Philippine

Gods and Goddesses

Legendary Deities
 Bathala also known as Abba, this
highest-ranking deity 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.”
 Idianale (Idiyanale or Idianali
in other sources), the goddess of
labor and good deeds. Historian
Gregorio Zaide said that Idianale
was the god of agriculture, while
other sources suggest that she was
the patron of animal husbandry, a
branch of agriculture.
 Dumangan, the Tagalog sky-god of good
harvest, the husband of Idianale, and
father to Dumakulem and Anitun Tabu.
In Zambales culture, 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, 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, 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.
 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.”
 Mapulon, the god of
seasons. F. Landa Jocano,
in the book “Outline of
Philippine Mythology,”
described Mapulon as one
of the lesser divinities
assisting Bathala.
Anagolay, the goddess
of lost things. She was
the daughter of two
major Tagalog deities–
Ikapati and Mapulon.
 The Filipino counterpart of the Roman
god Mars, Apolaki appeared in several
ancient myths. 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.

Apolaki
Dian Masalanta, the patron
goddess of lovers and
childbirth, this deity was the
brother of the sun god
Apolaki to parents Anagolay
and Dumakulem.
 Amanikabli ( Aman Ikabli in other sources)
could either be the ancient Tagalog patron
of hunters or god of the sea. In the book
Barangay by William Henry Scott and the
1936 Encyclopedia of the Philippines by
Zoilo Galang, Amanikabli was identified as
the Tagalog anito of hunters who
rewarded his worshipers with a good
game.
 Mayari Hana Tala

These three demigods were given specific roles: Mayari, Hana Hana (or
Hanan in other references), and Tala became the Tagalog goddesses of the
moon, morning, and star, respectively.
Bathala was not the Galang Kaluluwa
only deity who lived in Ulilang Kaluluwa
the universe before
humanity was born. He
shared the space with
two other powerful
gods: the serpent
Ulilang Kaluluwa (“orphaned spirit”) who lived
in the clouds and the wandering god aptly named
Galang Kaluluwa.
Sitan was derived from the Islamic ruler of the
underworld named Saitan (or Shaitan). The Kasanaan
is a place of punishment ruled by Sitan, which shares
striking similarities with Christianity’s ultimate
villain, Satan.