patron of warriors. He was the son of Anagolay and Dumakulem.[14]	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. After the conversion of the natives to Christianity during the Spanish Era, she was then referred as Maria Makiling.[15]	Third

Other definitions

§ A^ In some sources, Bathala is the father of Apolaki, aside from Mayari and Tala hence excluding Hanan.^[16]

§ B^ In some sources, Amanikable is referred as a sea deity of the Manobo tribe.^[17]

§ C^ In some sources, Idiyanale is identified as the goddess of agriculture.^[18]

§ D^ In some sources, aside from being a goddess of agriculture, Idiyanale is also identified as the goddess of animal husbandry.

§ E^ In some sources, Lakampati is identified as a hermaphrodite.

§ F^ In some creation myth, Mayari is the sister of Apolaki.^[19]

§ G^ In some sources, Mayari is identified as an one-eyed goddess.^[20]

§ H^ In some creation myth, Tala is the sister of Mayari and Apolaki and the daughter of Bathala.^[21]

§ I^ In some creation myth, Apolaki is the brother of Mayari and the son of Bathala.^[22]

The list includes the god/goddess-like, residents of Kasanaan (Ancient Tagalogs counterpart of Hell). They were the evil entities all opposed to Bathala and the rest of his deities.

Name	Definition
Sitan	The guardian of Kasanaan and the keeper of all the souls that goes therein and hence, the counterpart of Satan. He had four agents whose task was to lead man to sin and destruction.[23]
Manggagaway	She was the first agent of Sitan and the primarily cause of occurrence of diseases. Sometimes, she would change herself into form of a human as a false healer. If she wish to kill someone, she would do it by her magic wand.[24]
Manisilat	The second agent of Sitan as she's task was to destroy and break every happy and united family that she could find.[25]
Mangkukulam	The only male agent of Sitan as he's task was to emit fire at night and when there is a bad weather. Like his fellow agents, he practically change his form as a healer and then induce fire at his victim's house. In response of this, if the fire will be extinguished immediately, the victim would eventually die. He's name is literally defined today as a witch.[26]
Hukluban	The last agent of Sitan that also change herself into any form she desired. She could kill someone by simply raising her hand and could heal without any difficulty is she wants so. Her name is literally defined as crone or hag.[27]

Other Tagalog Deities

The list includes the gods and goddesses who haven't a unified pantheon within the Tagalog deities mentioned on Table #1.

Name	God(dess) of
Amansinaya	She was present in some creation myths as being the one who assisted Bathala and Amihan in creating the earth.[28]
Amihan	The North Wind who often take the form as a large bird. In some creation myths, it is the one who assisted Bathala and Amansinaya in creating the earth. Amihan was responsible for splitting the bamboo in which Malakas and Maganda came from (the first humans on earth).[29]
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.[30]
Haik	He was the god of the sea in some sources.[31]
Lakambakod	The protector of the growing crops.[32]
Lakambuwi	Spanish called him as "Abogado de la Garganta" (The Throat Advocate). He is referred as the god of gluttony, food and eating. [33]
Linga	He was the god who was responsible for curing diseases, hence a deity of medicines. [34]
Ulilang Kaluluwa (Orphaned Spirit)	It is a serpent god present in some creation myths that was killed by Bathala after an ensuing rival.[35]

Ancient Bikolano Deities

The list includes the deities of Ancient Bikolanos living in Ibalon (present Bicol Region).

Name	God(dess) of
Gugurang	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 committed numerous sins, he would cause Mount Mayon to burst lava as a sign of warning to mended their foul ways. Ancient Bikolanos had a rite performed for him called Atang.[36]
Aswang	The evil god who always tried to steal the sacred fire of Mount Mayon from his brother, Gugurang. Addressed sometimes as Asuang, he dwells mainly inside of Mount Malinao. As an evil god, he would cause the people to suffer misfortunes and to commit sins.[37]
Haliya	The masked goddess of the moon and the archenemy 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 also to Bakunawa.[38]
Bakunawa	A gigantic sea serpent deity who was often considered as being the cause of eclipses. As the devourer of the sun and the moon, this serpent became an adversary to Haliya.[39]

Ancient Visayan Deities

This section includes the deities of the Ancient Visayans from a certain pantheon story.^[40]

Name	God(dess) of	Generation
Kaptan	The supreme god of who dwells in the sky. He is the Ancient Visayans 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.[41]	First
Magwayen	The goddess of the sea who is believed to take the souls of the dead in Sulad (Ancient Visayans counterpart of Hell). She had a daughter named Lidagat.[42]	First
Lihangin	The god of the wind and the son of Kaptan. He later married Lidagat and had four children.[43]	Second
Lidagat	The goddess of the sea after Magwayen. She later married Lihangin and had four children.[44]	Second
Likabutan	The god of world and the eldest children of Lihangin and Lidagat.[45]	Third
Ladlaw	The god of the sun and the second children of Lihangin ang Lidagat.[46]	Third
Libulan	The goddess of the moon and the third children of Lihangin and Lidagat.[47]	Third
Lisuga	The deity in which Silalak and Sibabay came from. She was the youngest children of Lihangin and Lidagat.[48]	Third

Other Visayan Deities

The list includes the gods and goddesses who haven't a unified pantheon within the Visayan deities mentioned on Table #5.

Name	God(dess) of
Abba	The supreme god of the Visayans according to Rajah Kolambu of Mazaua during his conversation with Ferdinand Magellan.[49] Abba is the Visayan name for Bathalaof the Tagalogs.[50]
Alunsina	She was the virgin goddess of the eastern skies.
Bangun Bangun	god of time and cosmic movements
Barangaw	He is the god of the rainbow.[51]
Bulalakaw	bird god, causer of illness
Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan	goddess of greediness
Dal'lang	The goddess of beauty that bestows her gift of beauty to her followers.[52]
Dalikamata	the many-eyed goddess, cures eye illnesses
Halmista	He is the Visayan god of magic that was a former priest (or babaylan) who turned into a god.[53]
Inaginid and Malanduk	were invoked for success in battle and plunder
Kan-Laon	The supreme god worshiped by the Ancient Visayans who lived in the Negros Island that dwells in Mount Kanlaon. As well as Kaptan, he is an Ancient Visayanscounterpart of Bathala).[54]
Kasaraysarayan sa Silgan	god of rivers
Lalahon	She is the goddess of fire, volcanoes and harvest.[55] 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.[56]
Lubay-Lubyok Hanginun si Mahuyokhuyokan	goddess of the night breeze
Luyong Baybay	goddess of the tides
Magdang Diriinin	god of lakes
Maklium sa Tiwan	god of the valleys and plains
Maklium sa Tubig	god of the sea
Munsad Buralakaw	god of politics and affairs of men
Nagined, Arapayan, and Makbarubak	could be appealed to when concocting a poisonous oil
Pahulangkug	god of seasons
Paiburong	god of the middle world (not Middle-Earth…)
Pandaki	rescued the deserving for a more pleasant fate
Panlinugun	ruler of the underworld, god of earthquakes
Ribung Linti	god of lightning and thunder
Santonilyo	god of graces
Saraganka Bagyo	god of storms
Saragnayan	god of darkness
Sidapa	The god of death who is said to reside on top of Mount Madia-as in the province of Antique.[57]
Siginarugan	He is identified as the god of the underworld.[58]
Suimuran and Suiguinarugan	gods of hell, the final destination for all deceased souls
Suklang Malayon	goddess of homeliness, sister of Alunsina
Sumalongson	god of the rivers and the sea
Sumpoy	god of the afterlife
Tungkung Langit	upper world and supreme god, counterpart Bathala
Ynaguinid and Macanduc	gods of war, battle

Mindanao Deities

Tboli deities

§ Kadaw La Sambad - The sun god and supreme god. Married to Bulon La Mogoaw, they reside in the seventh heaven. They beget seven sons and daughters who end up marrying each other.

§ Bulon La Mogoaw – The moon goddess and supreme goddess, wife of Kadaw La Sambad.

§ Cumucul - The eldest son is given a cohort of fire, a tok (sword), shield, and the magical horse; Kaunting, who can be as small as a mouse when not being 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 is married to the second daughter, Bong Libun. This marriage produces no progeny, leading to Sfedat's despondency. One day, he asks his wife to kill him. His corpse becomes the land from which sprout all kinds of plants and trees.

§ Dwata - The third son is married to two of his sisters, Sedek We and Hyu We. His request for one of the powers granted Cumucul is refused. Thus, he leaves 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 asks Bong Libun for the land that was once Sfedat's body. Bong Libun agrees on the condition that she marries one of his sons. Dwata spreads the land, and plants the trees and other vegetation; the result is the earth. The first people are created after Dwata breathes life into the clay figurines made by Hyu We and Sedek We. However Dwata does not fulfill his side of the bargain with Bong Libun, because his sons will not have her as wife.

§ Litik - The god of thunder.

§ Blanga - The god of stones and rocks.

§ Teme Lus - The god of wild beasts.

§ Tdolok - The god of death.

§ Ginton - The god of metallurgy.

§ Lmugot Mangay - The god of life and of all growing things.

§ Fun Bulol - The god of the mountains.

§ Bong Libun – Married to her brother Sfedat, however their marriage did not produce any progeny that lead to Sfedat’s despondency. Sfedat ask her to kill him, when she did as she has told, the corpse of Sfedat becomes the land. Her other brother Dwata ask her for the land that once Sfedat’s body for a place to stay. She agrees on the condition that she marries one of his sons. Dwata spreads the land, and plants the trees and other vegetation; the result is the earth. The first people are created after Dwata breathes life into the clay figurines made by Hyu we and Sedek We. However Dwata does not fulfill his side of the bargain with Bong Libun, because his sons will not have her as wife. She marries her youngest brother Datu Bnoling. With him she has seven sons, who become scourges of the earth: Fun Knkel, Fun Daskulo, Fun Lkef, Fun Kumuga, Fun Blekes, Fun Lalang.

§ Fun Knkel - The god of fever.

§ Fun Daskulo - The god of head diseases.

§ Fun Lkef - The god of colds.

§ Fun Kumuga - The god of eye afflictions.

§ Fun Blekes - The god of skin diseases.

§ Fun Lalang - The god of baldness.

§ Loos Klagan and La Fun - The divine couple; to alleviate the damage done by the scourges (the sons of Bong Libun and Datu Bnoling) they assume the role of healers.

§ Muhen – A bird who is one of the most influential figures in the Tboli pantheon who is considered the god of fate, whose song when heard is thought to presage misfortune. Any undertaking is immediately abandoned or postponed when one hears the Muhen sing.

Bilaan deities

Melu – The Supreme Being and creator. He is assisted by Fiu Weh and Tasu Weh.

Fiu Weh – The good spirit.

Tasu Weh – The evil spirit.

Fon Kayoo – The spirit of the trees.

Fon Eel – The spirit of water.

Fon Batoo – The spirit of rocks and stones.

Loos Klagan – The most feared deity, uttering his name is considered a curse.

Batak Deities

Maguimba - Who in remotest times lived among the people, having been summoned by a powerful babaylan, and he supplied all the necessities of Batak life, as well as all the cures for illness. He even had the power to bring the dead back to life.

Diwata - Who provides for the needs of men and women, and gives out rewards for good deeds. Sanbay is a ritual in honor of Diwata, who asked by the people to bless them with generous harvests of palay (unhusked rice) and honey. This ritual takes place inside a forest, about 2-3 km from the beach. Two huts are constructed for the ritual. Palay is placed in one of these 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 are the deities of great strength.

Batungbayanin - Spirit of the mountains.

Paglimusan - Spirit of the small stones.

Balungbunganin - Spirit of the almaciga trees.

Sulingbunganin - Spirit of the big rocks.

Palawan Deities

Ampu - The Master 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.

Diwata - A benevolent and protective deity stays in lalangaw, the median space, he is the mediator between humans and Ampu.

Ampu at Paray - The Master of Rice.

Linamin at Barat - The Lady of the Monsoon Winds.

Linamin at Bulag - The Lady of the Dry Season.

Upa Kuyaw - Grandfather Thunder.

Bukidnon Deities

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.

Domalondong – The god of the north.

Ongli – The god of the south.

Tagolambong – The god of the east.

Ibabasok - He watches over the crops and their growth in a simple ceremony at the center of the rice field.

Dagingon – They worship this deity in an elaborated celebration complete with songs and dances which will last for nine nights during planting and after harvest seasons.

Bulalakaw - The spirit who watches the rivers and takes care of the fishermen's catch.

Tumpaa Nanapiyaw or Intumbangol - Watches the base of the earth night and day lest it crumbles.

Isneg Deities

The spiritual world of the Isneg is populated by more than 300 anito (spirits) who assume various forms. There are actually no gods or hierarchical deities in the otherworld of the Isneg, only good or bad spirits.

Anlabban - The spirit who looks after the general welfare of the people and is recognized as the special protector of hunters.

Bago - The spirit of the forest.

Sirinan - The river spirit.

Landusan - Held responsible for some cases of extreme poverty. Those believed to be suffering from the machinations of this spirit are said to be malandusan (impoverished).

There are spirits who come to help the reapers in gathering the harvest. They are known as Abad, Aglalannawan, Anat, Binusilan, Dawiliyan, Dekat, Dumingiw, Imbanon, Gimbanona, Ginalinan, Sibo, and a group of sky dwellers collectively known as the Ilanit.

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.

Dagdagamiyan - A female spirit who causes sickness in children for playing in places where the harvest is being done.

Darupaypay - Devours the palay stored in the hut before it is transferred to the granary.

Ginuudan - Come to measure the containers of palay, and causes it to dwindle.

Sildado - Resembles a horse, and kills children who play noisily outside the house.

Inargay - Kills people during harvest time. When inapugan, a ritual plant is offered to Inargay, the following prayer is recited by the Isneg farmer: "Iapugko iyaw Inargay ta dinaami patpatay" (I offer this betel to you, Inargay, so that you may not kill us).

Alipugpug - A good harvest is portended by the rising of a little whirlwind from the burned field. This, it is said, is the spirit of Alipugpug.

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

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

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 are eventually drowned in a caldron of boiling water. He is Binayo’s husband.

Tinguian Deities

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

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

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

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

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 lived 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

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.

List of Famous Diwatas

Aside from the gods and goddesses, ancient Filipinos also worshiped numerous forest deities known as diwatas (Filipinos counterpart of nymphs/enchanter or enchantress). There are lot of diwatas in the Philippine mythology and folklore but this section includes only the list of well-known.

Name	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 Baños, Laguna. Thus, modern sightings of her were even reported. Maria Makiling is a common theme among Filipino artists, ranging from painters and sculptors to graphic novelists. Before, the Spanish arrived in the Philippines, she was known as Diyan Masalanta.[59]
Maria Sinukuan	She was the resident and protector of Mount Arayat located in Arayat,Pampanga.[60]
Maria Cacao	She dwells in Mount Lantoy, Argao, Cebu where she had a 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.[61]
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.[62]

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