The

Kapampangan
Mythology

Angelo Lenard Yu
Kampampangan deities
Once the lands of the
Kapampangan people spread across
Pampanga, southern Tarlac, half of
Zambales, Bataan, most of Nueva Ecija,
part of Bulcan, and northern Rizal down
to the north bank of the Pasig River.
The kingdom of Tondok, ruled
by Lakan Dula at the time of the Spanish
Conquest, was Kapampangan; it was
called Luzon by the Chinese. Its seat
was at the location of the current
district of Tondo in Manila. North to
south, the authority of its lakans or
rajahs at that time extended from
southern Central Luzon to the southern
tip of Bicol; its later northern territories
were then rule by the Chinese-
influenced Huangdom of Pangasinan.
 Its Sultanate of Brunei-
sponsored rival, the Tagalog kingdom
of Seludong or May-nila, sat across
the river, with its seat at the later, and
current, Intramuros.
The kingdom of Namayan
immediately south of Seludong
between Manila and Laguna Bays
formed from a confederation of
Tagalog barangays.
 Mangechay or Mangacha –
The great elder, is said the creator of
the Heavens, it is said that she is the
‘net weaver’ with the sky as her
weaved fabric and at night the stars
that shine are the fabric holes.
The Kapampangan creator
has also been documentated under
the name “Mangatia” – the net
weaver, where no gender is specified.
It ‘may’ have been something that
wasn’t determined in the original
myths, but the chroniclers assigned a
gender. That would fit with the
Brahman influence, but would require
further research to determine.
 Aring Sinukûan – The
Kapampangan sun god of war and
death, taught the early inhabitants
the industry of metallurgy, wood
cutting, rice culture and even waging
war.
 Apung Malyari – the god of
the moon represented by Mt.
Pinatubo; also called Apo Namalyari.
Female Versions of Malyari
and Mariang Sinukuan
 Apung Iru – the god of the
eight rivers in the form of the giant
crocodile of the Pasig River, the entire
length of which once belonged to the
Kapampangans
 Munag Sumalâ – One of the
children of Aring Sinukuan who
represent dawn. Also known as the
golden serpent.
 Lakandanup – the god of
gluttony represented by the noontime
sun; son of Sinukwan and twin of
Gatpunapun.
 Gatpunapun – the god of
pleasure represented by the
afternoon sun; son of Sinukwan and
twin of Lakandanup.
 Sisilim – The child of Apûng
Malyari, she represent dusk and
greeted by the songs of the cicada
upon her arrival, her name means
dusk or early evening in Kapampangan
language.
 Galurâ – The winged
assistant of Aring Sinukuan, he is
represented by a giant eagle and
believed to be the bringer of storms.
 Bacobaco – fire-breathing
god of the sea.
 Nága Lakandanum – is a
serpent deity known for his protective
nature. He is known as the ruler of the
waters.