Be honest, this is probably the bit most of you want to read, or most of you only want to read. And I don't blame you. With so many ethnic groups, and each having their own distinct pantheon of deities and belief systems, you bet our own indigenous Olympus is packed with interesting personalities. Who were our gods? Are they nice? Why are they gay?? Will they help cure my dying wife of her grave illness? Also, which god thought it was a good idea to claim dick pics as his own symbol?
Most of those will be answered in the following Ancient Gods chapters.
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Let's clear up a misconception first. I'm pretty sure you guys have heard of "Diwata" or maybe even "anito." "Diwata" is usually used in central and southern Philippines while the usage of "anito" is found in northern Philippines, and there are times when these terms are used interchangeably.
A quick etymology lesson, the term "Diwata" is said to have been derived from the Sanskrit word, "devata," meaning "deity," while "anito" is a term that's been said to have originated from proto-Malayo-Polynesian word "qanitu" and the proto-Austronesian "qanicu," both meaning "ancestral spirits.".
Here's the real punch: these terms are actually gender-neutral and can be translated to mean either deities, ancestral spirits, and/or guardians, depending on the associated ethnic group.
It was only during the colonization era that the Spanish intentionally modified their meanings as both terms were not aligned to Christianity. This modification was also supported by the Americans in the early 20th century, pushing for "Diwata" to mean "fairy" or "enchantress," while "anito" to only mean "ancestors and spirits." But, you know, in areas that were untouched by Spain, the original meanings of the two terms were not changed.
Keep in mind as well that each of the supreme deities per ethnic people is completely distinct, even if some of their names are the same or almost the same!!
Also, a quick note that the supreme deities of various ethnic groups are still believed today by many societies as existing and prevalent the way Christians and Muslims believe in the existence of their God, respectively.
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Mitolohiya: Filipino Deities and Where to Find Them
Fantasy❝ 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 s...
