Haii Ate Kath!! I'm a fan of your work.
I've just read your 2nd chapter of 'Sanginutub: The Seven Layers of the Cosmos.' I just love the sci-fi and time travel in it.
As you've portrayed in the 2nd chapter, Spanish colonialism erased animism in the 15th century, flagged it as witchcraft, and replaced both religion and culture with Catholicism and Spanish influence.
One advantage of colonialism is that it stopped the harmful lease of shamanism in the majority of the Filipino population. The belief of One Higher God drove the false idols and harmful shamanistic spiritual ties away.
A disadvantage of it is we almost lost our significant pre-colonial cultural identity without necessarily tying animism/babaylan into the equation. A reformation of culture. Just like how the Romans used to be pagans. They did not let their cultural significance define their lack of faith/spiritual purity; instead, they reformed it to honor God, no longer the false idols they used to worship.
I've been meaning to explore and write what it's like to walk on 14th-century soil.
Feedback in exchange for feedback: I'd love to hear constructive feedback from an author such as yourself on my book, BANWÁAN: The Silent Sky.
https://www.wattpad.com/story/409373289-banw%C3%A1an-the-silent-sky
