Mitolohiya: Filipino Deities and Where to Find Them

✵ IMPORTANT NOTE

You've been awoken by the strong smell of the salty sea. As you look around, you notice that you're on flat ground. At first, the earthen ground convinced you that you've somehow woken up on a strange, small island. Until this island starts to move through the waves. Standing up, a closer look made you realize that the ground lies at the back of a giant eel, swimming against the currents. Your confusion only seems to grow until a benevolent entity appears behind you, as if in thin air, and as if meaning to startle you just for the fun of it (that benevolent entity is me. No I'm not a deity, but I am flattered at the thought, may the actual gods bless you).

"Hello and welcome. You are currently on the back of the Mandaya's eel, who, according to their creation myth, is said to carry the world, and is responsible for your earthquakes. Don't worry about it, don't think much of it, this creature is something you'd often expect from PH myths.

I'm Adlao and I'll be your Philippine mythology guide for, well, the entire book. Thank you for riding with us at Mitolohiya.

We've been expecting you (yes, you've read that right), and if you're curious why, please read the disclaimer and author's note below before you continue."

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DISCLAIMER

***THIS BOOK IS CURRENTLY IN HEAVY EDITING. I found out that the story of the moon and tide god may not at all be canonical. It's important to separate what is canon from what isn't out of respect to today's indigenous tribes, and also to avoid culture appropriation.***

I am no way an expert in the field of Philippine mythology. I am a mere mortal who happens to be born with the ancestors I have. I'm overall just a Filipino passionate about mythology and her own culture.

As a science student by heart, I tried to the best of my abilities to keep this book as reliable as possible, but I can't guarantee it to be fully mistake-proof. If ever you spot a splinter, please don't hesitate to send me a message. I'll thank you for it and do whatever corrections are needed.

Also we should not forget to be respectful as the deities mentioned in this book are still very much considered alive by our ethnic brothers and sisters. Culture appropriation should always be avoided. This book is to inform, it does not mean to strip away culture and treat pre-colonial mythology as just some aesthetic.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

***By the way before anything else, please know that this book is not meant to be read chapter after chapter. Readers can jump from one chapter to another as randomly as they like, depending on the Philippine mythology topic that interests them. But those who do actually take the time to read chapter after chapter, I admire you lots for trying to learn as much as you can about our culture! The gods will be in your favor.

There has been an ancient Hiligaynon spirit visiting my subconscious, accusing me of colonial mentality (shh, don't listen to her, my precious doc martens boots), and telling me I've forgotten my roots. I've written this book in spite to tell her otherwise.

Philippine mythology is quite interesting, but besides the usual aswangs and tikbalangs, not a lot of it is known. If you've picked this up with the knowledge of only those creatures, then you'd be surprise at how much we've barely scratched the surface. One of my many reasons for compiling this is so that Filipinos would finally realize just how interesting our own ancient stories are. If these stories are not retold, they are doomed to be forgotten. And if we let this happen, we'd let ourselves lose a part of our identity.

You finding this book wasn't an accident. If you're a Filipino reading this, your ancestors, whose blood continues to run through you, have chosen you to pass on these stories. If you're a foreigner, you may be a special case, and we welcome you. You probably also have an ancestor linked to ours that has brought you here.

Without further ado, I really hope you enjoy reading and learning more about our culture as much as I did! And never forget,

remember your roots.