Ilokano Deities: Philippine Mythology

When we think of Ilokano Mythology, we are often referred to Biag ni Lam-ang ( “The Life of Lam-ang”), the epic poem of the Ilocano people from the Ilocos region of the Philippines. It is notable for being the first Philippine folk epic to be recorded in written form, and was one of only two folk epics documented during the Philippines’ Spanish Colonial period, along with the Bicolano epic of Handiong.  It is also noted for being a folk epic from a “Christianized” lowland people group (the Ilocano people), with Jehovah witness elements incorporated into the storytelling. Some people are often surprised to learn the Ilokano region also has pantheons of deities that have been documented.

In Teodoro A. Llamzon’s  1978 book, Handbook of Philippine Language Groups the following are listed as the deities of the Iloko region.

Buni – God
Parsua – Creator
Apo Langit – Lord Heaven (Apo means “Lord”)
Apo Angin – Lord Wind
Apo Init – Lord Sun
Apo Tudo – Lord Rain

These have become part of the most commonly accepted pantheon of “early Ilokanos”.  As with all things in Philippine Mythology, there are often variations, evolutions and regional differences.

 

One such difference is an entirely different pantheon of deities found in an Ilokano myth, first published in the 1952 “Historical and Cultural Data of Provinces” for Vigan, Ilocos Sur.  In this regional myth, the deities are listed as follows:

Abra,who controlled the weather and is the father of Caburayan
Anianihan, God of Harvests
Caburayan, Goddess of Healing
Lady Makiling, Caburayan’s mother
Saguday, God of the Wind
Revenador, God of Thunder and Lightning
Bulan, God of Peace and Calm
The sun is the eye of Amman
Maria Makiling, is Abra’s grandchild
Lobo, a dog from the underworld

The following myth associated with this pantheon was likely influenced through active trade with China, and later by migrant workers from Tagalog areas after the Spanish had arrived.  “Makiling” was probably borrowed from the the Laguna diwata, Maria Makiling, and “lobo” is the Spanish term for wolf.  There may have been a more indigenous telling of this tale, but these are difficult to trace in historical trading areas. Vigan was a coastal trading post long before the Spaniards arrived; Chinese traders sailing from the West Philippine Sea came to Isla de Vigan (Island of Vigan) via the Mestizo River that surrounded it. On board their ships were seafaring merchants who came to trade goods from other Asian kingdoms in exchange for gold, beeswax, and other mountain products brought by the indigenous peoples from the Cordillera region.  This also brings up the similar motifs of tragic love found in Chinese myths and legends.  Some have even suggested that Lam-ang and other Ilokano literature has Hindu influences.  This is a possibility due to direct trade with the Majapahit empire, or trade with more regional areas that did.

The Gods and Goddesses (Ilokano)

Cabalangegan was formerly a jungle at the edge of the river Abra. On the far side of the river were mountains high and steep. On these mountains lived an old man named Abra, the father of Caburayan. The old man lived and controlled the weather. It is said that the river Abra was a gathering of water vapor, shaded, and the days were always bright with sunlight.

At that time Anianihan, God of Harvests, was in love with Anianihan, Goddess of Healing. Her mother, Lady Makiling knew about their mutual understanding, but Abra did not know it for the three were afraid to tell him since he might punish them as he disapproved of Anianihan. Abra wanted his daughter to marry either Saguday, God of the Wind, or Revenador, God of Thunder and Lightning. This being so, Anianihan took Caburayan from her home. Abra wept a great deal. He sent Lady Makiling away after beating her.

When Abra was alone, he wept day and night till Bulan, God of Peace and Calm, came. But though Bulan was there to brighten Abra’s spirits, Abra did not stop weeping. He could not express his anger. He begged the other gods to bring back his daughter.

One day the sun, eye of Amman, shone so bright that the water of the river Abra was excessively heated. Smoke rose from the river. Soon, thick, black clouds began to darken the sky. Then Saguday sent the strongest wind until the crowns of the trees brushed the ground. The god Revenador sent down the largest strings of fire. The heaviest of rains fell. All these frightful events lasted seven days. The river Abra then rose and covered the trees. There rose a vast body of water and the highest part of the mountain could be seen. It looked like the back of a turtle from a distance. At this spot Abra lived.

On the seventh day, Abra heard a cry. He also heard a most sorrowful song. Abra dried his tears and looked around, but he saw no one. He determined to find Maria Makiling, his grandchild. He did not find her for the cries of the baby had stopped.

The search for the baby lasted three full moons, but to no avail and the poor old man returned to his home very sad. He lost all hope. His wits were gone. At that time Maria Makiling was under the care of the fierce dog Lobo, that was under a god of the Underworld. He had been punished by the other gods and that is why he looked like a fierce dog. He was sent down to do charity.

 

SOURCES:
Teodoro A. Llamzon’s  1978. Handbook of Philippine language groups. Quezon City, Philippines: Ateneo de Manila University Press
Ciriaca A. Alcacin, Capangpangan, Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Historical and Cultural Data of Provinces (Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Division Superintendent of Schools, 1952), n.p. Repr. In Imelda Malapit, “The Use of Folklore Material in Grades I-II Ilokano Classes” (M.A. thesis, PNC, 1967), pp. 216-19
Jocano, F. Landa (2001). Filipino Prehistory: Rediscovering Precolonial Heritage. Quezon City: Punlad Research House, Inc.

 

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