The ideas of how things began and the explanations of natural phenomenon are diverse among the inhabitants of the pre-hispanic Philippines. They lived in many independent groups, each having their own traditions.
This article will recount the courts of the Bisayan gods, based on F. Landa Jocano’s Outline of Philippine Mythology (1969) which he took from old Spanish accounts and ethnographic studies.
To the ancient Bisaya people, there were three divisions of the world: Kahilwayan, the sky, Kamariitan, the earth and Kasakitan, the underworld.
In the Skyworld of Kahilwayan, the principal deity was Kaptan. Whenever he wanted to visit the earthworld he would pass through the Madyaas mountain in Panay.
The court of the Skyworld under Kaptan had many minor deities:
- Maklium-sa-twan – Lord of the Plains
- Maklium-sa-bagidan – Lord of Fire
- Maklium-sa-tubig – Lord of the sea
- Kasaray-sarayan-sa-silgan – Lord of the Streams
- Magdan-durunoon – Lord of Hidden Lakes
- Sarangan-sa-bagtiw – Lord of Storms
- Suklang-malayon – Guardian of Happy Homes, sister to Abyang
- Abyang – Sister to Suklang-malayon
- Alunsina – Goddess of the sky, she became goddess after the great deluge
Image from the Soul Book courtesy of GCF books
Kamaritaan, the Earthworld, was ruled by the death goddess Sidapa (it is important to note the gender of Sidapa here as in other stories she is depicted as male) and her husband, Makaptan, god of sickness.
Makaptan was considered by most to be evil as he went out to frequently send disease and ravage villages with sickness during the lean months. It was explained that he did such acts because he had not eaten anything from the earthworld or drunk any pangasi (rice wine).
The deities of the earthworld were under the court of Sidapa and Makaptan and was under the supervision of the deity Danapolay.
In the court of the Earthworld under Sidapa and Makaptan the minor deities included:
- Danapolay – Supervisor of the court of Sidapa and Makaptan
- Tagusirangan
- Duwindihan
- Dalongdongan
- Tagabiritlakan-ka-adlaw
- Suta
- Agta
- Tabuknun
Image from the Soul Book courtesy of GCF books
The underworld of Kasakitan was ruled by the brother of Makaptan, Sumpoy. Their other brother Magyan was charged with carrying the souls of the dead to the underworld. Magyan carried the souls in his boat called, balanday.
Image from the Soul Book courtesy of GCF books
When Magyan ferried the souls to the underworld Sumpoy would greet them and take the souls to a realm of Kasakitan called Kanitu-nituhan. There another deity would take over the responsibilities over the souls. Sisiburanen was the deity that took over this responsibility. Whether the souls were good or bad in life, Sisiburanen would treat them all equally. Two huge kuruntangs (giants) Simuran and Siguinarugan guard the gates of Kanitu-nituhan.
In the underworld of Kasakitan, those poor souls whose living relatives did not offer sacrifices for redemption stayed in Kasakitan in virtual servitude to Sisiburanen. These unredeemed souls would eventually be fed to Simuran and Siguinarugan.
In terms of human souls, the soul would have to pass through the underworld of Kasakitan before moving on to the Skyworld of Kahilwayan, provided that the soul’s living relatives would offer sacrifices to Pandaque, the spokesman of Sidapa.
Image from the Soul Book courtesy of GCF books
The court of the underworld under Sumpoy and Magyan had minor divinities as follows:
- Saragnayan – Lord of Darkness
- Abyang Durunuun – Goddess of Charms
- Umagad Palinti – Messenger of the two brothers of the underworld
- Sumpay Pako-pako – Messenger of the two brothers of the underworld
- Pinganun-pinganun – guardians of enchanted places
Source: Outline of Philippine Mythology by F. Landa Jocano (1969)
Speculative fiction writer. Philippine folklore and heritage researcher.
Author of The Spirits of the Philippine Archipelago.
Currently in the middle of fixing up an encyclopedia of Philippine Mythical creatures.
