#GUGURANG

[skibidoodledooo]

Gugurang chief deity of Bicol pantheon

god of fire, light and thunder

owner of the sacred fire of Mayon Volcano. He replaced Langit (Cagurangan ) as the supreme deity and he defeated Asuang who tried to steal his fire

[fantasymythologypics]

Gugurang, the supreme deity in Bikolano mythology

[maya-chirps]

I do have to say, that unlike the ancient Greek beliefs that may have some overlapping gods and maybe even had a sort of vague pantheon that although some communities may worship one god more than the other, still had a sort of connecting unity to some degree with their myths and legends, the ethnic groups of the Philippines had a LOT more differences when it comes to myths about their pantheons even within the same island. In fact, I would say the difference is probably closer to the difference between Norse mythology and Greek mythology just to explain how different things are between groups.

Bathala, for example, who had come from the Tagalog pantheon and has since been nationalized after the Spanish used his name as an equivalence to the Christian God, is not the head god of the Bicolano pantheon of which culture exists just neighboring the Tagalogs. To the Bicolanos, the head god was not Bathala but Gugurang, a god that resided within the Mayon volcano.

The Tagalogs also have an extremely different pantheon of gods that don't seem to have a lot of overlap with the Bicolanos as there's no specific equivalence between Bathala and Gugurang besides being the head gods, likewise even their rivals Sitan and Ulilang Kaluluwa for Bathala and Asuang for Gugurang have no correlation whatsoever just to name some examples.

This is just two groups that literally neighbor each other within the same island yet have little in common in terms of pantheons. Although the Tagalog pantheon and mythology seem to be the most common these days with most referring to it when discussing Filipino mythology, I do encourage looking up and researching the different myths and pantheons of different ethnic groups and regions.

You are Filipino? Do you have in your culture ancient deities like the Greek gods? I looked somewhere that the king of them is called Bathala and in general it would look interesting to see deities from other cultures as well.

There's a bunch of mythology yeah! My favorite is the Bakunawa, a giant serpent that swallowed the 6 moons. I think there is something similar to a pantheon but I don't know too much about it, but under Bathala were more gods too. Here's a wiki article on it haha, I don't know a lot since my mom didn't want me learning about "pagan gods" or something, which, that sucks this would have been so interesting. What's neat is it's very varied depending on ethnic origin right, because before the Spaniards came right, Philippines wasn't a whole nation as much as it was a bunch of ethnic groups who lived together and traded with each other and stuff, so each group had their own version of the divine

[yangsoeuvre]

Chapter IX: A Balyan's Body

Note #49: Room 32-Oasis Balyan, Volume I of Forgotten Entries From Dead and Missing Dreamers

I cannot keep stride with the living these days, for I am still chasing the dead.

Their names are banished with time, but my heart still longs for their ghost.

Except for Hiwaga Salakep, Gugurang’s unit bursts out in a series of whines and aggressive complaints. Outside the gates of Nieves Base, the three unit members stare at their mentor, wide-eyed, as if he announced a death sentence.

Each sandbag weighs approximately fifty kilograms, a heaviness equivalent to carrying a whole person on one's back. Multiply that by five, and that might cause their bones to break and die at an early age by the end of the day.

They intensely fight for their right to function properly by pointing out their small stature and the muscle work needed for it that only the strongest adults could make up for. Even their Calisthenics subjects back in the Akademya never made them run around the institution’s field with 250 kilograms holding them back. Those exercises only kept them fit and strong with basic drills, for they knew their age could not handle heavier tasks.

Gabay opens his daily beer with a flick of his thumb and raises the bottle to them. “When I was your age, and even when I was still a child in Luna Akademya, I was able to run around with ten sandbags worth five hundred kilograms total.”

“That’s a lie,” Indak says. “You’re just saying that for motivation’s sake.”

“Impossible if you only lock your own limits and consider too much your imaginary fragility.” Their mentor chugs down the bottle and tucks it in his uniform’s pocket. “You’re balyan now, remember? Think about it.”

Hiwaga nods and walks away. “I’ll start on my own, Senyor. Fifty laps around the baryo, correct?”

“Where are you going?” Silakbo grabs them by the back of their shirt. “Fifty laps around two hundred and fifty kilograms, even you can’t achieve that! Stop bragging!”

Hiwaga glares at him and shoves him to the side. “Don’t touch me.”

“Great, then the instructions are settled.” Gabay claps his hands together. “After you finish your laps, you’ll be climbing some buildings around this baryo with those sandbags. Next, we’ll have you do push ups. Then, we’ll have some planks. And then some handstands. Fifty sets each. It’s an excellent plan for the whole month. I’ll add some crunches and jumps to that too. Maybe we’ll climb some mountain or tower using handstands too.”

Sigla pouts. “My life is so difficult. Yesterday, the grass used to be greener and the sky brighter. The malkoha with their blessed chirps helping me through the day as the wind caressed my worries away.”

“And today you’ll strengthen your body so your soul won’t fade away. If you test my patience further, I’ll send you to your grave,” Gabay responds with his own rhymed poetry, as if teasing his protege. “Get going, Sigla Halas, or you’re dead end.”

Indak gives her mentor a hard and long stare, scrutinizing every detail of their person. “Are you saying that we could actually achieve those tasks using only this body? Without fail?”

Gabay blinks down at her. “You’ll fail a few times, of course. That’s natural. However, it’s only a failure due to wrong execution, wrong body formation, wrong stance, wrong focus or concentration, wrong understanding of your own body system as an aspiring balyan. Also, if you have insecurity and disbelief in yourself, then you’re good as useless. If you cannot do even this, then you’re a failure to the hagdan. Physical strength is fundamental for your gahum, and you cannot open your third eye if you’ve got no mental and spiritual strength to back it up. If you don’t have all those three types of strengths, then let’s just reconsider your career.”

Hiwaga nods. “Understood, Senyor. I think I got it.”

Silakbo scowls with his hands on his hips. “Understood what? All he did was talk a lot!”

Indak’s face sours. “What do you mean wrong execution, formation, and all that? Thanks for the assurance, but maybe you should guide us first on how to do this correctly without risks.”

Sigla pulls on her hair and sighs. “Ah, it’s so depressing today!”

The four of them stare at the outlandish girl when she starts securing the sandbags around her legs, arms, and stomach before launching herself on her first lap. Even with just average speed, Indak and Silakbo still gape at her in disbelief when they see her running down the base and to the baryo central without without so much a as a tremble or loss of balance.

Within a few seconds, Hiwaga clicks their tongue and catches up to her after securing five sandbags on their person as well. Similar to the green-haired girl, the prodigy also never falters in their steps as they descend down the road.

“Oh, Hiwa. Are you trying to race me?” As the both of them go neck and neck, they witness Sigla increase her speed and outrun Hiwaga. “I’d like to see you try!”

Silakbo huffs. “Impossible!”

Indak’s brows furrow. “I don’t believe it.”

Gabay tuts and shakes his head as he looks down at the remaining sugdi in disappointment. “Look at you, in that awestruck air. This must be your daily life, only a willing audience of prodigies being their gifted, prodigious self. No quick wits to back it up either. I’d hate to be in your position. Should I just fail you on the spot? It’d be less embarrassing if you leave the hagdan earlier.”

“Shut up!” Silakbo secures his own sandbags on his body and marches down the base in slow half-steps. “I could do it too!”

Indak almost laughs at the sight of the boy’s shaking form, with him constantly falling flat on his face after each step he takes. Though he grumbles under his breath whenever he falls, he continues down the road without even looking back at her. She almost praises him for his determination until she remembers her own predicament. As she looks at the sandbags in trepidation, a scale-feathered malkoha hovers above them and settles on Gabay’s shoulder, whistling close to the mentor’s ear.

“Ah, an informant told me that the pink-cheeked child and that snake are already halfway through their first lap,” Gabay slurs. “What about you, little girl? You’re the only one left standing in front of me, doing nothing.”

“You’re a mentor. You’re supposed to teach us something that could make this whole thing easier to handle,” Indak insists. “How could I start with no assurance that I’ll be alright?”

“I’m a mentor and not your babysitter.” Gabay opens another bottle of beer and squats in front of her. “Plus, your other unit members easily got over their problems with that, so why are you still so worked up about it?”

“But—”

“But?” Gabay chugs down the drink without breaking eye contact. “I told you already, right? If you won’t perform my teaching methods, you can leave this baryo with your things and take a kalesa back to your parents. You can cry about it as much as you want then.”

Indak’s expressions morph into a glare before she rolls her eyes and turns her back on the older balyan. She straps the remaining sandbags tight around her arms, legs, and stomach while silently cursing Gabay in her head. If her muscles strain with the weight, then she just needs to grab their mentor by those pinned bangs and stalk him in his sleep.

Gabay scoffs at the way she walked away from him. “Did you see that, Malkoha? All my baby proteges are giving me attitude. It's adorable. How is it going on your end?”

The malkoha only whistles and flies away.

Indak Agui hopes for an ease in her steps, some miracle that she might attract. Alas, the girl only struggles to even make a single move downhill. Once she finally gains enough strength to nudge a foot forward, her whole body goes with it. The next situation plummets her in the air, and she topples over and rolls down like a barrel to the baryo central. Her skin harshly rubs against the gravelly surface, her eyes watering at the stinging feeling of the newly formed abrasions on her body. When her fall finally comes to a stop at the end of the road to Nieves Base, she holds herself in that lying position until the pain alleviates, enough for her to move again with less discomfort.

From here, she imagines her mentor muffling a scoff, and she wishes nothing more than to smack his face with a tree trunk to make herself feel better. He truly gives no damn whether or not his students get hurt. Even the onlookers to her situation, to no surprise, only glances at her and continues on their merry way. This scenario must be a norm to them, especially on training days.

Indak Agui pushes herself upwards and stumbles down almost immediately. She attempts this a few times, and she still ends up wincing flat on the ground. A millisecond of her thoughts considers giving up, if not for Hiwaga Salakep who jogs past her and up the base without so much as a notice. Gritting her teeth, she deeply inhales and makes use of all of her muscle strength to keep herself standing. With shaky breaths and beads of sweat lining her head down to her neck, she slowly drags herself forward and ignores the veins showcasing itself underneath her skin.

She prolongs her mental and physical strength up to its full capacity the whole route, but once she passes the wet market, all of her words of encouragement and burst of energy fall away as she double takes at the sight of Sigla Halas eating ube panna cotta inside. The girl with reptilian eyes absentmindedly sits on one of the benches, her weight bags discarded to the side and the scrolls for their team's schedules thrown in a nearby sack reserved for biodegradable trash.

Indak leans on the bamboo fences of the entrance and calls for Sigla surreptitiously. "Psssst! Sigla! Sigla!"

Sigla makes her way towards her with a smile, proudly showing the bits of food still stuck between her front teeth. “Indi, nice to see you doing well!”

“What happened to fifty laps?”, Indak hisses. "You're making me do all the work."

Her unit member absentmindedly glances to the side. “Oh, don’t worry…is that Hiwa?”

Indak looks to the direction she points and sees Hiwaga on what could be their tenth lap around the baryo. She sighs in disappointment at the sight of them not even showing signs of fatigue nor did they lose their visuals in the process. As they pass the both of them, only a millisecond raise of their eyebrow greets their current stature before picking up speed.

“That’s just not fair,” Indak complains.

“Hiwaga Salakep.” Sigla whistles and winks at Indak. “My ideal type. Have they figured out Ilokanos Kara since birth?”

Indak rolls her eyes. “They’re everyone’s ideal type. Plus, Ilokanos Kara remains a concept short-lectured in the Akademya but never practiced. It’s forbidden arts for non-balyan. You’d get trialed for death. They wouldn’t risk that at all.”

The very foundation of balyan arts rests in their soul system, in what the people of Lam-ang call as the Ilokanos Kara. The kara embodies their soul, and this energy hosts three layers—karma, ani, aria. The definitions of these may as well be in vain and only generalized in Indak’s head. The Akademya never truly explored the concept in fear of the more sharp-witted children figuring out its intricacies that balyan alone should piece together in their work. Kara is the resilience layer, Ani is the rift layer, and Aria is the layer where their gahum resides. When all layers become one and unlocked, the third eye then opens to the new world that only balyan vision may witness.

“So scary!” Sigla feigns a frightened face but it slowly relaxes into a mysterious smile. “So Urduja is that type of strict. In the pre-Lam-ang history, Ilokanos Kara is taught to children just after they learn to walk and talk. In my land, it is that way. You are so far behind, Indi.”

“What are you talking about? Who gave birth to you and where did you come from anyway?” Indak makes a face. “Never mind. Don’t answer that. I don’t care.”

Sigla looks up to the sky in awe. “But it’s too impossible to reign in habits molded into our blood by past generations, Indi. Hiwa must have unknowingly triggered it on their own. Ilokanos Kara is a beautiful gift from our deities. Why should it be suppressed unless suitable in application? The first era of Lam-ang was unbound by restrictive laws.”

Indak blinks. “You don’t understand what happened here anyway. Wars broke out in the past and that completely changed things for Urduja. The second pinuno was the one who limited Ilokanos Kara. No Akademya lessons will suggest its activation and only balyan training can truly trigger it. He also inserted the gahum locks into our chromosomes so the soul system is laced tight together to prevent its access. It’s just how it is.”

Sigla tilts her head in amusement. “Oh, you know a lot.”

“The Akademya rots into your brain, especially history lessons.”

Sigla draws closer to Indak and touches her cheek. "The ideal BPM for Ilokanos Kara reaping is between 250-270. It's when you're closest to death but too afraid to die. Once your kara breaks open due to the pressure, the karma would find its way for your advantage. If you're lucky enough to fight your way back to life, the karma layer would heal you for your generosity and gift you an increase in natural vigor. It's not about limits. It's about staying alive despite exceeding it."

Indak slaps her hand away. "You're so weird. Why are you spouting philosophies at me?"

Sigla only grins and paces backwards, walking away from her. "This training might kill you, Indi, oh, but a wonderful experience that is." She raises one arm in a goodbye and prances away, disappearing into a rowdy crowd of balyan.

Indak mulls over Sigla’s words for a few moments until she remembers the added weight on her body. She brushes the thoughts away and leaves it frozen at the back of her mind unless necessary for dissection. Right now, she needs to catch up with her fifty laps, else that damned mentor of theirs might truly send her back to her baryo. Nothing of the Ilokanos Kara left to contemplate about when she decided to kindly donate her third eye to her cousin.

I’m such a generous person, she thinks as she drags herself forward into something quite similar to a lopsided half-run. The more her body aches, the more she imagines her mentor’s suffering.

It took her approximately five hours to complete her laps. She swears Hiwaga Salakep and Sigla Halas passed her more than twenty times. For multiple times, she curled up on the streets with tears lining her eyes as her stomach vibrated in hunger. A piercing sound rang through her ears and into the back of her head the more she pushed forward with heavy breathing. She even caught up to Silakbo with only a neck distance. His poor state matches hers very well—bloodshot eyes and scrapes eating on their flesh.

At the last lap, when Silakbo and Indak near the finish line at the gates of Nieves Base, the green-eyed girl squatting beside their mentor shoots up from her seat and punches the air, as if cheering for their championship.

“Go, go, go! Indi, you’re the best! Bobo, you’re almost there!”

In a different situation, Indak might laugh at the given nickname for the Tambal. Bobo means stupid in their language.

Silakbo grits his teeth. “Stop calling me Bobo!”

Hiwaga covers their ears beside them and glances at their unit member in annoyance. "So loud."

Indak’s sight blurs at her final step, and she collapses right when she finishes. Silakbo collapses on top of her, but not enough of her remaining strength complies with her mind’s demands to get the boy off. As the sound of the Tambal’s snores reaches her ears, her eyes droop close along with it, and only the bored eyes of their mentor remain as the last thing her vision captures before she sets off into a good dream.

Gabay claps Hiwaga's shoulder. "Wake them up for lunch. We'll be back for crossing tightropes by twelfth takna. Dare send them to an albularyo with only this minimal injury. I'd know if you do, and I will send you home without warning."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“A tagayan?” Indak repeats, not buying what Sigla Halas told them. “You live in a tagayan?”

Before the day started, Diwa suggested that Sigla and Indak should eat lunch together as well. Despite feeling like she needs the Oasis Balyan to recover, Sigla Halas maneuvered her by the shoulder and into the training grounds of Diwa's unit, informing her all the while that Gabay strictly prohibited their healing through albularyo. The damned man said himself that recuperation through natural means may benefit their bodies' immune systems, but Indak highly doubts it. Despite that, she agrees without much of a choice in the matter.

Inside Diwa’s training ground lays a cave made of vines with little holes above, forming tiny dots on the ground like scattered stars. Torches light every side, illuminating the outlines of various traps hidden underground. Currently, on the unit's break, Dalisay Idianale and Bayani Sarimao spar blindfolded with their hands bound behind their backs. At the notice of their conversation, Diwa plops herself between Indak and Sigla, abandoning her interest in her unit members' exercises for their spare time.

The red-eyed girl wiggles her eyebrows. “Tagayan? What’s this tagayan talk I hear?”

“Sigla says she lives in a tagayan that her guardian owns,” Indak replies.

Bayani hears them from his spar. “Sigla lives in a tag—”

A foot to his stomach cuts him off and sends him flying to a human-sized cheese trap. The rest of them watch his body slide into it as its roof tips down to capture him. Bayani lets out an awkward laugh as soon as he tore himself out of the trap. “Well, what do you know? I somehow slipped.”

“You didn’t slip. I beat you,” Dalisay corrects him as she pulls out a book and a pencil from her pasiking and sits in front of their other unit member who keeps fiddling the hem of their shirt.

Diwa remembers their original topic, and she returns to Sigla to clasp her hands in hers. "That's the place where grown people go right? I think a tagayan is a good place for lunch."

Sigla’s smile is wide as she winks at the girl. "Oh, you'll love the meals there."

"I'm in." Dalisay Idianale slams her book close, startling the three of them. The person beside her, who keeps looking over her shoulder the whole time, jumps in place along with her announcement. She only glances at them before turning to Bayani, her thin lips pressed into a line. "Bayani?"

"What about Senyor Malkoha?" Bayani drags a hand through his hair. "We're only allowed break because he had short matters to attend to today, you know. He'll be back soon."

Diwa frowns. "Why are you all coming? This is strictly early-morning-girls squad lunch only! You can't have the same best friends as I do."

Indak rolls her eyes and winces as she feels her body ache along with the rumble of their stomach. "Please. We've known each other for only three days. I just need to eat."

"You don't have to come if you don't want to, Yani, if you're that worried," Sigla assures the only boy in the room and winks at him. "No boys allowed."

Bayani seemingly offended, tilts his head up, puffs his chest, and raises an eyebrow. "And why? Someone has to watch over you! I'm the quarter commander, you know. Who knows what shenanigans you come up in there. I have to keep you safe."

Indak groans. "Enough with that already. Quarter commander this, quarter commander that."

"Then that settles it." Dalisay shifts her gaze to the person behind her. "What about you, Alpas?"

Alpas Binturong's freckled face reddens. Their hand ruffles their own golden curls as they make little to no eye contact. Signing with their fingers, they say, 'I don't know. My mother would be mad at me if she knew.' They look at Dalisay, but she only crosses her arms and sighs. Alpas lowers their head, the three gold piercings in one ear and the hoop earring in their other glinting inside the cave.

"Alpas is coming with us too! You can't just leave him alone." Bayani insists with absolute finality. "I have to make sure he gets back to the quarters in one piece."

Diwa grumbles and crosses her arms. "None of you are even invited."

After packing up their things in their respective pasiking, the small group of sugdi venture out the base for lunch and into the wet market. Somehow, no matter the time, crowds of balyan constantly gather around the stalls and stores of the market. Indak assumes that maybe trainings and missions burn their calories too much, so the need to fill that void rises as time goes by. After her damned mentor's training, she deeply understands this and relate to the struggle. She stands in solidarity with all the abused sugdi.

On the way, Indak contains her annoyance at Bayani's and Diwa's unrestrained bursts of energy. Both keep childishly pointing and laughing at random people that they deem funny-looking while criticizing the architecture and designs of some buildings like some professional artisans. Sigla, if not busy with leading them towards the tagayan, might even join in on their antics. Instead, the girl kept her back on them and walked a few steps ahead, not even glancing in their direction. Meanwhile, Dalisay's eyes never left the book in her hand. Alpas silently trailed behind her with their head bowed and one hand on the end of her shirt.

They walk inside the building reserved for coffeehouses and barhouses and stop in one corner of the building. Tagayan Kampilan, a barhouse built with stones painted a lighter shade of burgundy and with six vests smeared red firmly attached to the wall. The red painted on leather might be even real blood, if Indak dares to guess. Once she turns her head to the entrance, she notices the rusted goloks and hagibis lining the door frame. Bayani also points to a notepad left open on top near the door.��The smell of metal and something akin to pig's blood from the Panalangin greets their senses as the quarter commander flips the pages, and she only managed for a few seconds to peek at different maps and ship designs before pulling away in disgust.

Sigla moves to open the double doors as the rest of them crane their necks to see the inside of the tagayan from a capiz shells window. They spot a familiar sugdi munching on a bowl of candies while a porcelain mug of water balances on his thigh. He sits face down on a round table, ignoring the singing balyan and the audience cheering and clinking their mugs of tuba.

The smell of spice and acrid ale hikes up their noses as they rush into the dark and smoky ambience of the bar. While the rest of them take their time to absorb the entirety of the place, Diwa stops behind the sleeping sugdi and pulls on his side ponytail, causing the mug on the boy's thigh to shatter on the wooden floor. Adhika Cacao raises his face from the table and curses under his breath as he takes in the sight of their group.

"You're in the mood to curse us when you're too irresponsible to attend your trainings?" Bayani smacks the back of Adhika’s head as they take their seats on his table. "Why aren't you training, Adhika? And where are the rest of your unit?"

Adhika glares at them after his nose almost hits the table. "Seriously, Bayani? It's none of your business. I can't even sleep well nowadays."

"Really. But of course you're the one getting no sleep." Indak drags her words as she squints at the boy, memories of his saliva on her clothes flooding back to her.

"You need to train nowadays, Cacao. Otherwise, higher objectives might kill you," Dalisay retorts, pushing up her glasses as she flips to the next page of her book. "It's not the right time for rest."

"Well, they said ours is the most peaceful era out of all eras, so I'm not that worried." Adhika rubs his eyes. "Why are you all here together, anyway?"

"Our mentor cut training short," Diwa lies, skimming the menu a server passed to her. "And I'm finally going to know what alcohol tastes like, and my older sister will finally shut up."

"So pretentious," Adhika mutters. "So, you're all here because you're dismissed? Lucky."

"Not us," Indak says, eagerly looking over the menu with Diwa. "It's just lunch break. We'll be back by twelfth takna."

"It's almost the twelfth takna. Only three minutes left," Adhika says, pointedly.

Indak waves him off. "That damned mentor can wait."

Dalisay finally closes her book, puts down her glasses, and sighs. "Well, that read was a waste of time. I can't find anything that could explain why the sixth pinuno would do that."

"What, like the massacre? Isn't he just crazy? People can just be crazy with no explanation and do crazy things, you know." Bayani looks over the menu in Diwa's hand and points at the bottom half. "I want this one."

Diwa scrunches her nose. "Ew. Too boring."

Bayani lets out an indignant sound. "Well, you're not the one eating!"

Indak groans and massages her belly. "Can we all just order first before we talk about the very person responsible for my tribe's end?"

Bayani's mouth forms into a circle. "Right. I forgot the Agui was one of the perished ones."

Diwa glares at Bayani. "Perished ones? You're so insensitive to my new best friend!"

Sigla tilts her head at Dalisay. "What happened with the sixth pinuno?"

"The Six Point Bloodbath. It's a massacre that took years ago, back when we were just toddlers," the girl says with a glimmer in her green eyes. "Of course, the death of tribes isn't really an original, for it's done multiple times. This is why Baryo Bonifacio exists. This massacre was less relevant in the greater picture too, because only the small, less influential tribes were victims. However, you have to question the motives behind that. No one genuinely cares about it for some reason though."

Bayani raises his hands in surrender. "Alright, I'm sorry. If it makes you feel better, Indi, my tribe was one of the perished ones too, fifty years before I was born. Now, it's just my family and me. We're practically siblings in tragedy."

Indak rolls her eyes. "Whatever."

Sigla giggles. "Me too! I'm also your sibling in tragedy!"

Bayani cheers along with her before turning to Adhika once again. "What about you? What's training like with your mentor?"

Adhika freezes at the question. He shoves his hands deep into his pockets and his shoulders rise to his jaw. He only answers with a shiver before putting his face down on the table again. "Wake me up when you leave or when my mentor comes to get rid of me."

Indak holds back her laughter with a hand on her mouth. "I guess that means you're suffering like me. Good to know."

The server soon arrives at their table and starts asking for their orders. Bayani, Diwa, and Sigla each order one mug of pangasi, an alcohol produced by a mash of cooked rice. Sigla squeals in glee when Dalisay orders three mugs, causing Bayani’s eyes to almost pop out of his head. Meanwhile, Indak orders one mug of pangasi with three shots of milk. For their meals, they insist on a plate of red rice, sisig, lumpia, and dinuguan. They add two jugs of water with it too.

Diwa's face morphs into distaste. "Ew, Indi. What's with the milk?"

“Thanks. I think you mean that I have exquisite tastes," Indak responds, ignoring her disgusted reaction.

Sigla puts down the menu to look at Alpas Binturong who remained silent the whole conversation. "What about you, Alpas? Want any dessert with our meals?"

Alpas Binturong fiddles with their shirt, turning their head away before answering in a soft voice. "Just...calamansi pie."

"Well, he can talk. Thought he only knew sign language," the boy in a side ponytail comments, which earned him another smack on the head from Bayani, who was kind enough to repeat his unit member's order to the server. Once the server walks away, Adhika tries to get back at Bayani, to which the boy successfully dodges.

"Be nice, Adi," Bayani shoots him a glare. "Alpas was raised by his mute grandmother. She's dead."

"What does that even mean?", Indak mumbles, questioning his choice of words. "Should you even say it that way?"

"Don't mind it, best friend," Diwa tells her. "Alpas understands that Bayani's brain is still developing. Right, Alpas?"

Their orders came after a while.

Indak tastes mint and sugar the first time she takes a sip from a reed straw, coughing when the alcohol stings her throat. After a long time of just Indak hearing Diwa's rants about her older sister looking down on her, and a bit of Dalisay's plans to investigate Oasis Balyan in the future for political reasons, the room starts warping into waves in her perspective. The feeling of being lifted off her chair and blown away by the wind follows, making her uncontrollably laugh until her breath runs out.

Somewhere between her euphoria, she hears Bayani and Alpas chatter about something that suspiciously sounds like jokes and light insults concerning their mentor. Alpas then grabs the kudyapi from the stack of instruments on one side of a wall and walks to an elevated platform. At the same time, Diwa and Bayani pull Indak from her seat to maneuver her directly in front of the usually shy Alpas, who now boldly plays the instrument as they sing a song about betel nuts and pangasi.

Diwa cackles in her ear. "Do you double promise and solemnly swear to be tagayan best friends now and forever?"

"I do! I do!", Bayani shouts in her other ear.

The crowd behind Indak sings along as they clink their own mugs with the occasional mention of how Alpas Binturong's tribe must be proud of them right now. Indak dances with them until someone bumps past her and disrupts her rhythm, sending her falling to the floor on her behind. A polka-dotted handkerchief settles on her stomach out of nowhere, and her fingers absently move to trace the red-colored stains of the cloth. She thinks she hears screams and surprised voices in the background as an overbearing sound similar to gambal overlap with the music. A sharp pain pierces through the side of her head, but she must be too out of order that she only giggles and rolls on the floor.

After dead air overtakes the commotion, a scarred hand quickly snatches the handkerchief from her fingers. A harsh pull on her wrist forces her back to her feet, but her laughter ensues as she clings to her restrainer’s waist.

"The barhouse is closing! Return to your posts!"

The tagayan's atmosphere abruptly transmutes into dead dead silence at the stern voice of a tall woman, the only sounds left being Alpas’ syncopated strumming and Diwa and Bayani’s off-key singing as they awkwardly dance beside her.

The woman takes on a more somber tone as she delivers her next words. "There's three dead children delivered to each of this baryo's four gates and five balyan murdered right inside my tagayan. Details will be given by your respective division heads regarding this matter. Something is terribly wrong today."

As she stares at the seven drunk sugdi, either dancing, singing around her, or laying collapsed on the floor, a grim smile crosses her soft features. "As for these irresponsible brats lying dead center at the crime scene, I have no choice but to take them for interrogations once they're sober. Please inform each balyan and all present civilians in the baryo regarding today's events, so they're fully aware that you will all be questioned about it as well. Precautions are more important now that this has happened."

STANDARD BASE MAP:

[apuadman]

Hilot as a Bridge towards Decolonization

Early this morning we have fetch Christine Quynh Vy at Naia Terminal 3 for her 8 days study of Hilot Binabaylan Training. I ask her who recommend her to study Hilot Binabaylan and I was so glad to hear that one of our Graduates from Hawaii which is Dayang Gulaon, a vessel and Hilot Binabaylan of Diwatang Gugurang and Diwatang Laon. Dayang Gulaon aka Julz Bolinayen of Lakapati’s Legacy we among…

[babyselfabsored]

The Ancient Bicolano Deities and Creatures

(ALL ART BY AFRAN MARFIL)

- "Gugurang"

Gugurang loomed high in the Bikol pantheon of gods. He was their (the people’s) benefactor, guide and defender against the god of evil, Aswang, who would anger Gugurang by inciting the people to rebel against the good god, do evil deeds and resort to sloth and easy pleasures. Seeing this, Gugurang would punish and pounce on Aswang and to his people, he gave protection and exhorted them to make sacrifices in order to appease his anger. The myths disclose him as a powerful and loving god who would vent his fury mercilessly on the transgressor but would shower them with gifts and protection in return. (Realubit, Bikols of the Philippines, p. 10).

It is believed that ancient people looked up to him with great respect as they fervently gestured to the skies and spoke with profound affection for a great lord whom they adored, revered, and feared.

- "Asuang"

Brother of Gugurang; an evil god who wanted Gugurang’s fire, and gathered evil spirits and advisers to cause immortality and crime to reign; vanquished by Gugurang but his influence still lingers.

- "Bakunawa"

Believed to be the cause of eclipse, Bakunawa is the deity of the deep and the underworld.

- "Oryol"

A demi-goddess in Bicolano myths, she is mentioned in the Ibalong Epic. A wily serpent who appeared as a beautiful maiden with a seductive voice; admired the hero Handyong’s bravery and gallantry, leading her to aid the hero in clearing the region of beasts until peace came into the land

- "Haliya"

Haliya is the masked goddess of the moonlight worshipped in pre-colonial Ibalon (present-day Bikol region) and in some parts of coastal Bisayas. Haliya was a warrior goddess who would wear a mask of gold to hide her beauty. In Philippine Mythology, Haliya was the name of a lunar goddess. She was said to be so beautiful that the sea goddess Bakunawa fell in love with her and sought her affections.

- "Tambaluslos"

A tall humanoid creature from Bicol. Generally black in complexion, it has long and thin legs with big joints, hooves, long thin arms and fingers, and a mane that runs from the back of the head down to its buttocks. It also has wide protruding lips like an ape. Another strange feature of this creature is that it has a long wrinkled penis and loose testicles which dangle on the ground. The creature’s name is derived from this feature which is referred to as ‘luslus’ which means ‘loose and hanging’. The Tambaluslos chases people who wander in the woods. The only way to escape it is to take off your clothes and wear them upside-down. The creature finds this act very hilarious and it will laugh so much that its wide lips would cover its face, therefore preventing it from seeing the victim who in turn will have ample time to escape.

- "Tawong Lipod"

The ''Tawong Lipod'' or wind people, is a race of mythological creatures in Philippine mythology, most prevalent in Bicol area they are the court servants and handmaidens of the lunar gods Bulan and Haliya. They are beautiful, supernatural beings, youthful and elegant, and superb in the art of dancing. They are the nymphs of the winds and clouds forever loyal to the moon gods. lithe beings with light-colored skin who inhabit the skies, and are often depicted taking flight. they are called Biraddali by the Tausug

- "Daragang Magayon (Beautiful Maiden)"

The heroine that appears in the legend of Mt. Mayon. She grew up to be a very beautiful and sweet woman that struck the swains from faraway tribes who vied for her attention. When a war between her lover, Panganoron, and his enemy, Pagtuga, arise, her lover dies in her arms. In her grief, she grabs the knife used to kill Panganoron and stabbed herself. Magayon and Panganoron are buried together, their burial soon turning into what is now Mt. Mayon.

Some people say that it's a curse because she took her own life, but myths and legends say Magayon is the volcano and Panganoron is the clouds that surround the beautiful volcano.

- "Triburones"

A shark, with razor sharp teeth,  that can fly and circle its prey from the air. ‘Tiburon’ is Spanish for ‘shark’, most English translations of the Ibalon use this name for the creature (Triburon). In Bikol, these creatures are known as Pating na Pakpakan. In the Ibalon epic, they were tamed by the warrior-hero Handyong.

[beholdtheleaves]

the two lovers and the flame.

In the beginning, there was fire. It crackled and burned and blazed. It was no ordinary fire that could be extinguished by a mere breeze. Such was the original Flame, which burned bright and eternal.

Two gods were born from the abyss. The stronger one represented order: his name was Gugurang. The weaker one represented chaos: his name was Asuang. Gugurang, seeking power, tamed the original Flame; Asuang, as his lover, supported him in this endeavor.

The two eventually settled in two adjacent mountains in the land we now know as Bikol. Gugurang, proud and mighty, dwelled in Mount Mayon, which he fashioned into a cone as a monument to his perfection. Meanwhile, the humble Asuang again acquiesced and dwelled in the less extravagant Mount Malinao. The two mountains faced each other, and every morning the two lovers greeted each other, one often visiting the other.

There was eventually a great quarrel. Asuang requested that Gugurang share some of his fire with him, but Gugurang, prideful as ever, refused. Asuang threatened to end their relationship, and Gugurang eventually declared war on him. As revenge, Asuang stole the original Flame and tried to share it with the humans living below the two mountains, but the Flame quickly spread and burned the forest.

Gugurang, still furious, threw a lightning bolt at Asuang’s home, and split it into two. The dust settled; Gugurang returned to the peak of Mount Mayon, while Asuang retreated into the depths of the earth underneath Mount Malinao. The people knew peace, and everyone lived happily ever after.

[comparativetarot]

King of Wands. Art by Maria Cristina Sison, from The Southeast Asian Myths & Stories Tarot.

Gugurang, a Filipino deity of volcanoes, fire, and lightning.

[mythos-theos]

Filipino Mythology Week → Day 1: Gods (of the Bicols)

“Gods are great . . . But the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return”  ― Neil Gaiman

[menofcolorinfantasyart]

Gugurang design by Brian Valeza

“character design of Gugurang, the Chief Bicolano God”

[benhargreevesmylove]

After the Chaos

By: Ean

Note: MC's powers are like Wanda's, and she can manipulate nature, and stuff. Don't expect too much i guess. Slowburn? I also used some line from wandavision bc I love wanda sm JHDSGHAHAHAH. I changed Bicol, to Ibalon since it was called Ibalon in pre-colonial times. Reader is called by a name

Tags: Eternals, Druig, Fluff, Filipino Mythology

Warning: Unedited! Errors ahead. Angst ? Fluff too ig. 6000+ words. i dont know how to make the songs compact so it might be a bother. Spoilers ahead!!

Present

“Long ago, the good and evil Gods lived in harmony. There was an understanding among them as they created balance in the world. Two, lived opposite one another. Gugurang – the good God, lived inside Mt. Mayon. Asuang, the evil God, inside Mt. Malinao. Gugurang controlled fire and thus controlled the people. When he was displeased with them, he would make the earth rumble from within the depths of Mt. Mayon. If he felt the people’s behaviour was unforgivable, he would make the volcano erupt and wipe them out.

Asuang had no control over the people. Jealous of Gugurang’s power, he begged for fire. Gugurang refused. He was well aware that Asuang's goal was to earn favour by offering it to the people. They argued for what seemed an eternity, but Gugurang stood strong. Asuang really wanted the flame, so he made himself invisible, and found the fire. He was able to distract the guards using gold. As he managed to get a grasp of the flame, he placed it inside a coconut shell, and went back immediately in Mt.Malinao

When the throne room fell dark, Gugurang realized what Asuang had done. Asuang lit the world ablaze because he couldn't control his new power. Every area that Asuang passed through was engulfed in flames. Gugurang who followed the flames soon caught up with Asuang. He took back the flame and returned it to Mt. Mayon and cried for the Gods to help him control the spreading flames and it began to rain continuously. When the fire was stopped, he took revenge on Asuang by ordering lightning and thunder to attack Mt. Malinao. The people never forgave Asuang for the evil and destruction he had bestowed upon them…” I smiled to the children after telling the story.

I looked at my phone to see a picture sent by Sersi. It was an artifact she turned to gold when they first arrived on Earth. It was probably 8:16 in London, since it was 17:16 here in the Philippines, she’s probably late again, "Aren’t you supposed to be teaching right now?" I messaged her. She didn’t reply. I assume she's rushing to class now. I looked at the Ghost Orchid she brought to me five years ago, her reaction was funny, finding out I was living with gods, goddesses, creatures, spirits, deities, and guardians.

5 years ago….

"Hi" Sersi smiled, and you smiled, and greeted her back. "Come inside," you told her. We were walking along the path in the forest, the place is hidden, humans would just assume it's a private property. "It’s quite hot here, isn’t it?" Sersi chuckled, trying to start a conversation with you. "Well, it is, it’s a tropical country after all", you replied. "So how did you end up here?" she asks, "This is where I belong, Sersi," I said, and she remained quiet. "I’m one of them. I was born here, but all of the past stories, and birth stuff doesn’t matter now, does it?" I continued, and smiled.

When we arrived, small laughs can be heard. As we stopped at the gate, they all look at us. "Uhm Nev what are those?" Sersi chuckled nervously, and pointed at engkantos. "Sersi, those are engkantos," you said, "Uh haha, what exactly are engkantos?" she asked as you walked away."It’s a race of magical creatures, they’re called engkanto because of the influence of the Spanish colonization," you answered, you felt no one beside you and turned around, Sersi was stuck there, and couldn’t move, " Oh come on, don’t be scared, look, it's so full of nature here," you said again.

We sat down, and I know Sersi could feel the stares of the others. "So, I brought you this Ghost Orchid,", she said. "What the fuck? You were carrying that on our way?" you exclaimed, "Uhh yea haha" she replied. "So, you can turn something into another form of matter?" The two of you heard a voice, "Hanan" You sighed, and smiled, "Don’t scare her like that, okay?". "Huhh! Our kind Nev, are you implying that I look scary? " Hanan dramatically said. "Anyway, don’t mind Nev, she has always been like this," you cut Hanan off, "I think I should be the one saying that," "Oh, come on," Hanan replied, "I’m Hanan, the Goddess of the Morning. Nice to meet you," she continued and smiled at Sersi. "Nice to meet you too," Sersi replied, with a smile. Sersi turned to you and said, "What’s your number, or even just your social media account? Uhh you know, to keep in touch with each other, "I smiled, and gave my number and social media account.

You knew the engkantos were there to try to scare Sersi again, so you used your powers to put them aside. Sersi, looking shocked, asks you, "Your powers…You can control them now? ", you looked down and smiled, "Yeah, I can now. They have been a great help, so I can remember who I am, where I came from, and learn to control my powers." "That’s great, Nev. I’m proud of you," Sersi smiled.

Babylon 525 B.C.

"Go there!" shouted Ikaris. Blood was on my hands. It's funny how I'm not the one to be on the battlefield since I'm responsible for the safety of the people. Yet there I am, covered in blood, unlike the other eternals. Which way was it? To listen to him or to save myself? I love the people of this planet. Their curiosity is beyond the galaxies. Their evolution is slow, but it'll take them somewhere.

"What are you waiting for?!" Ikaris then again shouted, interrupting your thoughts. You were moving, helping the people get to safety, yet your mind was captured - captured by an unknown creature. What could it be?

Deviants were everywhere, but that was not my concern. I ran to the people, to get them to safety. I couldn't get a glimpse of the creature that appeared a while ago, maybe I was just hallucinating. It doesn't matter anymore. "Hey that one was mine!", says Kingo when Thena slayed the deviant, "Never mind", he continues happily.

"You are so useless!", Ikaris said to my face, pushing my shoulder. I didn't feel anything, aside from the fact that I'm already numb from his scolding. It's stupid that I don't act like an "eternal." Why was I put on this earth if I was only to be of no use in helping humans throughout time? For now, I don't know who I am. I'm still figuring that out. I'm an eternal, though Druig doesn't acknowledge that. "You're not gonna talk?" Ikaris said. I couldn't bother to answer, I heard singing, felt much stronger winds, and that was my only focus: to find out where it came from. I looked around. "Just let her be Ikaris" I heard Gilgamesh say.

After the deviants attacked us, we all went inside to make sure no one got hurt. I stared at Ajak, probably talking to Arishem. You went to her, "What did Arishem say?". Startled, Ajak turns to you and sighs, "It doesn't matter, all we have to do is stick to the purpose of our mission." You didn't say anything. You understand, when the time comes, she'll probably tell you all the reasons why you were sent to this planet.

Tenochtitlan 1521 CE

War... Between humans, we can't stop it. We're not allowed to interfere with human conflict. Me, Sersi, Ajak and Phastos were walking in the forest. Makkari comes back, and Ajak asks "Where are the others?", in which Makkari signs, "We had to split up."

"There were more deviants than you said," said Thena. "Well, I'm sure that was a lot of fun for you," Phastos says. "It was" Thena replies with a smile.

"Once the others kill these last deviants, we would eliminate most on the planet", says Phastos. All of you turned to the war happening when you heard louder gunshots. Druig steps forward. All of you always knew what Druig thinks about humanity, how they fight, and the purpose of helping these people. Druig starts to mind control them, "Don't," Ajak says, appearing to his side, stopping him. "We don't interfere with their wars", Ajak continues. More gunshots were heard, I see Thena looking restless, and is trying to calm herself? My attention went to Druig as he replied to Ajak, not even looking back at us. "It's not war; it's genocide," he turns around and continues, "their weapons have become too deadly; maybe it wasn't such a good idea to help them advance Phastos." As you walk towards Druig, "technology is something part of their evolutionary process, Druig. It's not exactly something I can stop, " Phastos replies. He continues "No, you can't, but I can." You held his shoulder, and looked at him in the eyes. He turned his gaze to Makkari, "Stay strong," the girl signed to him. He removed your hand from his shoulders. You did nothing but sigh.

You stumbled upon something. It looked like a coin. It had something engraved on it, and the words, 'Anitun Tabu: Isenev,' were written on it. It was pretty unusual since it was a different language, yet t'was very familiar to you. You took it with you, and felt close to it somehow. "Everyone is going to die, " you and Sersi turned to face Thena. You and Sersi shot a look at each other, "Thena? Are you okay? " Sersi asks. Everyone then turned to her as she unleashed her weapon. Makkari runs to us for us to avoid Thena's attacks. She managed to stab Phastos though. We saw Thena preparing to hit Phastos again, but was stopped when Makkari ran to her, but also got wounded by Thena. Ajak appears in front of her, the woman who seems to not know what she's doing. "Don't listen to your head Thena, listen to my voice", Ajak managed to calm Thena down, "You are safe, you are loved, you are Thena" Ajak continued, but it didn't last long. As Thena heard more loud gunshots, she fought Ajak. Gilgamesh hugged Thena from the back, preventing her from attacking Ajak once again. "Thena..Thena stop.." he said. He couldn't stop her; she had attacked him too.

"Watch out!" Kingo and Ikaris have finally arrived, I turned around only to see another creature. It wasn't a deviant, it was something else. This might sound ridiculous, but it looked like a gorilla that just got out of the swamps. They don't allow me to fight alongside them, because I can't control myself, but this time, I have to take the risk, I have no choice but to use it. I created a barrier, between us and the gorilla-like creatures. "What are you doing??" Phastos shouted, "Nev!", I heard Druig calling me. I felt like I was going to pass out. I need to keep this up, I have to, so they can be safe from whatever this is, and deal with Thena. Sersi and Druig ran towards me, I felt my body drop to the ground as I heard my name being called, and the words, "Los pongos y orangutangs, La miraban con horror, porque las aguas del Bicol, con su sangre coloro. "

"Ajak they both need help", you hear Gilgamesh say, where Ajak replies, "This is too dangerous, we need to keep her safe," you get up, and walked where they were, but stayed hidden to listen to what they were talking about. "I thought mahd wy'ry was a myth", said Sersi, you saw Thena laying down.

When Thena regained consciousness, she asks what happened, Ajak replies "You attacked everyone". "I don't remember" Thena says, "You have mahd wy'ry, your mind is fracturing under the weight of your memories" Ajak replies, "We need to erase your memories, alongside Isenev, I have to inform Arishem, and we'll take you both back to the ship" she continues in which Thena replies "I want to remember... I want to remember my life". You walked in, assuming you have heard the conversation, "Isenev...". Ajak tells Thena and you, "Trust me". Druig, looking down said "Why should they trust you?", "You're asking them to let you erase who they are, wait Isenev doesn't even know who she is, if she's even part of this group, if she's an eternal" Druig continued. "Druig stop", Ikaris said, Druig scoffed and stayed silent.

"And you Nev, we've told you to stop using your powers" Ajak said, I replied "But there was something out there, not a deviant, something else, and you guys were busy with Thena so I had no choice but to use it, you know it wasn't that bad-", I got cut off by Druig who was now a few steps behind me, "Wasn't that bad huh? Nev, you passed out, you were turning pale while using your powers" he sounded angry. I looked down, he sighed and said, "Okay look, I worry about you, don't do that again" and kissed my hair.

"I heard someone talking to me when I passed out", you said, looking uncomfortable. They all looked at each other, "What did that 'someone' say?", Phastos says as he shot a look at Ajak. "It was something like 'Los pongos y orangutangs, La miraban con horror, Porque las aguas del Bicol, Con su sangre coloro.’, which was unusual because none of these people speak that language.", you answered. "The pongos and orangutans, watching the fight filled with horror stung, with color due to crocodiles’ blood, he tinged the Bicol River red.", Ikaris says with his hand massaging his chin, and turning his gaze to us.

They remained silent, until Druig spoke, "You need to tell her about this Ajak," in which Ajak replies warning him "Druig no...", "What do you mean?" I asked confused, "Why not huh? Are you afraid of her? Or are you afraid of defying Arishem?", he says, and looks at Ikaris. No one dared to talk, and just stared at the upset man in front of them, Druig walks away, and looks at the people, fighting each other, and continues, "We're just like the soldiers down there, pawns to their leaders, blinded by loyalty, it ends now". Druig starts mind controlling the people, stopping them until he was slammed to the wall by Ikaris "Stop this now", "You're gonna have to make me" Druig replied, "Stop" Ajak stepped in between the two men. Druig came down, leaving the eternals there. I thought we're all going to be together, I guess not.

"I'll take care of her, let Thena keep her memories" Gilgamesh said. "What about me? What about the others? What happens now?" I said, tears forming in my eyes. "You may all go," we looked at Ajak in worry, "the deviants are gone, there's no reason for you all to stay with me, this is where we say goodbye, you're free to go, I want you all to go out there, and live a life by yourselves, not as soldiers, not as the purpose we were given, find your own purpose," she continued, "find your own self" she looked at me, she continues "and one day, when we all see each other again, I want all of you to tell me what you've found".

Present

“So, you’re talking about me, eh?”, you heard someone behind you say, you turned around and looked at the man. “Gugurang…” I smiled, “Why not? Maybe someday your story will be more known than mine” I said, teasing him. “Oh, come on”, the two of you turned around to see Asuang, “You’re making me look bad in front of the children” he said, smiling. You couldn’t help but to tease the both of them, “But that really happened, didn’t it?”. Before the two of them could even reply, Bulan appeared “Our Nev, you really like teasing people, don’t you?” he smiled. Before all of you can even say something, he disappeared, “He’s really weird, appearing and disappearing just like the wind”, Gugurang said. “Now why don’t we continue our conversation about you two?” They both rolled their eyes at you, turned their backs, and started walking away, while waving “See you later!!”, you shook your head and laughed.

I turned to the children playing near the river. I heard something coming from the river, I shrugged it off. The Gods, and you just realized that it could be an Agalon Hayopan or an Angongolood. All of you rushed towards to the children to bring them to safety, you created an enclosed space so they wouldn’t get hurt. Waiting for the creature to arise from the water, you remember something, “The pongos and orangutans, watching the fight filled with horror stung, with color due to crocodiles’ blood, he tinged the Bicol River red.”.

Angongolood’s can be scared off using noise… “Onos! Kaptan! Kidlat! KiLat! Revenador! As soon as an angongolood comes out, create noise using thunder, and lightning” I called out. Onos, the Bicolano God of storms, who brings massive floods. Kaptan, Bisaya supreme God of the sky who controls the wind, and lighting. Kidlat, and KiLat, Gods of lighnting. Revenador, Ilocano God of lighting and thunder. The angongoloods came out, thunders were heard all over the place. As it gets disrupted by noise created by the thunders, me and the others continue to attack it. I touched the ground, and roots came out, crawling into the angongoloods’ bodies.

We were shocked when I heard lightning coming from the sky, striking the last angongolood, turning it to stone. I already knew who it was, Diwata Magbabaya. Asuang punched the angongolood that was turned to stone. I chuckled, “We didn’t ask for your help!” All of us shouted. “Well, it looked like you guys needed it”, we turned around when we heard him. We were about to walk towards him when we heard the other gods say, “Hep hep, clean that first” they pointed at the dirt, blood, and leaves around the place where the angongoloods attacked. You along with the other gods rolled your eyes.

“Isn’t it weird? They’re suddenly back, I mean they’ve always been here, but this kind of situation didn’t really occur that much. Is that why some of you came down here?” I asked. “Actually yes, the gods of earth, land, and sea, have felt something, we don’t know it yet, its none of our doing so we have to find out” Diwata Magbabaya replied. Gugurang and Asuang butted in, and said “There is also some weird activity around Mt.Mayon, and Mt.Malinao”. You sighed, “Sa tingin mo Oghep, anong nangyayari?” What do you think Oghep, what’s happening? “Nev, I’m only a god of mountains and hills, I don’t know either” he replied while peeling a rambutan. “It’s probably the birth of a Celestial-like being” Agui said, the God of fire. We stared at him, “It’s not possible, a high being was already born centuries ago, and she’s here right now” Anagolay refuted, the Goddess of lost things, and memories. “Well, it’s a possibility –“ Agui was cut off by the ground shaking. You guys ran towards the children, created barriers, protected the other creatures present.

When the earthquake stopped, you saw Amanikable, the ill-tempered god of the sea, woken up from his slumber, mutters “What just happened?”.

1521

"You may all go," we looked at Ajak in shock, "the deviants are gone, there's no reason for you all to stay with me, this is where we say goodbye, you're free to go, I want you all to go out there, and live a life by yourselves, not as soldiers, not as the purpose we were given, find your own purpose," she continued, "find your own self" she looked at me, she continues "and one day, when we all see each other again, I want all of you to tell me what you've found".

Later that night, after Druig left, I saw a bright light moving. I stood up slowly and caught it. "Hey! Chill, don’t be suspicious of me." A fairy? "What are you?" I whisper, "Oh yes, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Sam. I’m a Diwata" the small creature replied. "Hmm, a Diwata?" I asked, "Uhh yea, Diwatas are like fairies, and nymphs. Some of us can be deities, gods or goddesses. We reside in nature." She replied. "How come..."Why are you here? " I asked, confused. She has a serious look on her face now. "We need your help," she said, "And we need to go now," she continues, "Who’s we?" I asked. "No more questions! You’ll know when we get back to our land, " she said, "And what makes you think I’ll go with you?" I said. She sighed. "Please Isenev… For your people", "Fine, I’ll go with you, but how are we going to-" I got cut off by her, "Remember what I said? No more questions. "You went inside the domo to tell the others you were going to leave. “That early? Isenev, Druig just left, and you too?” Kingo asks, “Uhh yeah it’s an urgent matter, see you when I see you!” I shouted as I was rushing outside.

“What’s happening?” I asked, we had already arrived. “It’s the Spaniards, they’re starting their colonization here” Sam, the Diwata replies. “Where are the other gods? Creatures? Deities? Why are they not – “ I was once again cut off by her, “We can’t interfere that much”, “So what was I here for?!” I asked, “You’ll know”.

When we arrived at the exact battlefield, the gods of water were helping the people, the gods and goddesses of the sky, fire, and earth were helping them. Though they were strong enough, the people were still defeated by the Spanish Conquerors.

“Welcome back Nev” We arrived in Mt.Panit, its beautiful, it felt like home. They all looked at me. “Hi” They all smiled, and one of them said “It’s okay, you’re probably still shocked, I’m Anitun Tabu, the Goddess of the Wind and Rain” the woman smiled. “I saw your name engraved on something that looked like a coin back in Tenochtitlan” I said, she smiled again, “We have been trying to reach you for years, when you felt strong winds when the others couldn’t, that was us, when you heard music that others couldn’t hear,-” she was cut off by someone, “Ako yun!” That was me! Anitun Tabu continued, “And that’s Pasipo, the God of Music”.

“I thought you guys brought her here to make her remember, what’s will all of these chit-chat” We turned around, and I saw a man, “That’s Amanikable, God of the sea, he’s pretty ill-tempered, don’t worry about him” another man said ,and continued “I’m Bayoa, God of pacts, blood oath, and bond, Nice to meet you Nev” he extended his hand in front of me, and I gladly took it to shake his hands.

The others started introducing themselves to me, though I had a question in mind, I wouldn’t want to ruin this moment. “What are you thinking about”, my thoughts were interrupted when I heard Apolaki, the God of War, Sun, and Wisdom. I sighed, “How was I born, why didn’t I remember you guys?”, he looked down, and sighed.

He looked at the others and said “Tell her already” the others remained silent until Oghep, the God of Mountains, and Hills spoke, “One day Daragang Magayon strolled down near the river. While crossing the river, she stumbled down on a rock and fell quickly in the water. She was swiftly swept down the stream by the current.

"Help me! Help me!" she cried. Fortunately, her cries was heard by Panganoron (the proud one) and his body guard Amihan. Pangaronon jumped into the river and saved Daragang Magayon.

"Thank you for risking your life to save me", she cried. "How can I repay you? My father is the chief of our tribe. Surely, he will reward your heroism whatever it takes."

Her beauty immediately captivated Panganoron. He realized that he finally met the perfect woman for him. At the same time, Daragang Magayon was attracted to him. Panganoron asked

Makusog's (Magayon’s Father) permission to marry Daragang Magayon. But makusog could not permit them to marry. Tribal law forbade marriage outside of the clan. As tribe leader he had to enforce the law. Yet, as a father, he wanted to make his daughter happy.

Meanwhile, Patuga learned about Panganoron's intention. Patuga was the most ardent suitor of Daragang Magayon. For years he had been convincing her to marry him, but to no avail.

One night, Patuga and his cohorts kidnapped Makusog. Then, he sent word to Daragang Magayon that her father would die if she did not marry him. Without a choice, she acceded. Only did Patuga release Makusog. Soon Patuga and Daragang Magayon were wed. But in the midst of merrymaking, pandemonium broke out when Panganoron and his tribe arrived. Fighting ensued between the two tribes. In a few minutes, Panganoron fatally struck Patuga. However, during the skirmish, a poisoned arrow shot from nowhere fell on, Daragang Magayon's chest.

Panganoron rushed to her aid as he kneeled over the dying Daragang Magayon, an enemy hacked his head off. The Ruler Makusog witnessed it all. He followed the warrior responsible for what happened and killed him to avenge his only daughter and Panganoron's death.

After the battle, Ruler Makusog brought his lifeless daughter's body back to their village, and so is the body of Panganoron, her daughter's lover.

"Dig a big hole. Big enough for my beloved daughter and her love," he ordered his men. "I know how much they loved each other, and so they deserve to rest together."

And so, Magayon and Panganoron were buried side by side in a grave. Both their villages mourned for the two. They offered flowers and fruits on top of the grave

The villagers noticed that the grave of the lovers had risen after few weeks. The grave continuously rise. Up and up it went higher, shape as a cone. It was so pretty and looks like a perfect cone. Where they were put to rest, a mountain mysteriously appeared. And because of the beautiful daughter of their ruler, the villagers started calling it Mayon.

This mountain is now known as Mayon. It is said that even death and, in another form, she still haunted by the men who loved her. When Mayon is said to erupt, this is Patuga challenging Panganoron. But when Mayon is calmed, Panganoron is embracing her. The tears of Panganoron are shed as rain at time in his grief.

And you were born there when the Volcano first erupted, the gods were startled, some even went down from the sky, gods from different places came to see what happened here, Nev.”

You stayed silent, and so the others. “Isenev…” You looked at Anagolay, the Goddess of Lost things, and memories, “Wanna know what happened?”. Though I was still shocked, I said yes, Anagolay touched my hand, and I fell in a trance.

I was walking around the place, “Our Nev!!” I turned around; they were preparing food already. The sky darkened; it was Arishem. They ran to me and hid me behind their back. “You know, I had a hard time getting to this kid, a lot of you seemed to be protecting her, why is that?” said Arishem. “You can’t take her!” I saw Anitun Tabu saying, “I need to, her powers are unstable, she won’t be able to control it, she’s seventeen already, she’ll grow up thinking she’s an eternal, don’t ever come to ruin my plan. By the time, she won’t remember any of you. I’ll have her memory erased” Arishem replied. I saw myself pass out.

I got up quickly, they were trying to calm me down. “It’s okay, it’s okay, you’re here now, you’re safe” Dal’lang said, the Goddess of Beauty. “We’ll teach her how to use her own powers. It’s not her powers that she has a problem with, its knowledge” we turned to Agui, the God of Fire.

Present

I felt my phone vibrate, it’s a message from Sersi, “There was attack here in London, from a deviant, I was with Dane, Ikaris, and Sprite, we’re going to Ajak to tell her about it”. I sighed, I don’t feel so good about this. “What is it” I was startled when I heard Pasipo’s voice, “There were deviants... Sersi told me” in which he replied, “Ah that, its on the news” I turned to the television, it was a man shooting lasers from his eyes, I chuckled. “I believe that’s your friend Ikaris?” he asked, I replied “Yeah that’s him, cocky little bastard”.

“What are you going to do?” Amanikable asked while eating, I looked at him and said, “I don’t know, it’s best to stay here”. “But they’ll need you there” Apolaki raised his eyebrows, “It doesn’t matter anymore, this is where my life is”

South Dakota, Present

They had already arrived at Ajak’s. Sersi came in first, followed by the two. The house was silent, no signs of Ajak. Sersi went out through the back door, and saw a body on the ground. She and Sprite ran to the cold body of Ajak, with Ikaris following them.

Sprite and Ikaris were inside already, mourning over their leader’s death. However, Sersi was still outside, shocked. Something came out of Ajak that went into Sersi… She talked to Arishem…

Mumbai, Present

The three arrived in Mumbai to see an old friend, Kingo. He was a movie star now. They were watching him behind the scenes while he was dancing in front of the camera.

When the filming of that scene ended, Kingo saw them. "Ahh, my friends from college are here!" he screamed. "Boss!" Kingo shouted again as he hugged Ikaris, "Welcome to the set of the Legend of Ikaris, I’m playing you! Do you like the costume? " he continued happily.

Once the news of the death of their leader was passed onto Kingo, he couldn’t believe it and was engulfed by sorrow. They started travelling to get the others. Their first stop was Thena and Gilgamesh who reside in Australia.

Amazon

It was now time to visit Druig. When they entered the community, Sprite asked one of the people, "Hey, Estamos buscando a Druig. ¿Dónde está?" Hey, we’re looking for Druig. Is he here? The man turned around and asked, "Yes, how do you know Druig?" Sprite replies, "Somos Amigos de la Unibersidad" We’re friends from college. The man’s eyes went golden, and said, "Hello, Sprite" while smiling. It was Druig.

"I missed all of you. Please, make yourselves at home," he said. After Sersi told him about the emergence, Druig said, "You’ve given me a lot of bad news in one go, m’lady", "Can you help us?" replied Sersi. "I am glad-" Druig was cut off by Sersi’s phone ringing. It was her boyfriend, Dane calling. After a while, an argument happened between Druig, and the other eternals present.

Druig was seen sitting down alone. Sersi went to him, and asked, "So how’s life here?" to which he replied, "It’s okay, it’s peaceful." "So, about Isenev…" Sersi starts again, "Why are we having this conversation?", Druig asks. "I thought you would want to know what happened. She left just a few hours after you had gone", she said. "Sersi we met each other after WWII, I already know that. She probably has found her way already, where she belongs. She might have her own family now, you know, a husband, and a child." Druig chuckled. "You love her, don’t you? You were always worried about her-", Sersi was cut off by Druig, "Why bring up the past now, I don’t like her anymore." "Are you sure? You sounded bitter when you said she might have a family now" Sersi laughed.

There was silence. Sersi spoke again, "Have you ever felt like your soul isn’t where your body is? Like it’s constantly searching for its home, for its own comfort? That you lie awake at night, thinking about this restless feeling. You know what is missing, you know what you long for, but you keep on removing those thoughts of yours? Am I right, Druig?". Druig sighed, "Yes, you’re correct, Sersi. I do, every time I think about her."

Their conversation ended when a deviant attacked. Another eternal again was lost, Gilgamesh.

The last stop was in the Philippines. Isenev…

While Thena was pouring the ashes of Gilgamesh into the river, Sersi and Druig are once again having a conversation. "When I left, I thought about taking over the minds of every human on this planet. Violence, fear, greed, all gone" said Drug, "Why didn’t you?" Sersi asks, "Because without their flaws, they wouldn’t be human.". They were now on their way to get Phastos.

"What are you guys doing here?" I stood up when I saw them. The gods, goddesses, and others were staring at the foreigners in front of us now. "Hi Nev, that’s a nice-looking Ghost Orchid you got there," Sersi said, smiling. "You gave that to me," I said, looking at them up and down.

You said, "You need to leave. You guys won’t get anything from me." They all looked at each other, and that man who left you there steps forward, and says, "We won’t, my darling Nev" while smirking. "Leave now." You said, "Why are you very ill-tempered today, my Nev?" Druig says. "I said leave!", your eyes were turning red. "Ajak’s dead, and we need you to stop the emergence." Sprite says that made you turn your attention to her, "What do you mean she’s dead?". You continued and looked at Ikaris, "She can’t be, and why would you even want to stop the emergence, Icarus?" . "Where’s her body?" you continued. "We need you please" Sersi says, "Where’s her body?" I ask again, "If you can’t bring me her body back, I won’t go with you guys" I continued. "Can we at least stay here?" you were about to say no when Pasipo butted into the conversation, "Yes, you can stay here" he smiled. You gave him a look that says "Really?", he laughed and replied "Why not? They were your family", I remained silent. “So, are you going with us” We’re eating dinner now, “I told you, I won’t go unless you gave me Ajak’s body”, Sersi just sighed and smiled. “We’ll get going tomorrow for Makkari, we won’t be able to give you her body Isenev” Ikaris says. You stayed silent and hummed.

Druig saw you sitting down, looking at the sky, “Did you get over me? It’s been a long time since we last met”, you laughed at his statement. “Fuck you, and your pride Druig, and mind you, the last time we saw each other was after WWII”, he chuckled, and replied “We didn’t had a good experience together after WWII”

WWII

“Hi Druig” You ran to him, and hugged him. He laughed, “Hi my love”, “Why are you here?” he continued. “Obviously to help you guys??” you said, “It’s dangerous, you can’t do it-“, you cut him off. “Are you implying I can’t do it? You just met me now, and you think nothing has changed?” you said while chuckling so that the mood won’t go sideways because of you. “Nev, I’m just worried” he looked at you in the eyes, “Date? Later?”, “Sure” you smiled at him.

You were waiting for him, it’s been 10 mins already. Maybe he’s just late, yeah maybe he was.

16 minutes…

23 minutes…

31 minutes…

No sign of Druig. You sighed; he didn’t go again, just like before.

It was morning, you saw them talking. “Druig, didn’t you have a date with someone last night? How did it go?”, he laughed, “I didn’t go,” he replies. Kingo didn’t know who the date was, so he just kept on asking “Why didn’t you?”, “Meh, it was stupid, I don’t even know why I asked her out. I was just bored you know”. You looked down; tears were forming in your eyes.

“So, that was just something stupid huh? I was just someone to get past of your time? Wow Druig, that’s so pathetic of you,” you started clapping. They turned their attention to you, “Nev no” he says, “Enough, I have forgiven you when you left us there in Tenochtitlan, when you got your anger through your head. Druig just stop” you used your powers, lifted him up, letting your powers suffocate him. You stared at him; you knew what you’re doing. You felt more power, it was like you’re getting his. “Nev! What is this” when you saw Ajak walking towards you three, you dropped Druig, and disappeared just like the wind. “I felt human, up there” Druig mutters.

Present

"My love, if I said I was sorry, would you accept it? Or will we live as friends, as if nothing happened to us? I love you… so much, those three words is not enough to describe the feeling. I’ve never been in a situation like this where I’m restless, so I’m pretty scared that all of this is just an imagination, I don’t know what I’ll be if I go out of my own world, and wake up to not see a glimpse of you. You’re fantastic – you’re so beautiful, that it hurts to look at you sometimes. You’re pretty stubborn too, and that made me like you more.” He says.

“Druig, maybe someday, but not now” he looks down as tears were streaming down his face, “I understand. I want to be your air, your heart. I want everything I don’t deserve to have, but is that the best thing for you? Am I the best thing for you? Unfortunately, I know I’m not. I’m a lot to take on, I know that, but that didn’t change the fact that I would try to be, just for you. I’d let you break my heart more than a thousand times than live another day without you in my life. I want to be the kind of person that deserves someone as beautiful, selfless, and kind as you. It might take my entire life to achieve that kind of goal, but as long as you’re by my side, I’d consider it a life worth living.” You nodded, and smiled. He continued “Every time I look into your eyes, I feel tensed. I feel vulnerable. I feel uneasy, and I don't like to feel those things, but you make me feel them somehow, and it is quite nice to be drowned in your eyes.”

They were now going to leave to get Makkari, I’m not going. I have made myself clear about how I need Ajak’s body. “We’re going Nev!” Kingo shouted, they all smiled. I waved them goodbye. “You have a plan, don’t you?” Apolaki says behind me. I turned around, smiled and said “Of course”.

They have found out already that Ikaris was the one who killed Ajak. Kingo left. Sprite went with Ikaris. Even without Kingo, they need to stop the emergence.

In the Philippines

“Hey” Makkari appeared in front of you, carrying Ajak’s body. “Hey” you smiled, “Go back there now, I’ll continue this”. Makkari runs back to the other eternals, you brought Ajak’s cold body, and laid it down in front of Maguimba, the God who lived among the humans, provided all the necessities of life and cures for all illnesses, and is able to bring the dead back to life. Maguimba starts on doing something to Ajak. After a few minutes, her body starts to go back on its original shade, she was alive.

As Ajak regained consciousness, you smiled at her and said, “Let’s go?”. You already knew Ikaris was the one who let her get killed. That’s why he kept on insisting to not bring her body back, he knew you were going to do something.

Indian Ocean

You and Ajak arrived there, they all smiled at the two of you, except for the angered Ikaris up in the sky. “Well, oh dear, the boy who flew too close to the sun has now gone out of control”. You flew up at the same height Ikaris was at. You dodged, and dodged his lasers, “What’s wrong Icarus! Not done yet?!”, you brought your hands together, created heat, and gathered the wind around you. “Go feel the sun now…Icarus” and threw the ball of heat at him. Makkari, and Thena were busy with Kro, Ajak is with Phastos, Druig with Sersi. You went down, as Ikaris was thrown to the ground. You looked at Phastos, and signaled at him. Phastos uses his creations to pull Ikaris down as he tried to fly again. “I’ve always wanted to clip your wings, Icarus!”

Ikaris still managed to break free though. You had no choice.

I created my own dimension, my own space, trapping Ikaris, and me. Phastos, Ajak, and Makkari looks at you worriedly. You looked at them and mouthed “It’s okay, I got this”. You let Ikaris’ lasers hit you, he looks at you angry, and confused. He keeps on trying, and trying, until he spoke, “How…How are you doing this?” You put your hands up, and hit him with lots of energy to drain him out, as roots from the ground started flying up to bring Ikaris down. You go back down, to face Ikaris, and said “How?” you smiled, “In a given space, only the person who casts them can use her magic” The roots, and vines, grip Ikaris’ body harder, as you let the barrier down.

You guys managed to put Tiamut to sleep. It was over. Sersi had turned Sprite into a human. You all went back to the Philippines to take a break from all the happenings.

Druig saw how you interacted with the other gods, it was the same as how you talked to him, smiled at him, and all, but he was very stupid to push you away. He just wanted you to find this, where you came from, and that. If only he could stay with you, he already had. He could only wish that your heart stays with him, because it is already guaranteed that his heart is in your hands.

It was night already. You went to Druig who was staring at the children. “Hey”, he immediately turned his head to you when he heard your voice. “What are you thinking this late at night?” you ask. “I remember Sersi asking me, ‘Have you ever felt like your soul isn’t where your body is? Like it’s constantly searching for its home, for its own comfort? That you lie awake at night, thinking about this restless feeling. You know what is missing, you know what you long for, but you keep on removing those thoughts of yours?’ I answered, ‘I do, every time I think about her’, I know I don’t have any rights to ask this, but please, don’t fall in love with someone else while my heart is still locked up on your hand. I already made you feel comfortable around me, I’m greedy, it’s pathetic of me I know,” he chuckled, we remembered the time I told him he was so pathetic.

He continued, “But I want more than this. I already managed to peel all your hard exterior, yet your soul, and heart, are cold, locked up, they have not broken yet to let a person inside again. And I’m sorry for that. I love you… Mahal na mahal kita (I love you so much)”

I was crying and laughing at the same time. “Where did you learn that phrase?” I ask, he smiled “The children taught me that, I asked them some phrases to say. Actually, I’ve kind of learned the language too?”. “Can you tell me some sentences then?” I said, smiling. “Wala na ba akong pag-asa? Di ko na pipilitin, ang hindi pwede, at tayo yun. Baka hindi nga tayo ang para sa isa’t isa. At baka pagdating ng araw, matatanggap ko din yun. Baka kasing-laki ng kalawakan ang ating pagitan, at hindi tayo ang tinadhanang magkasama habang buhay.” Do I still have a chance? I won't force the impossible, and that's us. We may not be the ones for each other. And maybe when the day comes, I'll accept that too. Our distance between each other maybe as big as the galaxy, and we are not destined to be together, for eternity.

You were shocked, you didn’t know what to say. He continued, “Are you impressed?”, and chuckled, we were both crying. “Mayroon akong libo libong salita na nakaukit sa aking isipan na nais kong maiparamdam sayo, sa kay daming tula, kanta, na maiibigay ko sayo, ikaw lang – ikaw lang ang paksa ng mga ito.” I have thousands of words engraved in my mind that I want to say to you, in all of the many poems, songs, that I can give you, you only – you’re the only subject of these.

You nodded, still crying, you said “Be my home, Druig. You can come back to me, tatanggapin kita ng buong buo, mahal na mahal kita…” (I’ll accept you wholeheartedly, I love you so much) as the boy heard those words, he engulfed you in a hug, “Why are you so warm?” he asks, chuckling. We both found our safe place, our home, we found each other after the chaos.

You looked at the boy who just kept staring at you. “Staring is bad, Druig” you smiled. “Is it?” Druig said as he went closer to your face, you didn’t flinch, and stared at him back. “You’re getting good m’darling. Not affected by me anymore, eh?”, you chuckled at his remark and walked away, and he followed you like an excited puppy with a smile on his face.

“Guess they’ll finally end up together” Kingo says to Ajak. She looks down, and smiles “Yes, after centuries, finally.”

Spotify Playlist

AO3 Link

WEEEEE ITS DONE THIS WAS SO MUCH FUN TO WRITE

Note: LMFAO PLS MF ASKED THE MC TO A DATE JUST AFTER WWII “Druig, maybe someday, but not now” marupok ka anong someday but not now ka jan. Where did he get the face to tell that to the mc. Man the plot is so messy forgive me, It doesn’t make sense but yea. IDK ABOUT YALL BUT I CAN IMAGINE DRUIG SPEAKING FILIPINO FLUENTLY AND ITS MAKING ME CRY

Source 1 , 2, 3, 4

Also sorry, if yall find this weird somehow, im a filipino who's pretty obsessed with myths, and the mcu so :DD

[skibidoodledooo]

Linti god of lightning and enforcer of Gugurang. He wields thousand spears and is ready to smite monsters and evil doers.

[bnhamythszine]

Is there a list of myth origins we can see before we decide to purchase the zine? I’m wondering how much will be familiar, so I’d like to know the breakdown. Thx!

Of course! Here’s a list of myths featured in the zine and their origins (placed under the cut for length):

Mothman - AmericaPaul Bunyan - AmericaAztec Sun God - AmericaMonsters - North AmericaLady of the Lake - Great BritainRagnarok - NorwayChangeling - EuropeSlavic Bestiary - Europe/AsiaNightingale the Robber - RussiaKoschei the Deathless - RussiaGreek Gods and Goddesses - GreeceNymphs - GreeceLares - ItalyOsiri’s rebirth - EgyptRa’s nightly journey - EgyptWeighing of the heart - EgyptChang'e/Heng'e, the Moon Goddess - China Moon Rabbit folklore - ChinaThe Four Symbols - ChinaLegend of the Fenghuang - ChinaGuardian Lion - ChinaKitsune - JapanBaku - JapanOni - JapanJapanese Gods - JapanGugurang - PhilippinesDiwata and the Manaul - PhilippinesWill-o’-the-wisps - Scotland

[anitoanum]

Bikol Animism & Spiritwork Notes

[Image Description: Photo taken by Anito Anum of the Mayon Volcano with lush jungle in the foreground, water marked with rainbow colours, stars, and spirals. The title, on a semi-transparent black rectangle, reads: “BIKOL ANIMISM & SPIRITWORK NOTES”. The bottom caption of the photo in white font reads: “A reconstructionist diasporic anglophone perspective. Compiled by anitoanum.tumblr.com.”]

Note: My sources are listed at the end. I welcome any and all feedback from other Bicol/Bikol people, especially folks from the homeland, regarding their spiritual and healing practices.

People and Powers

asog: ritualist, priest/ess (what Westernized society would now consider a feminine male assigned at birth person)

balyan: ritualist, priest/ess (what Westernized society would now consider a female assigned at birth person)

parabawi: an exorcist, referring to anyone who drives evil spirits out of the body so that good spirits may return

parabulong: anyone who administers medicine

himara/maghimara: to predict the future by observing external movements, such as that of a wheel moving slowly, fast, etc.

hula: prediction; maghula / hulaan to augur, forecast, foresee, foretell, predict

hukloban/hokloban/hodoban: witch doctor, malicious sorcerer who killed men and animals, and demolished houses

matanda: a wise old ruler

nuom: clairvoyant; seeing in mind’s eye/imagining something that comes true

parapalad: fortuneteller

pintakasi: defender, patron, patron saint

sabong: pasabong: an omen, pagpasabong: clairvoyance, ESP, ipasabong: to be clairvoyant

sarawat: masarawat: describing someone who loves plants

sunat: a high priest/ess (gender unknown) responsible for ordaining the asog and the balyan

tagohalim/tagohalin/taguhalin: shapeshifting sorcerer

tagolainan: a sorcerer.

tuyaw: magtuyaw/tuyawon: to prophesy, paratuyaw: a prophet

Spiritual Concepts

gagamban: hell

kamburagan: paradise/heaven

liwat na pagkamundag: reincarnation, rebirth

pagkamundag uli: reincarnation, rebirth

Ritual/Palihon

Palihon/paliyon/polion is the general term for rituals, beliefs, and taboos, and their preservation.

To Whom: 

Rituals are done for the anito and/or gugurang, and sometimes for the tawong-lipod. 

Anito/diwata are generally ancestor spirits out in nature. 

Gugurang are generally ancestor spirits of the household that come along with a person, but in later folklore began to be seen as a single deity inside Mount Mayon.

Batala/bathala are a set of special gods/spirits that watch over a village or clan. 

The tawong-lipod are general invisible spirit beings, like giants, elves, dwarves, etc.

To hold a festival or ritual for the anito is called a maganito or anitoan. The anito/diwata are represented by carved wooden statues called ladawan or lagdong. The lagdongan is also the name of the basket that carries the ladawan/lagdong. 

By Whom:

Most ritual is presided by a balyan and/or an asog. 

The sunat is the head spiritualist who initiates the asog and balyan. 

There are also other ritualists, called the parabawi/santiguar, that deal specifically in exorcisms.

Where:

The anito have houses/temples called muog/moog that are built in open fields or in the branches of trees. 

The gugurang have a temple of bamboo, reeds, and coconut fronds called gulang-gulang or golanggolang. 

How:

An altar called a salagnat/salangat is created out of bamboo in which food is offered to the anito/diwata/gugurang. 

The food/banquet of the maganito is called the gamit. 

If you are sacrificing a chicken, it is called a hanggot. 

If you are sacrificing a pig it is called socob/sokob. 

Songs called suragi/sorague are done for the anito/diwata/gugurang. 

Prayers called adyi and pamibi are done for the anito/diwata/gugurang . 

After the balyan/asog says prayers, it is customary to say ahom, in agreement. 

A ceremonial dance called a dumago was also performed. 

The balyan/asog usually wears a a circlet with a golden nugget or wreath of leaves/flowers called tubaw/tabao. There may also be worn golden balls as ornamentation, called matambacao/matambakaw. 

The balyan/asog also use banay, the topmost fronds of the anahaw palm, during ceremony.

General Rituals: 

The tubas is a washing/bathing ritual. 

Gabas is to ask numbers from the spirits.

Thanksgiving: 

The atang is a specific ritual where a sacrifice of one-tenth of the harvest is offered as a sign of thanksgiving to the gugurang. This is later eaten by the participants in the ritual.

Blessings and Coming-of-Age: 

The yocod/yukod is in honour of the anito to bless a favoured child and protect them from the aswang. Children process around the inside of a dwelling. 

The baguet is a coming-of-age ritual where a pig that was raised since the birth of a child is sacrificed and eaten by the child-now-adult as a community, with special alcoholic drinks. 

Tagay is a wedding ceremony in which the drinking of liquor forms part of the celebrations. When pronounced differently, tagay is also a ritual in which food is offered to the tawong-lipod to ask for a rich harvest, a full catch, a successful hunt, or the removal of spells placed on an individual by the tawong-lipod itself.

Prevention: 

The duol is a ritual where the whole tribe fasts in prayer and sacrifice to the anito to ward off evil or stop a disaster. 

The halya is a ritual done during the eclipse to ward off the bakunawa by using balalong, bamboo or hollowed tree trunks, that are beaten with sticks. Halya is also done during the full moon in honour of the gugurang to continue to ward off the bakunawa. There is also chanting during this ritual. At the climax of the halya, roasted water buffalo or boar is eaten, which is called the sumsom. In later folklore, Halya/Haliya became the name of a masked goddess of the moon.

The hidhid is a ritual that can be done to have the aswang stop a storm or a plague using a chewed up betel nut mixture. It was also known as a form of exorcism when there was a public calamity.

Rituals for the Sick: 

The hidhid is in honour of the aswang to counter its influence over a sick person. The balyan chews up a betel nut mixture and touches the person on the head with it. 

Olad is a spirit feast/ritual performed for the sick. 

Ole is a ritual to heal the sick. 

Paypay is to use the banay to fan the sick as part of curing them. 

Posao/pusaw is a ritual where lemon/citrus leaves wet with water are squeezed in the eyes of the sick. 

Tigay are chants and songs of the balyan to help cure the sick. 

Sacom/sakom is when you call the soul of the sick person back to their body and use banay to do it. 

Lagaylay is a dance that the parabawi, an exorcist, gets the afflicted to perform to get an evil spirit to leave someone’s body.

Rituals for the Dead: 

Statues and figures that are carved in honour of the dead are called parangpan/paraparangpan or tatawo. 

Basbas is when you wash the body of the dead with the water-softened leaves of lukban/pomelo/citrus/lemon. 

Katumba is the loud prayers and songs sung during the purification rites of the dead. 

The ayay is when you cover the graves of the dead with cooked rice or rice mixed with dirt.

Duol is also done after the death of a relative, where you abstain from certain foods.

The taroc/tarok is a ritual in which a banay is carried into a battle of vengeance and if the enemy is defeated placed on the grave of the relative who has been avenged. 

Hugot is when a slave is sacrificed and the entrails are offered to the aswang to prevent it from eating a newly dead chief or other important person. 

The kataposan is the ceremony held nine days after someone’s death. 

The actual funeral ceremony is called pasaka, and when you partake of the funeral feast on the day of the burial in honour of the dead, that is called lalala. 

Lalawan is when you mourn the dead by dressing in mourning clothes, cutting the hair, or holding a special ceremony. 

Binangonan/Binagnonan is when you speak to the dead in ceremony. 

Uraw is the ceremony to resurrect the dead with incantations. 

Makatagi is to be influenced by the positions of the dead.

Spells & Charms

An anting is the name of a physical charm or talisman. Munay is a general ointment.

aguatiempo: a potion which replaces drinking water of sick people in the belief that it will hasten the effect of medicine which has been administered

barat: the wind from the west; bolt; a needle-like wooden or metal peg which is an accessory to a small idol in human shape possessing movable joints and having many holes; if the barat is inserted into a chosen spot on the idol; after an incantation mumbled by the mambabarat the victim is supposed to suffer at the spot pierced by the peg; mambabarat a sorcerer who uses a barat

hinaw: a charm created by the balyan capable of identifying a thief; maghinaw to divine by using such a charm; maghinaw/hinawon to suspect of thievery by such divination

huklob: root (used by witch doctors in their ceremonies); maghuklob / huklobon to enchant, bewitch; hukloban witch doctor

kabal: an amulet which has the power of making its possessor invulnerable to the bolo and the spear, rendering these weapons dull, or suspending them in air upon attack; generally a circular piece of copper with a hole in the center, or a bit of shell roughly carved into the shape of anito noted for particularly admired exploits

laaw: root used as a charm which if brought into contact with an enemy can cause sickness or inflammation maglaaw /laawan to charm or bewitch with this root

lumay: love potion, maglumay / lumayon to give someone a love potion so that he or she will fall in love with you; makalumay/malumay to be affected by a love potion

mutya: pearl, jewel, gem, precious stone, anything someone holds dear, something beloved

pamaghat: a medicinal mixture of tree roots and alcohol, given to nursing mothers

pato: a root or charm which causes someone to who steals from you to fall ill or die

tagalpo: a herb carried by hunters and used to charm wild game so that they will not flee; a magic formula which, if thought of mentally, can turn a hostile attitude into cordiality, or an enemy into a friend; a type of hypnotism

tagohalim/tagohalin/taguhalin: Someone who makes charms/spells through shapeshifting or saying words; a root that was used in spells to aid in flying or shapeshifting into animals (cats or dogs); a plant from which an extract is derived enabling a man to fly, or to change himself into a dog or cat or other animal

tagohopa/tagahupa/tagolmay/tagulmay: A species of grass from whose roots may be prepared a brew capable of depriving a man of his will-power.

tagulipod: a plant possessing roots which, when eaten, may render a man invisible at will

tambal: antidote, snake medicine, tambalan: one proficient in such treatment

tauac/tawak: A charm which can be protect someone from a poisonous insect or snake bite; the charm is affected by pricking the person with something serving as an antivenom

Omens/Pasabong

barubarita/baribarito: the name of the singing of a haya/sayasaya, a bird, in which hearing the sound was a bad omen.

didit: the cricket, if the cricket’s chirping awakens someone during the night, a relative or someone close to that person will die

kuro-kuro/korokoro: bird; also a messenger of the buggo whose cooing indicates that the aswang  is coming to devour the entrails of a baby or someone who is sick; cooing followed by a muffled sound, such as that of distant thunder, announces the impending death of someone in another tribe

patyanak: if the wailing of a tiny black bird is heard at night by a pregnant woman but not by others who are with her, this could indicate that she will have a miscarriage

yasaw/yassau: a creature which hides in the shadows of trees on moonlit nights, if it is seen at the same time a cry resembling that of an infant is heard or imagined, the aswang is on the prowl and someone is going to die

Taboos, Oaths/Vows, and Curses

Bawal/Palihon/Taboo

ngasa: a superstition/taboo that holds if one’s fields or crops are particularly successful in comparison with those of others, death or misfortune will soon be visited on someone in the town, or the crops themselves will be lost

puhon: an ancient belief which holds that if a slave or person of low birth were to drink from a glass or eat from a plate of someone of high rank in the community, the abdomen of the slave or person of low birth would swell with air

sibol/sido/siro: An ancient ritual and taboo to not go to the house where sick and wounded are healing. 

sibong: A ritual/taboo/curse where those who get tattooed without earning it through battles or other ways, become sick and die.

Panata/Vow

matay: may I die; an oath taken whereby one swears to take his own life if he is not telling the truth

Curse/Tukso

karaw: a sickness inflicted by sorcery; magkaraw / karawan to curse; to put a curse on

ratak: to put a spell on, to charm or enchant, maratakan: to fall sick or have one’s wounds infected due to the evil medicine of a sorcerer, pagratak: witchcraft, sorcery

All words to describe witchcraft/sorcery/bewitchment/enchantment

aswangon/maaswang: to be bewitched, enchanted, put under a spell; magaswang/aswangon: to betwitch, enchant

babalo: enchantment; magbabalo/babaloon: to bewitch, charm, enchant, put a spell on; sound of a rooster crowing

barang: similarity; magbarang/barangon to bewitch, to cast a spell on someone; makabarang/mabarang to be bewitched, fall under a spell

dagon: to go ask a witch or sorcerer to hurt a sick person and/or eat his entrails.

himalo/maghimalo/himaloon: to bewitch, enchant

maibanan/yba/iba: to be bewitched, damage/enchantment by a sorcerer or demon.

lagaylay: enchanted, bewitched; lagaylayon: to be enchanted or bewitched

rawraw: to cast a spell over; pagrawraw: witchcraft, sorcery

usog: mausog: to be bewitched

Spirits & Otherwordly Beings

Benevolent:

Katambay are personal guardian spirits that watch over an individual.

Anito/Diwata are generally ancestor spirits out in nature. 

Gugurang are generally ancestor spirits of the household that come along with a person, later thought to be a single spirit that is Chief Spirit of the Bikol people

Batala/bathala are a set of special gods/spirits that watch over a village or clan.

Dawani is the legendary first woman of the world believed to have designed and woven the rainbow; hablon nin dawani: rainbow

Magnindan: spirit that helps fisherpeople

Okot: A dwarf/elf good spirit that spoke through whistling

Arapayan, Nagini/Naguined/Naguinao, and Makbarubak/Macbarubac are the three spirits that, when invoked with crocodile teeth and coconut oil mixed together, has the power to kill another

Harmful:

aguahan: A witch that eats human flesh. A sorcerer that is cursed or gives curses.

anananggal: a two piece witch that is capable of detaching its upper portion from the waist; the upper portion then flies in search of saliva to drink and human flesh to feast on

anduduno: a vampire that finds delight and nourishment in inhaling the odour and sucking the blood for a woman in labour, the sick and the dying; it assumes the shape of a huge bat and sucks from the back of a victim by means of a long, thread-like tongue

aswang: a devil or witch said to eat human flesh, though in later folklore was seen as a single deity (Asuang) inside Mount Malinao

bakunawa: a grotesque dragon that swallows the moon during eclipses, an event which is believed to bring bad luck

Bongan: malicious demon dwarf

bunggo/bonggo: ferocious “priests” whose eyes flash fire, consuming whatever is within the range of their heat. They wandered the woods and were possible descendants of Asuang.

buri: a one-eyed, three-throated creature inhabiting the swamps of a particular section of Bikol called in old records Punong

cacac/cacag/kakak: A witch. The song of a hen when she wants to lay an egg. Also the song of a witch who is flying and/or moaning by a sick person’s house.

daguit: To snatch something; to have something snatched by witches. Mananaguit: A bird of prey, or an aswang/witch that snatches humans.

hingnasuan: A witch that eats human flesh.

irago: the daughter of aswang, a serpent which can appear or vanish at will taking any form pleasing to its victims, often that of an envious woman with a sexy voice; same as uryol

kapri: a legendary giant; an evil spirit

lakaw: a ground witch

laki: a monster with the hoofs and mane of a horse and the face of a repulsive man with the wide protruding lips which entirely cover its face when it laughs; brushing against the invisible laki or simply being near it, could produce rashes curable by whipping the affected part with the long strand of a woman’s hair; same as unglo

layog: a witch that flies upright with its arms outstretched and its eyes gazing at the full moon; it snatches its victims from behind, between the legs, then carries them aloft by the ankles; it eats the flesh and laps the saliva of the tuberculous and can be found clinging to the rafters under the house of the victim

mampak: monster

mumo: bogeyman

pupo/popo: a hot-tempered, vengeful spirit who, by touching the head of a child with its hand, causes the child to grow weaker and weaker until it dies, or keeping the child a child forever

rabot: a master liar; also an ugly half-man and half ferocious wild beast that can transform its enemies into rocks by magic

silag: A witch that tears into the body of anyone dressed in white, feeding on the entrails and liver, causing the victim to die

tambaluslos: a small forest creature said to lead people astray; when it laughs, its lips open to cover its whole face

yasaw/yassau: a creature which hides in the shadows of trees on moonlit nights, if it is seen at the same time a cry resembling that of an infant is heard or imagined, the aswang is on the prowl and someone is going to die; the yasaw may be transformed into a laki

Neutral:

daro-anak: an ancient beast, usually a serpent or a wild boar, that has grown enormously large and, weary of its big size and old age, has plunged into the sea to become a sea monster or a small island

duende: dwarf, elf, goblin

ikogan: a spirit creature resembling a hairy man with a tail

mapangilaw: a giant who wears a vine for a belt 

isaw/issau: apparition, phantom, elf, dwarf

Kalapitnan: god/spirit of bats

liktin: elf, dwarf

luwok: elf

mangindara: merperson; person of the waters

patyanak: the fusion of an untimely discharged human fetus and a tiny black bird whose mournful wailing resembles that of an infant

sarimaw: tiger; a tiger’s tooth; a brutally fierce monster with crossed bulging eyes which appears unexpectedly before the guilty, tearing them pitilessly apart with its sharp claws

tandayag: a large serpent which is said to have gone to the sea and changed into a whale; also applied to a large eel which has undergone the same transformation; referring to things that are very old or very large

tawong-lipod: a general term for invisible creatures including giants, elves, etc.

tupong-tupong: a human-like creature which can stretch or shrink to take the shape of whatever it is next to

apo: grandparents; ancestors; respectful title; imp; small human-like creature living in little earth mounds and possessing magical powers capable of turning people into animals such as toads, snakes; tabi apo means excuse me apo and said when spitting, throwing a stone in the dark, etc. in case by chance one hits the apo

Sources:

Bikol-English Dictionary / diksionariong bikol - ingles by Malcolm Warren Mintz and Jose Del Rosario Britanico

Vocabulario de la Lengua Bicol by Marcos de Lisboa

Diccionario Mitologico de Filipinas by Fernando Blumentritt

Relacion de las Yslas Filipinas by Miguel de Loarca

[ecleticmomma20]

The myth I'm familiar with is similar, but different. Haliya is indeed beautiful, but she is dark, quiet and fierce. She is the elder twin of Bulan who is bright, beautiful, social and playful. One night Haliya and her brother decended from the sky to play in the waters with the Nagas and Mermaids. It was here that Bakuwana noticed and fell in love with Bulan who didn't notice her because he was busy playing with the others. Now Bukuwana who is an extremely vain and selfish woman became enraged by this and decided if she couldn't have Bulan no one could. The next night Bukuwana transformed herself into a giant sea dragon and lept into the sky as soon as she saw Bulan in the sky with the intention to swallow him whole. Haliya, seeing that her younger twin was in danger attacked the diwata turned sea dragon with her sword with the intention to kill her for attacking her brother. Gugurang who saw the whole thing prevented Haliya from slaying her and instead cursed the vain Bukuwana in her monstrous form for daring to devour another diwata and forbade her from attacking Bulan again. Bukuwana listens to Gugurang for the most part, but does hold a grudge so on occasion when she thinks she can get away with it she will try to devour Bulan again only to be beaten back to the brink of death by Haliya who has sworn herself to be her brother's protector. This is the Bilicano version of the myth that explains lunar eclipses and I know there are other versions of this myth throughout the Philippines since they are not just one people .

Haliya was a warrior goddess who would wear a mask of gold to hide her beauty. 

 In Philippine Mythology, Haliya was the name of a lunar goddess. She was said to be so beautiful that the sea goddess Bakunawa fell in love with her and sought her affections.

[apuadman]

Prayer to Gugurang

Umaw Gugurang The Great among the Gods of Ibalon, Blessed Incarnation of Paros as willed by the primordial God of the Wind Languit!! You who commands the Winds and the Flames of Heaven, Keeper of the Sacred Fire, We thank you for reminding us that just like you who seated on the Holy Mountain of Magayon, that in the deep bosom of the Holy Volcano there is Fire that serves light to the dark…