The Mantiw are thirty foot spirits in Iloilo, Panay often spotted whistling while roaming the wide open fields, or leaning against coconut and buri palm trees.
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Category: Visayan Mythologies & Beliefs
Articles about the mythologies and beliefs from the Visayan region of the Philippines. You may visit a specific region by clicking the links below, or navigating the menu.
WESTERN VISAYAS – Panay, Negros
CENTRAL VISAYAS – Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor
EASTERN VISAYAS – Leyte, and Samar.
Visayan Folklore | The Great Battle of Mythical Creatures
Buwayas from Mindanao, fierce Tikbalangs from Luzon, savage Sigbins from Negros and Bohol, hundreds of Unglocs from Panay and Leyte, and great Wak Waks and other
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Tungkung Langit & Alunsina | The ‘Other’ Visayan Creation Story
Who the heck are Tungkung Langit and Alunsina? I received an interesting question from someone the other day. “Good day! I’m a bit confused, the
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SANTONILYO and the Syncretization of Santo Niño
The child deity Santonilyo is considered the “god of graces” within the ancient Visayan pantheon. It has always fascinated me, not just because of it’s
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Banwaanon, Denizens of the Philippine Fairyland
Banwaanon, meaning ‘of the forest’, are sometimes called Katsila from ‘Castilian’ (shortened to kastila) meaning Spaniard. They are said to have Caucasian features and coloring. The legend is
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VISAYAN Origin Myth: Creation of the Sun and Moon
The Visayans are a Philippine ethnic group native to the whole Visayas, to the southernmost islands of Luzon and to most parts of Mindanao. They comprise
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Ancient Cultural Weaponry: Finding the Visayan Bakunawa Kampilan
Among Filipino swords, the most distinguishing characteristic of the Kampilan is its huge size. At about 36 to 40 inches (90 to 100 cm) long, it is
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BAKUNAWA: The Moon Eating Dragon of Philippine Mythology
CREATURES OF PHILIPPINE MYTHOLOGY: Episode Three What always fascinates me most about the Creatures of Philippine Mythology, is where the origins came from and how
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The DIWATA of Philippine Mythology | Ancestors, Spirits, & Deities
A DIWATA is most popularly known in modern times as a nature spirit or a ‘fairy’ that is often a steward over a certain mountain
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RIBUNG LINTI: Visayan Deity of Thunder & Lightning
Ribung Linti – the god of thunder and lightning. He was believed to be able to control thunder , release bolts of electricity and harness lightning. There
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