PHILIPPINE GODS AND GODDESSES

DURING
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
INTRODUCTION
 Philippine mythology is derived from Philippine folk literature, which is the traditional oral
literature of the Filipino people. This refers to a wide range of material due to the ethnic mix of
the Philippines. Each unique ethnic groups has its own stories and myths to tell.
BATHALA

Also known as Abba, this highest-ranking deity was described as “may kapal sa lahat,” or the creator of
everything. His origin is unknown but his name suggests Hindu influences. According to William Henry
Scott, Bathala was derived from the Sanskrit bhattara which means “noble lord.”
From his abode in the sky called Kawalhatian, this deity looks over mankind. He’s pleased when his
people follow his rules, giving everything they need to the point of spoiling them (hence, the bahala
na philosophy).
IDIANALE
If Bathala was the boss, the other lesser deities who lived with him in the sky were his assistants. Each
of these lower-ranking gods and goddesses had specific responsibilities. One of them was Idianale (Idiyanale
or Idianali in other sources), the goddess of labor and good deeds.
Idianale married Dumangan, the god of good harvest, and later gave birth to two more Tagalog
deities: Dumakulem and Anitun Tabu.
DUMANGAN
Dumangan was the Tagalog sky-god of good harvest, the husband of Idianale, and father
to Dumakulem and Anitun Tabu. In Zambales, Dumangan (or Dumagan) caused the rice to “yield better
grains.” According to F. Landa Jocano, the early people of Zambales also believed Dumagan had three brothers
who were just as powerful as him.
ANITUN-TABU
Among ancient Tagalogs, Anitun Tabu was known as the “fickle-minded goddess of the wind and
rain.” She’s one of the two children of Dumangan and Idianale.
In Zambales, this goddess was known as Aniton Tauo, one of the lesser deities assisting their chief
god, Malayari. Legend has it that Aniton Tauo was once considered superior to other Zambales deities. She
became so full of herself that Malayari reduced her rank as a punishment.
DUMAKULEM
Dumakulem was the son of Idianale and Dumangan, and brother of wind goddess Anitun Tabu. The
ancient Tagalogs revered him as the guardian of the mountains. He is often depicted as a strong and skillful
hunter.
 This Tagalog sky-god later tied the knot with another major deity, Anagolay, known as the goddess of
lost things. The marriage produced two children: Apolaki, the sun god, and Dian Masalanta, the goddess of
lovers.
IKAPATI/LAKAPATI
Probably one of the most intriguing deities of Philippine mythology, Ikapati (or Lakapati) was the
Tagalog goddess of fertility. F. Landa Jocano described her as the “goddess of the cultivated land” and the
“benevolent giver of food and prosperity.” Some sources describe Lakapati as androgynous, hermaphrodite,
and even a “transgender” god. In William Henry Scott’s “Baranggay,” Lakapati is described as a major fertility
deity represented by a “hermaphrodite image with both male and female parts.”
Being the kindest among the lesser deities of Bathala, Lakapati was loved and respected by the people.
She married the god of seasons, Mapulon, and became the mother of Anagolay, goddess of lost things.
MAPULON
In Tagalog mythology, Mapulon was the god of seasons. F. Landa Jocano, in the book “Outline of
Philippine Mythology,” described Mapulon as one of the lesser divinities assisting Bathala. Not much is known
about this deity, aside from the fact that he married Ikapati/Lakapati, the fertility goddess, and sired Anagolay,
the goddess of lost things.
ANAGOLAY
Pre-colonial Tagalogs who were hopelessly looking for their missing stuff prayed to Anagolay, the
goddess of lost things. She was the daughter of two major Tagalog deities–Ikapati and Mapulon. When she
reached the right age, she married the hunter Dumakulem and gave birth to two more deities: Apolaki and
Dian Masalanta, the ancient gods of sun and lovers, respectively.
APOLAKI
Apolaki was, in fact, the son of the supreme god of the ancient Tagalogs, Bathala. The book “Philippine
Myths, Legends, and Folktales” by Maximo Ramos contains the story of how the sun became brighter than the
moon. In the said myth, Bathala sired two children from a mortal woman. He named his son Apolaki and his
daughter Mayari. The Tagalogs revered Apolaki as the sun god as well as patron of the warriors. He shares
almost the same qualities with the Kapampangan sun god of war and death, Aring Sinukuan.
DIAN MASALANTA
If the Greeks had Aphrodite, our Tagalog ancestors had Dian Masalanta. The patron goddess of lovers
and childbirth, this deity was the brother of the sun god Apolaki to parents Anagolay and Dumakulem.
Sacrifices were offered to Dian Masalanta to ensure successful pregnancies. The same was done for
other lesser deities who ruled specific domains, like Mankukutod, the protector of coconut palms who could
cause accidents if the offering was not made. Haik, the sea god, was honored by sea travelers for a safe and
successful voyage, while Uwinan Sana, the forest deity, was acknowledged so that anyone who entered his
“property” wouldn’t be punished for trespassing.
AMANIKABLI
Amanikabli (Amanikable or Aman Ikabli in other sources) could either be the ancient Tagalog patron of
hunters or god of the sea.
 According to his relatively more modern version, Amanikabli was one of the lesser deities assisting
Bathala in Kawalhatian. He was described as “the husky, ill-tempered ruler of the sea,” whose hatred towards
mankind started when a beautiful mortal woman, aptly named Maganda, rejected his love.
MAYARI
Mayari (or Bulan in Bisayan) is the Goddess of the Moon in Tagalog mythology. She is known as the
most beautiful of the goddesses and is the daughter of Bathala, the Supreme God, and a mortal woman. In
some origin stories she is the sister of Tala, goddess of stars, and Hanan, goddess of the morning; in others she
is the sister of Tala and Apolaki, god of the sun. In a Pampangan myth, Bathala died without leaving a will and
Mayari fought with her brother Apolaki for the right to rule the Earth.
HANA/HANAN
Hanan is the goddess of the morning or dawn in Tagalog mythology. She is the sister of Mayari, the
goddess of the moon, and Tala, the goddess of stars, and one of the three daughters of Bathala by a mortal
woman, who died after giving birth to them. Bathala didn't want anything to happen to his three beautiful
daughters, so he brought them to live up in Kaluwalhatian, or the Skyworld, with him.
TALA
Tala is known as the goddess of the morning and evening star in the Philippine mythology, particularly
the Tagalog mythology. Her name means bright star. Tala supported the creation of Tagalog constellations.
She also helps ferry men to be safe at night using her light spheres.
Her origin story varies by region; in one, she is the sister of Mayari (the Goddess of the Moon) and
Hanan (the Goddess of the Morning) and one of the three daughters of Bathala (the Supreme God) by a
mortal woman.
LAKAMBAKOD
The protector of the growing crops. Lakambakod (Lakan Bakod or Lakambacod in other sources) was
described as a deity who had “gilded genitals as long as a rice stalk.” Lakambakod was the “lord of fences,” a
protector of crops powerful enough to keep animals out of farmlands. Hence, he was invoked and offered eels
when fencing a plot of land.
LAKANDANUM
Among the ancient Kapampangans, Lakandanum was known as the water god depicted as a serpent-
like mermaid (naga). Before the Spaniards arrived, they would often throw livestock to the river as a peace
offering for Lakandanum. Failure to do so resulted in long periods of drought. In fact, the old Kapampangan
new year called Bayung Danum (literally means “new water”) started as a celebration in honor of
Lakandanum.
GALANG KALULUWA
The winged god present in some creation myths who loves to travel. He is identified as a close friend of
Bathala.
ULILANG KALULUWA
It is a serpent god present in some creation myths that was killed by Bathala after an ensuing rival.
HALIYA and the BAKUNAWA
Haliya is the moon goddess of Bicolano mythology who periodically comes down to earth to bathe in
its waters.
Legend has it that the world used to be illuminated by seven moons. The gigantic sea serpent called
bakunawa, a mythical creature found in the early Bicolano and Hiligaynon culture, devoured all but one of
these moons. Pre-colonial Filipinos blamed the bakunawa for causing the eclipse.
TUNGKUNG LANGIT and ALUNSINA
A deity named Tungkung Langit (literally means “pillar of the skies”) was considered the supreme god
or the highest-ranking deity. Alunsina, meanwhile, was the most powerful female diwata and the goddess of
the eastern skies.
TUNGKUNG LANNGIT: A popular deity of the Suludnon people of Panay. He is their version of the
‘creator’ who made the world out of primordial chaos. In other Visayan pantheons, Tungkung Langit was a
lesser deity and brother of Panlinugon, god of earthquakes.
ALUNSINA: A prominent goddess in the Suludnon people’s Pantheon of Gods. Alunsina, also called “
Laon-Sina” is considered to be the ‘virgin goddess’ of the eastern skies and the wife of Tungkung Langit (“Pillar
of Heaven”).
AMAN SINAYA
Goddess of the sea, fishing and seafaring
Aman Sinaya was one of the three primary Diwata sired by Gaea, along with Bathala and Amihan, and
was the goddess of the sea. Together, the three gods fashioned the first mortals from a bamboo shoot,
instilling them with a soul (or "kaluluwa").
DAL’LANG
Dal'ang or Dal' lang is the Visayan goddess of love and devotion; as well as of divine also associated
with strength and power. She is also the goddess of beauty.
DIAN MAGAYON
Dian Magayon, the goddess of all flying creatures. She has the power to command birds and other
flying species. She also has the power of flight by turning herself into an eagle.