ETHNOASTRONOMY

IN VISAYAS
DANAO, MARC EDZEL
CAS-11-601A
Report Outline
Introduction to Visayas
Ethnoastronomy of Visayas
Most Prominent Mythology of Visayas:
Bakunawa
Prominent Celestial Objects in Visayan
Ethnoastronomy
INTRODUCTION
TO VISAYAS
INTRODUCTION
TO VISAYAS

The Visayas is one of the three main island

groups in the Philippines, along with Luzon
in the north and Mindanao in the south. It
is located in the central part of the country
and is made up of several islands,
including the major ones of Panay, Negros,
Cebu, Leyte, and Samar.
INTRODUCTION
TO VISAYAS

The region is known for its stunning

beaches, vibrant festivals, and unique
culture that is influenced by its rich
history and diverse ethnic groups.
INTRODUCTION
TO VISAYAS

The Visayas region has a long

and complex history that spans
thousands of years, from the
early migrations of the
Austronesian peoples to the
Spanish colonization and
beyond. This history has left a
lasting impact on the region's
culture and traditions, which are
a blend of indigenous, Hispanic,
and other foreign influences.
INTRODUCTION
TO VISAYAS

One of the most notable features of

Visayan culture is its vibrant
festivals, which are celebrated
throughout the year in different
parts of the region. These festivals
often involve colorful parades,
street dances, and music, and
showcase the unique customs and
traditions of the local communities
INTRODUCTION
TO VISAYAS

The Visayas region is also home to

several indigenous tribes, each with
its own distinct culture and
traditions. These tribes, such as the
Ati, Panay Bukidnon, and T'boli, have
unique beliefs and practices related to
the natural world, including
ethnoastronomy, or the study of the
relationship between the stars and
human life.
Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas
Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas

In the Visayas region of the

Philippines, there are several
examples of traditional beliefs and
practices related to astronomy
Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas
One example is the concept of the
"bukidnon," which refers to the moon as a
female deity. According to Visayan
mythology, the bukidnon is responsible for
the ebb and flow of the tides and is
associated with fertility and childbirth.
Visayan communities also believe that the
full moon has healing powers, and many
traditional healers use lunar cycles to
determine the best times for performing
rituals and administering medicine.
Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas
Another example of
ethnoastronomy in the Visayas is
the practice of "pag-asa," which
involves using the stars to
navigate at sea. Visayan sailors
traditionally relied on the
positions of certain
constellations, such as the
Pleiades, to guide their journeys
across the open ocean.
Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas
Another example of ethnoastronomy in the
Visayas is the belief in the "diwatas," which are
ancestral spirits believed to inhabit the stars.
Visayan communities traditionally believe that
these spirits are responsible for guiding and
protecting them, and that they can
communicate with them through offerings and
rituals.
The diwatas are also associated with certain
constellations, such as the Orion constellation,
which is believed to be the home of the god of
the hunt. Visayan communities traditionally
use the position of the stars to determine the
best times for planting and harvesting crops, as
well as for performing rituals and ceremonies.
Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas
In addition to these beliefs and
practices, there are also several
traditional festivals in the
Visayas that are closely tied to
astronomical events. For
example, the Ati-Atihan festival
in Aklan is celebrated during the
third week of January to coincide
with the feast of the Sto. Niño
and the winter solstice.
Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas

Capiznon
Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas
Capiznon is derived from the word
kapis, a seashell used to make square
panes for windows (and obtained
from the mollusk Placuna placenta)
and the suffix “non” or “people.” The
term refers to the culture, language,
and people of Capiz province, one of
Panay Island’s four provinces: Iloilo,
Capiz, Antique, and Aklan. Capiz is
bounded by the Sibuyan Sea on the
north, Aklan province on the
northwest, Antique province on the
west, and Iloilo province on the south
and southwest.
Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas
Folk history recorded in the Maragtas by
Pedro Monteclaro (1907) says ten Bornean
datu ‘chieftains’ landed at a site now
known as San Joaquin town in Iloilo
province. They purchased Panay from the
Aeta, cultivated the land, and renamed the
island Madya-as. They divided it into three
sakup ‘communities’: Irong- Irong, Akean
(which included the area of Capiz), and
Hamtik (now Antique). These were loosely
united under a government called the
Katiringban it Madya-as (Confederation of
Madya-as).
Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas
POSSIBLE Deities of past Capiznon. Compiled from other historical
sources from surrounding areas by Lucero, R., Pototanon, R. M (2018):

Laon: the supreme deity; a goddess said to reside in the mountain at the
neighboring island of Negros
Bulalakaw: a bird god who looks like a peacock and can cause illness; lives in
Mount Madja-as
Bangutbanwa: ensures good harvests and an orderly universe
Mangindalon: intercedes for sick persons; punishes enemies
Soliran: one of two performers of the marriage ceremonies
Solian: one of two performers of the marriage ceremonies
Manunubo: the good spirit of the sea
Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas
POSSIBLE Deities of past Capiznon. Compiled from other historical
sources from surrounding areas by Lucero, R., Pototanon, R. M (2018):

Tungkung Langit: the god of the sky who brings famine, drought, storms, and
floods
Lulid-Batang: the god of the earth, responsible for earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions
Linting Habughabug: the god of lightning, whose look kills people and who
shouts in anger
Launsina: the goddess of the sun, moon, stars, and seas, and the most beloved
because people seek forgiveness from her
Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan: the goddess of greed to whom people
pray when they want to get rich
Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas
POSSIBLE Deities of past Capiznon. Compiled from other historical
sources from surrounding areas by Lucero, R., Pototanon, R. M (2018):

Saragnayan: the god of darkness who has the power to replace brightness with
darkness
Lubay-lubyuk Hanginun si Mahuyuk-huyukun: the goddess of the evening
breeze; cools people, especially during the summer
Suklang Malayun: the guardian of happy homes
Maklilum-sa-twan: the god of the plains and valleys.
Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas

Sulod (Panay-
Bukidnon)

Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas
The Sulod are the most populous of the varied
cultural-linguistic groups inhabiting the
mountains of Central Panay; Tapaz, Capiz;
Lambuano, Iloilo; and Valderrama, Antique
Provinces, who remain relatively
unassimilated. They occupy the rugged finger-
like slopes along the banks of the river in the
interior and higher mountains. Due to the
sandwich-like location of their territory, the
inhabitants earned the moniker Sulod by their
neighbors, which literally means “closet or
room”; they’re also called montesses by
lowlanders, which means “mountain dwellers”.
They speak a dialect that is a combination of
Kiniray-a which is characterized by many
archaic expressions and Hiligaynon.
Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas
These deities were documented by F. Landa Jocano during his work
with the Sulod Societies of Panay.

Tungkung Langit: the supreme deity and the most powerful male Diwata; he is
of unknown origin, coming from somewhere foreign to the other beings of the
Sulod pantheon
Bangun Bangun: the deity of universal time who regulates cosmic movements
Pahulangkug: the deity who changes the seasons
Ribung Linti: the deity of lightning and thunderstorms
Sumalongsong: the deity of the rivers and seas
Santonilyo: the deity of good graces
Munsad Burulakaw: the deity who has direct power over men; most respected
and feared in the upperworld
Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas
These deities were documented by F. Landa Jocano during his work
with the Sulod Societies of Panay.

Bayi: one of the two primordial giants who appeared out of nowhere and were
responsible for the creation of many things; caught the primordial earthworm
and gave birth to the wild animals that inhabit the earth

Laki: one of the two primordial giants who appeared out of nowhere and were
responsible for the creation of many things

Primordial Earthworm: an ancient earthworm who excreted the earth after it

was caught by the primordial giantess, Bayi.
Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas
These deities were documented by F. Landa Jocano during his work
with the Sulod Societies of Panay.

Paninidngæn: The ability to procreate among women is largely determined by

Paninidngæn, the ancestral spirit of pregnancy, who controls the menstrual
cycle of the woman: and even if the man is sexually vigorous and fertile, if
Paninidngæn causes the woman to menstruate, his ?æræy (sexual fluid) will
merely be carried out and no conception takes place. There are other
environmental spirits who have influence over the woman’s procreativity. One
group of these spirits is known as the mahikawæn. They inhabit open fields and
springs. Should the woman’s monthly courses become established and she fails
to hold proper rituals, these spirits would cause her abdomen to dry up and she
would not bear children.
Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas

Ati of Panay and

Negros

Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas
The Ati are a Negrito ethnic group in the
Visayas, the central portion of the
Philippine archipelago. Their small
numbers are principally concentrated in
the islands of Boracay, Panay and Negros.
The Ati, who inhabit the mountain areas of
Panay and Negros, are also called ‘Negrito’
(an outdated term). Rahmann and Maceda
(1955) believe that ‘Negritos’ of pure blood
still exist in northern Negros, although
their number is extremely small and
continually reduced by intermarriage with
lowlanders. The Ati speak Hiligaynon
(particularly a variant known as Kiniray-a)
and some are fluent in Cebuano.
Ethnoastronomy
of Visayas
Here are the deities of Ati:
Magwala: also called Magdili, the supreme spirit
Abog: chief herdsman of wild pigs and deer; the daga or diwata ritual is offered
to invite the herdsmen spirits, headed by Abog

Assistants of Abog:
Makalisang
Kangil-iran

Spirits of the Forest: the first-fruits sacrifices of the hunt are offered to them
through bits of meat, which would bring good luck to the people
Bakero
Tawo-nga-talonon
Most Prominent Mythology of
Visayas: Bakunawa
CEBUANO
Tales about the Bakunawa say that it is the
cause of eclipses. During ancient times, Pre-
colonial Cebuanos believed that their supreme
god, Bathala, created 7 moons to light up the
sky. The Bakunawa, amazed by their beauty,
would rise from the ocean and swallow the
moons whole, angering Bathala and causing
them to be mortal enemies.
CEBUANO
To keep the moons from completely being swallowed
by the Bakunawa, ancient Filipinos would go out of
their homes with pans and pots, and would bang on
them with great force to make noise in order to scare
the Bakunawa into spitting out the moon back into
the sky. Some of the people in the villages would
play soothing sounds with their musical
instruments, in hopes that the dragon would fall
into a deep sleep. Thus, the brave men of the village
hoped that while the dragon was hypnotized by the
musical sounds they could somehow slay the dragon.
Although the dragon was known as a "moon eater" it
was also known as a "man eater".
CEBUANO
Other tales tell that the Bakunawa has a sister in the
form of a sea turtle. The sea turtle would visit a
certain island in the Philippines in order to lay its
eggs. However, locals soon discovered that every
time the sea turtle went to shore, the water seemed
to follow her, thus reducing the island's size.
Worried that their island would eventually
disappear, the locals killed the sea turtle.
CEBUANO
When the Bakunawa found out about this, it
arose from the sea and ate the moon. The
people were afraid so they prayed to the
supreme god to punish the creature. The god
refused but instead told them to bang some
pots and pans in order to disturb the serpent.
The moon is then regurgitated while the
Bakunawa disappeared, never to be seen
again.
CEBUANO
When the Bakunawa found out about this, it
arose from the sea and ate the moon. The
people were afraid so they prayed to the
supreme god to punish the creature. The god
refused but instead told them to bang some
pots and pans in order to disturb the serpent.
The moon is then regurgitated while the
Bakunawa disappeared, never to be seen
again.
CEBUANO
Others tell how the Bakunawa fell in love with
a human girl in one of the native tribes. The
head of the tribe found out about their affair
and had their house burned to ashes. The
Bakunawa, finding out about this, became
immersed in anger and tried to take revenge
by eating all the 7 moons. When the Bakunawa
was about to eat the last one, the supreme god
took action and punished the Bakunawa by
banishing it from its home away from the sea.
It also tells that the reason of the eclipses is
how the Bakunawa is trying to come back to
its home and deceased family.
CEBUANO
Some Filipino elders believe that Bakunawa is
a moving island with communities mounted
on its back, and that there are two
classifications: the flying Bakunawa and the
land Bakunawa.
WEST VISAYAN

The story of Bakunawa and the Seven Moons

was first documented in Mga Sugilanong Karaan
1913 by Buyser. The story gained wider
recognition when was published in 1926 as part
of the Mga Sugilanong Pilinhon (Folk lore
Filipino) collection where Buyser ends with his
personal experience surrounding the belief in
Bakunawa.

WEST VISAYAN

According to the ancient folks, when Bathala created
the Moon, he created seven of it so that each would
illuminate one night of the week. The nights were
bright and ever so beautiful because of these seven
“Queens” who continuously shone in the night sky.
But the joy of the people on earth didn't last, and the
beauty of the sky was no more when one night a
terrifying creature, that coiled around the world like
an evil serpent, as Saint John told about in
Apocalipsis, envied the beautiful creations of the
Almighty, and to the great dismay of the people on
earth, swallowed 6 of the Moons. This serpent was
named Bakunawa.

WEST VISAYAN "Exaggeration only"

When Bathala saw the creature devouring

all but one Moon, He planted bamboos on
the remaining Moon. From afar, they
looked like “stains” on the surface of the
Moon.

WEST VISAYAN

To the people's despair at the loss of the 6 Stars*,
they learned to heavily guard themselves so that the
one last Moon would not be taken and destroyed by
the frightening Serpent. One night the whole world
panicked at the deafening scream of the people, the
banging of drums among other objects that people
could get a hold of to produce loud noise and sharp
echoes as they saw the Moon being attacked by the
Bakunawa. Children, big people, the elderly, women
and men all cried:
“Return our Moon” among other unpleasant words.

WEST VISAYAN

This was the only sound heard throughout the world

that night. Cries and moans blended together and
took over the hearts of the people who feared that
the world would end if they lost the only Moon they
had left. The people came out of their houses and
kneeled on the ground to pray that they would not be
deprived of their Moon. The loud noises stopped as
they saw the Bakunawa finally spit out the Moon.

WEST VISAYAN

The joy of the people at the return of the Moon could

not be described that night. They lifted their hearts
to the sky like flowers and uttered their praises of
gratefulness to the Almighty who owned all
creations.
Up to this time of progress, many still believed in the
Bakunawa, and a lot still screamed: “Return our
Moon” and those in the mountainous regions and
shores* still practiced this when an eclipse occurred.
This was proven to us in the recent eclipses that had
happened in our towns.

Prominent Celestial Objects in

Visayan Ethnoastronomy
Pleiades
Pleiades
It is called MOROPORO or MOLOPOLO in Visayas. The star
cluster is the primary marker of the changing of the
seasons throughout the majority of the Philippines. It
arrives in the night sky after sunset from late October to
November and marks the end of the wet season. It was
recorded by Miguel de Loarca in the island of Panay in 1582.
He mentions that it marked the first month of the Bisayan
seasonal calendar and was the time to start preparing the
land for farming. The term MOLOPOLO was used because
the cluster was seen as a boiling lights or a flock of birds.
Milky Way

Milky Way

Bisayans, they called it BINUGSAY or
Among the
BINUASAY. To them they saw it as the bubbles formed
when paddling the water or the formation of the
water behind a boat as it sailed. The Milky Way was
termed "Binugsay" by the ancient Visayan
ethnolinguistic group, whose meaning is referred to
the act of "rowing" in English. Which makes sense
given the Milky Way's appearance, which resembles
the bubbles created by rowing a boat in water.
Southern Cross

Southern Cross
The Southern Cross is another constellation prominent in
the night sky. BUTITI is the term in Waray. According to

Francisco Alcina, he says that they saw it as a pufferfish or

blowfish. Farmers used this constellation to know when it
was time to plant. Crux constellation or The Southern Cross
is known in Hiligaynon as "kasing," after the shape of a
children's top. It literally means 'top' in Cebuano and
Waray, with no application to the constellation. The
farmers wait for the arrangement of this certain set of
stars, to show straight up and down in the sky to decide the
best time to plant based on its location.
Big Dipper

Big Dipper
The Visayans called the Big Dipper

asterism "LOSONG" after a rice-pounding

instrument, according to Scott (as cited in
Ambrosio, 2005, p. 13). This asterism was
used by the ancient Visayans as a celestial
symbol for the kaingin practice.
North Star

North Star

Visayans coined the term "Bituon sa
The Ancient
amihanan," by combining the words "Bituon"
literally meaning "star" and "Amihanan," which
refers to the North direction. Polaris, the famous
star for remaining almost motionless in our view
from earth as the entire northern sky passes
around it, is the subject of this "Bituon."
Scorpius
Scorpius

It is seen as a scorpion in the west,

however in parts of the Philippines it was
seen as a coconut tree. SILIB was the term
used among the Cebuano.
Aries
Aries

In Western Astronomy, they saw this as a

ram. Here in the Philippines, they saw it
as a crab. In Binisaya, it is called
ALIMANGO
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH