MAGITING

Improving the Experience of Learning about Philippine Mythology: Preservation

on the Origins of Luzon Deities

A Thesis Proposal Presented to the Faculty of

Multimedia Arts Department

College of Education, Arts and Sciences

De La Salle Lipa

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for the Degree of

Bachelor in Multimedia Arts

By

Antig, Jose Carlos L.

Hutalla, Ignacius Kyle. V.

Magundayao, Jose Mari C.

Real, Bernard Norman Z.

March 2023
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Mythology is important in every culture because these are used to explain the

origins of things and phenomena that contributed to the development of a certain

civilization. Sometimes These were also used to explain unprecedented events that

happen around the world. To understand these texts better, people resort to mythology,

the study and interpretation of myths and tales that deal with human conditions and

phenomena (Mark, 2018). Mythology introduces people and the beliefs and practices of

a community. These stories and tales are passed on from generation to generation. An

individual needs to be aware and knowledgeable about these literary texts in order to

preserve the culture as well as their identities. However, with the practice of storytelling

and recording, these myths and tales are losing their importance and have been the

most neglected field of study (Clark, 2021).

Greek Mythology is a great example of an established mythology that has been

preserved and kept as cultural knowledge. According to RRStar(2013), the concept of

Greek Mythology has grown and progressed throughout time and has taught children

about unique people who were molded into heroes, subjects to important lessons, and

more. The Greeks preserved its culture to what it is today and gives the meaning of its

existence. Myths are also preserved in Homeric Hymns, fragments of Epic poems of the

Epic Cycle, Lyric Poems, in the works of the tragedians of the fifth century BC, writings
of scholars and poets of the Hellenistic age, and texts from the time of the Roman

Empire by writers such as Plutarch and Pausanias.

Folklore and myths are crucial for forming cultural identity and for interpreting the

outside world. They can give valuable lessons and perspectives that are still applicable

today as well as insights into beliefs, values, and traditions of many cultures. Traditional

myths and folklore are often preserved and passed down through oral traditions, these

tales are simply seen as forms of amusement or cultural oddities. A way that myths and

folklore still lives is through storytelling. Stories are the main focus of folk storytelling.

These could be told in poetry, prose, or perhaps both. They are further broken down into

three subcategories: myths, legends, or folktales. Another way of preserving traditional

myths and folklore are often closely tied to religious rituals and practices, such as

offerings and ceremonies. Together, these forms of folk literature make up a rich and

diverse tradition that reflects the cultural, historical and social experiences of the Filipino

people (Commoner, 2020).

According to Pepe (2020), the Philippines has a rich and diverse history dating

back to the pre-Hispanic period, even before the Spanish colonization. The indigenous

religions of the Philippines were polytheistic, with multiple gods and goddesses, and a

complex naming system that varied from continent to continent. These beliefs also

included faith in mythical creatures and beings. However, Spanish colonization heavily

influenced Philippine culture, as the Spaniards brought Catholicism and attempted to

convert the native population (M.A. Del Rosario, 2020). Mythology is an integral part of

any culture, including that of the Philippines. It serves as a window into the beliefs,

values, and customs of our ancestors, and helps us understand the worldviews and
experiences that shaped their lives. Philippine mythology is a rich tapestry of stories,

legends, and beliefs that reflect the diverse cultures and traditions of the country. The

Filipinos have multiple Gods and Goddesses with a complex and non centralized

naming for the said gods and goddesses, in which different continents at that time have

different calls and attributions to their deities. They tried to eliminate indigenous beliefs

and customs, including the worship of many deities, and replace them with Catholic

doctrines and ways of life. This period of colonization and conversion greatly impacted

the Philippines' cultural and religious environment, causing many indigenous beliefs and

customs to deteriorate and vanish. Despite this, Philippine Mythology is an important

part of the country's culture, offering insights into how Filipinos used to believe things

came to be. However, in current times, learning about Philippine Mythology is often

overlooked, which poses a challenge in upholding its importance and including it as a

viable source material for growing individuals in the country. (Commoner, 2020).

In contrast, the recitation and preservation of traditional tales and folklore are

frequently a real and active part of the everyday religious life of the indigenous people

who inhabit the mountains in the Philippines. Furthermore, the study of myths and

folklore may not always be included in curricular, which are frequently created to satisfy

certain learning targets and criteria. This might be as a result of a lack of awareness of

the significance of these tales and concentration on other topics thought to be more

pertinent or useful for students’ future jobs. However, initiatives are being made to

include many mythology and folklore in textbooks. The value of promoting cultural

diversity and teaching about other cultures is widely acknowledged by educators. Also,
there are resources that teachers can utilize to impart myths and folklore from many

cultures to their students (Filipiknow, 2022).

According to Oyewale and Jonathan (2021), the rapid development of science

and technology has provided numerous technological tools to facilitate history teaching.

These tools are online history learning websites, electronic dictionaries, computer

assisted history learning programs, video clips, audio virtual and animation effects set

on an interesting and engaging platform for innovation in the contemporary History

classroom. Thus, technology has promoted history learning activities and is innovative

for both students and teachers. In these writings, technology has been accepted as the

quintessential part of teaching and learning. Therefore, it is paramount for history

teaching and learning to be aware of the latest developments in technology. This

awareness will equip them to handle the technological revolution and help them yield

maximum outcome in the history classroom.

In terms of education, interactive media would also have a huge impact because

the field of education is experiencing a noticeable shift as interactive media continues to

rapidly develop and gain popularity among students. These media platforms encourage

active participation and offer multi-sensory learning experiences through interactive

narration and exploration. Compared to traditional tools, modern technology is more

appealing to today's students and better meets their needs, while also stimulating their

critical thinking skills (Kwiatkowska, 2013, pp. 256-259).

The researchers aim to use interactive media as a tool of learning to preserve the

origins of Philippine Mythology. The researchers would also want to inspire other people
how Philippine Mythology can be rediscovered and promoted by using different kinds of

media.

Statement of the Problem

The research intends to answer the problem: How can Philippine Mythology be

effectively promoted, preserved and rediscovered?

Specifically it aim so answer the following questions:

1. What are the different mythologies in the Philippines?

2. What are the benefits of learning Philippine mythology?

3. Why is there a lack of knowledge for Philippine Mythology?

4. How can Philippine Mythology be introduced as a cultural knowledge in the

Philippines?

5. How can interactive media help in promoting Philippine Mythology?

Objectives of the Study

The research specifically aims:

1. To identify the different kinds of mythology in the Philippines.

2. To gain significant knowledge and benefits in learning Philippine Mythology.

3. To determine the elements that could improve Philippine Mythology by using

interactive media.

4. To recognize ways in which Philippine mythology can be introduced to Filipinos

as cultural knowledge.

5. To identify potential new modal delivery of Philippine Mythology as part of a new

interactive media.

Scope and Limitations

 The study focuses on Philippine Mythology as its central theme for new

interactive media. Moreover, it uses figures from which Philippine Mythology contains,

from the gods and goddesses, to different creatures and figures that are present in the

said mythology. Additionally, this paper will focus on the preservation of Philippine

Mythology in a way where it can cater to a wide area of generation.

To add to that, this paper will give emphasis on using a current generation media

to give way for the goal of keeping Philippine Mythology from being obsolete in the

Philippines. Moreover, this study will use different digital tools to achieve the said goal of

preserving the origins of Philippine Mythology.

Despite that, there are still limitations that are to be considered in this study. First

is that Visayan and Mindanao deities of Philippine Mythology won't be used heavily

compared to its Luzon counterpart.

This study would also give emphasis on the possible application of Philippine

Mythology as a diverse collection of stories and beliefs that have been passed down

through ages.

Significance of the Study

This study will benefit the following groups of people:

For the students. The study will enrich the knowledge of students in regards to

Philippine Mythology. In addition to that, it will foster experiences that allow students to

take value from, especially through the teachings of Philippine Mythology itself.

For adults. Adults will be able to appreciate and have an open mind when it

comes to interactive media, moreover it gives them a flexible and modernized way of

introducing Philippine Mythology to the youth.

 For educational institutions. This study will help educational institutions realize

the positives of using interactive media

For the future researchers. This study will provide substantial reference for the

future researchers who will also be using either interactive media as a form of teaching

process or using Philippine Mythology as their topic.

For the community. This study will benefit the community for its use of culture

and the knowledge it presents to the younger generation, which they can learn about

the origins of Philippine Mythology through interactive media.

Operational Definition of Terms

Catholicism – refers to the traditions and beliefs of Catholic Churches. it also refers

to their theology, liturgy, morals, and spirituality.

Culture – refers to the different ways of life including arts, beliefs, institutions of a

population that are passed down through generations to generations.

Deities – refers to a group of supernatural beings with omnipotent power, they are

considered to be divine or sacred.

Folklore – it’s a traditional beliefs, customs, stories, and other cultural expressions

that are shared by a particular group of people and transmitted orally from generation to

generation. it is shared by a particular group of people; it ecompasses the traditions

common to that culture, subculture or group.

Folktale – it is a traditional narrative that typically involves human or animal

characters and teaches moral lessons.

Interactive Media – any form of digital media that allows users to interact with it in

some way. This can include websites, video games, social media platforms, virtual
reality experiences, and more. It also refers to the products and services on digital

computer-based platforms which respond to the user’s actions by presenting content

such as text, moving image, animation, video, and audio.

Legends – refers to a genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring

human actions, believed or perceived, both by tellers or listeners to have taken place in

history.

Mythology – it’s a traditional story that explains the origins of the world, natural

phenomena, or cultural practices, often involving gods, goddesses, or other

supernatural beings. It is a collection of myths or stories about a specific person,

culture, religion, or with any group of shared beliefs.

Pre-Hispanic – refers to the time prior to the spanish conquests in the western

hemisphere. It also refers to the period of time before the 16th century.

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