Workshop Class - Being a Global Citizen: is a content class, focusing on Philippine and Japanese Society and Culture. This class is taught in English, and as such, English is the language used in discussion, presentation and writing.
Nanzan University
Lecturer: Abigail B. CAPITIN-PRINCIPE
Manila (CNN Philippines Life) — The Philippine pantheon of creatures is expansive, consisting of a mix of beautiful and powerful deities, bloodthirsty creatures, and downright inexplicable oddities. Yet when most people talk about mythological creatures, it’s not uncommon to hear of Greek gods, goddesses, centaurs, and cyclops, mystical creatures like unicorns and dragons, or those from Western horrors like witches, vampires, and zombies.
But earlier this year, Neil Gaiman’s response to a tweet urging him to write about Philippine myths prompted many online to shed light on books and stories on local mythology, especially ones written by local authors. If we’re seeing a revival of interest in our local mythology, perhaps we’ll be seeing a resurgence in modern depictions of these creatures as well.
To better visualize how these can be interpreted today, CNN Philippines Life sought the help of an artist to interpret some creatures from our local mythology in time for Halloween.
Illustration by MARI HOSALLA
Haliya is a lunar goddess worshipped mainly by those who lived in pre-colonial Bicol. Haliya’s arch enemy was Bakunawa, a giant serpent who, according to legend, had devoured her brother Bulan, the embodiment of the moon, whom she had sworn to protect. Haliya is said to have forged a mask of gold to hide her beauty.
The Haliya outfit draws inspiration from the Visayan royalty depicted in the Boxer Codex, a Spanish manuscript that serves as a record of the lives of pre-colonial Philippines.
Illustration by MARI HOSALLA
Bakunawa
Bakunawa is a sea serpent deity of Bicolano and Visayan origin.
In the Visayan version of the tale of Bakunawa, the beautiful sea goddess transmogrified into a fearsome sea serpent when she was spurned by the seven moons, the siblings of Haliya. Bakunawa would fly into the night sky and swallow the seven moons whole, save for Bulan, who was rescued by the god Sidapa, Mayari who had escaped, and Haliya the masked goddess who would remain to battle with her.
According to folklore, Bakunawa’s devouring of the moon (or moons) explains the occurrence of a lunar eclipse. When this would happen, priestesses would perform a ritual to call out to the monster to release the moon.
Illustration by MARI HOSALLA
Kapre
Kapres are known to be tall, dark, and sometimes hairy beings that are neither benevolent or malevolent (though some believe that kapres may act out when angered). They are tree-dwelling giants, often believed to be hiding in mango and balete trees, where they smoke and laze about.
According to some legends, kapres possess magical items, such as an enchanted belt or a mysterious stone, that should any person gain possession of this, the kapre would grant them a wish.
The Kapre is wearing clothes inspired from the Northern tribes of Luzon.
Illustration by MARI HOSALLA
Dalikamata
Dalikamata was a clairvoyant goddess in the Visayan pantheon. She is said to have thousands of eyes all over her body, each one possessing the ability to see far and wide and see everything that was, is, and will be. In some accounts, Dalikamata is also a goddess who could heal.
Dalikamata’s outfit is derived from the depictions of Visayan royalty in the Boxer Codex.
Illustration by MARI HOSALLA
Manananggal
The manananggal is a vampire-like creature that supposedly wreaks havoc among provincial towns. The manananggal is said to be capable of severing its upper torso from its lower torso, after which the upper torso sprouts leathery wings and flies off into the night to hunt and eat its prey: humans. According to legend, one way to defeat a manananggal is to find its lower half and rub salt or crushed garlic on where it has split itself in half, making union between the two parts impossible, thus killing it
Illustration by MARI HOSALLA
Tikbalang
The tikbalang is a being that was said to have long, stretched human limbs and the head of a horse. It reportedly lives in the mountains, where it would lead travelers astray. It is said that when it rains while the sun was shining, a tikbalang was getting married.
Illustration by MARI HOSALLA
Lakapati
Lakapati was a harvest deity from the Tagalog pantheon. Said to be a deity with a merciful heart, they were also a divine being who was a symbol of fertility. Although often depicted as feminine, some accounts say that they are genderless, which represents balance of all things in nature.
Lakapati's gown is inspired from the noble Tagalogs’ attire as depicted in the Boxer Codex.
Illustration by MARI HOSALLA
Berbalang
The berbalang is a creature from said to hail from smaller towns in Mindanao. They are said to be ghoul-like creatures, who lurk in graveyards to feast on the blood of corpses. They are similar in appearance to humans, although they have many characteristics similar to the manananggal, such as bat-like wings.
The berbalang's outfit is inspired from the patterns sewn and crafted by the tribes of Mindanao.
***
References:
“Oddities: A Book of Unexplained Facts” by Rupert T. Gould
“El Folk-lore Filipino” by Isabelo de los Reyes y Florentino
“Talindáw: kasaysayan ng panitikan sa Pilipino para sa kolehiyo at unibersidad” by Efren R. Abueg, Simplicio P. Bisa, and Emerlinda G. Cruz
"Tabi-Tabi Po: Situating the Narrative of Supernatural in the Context of the Philippines Community Development" by Paolo Miguel Vicerra and Jem R. Javier
aswangproject.com
Halloween in the Philippines is not like the Halloween in the Western countries. Although it’s a big holiday (comparable to Christmas here), we celebrate it in a different manner. Halloween in the Philippines lasts from the eve of October 31 (or even before this day) to November 2. Due to our strong Catholic background, Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 are spent remembering our dead loved ones and these dates will usually find most of us in one place only: the cemetery or the memorial park.
This is a hub on how the Filipinos celebrate their Halloween. No, we don’t celebrate it with pumpkins or trick-or-treats (although this Western tradition is sometimes practiced in some families / subdivisions here). We celebrate it through candles, flowers, prayers and a visit to the cemetery.
What Happens During the Halloween
The following are the chain of events during the Halloween celebration: A week before October 31: This is the start of the clean-up of cemeteries and the graves of the loved ones. The graves get fresh paint, grasses are cut, floors are swept and everything is made ready for the visits on Nov. 1 or 2.
A few days before November 1: People from the capital and other places in the Philippines start going back to their hometowns (or what we call the provinces) to visit their dead loved ones. During these days, the airplanes / airports are packed, so are the ships and the buses. The height of this “travel season” is on October 31, where employees take the whole day off to catch the last bus (or ship or plane) for their way home.
The eve of October 31: The people are already busily preparing for the next day. All the items (such as candles, flowers and snacks) that will be brought to the cemetery the following day are already purchased and packed by this time.
November 1: Also called All Saints’ Day. It may be for the saints but here, it is definitely a day to remember the souls. The cemeteries and the memorial parks are overflowing with people during this day, especially in the afternoon or even the evening. Traffic going in and out of cemeteries and on the nearby streets is pretty tight. Policemen and other law enforcement agencies are on heightened alert during this time to ensure that the activities during this day are peaceful and are done in an orderly fashion.
November 2: This is actually the All Souls’ Day. For some people who do not want to brave the crowds on Nov. 1, they opt instead to go to the cemeteries on Nov. 2 (less noisy and more somber this way). But for a lot of people, their trips back to their workplace or to the cities start on this day.
Okay, you might think we have a very boring Halloween here. I mean, cemeteries, graves, prayers, etc. make it look like a serious affair. Not so. Spending Halloween in the cemeteries is a fun event. It’s like a mini-reunion for families and friends alike, a chance to have fellowship with those people that we see only once a year (only on Nov. 1 of each year). Tents, shelters, chairs and tables are set up in front of the grave sites to provide a place where the family and their visitors can stay and talk. Radios, mp3s, CD players, musical instruments, karaoke and the like are present to provide music, singing and entertainment. Board games, playing cards, play stations are also present for the young ones (and the young at heart). Best of all, food and drinks are overflowing during this time, with families bringing in baskets of food and drinks to share with other members of their families and their visitors.
If you run out of food, drinks, candles and even flowers, vendors are all around the cemetery to provide for your needs. It saves the family members the hassle of bringing these things plus it provides extra income for these vendors.
There you have it. Halloween Filipino – style. Different, yes, but equally as interesting as the Halloween celebration in other parts of the world.
Cebu City – The start of 2017 is celebrated
with festivals left and right–from the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila,
to the Sinulog Festival in Cebu, and to the Dinagyang in Iloilo, to name a few.
Almost every province and city in the Philippines has all kind of fiestas
celebrated all year round that shows the rich culture of the country. This
practice has been embedded in the Filipino tradition and believed to have
started even before the coming of the Spaniards.
There are different types of festivals,
namely, religious, national, or seasonal. A considerable number of festivals
celebrated in the country are of religious origin, honoring the city or
province’s patron saint. A mass, novenas, grand parade, beauty pageants,
processions, and many other activities are prepared for this special day that
brings all the whole community together to express gratitude to God. Often,
such occasions draw many balikbayans to return home and reminisce the olden
times.
Before the coming of the Spaniards,
Filipinos practiced animism, or the worship of spirits, which involved
performing ceremonies intended to appease malevolent spirits. These spirits are
believed to control parts of human life, such as health, wealth, family, and
subsistence. To ward off misfortunes and gratify these spirits, ritual
offerings are regularly made by the locals. Catholic missionaries who
arrived along with the Spaniards created fiestas to gradually persuade the
population to convert to the Roman Catholic faith.
Today, the Philippines is the only predominantly
Christian country in all of Asia. The practices taught by the Spanish clergy
have merged well with indigenous ritual practices and carried over to this day.
Philippine festivals are celebrations to express gratitude for a good harvest
in honor of the town’s patron saint. Filipinos, especially those living in
provincial areas, go all out to celebrate this festivities to guarantee comfort
in the coming year, believing that the bigger they spend, the more returns they
will obtain.
For many Filipinos, fiestas are important
because of the miraculous power of the saints. It is believed that the saints
are responsible for all the good fortune and favor one receives. More than
that, it is also during this time that the locals get to celebrate their
culture and traditions that are passed on to the next generation. Fiestas
reflect Filipino religion and faith, which are the most essential part of
society. Nowadays, however, a distinguishing cultural aspect that is unique to
the community is preferred as a central subject for many celebrations.
Among the famous festivities in the
country are the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, where thousands of
barefoot men join the procession of the Black Nazarene; the Sinulog festival in
Cebu, which is celebrated with a long parade and different dances in honor of
the Santo Niño; and the Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo, which is characterized by
a colorful parade to honor the Holy Child Jesus and commemorate the
Christianization of the natives.
The Filipinos are mostly religious people,
no matter what beliefs we hold and religious affiliations we have. The church
and our faith have always been our pillars of strength and highly regarded by
the people for support or guidance. Festivals are reminders of our past; it
gives us a glimpse of our rich cultural heritage and at the same time connects
us to our families and loved ones.
