Amanikable or Amanikoable. Refers to an idol of the hunters (belief of the early Tagalogs).[1] This excerpt is the extent of our knowledge regarding this deity or idol among the early Tagalogs and stems from an entry by Buenaventura in 1613: idolo: Amanicable: abogado de los caçadores, llamanle quando yvan acacar.[2] Scott rephased this as “Aman Ikabli, the patron of hunters”.[3]
In contemporary Tagalog mythology Amanikable is the husky, ill-tempered ruler of the sea, was said to have never married after his love was spurned by a beautiful mortal maiden, Maganda. In his frustration, Amanikable swore vengeance against all mortal beings. That is the reason why, the old folk say, he sends turbulent waves and horrible tempests every now and then to wreck boats and to drown men.[4]
Amanikable as a Tagalog sea god has only been presented by F. Landa Jocano, but stems from two folk tales collected during his research.
WHY THE BAKA-BAKAHAN HAVE SCALES AND HORNS[5]
A great many years ago, the baka-bakahan (trunk fish) were without scales and horns. They were covered with thin, slimy, and soft skin to keep them warm while under water. They were not provided with anything to protect themselves from danger.
One day a great calamity happened beneath the sea. Plant pests attacked the sea-weeds and the moss. These sea plants withered and died. There was famine deep at the bottom of the sea. The fishes were starving.
Because there was not enough food, the bigger fishes began eating the small baka-bakahan. At last, when many of these small fishes had been eaten up by the big fishes, these went to see Amanikable, the lord of the sea, and asked for help.
The baka-bakahan explained to the sea god that many of them had been eaten up by the bigger fishes. They were helpless because they could not protect themselves.
Amanikable listened carefully to the plea of the small baka-bakahan. “All of us will perish if you do not give us any protection.”
Amanikable listened carefully to the plight of the small fishes. Then he called for his assistant divinities and directed them to provide the small baka-bakahan with protection. The sea divinities gave the baka-bakahan thick skin.
However, the big fishes devised ways and means by which they could swallow the small fishes, despite the latter’s thick skin.
Again the baka-bakahan went to see Amanikable. They shed tears, saying, “O great lord, most of our children, parents and loved ones were eaten by the big fishes. Have mercy or we will all die.”
They pleaded and pleaded. They asked the sea god to provide them with better protection. They asked for spears and shields so that they could fight the big fishes.
Amanikable, however, turned down the request. “I have enough problems under the sea. The famine has caused great damage to the sea-land and I cannot afford to have more trouble.”
The baka-bakahan then asked the sea god’s trident. At least, they reasoned out, with this arm the big fishes would stop devouring them. But the great god refused to part with his trident because this was the symbol of his authority.
The small fishes began to cry. Seeing them grieve, Amanikable took pity on them. So he gave the baka-bakahan armor in the form of scales and two horns.
With these arms the small fishes went home. On the way, the big fishes tried to attack them, but in vain. The big fishes found that they could no longer devour the baka-bakahan.
Because of the safety offered by their scales and horns, the baka-bakahan went to thank Amanikable and to ask him to let them keep the scales and horns.
The sea god granted this request. And since then, the baka-bakahan or trunk fishes still carry their scales and horns.
THE LEGEND OF THE SEA HORSE[6]
A long time ago, there lived in Cavite two beautiful horses. These horses were the pets of the sea lord, Amanikable.
One day they were grazing near the seashore. They were enjoying the warmth of the morning sun.
Suddenly, they heard the barkings of dogs. They looked around. From a distance they saw a group of men running toward them.
The two horses became alarmed. “Are they after us?” asked one.
“I do not know. But they are coming toward us. And they look very angry. What have we done?”
“Let us get out of here,” said the other horse. And so they ran out of the place. They ran and ran.
By this time, the dogs and men were very near. “There is no doubt that they are after us,” said one of the horses. The other did not answer. He simply kept on running.
The men continued pursuing the horses. They did not seem to be tired.
After a long time, the horses became very, very tired. They were frightened too. They ran across the plains, up the hills, and down into valley. However, the men and their dogs continued running after them.
Finally, the horses were led to a wide, sandy shore where they were cornered. In front of them there was the blue sea and behind them were the angry men. They did not know what to do.
One of the horses became alarmed. In her fear, she raised her head and prayed to Amanikable. “Dear Lord, help us.”
The men and their dogs were now closing up on them.
“Master and Lord, please do something. These men are going to kill us.”
From his heavenly home, Amanikable heard the pleading call of his pets. He peered through his cloud-window and saw the hunters surrounding them.
So he sent the wind to blow the waves inland. A big wave dashed ashore. It swept the two horses away and carried them to the sea.
Because they did not know how to swim, they struggled for air. Amanikable took pity on them. So he made them seahorses. In order to keep them alive, he transformed the grasses from the shore into sea weeds.
Thus seahorses came to live in the sea.
[1] DICCIONARIO MITOLÓGICO DE FILIPINAS, Ferdinand Blumentritt, The Aswang Project, 2021, p. 35
[2] Vocabulario de la lengua tagala, De San Buenaventura, Pedro, O.F.M. (1613)
[3] Barangay: Sixteenth Century Philippine Culture and Society. W.H. Scott, Ateneo de Manila University Press. 1994 p. 234
[4] Outline of Philippine Mythology, F. Landa Jocano, 1969, Centro Escolar University Research and Development Center, p.9
[5] Ibid p. 150-151
[6] Ibid p. 155-156
ART BY: Ark O. Parojinog
Jordan Clark is a Canadian born descendant of Scottish immigrants living on the homelands of the Lekwungen speaking peoples. His interest in Philippine myth and folklore began in 2004. Finding it difficult to track down resources on the topic, he founded The Aswang Project in 2006. Shortly after, he embarked on a 5 year journey, along with producing partner Cheryl Anne del Rosario, to make the 2011 feature length documentary THE ASWANG PHENOMENON – an exploration of the aswang myth and its effects on Philippine society. In 2015 he directed “The Creatures of Philippine Mythology” web-series, which features 3 folkloric beings from the Philippines – the TIKBALANG, KAPRE and BAKUNAWA. Episodes are available to watch on YouTube. Jordan recently oversaw the editing for the English language release of Ferdinand Blumentritt’s DICCIONARIO MITOLÓGICO DE FILIPINAS (Dictionary of Philippine Mythology) and is working on two more releases with fellow creators scheduled for release later this year. When his nose isn’t in a book, he spends time with his amazing Filipina wife of 20 years and their smart and wonderful teenaged daughter.
