#sarimanok

[delfindakila]

ALVIN BUENO, JR. Sarimanok, akriliko sa kambas, 2023 #artPH

[neurotonic]

AYEEE HI thank you for the tags!!! glad to contribute to the SEA representation >:3c LET'S GOO 🤝

also I wanted to take some time talking about their real name, which is in fact Adarna Panganiban! Honestly I'm not quite sure if I'll give them a real backstory concerning their identity... I crossed out their name in the first place in the chance that they had a reason to keep it secret...

...BUT I'm really proud of this name because of the meaning behind it: Adarna is the name of a legendary bird in a Filipino epic - it's also been compared to the phoenix a couple times! And the root word for Panganiban is panganib, the Tagalog word for danger. They're just a danger bird lmao

IEYTD guys for your consideration! My Agent Phoenix + four guys who may or may not be friends. It's still a little unclear. You can read more info about them over here!

[d-criss-news]

francislibiran: Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Darren Criss (@ darrencriss) debuts in a custom Francis Libiran Barong at the premiere of his new Broadway musical, MAYBE HAPPY ENDING.

Crafted from Piña Jusi fabric and paired with off-white Italian wool pants, this piece is a tribute to Darren Criss’ Filipino heritage as it showcases intricate beadwork and embroidery inspired by a symbol of good fortune, the Sarimanok of the Maranao people. #DarrenCriss #MAYBEHAPPYENDING #FrancisLibiran

[vajrapoet]

Gubat Banwa: THE SULTANATE OF AKAI

LUNAR KNIGHTS. CHIVALROUS POETS. FAITHFUL PANDITA. One of the most powerful mahamandalas in Gubat Banwa, conquering in their Divine Striving for Goddess, is inspired by the various Sultanates of Southeast Asia! STRIVE EVERMORE FOR GODDESS: AKAI!

While Akai is host to a huge number of religions, their culture and allied polities are skewered through with belief and utmost reverence for The Most High Baginda, BAGINDA SUMONGSUKLAY, which is not her name but a descriptor as the Crescent Moon.

Akai reverses the use of God and uses "Goddess" instead. They are a primarily matriarchical culture, and they believe that Goddess lives on the Moon. The Moon is the most important thing in the universe: it is the hole that leads into the True Space of Goddess.

Akai is intensely researched and inspired by popular Postclassical Southeast Asian societies: Malacca, Johore, Maguindanao, Sulu and more. They are raiders far and wide, and fight so that all of Gubat Banwa will know of the providence of Goddess.

Their faith, AGMA DAMLAG, is inspired by Southeast Asian Islam, which is skewered through with mixtures of local folklores and legends, making it different from "pure" Islam. It is filled with mysticism, jinns, and devil dancers.

Their Disciplines are focused on overwhelming and protecting, on defense. They are the unbreakable ones, after all! They are also inspired by Islamic Chivalry notes: it is the Sultanates that house the most court romance, poetry, and chivalry.

BEAST HUNTERS are those that turned the common profession of hunting in the Isles into an actual martial art. Out of necessity: Beast Hunters are quick and debilitating. According to their Faith, they cannot allow their dogs to bleed the prey before they do.

the MARTYRS are warriors that go into battle in a fierce death battle trance, always ready to die for their convictions. they get stronger as the fight goes, and their techniques let them strengthen their attacks, throw their giant weapons, go into holy rage, and wield juru pakal

SARIMANOK KNIGHTS are true chevaliers who wield the strength of the sarimanok--a revered omen bird that is integral to many cultures of the sword isles--to punish and smite those that would force them to kneel! they can fly upon sarimanok, or be imbued with the holiness of one

STRIFESINGERS sing the grand dirge of Gubat Banwa, as it revels in violence. they are constantly singing: they have a burst 2 aura that constantly heals and gives buffs, and they can put down grand songs that manipulate allies and the battlefield!

warriors that summon the knights of the sea: churning the waters with swordfishes and sharks are a common element in seasian folk tales. the swordfish cavalier is the purest representation of that, allowing them to manipulate water, turn into water, or summon the moon

All of these and more in our KS. Back us now and help us get more art and writing for this grand mahamandala!

Just as important: in solidarity with our colonized and oppressed peoples in Palestine! From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free! Check out this ongoing fundraiser that has over 250+ games for Gaza!

[sillyname30]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Francis Libiran (@francislibiran)

francislibiran: Hollywood star Darren Criss (@darrencriss) pays homage to his Filipino heritage with a stunning entrance wearing a custom Sarimanok Barong at the premiere of his Broadway musical, MAYBE HAPPY ENDING. The Francis Libiran ensemble features intricate beadwork and signature art deco embroidery, bringing the mythical Sarimanok—an emblem of good fortune and strength for the Maranao people—to life. #DarrenCriss #MAYBEHAPPYENDING #FrancisLibiran

[relmint]

The Ibong Adarna also has the ability to put people to sleep by singing seven songs. In the myth, Don Juan was able to stay awake by cutting himself and squeezing calamansi juice on his wounds each time the bird sang. Very cool stuff

Vamp Wally AU

Meet the Cast Part 1

Poppy gets her own canvas because im biased--jk

A lil bit of infordump for each character :3

Frank ★ Gargoyle

Frankie boi is a doctor in his eyes. He's labelled a quack and a criminal by many because he practices medicine without a doctor's license, which is illegal. That and several reports of unethical experiments, but mostly because he doesn't have a license.

He met Wally through Barnaby who asked for him to heal the vampire (who was injured at the time) in exchange for shelter and protection from bounty hunters

Julie ★ Demon

Bbg was summoned by a cult who was immediately apprehended by police officials. With no way to go back home, she moved from place to place being a menace to society

She eventually found her way into Wally's Mansion and became their tenant

Sally ★ San Elmo

Okioki so San Elmo is a Philippine mythological creature which is basically just a ball of fire-- anyways, Sally came down to earth to experience the earth life but then became a local deity à la burning person = God

She ended up burning a whole city and Wally, who was there to witness shit go down, decided to take her in because accidental genocide is a "same hat" moment

Poppy ★ Phoenix

Poppy is an angel. She is the definition of perfect, she has no flaws whatsoever-- she's also the last of her kind.

Poppy, alongside Barnaby, was the one to find Wally at his weakest and help nurture him back to health (literally an angel, how can anybody hate her)

Also some extra sketches of Sally + Barnaby

[rainbowstarheart]

Alrighty wonderfolks! Time for some

Small

Info about Iris Adarna herself!

If ya don't know what's Yaelokre, it's an amazing illustration of songs by four characters! Go to @yaelokre if ya want more to know!

Now on with my yaelokre OC!

This is Iris Adarna! She is the passionate dancer and Songbird of the forest!

She is mostly based off of one of Philippines famous mythology birds Ibong Adarna! The Philippine trogon's vivid colors earned it the nickname "Ibong Adarna". The Ibong Adarna is often described as the most colorful bird in Philippine folklore. It is also thought to share a resemblance to other legendary birds such as the Sarimanok and the phoenix. (But in my OC'S au,the three are all cousin's)

Her purpose like the the legendary colorful bird is that Ibong Adarna is a quest that teaches us that perseverance and generosity empower us to reach our dreams!

The Adarna bird is the namesake mythical bird from the Filipino story Ibong Adarna in which the bird is sought after for its magical powers. The Adarna bird has the ability to sing seven songs of enchantment and can put people to sleep, turn objects to stone, or perform miraculous healing

Iris sings across the Forests,fields and meadows, being a travelling songbird that can heal people through her seven songs (such as o maliwanag na buwan, mabuhay, love letters, going to richmond, Speak no evil and Golden slumbers/she's leaving home)

Her pastime/hobby is singing different songs across her path as she dances gracefully, but be careful with what intentions you may bring upon my little songbird, she could sense and see through you and will bring out your true colors! (Dun,dun,dun!)

Welp! That's all I got to give about my yaelokre OC! More art of her may come in the near future!

@blo0st4r @vexic929 @kenakostarcat16 @scally-wiggles716 @bbjxencanto-blogger @boltthevolt @sprinklehere @baxstarmallow06 @purpleselfships @iookingle3rd @hotelcaliforniaenbydancer @chibitacolord @undertale-person

Special thanks again for @yaelokre for giving such wonderment and passion for us wonderfolks!

[seriousfur28]

Favorite Artwork and sketches. Paper Quilling

Philippine Mythology: Sarimanok (Legendary Bird)

HAVE A NICE DAY CHICKENS.

[elysianasterism]

i need to create article notes and a presentation and a video about my history article and i don't fucking know how. or i guess i can't do it.

Lico, G.R.A. (2017). Rising from the Ashes: Post-war Philippines Architecture. Docomomo 57

anyways. after wwii and as the philippines became independent, manila was devastated (2nd most devastated allied city after warsaw in fact). so they gotta rebuild and build y'know? people saw modernism as a new way to develop this new nation and make it look different from old colonial styles. also they needed to cut down costs and build them as fast and efficient as possible, so they did away with fancy ornamentation. so modernism fit that nicely.

there was a US war rehab fund to rebuild notable manila buildings, mostly government buildings, and also those in my university. later there would be a campus built in quezon city (though before it was called quezon city) and it's. well. more developed imo

there were plans to build a capitol complex too, in quezon city (since the capital was moved there). but it wasn't finished.

so a lot more buildings were built in modernist style. many had glass walls and super cubic and geometric shapes. there were also big domes built (like araneta coliseum) and also places of worship had big geometric shapes too (like the main aglipayan church and the iglesia ni cristo churches).

there were also suburb subdivisions made, influenced by american ones and their car culture, and also high-rise condominiums. there was a high-rise boom in manila and also makati (which still has a bunch of high rise buildings to this day).

except... people realized that this was Nawt energy efficient. they needed lots of aircon and ventilation to cool buildings (this is the philippines after all, it's hot). so they changed stuff. architects adapted slats on the outside (brise-soleil and similar structures) to lessen sunlight and heat and help with ventilation. slanted roofs and windows, similar to the bahay kubo, were later used. so basically architects started taking details from traditional filipino houses and modernized them in a way. this is called tropical regionalism.

then when the marcos sr. administration came around, they started incorporating a bunch of indigenous motifs from all over the country for aesthetics, and to create a "national architecture". this was mostly headed by imelda marcos. so like the sarimanok and naga motifs and much more. lots of big buildings were constructed, mostly with leandro locsin as architect.

after the marcoses were deposed, postmodernism took over (though the article doesn't go deep on the buildings in this style). the people wanted something different from the marcoses' blatant displays of wealth and prestige. (look. they sucked.)

so a bunch of modernist buildings were demolished, until a law was passed to protect and preserve some of these and also the country's heritage sites.

[evienovich]

The Maranao Culture and Tradition

DMITRI ETHAN C. BELANDRES, B. S. PHAMACY 1-A

@evienovich /  evienovich.tumblr.com

If there is one tribe that can arouse your interest, try discovering the Maranao Tribe, a Muslim Tribe that adheres to Islam Belief.  The Maranaos are known to inhabit most of the municipalities of the province of Lanao del Sur and Marawi City, its capital.  Visit and see for yourself how the culture and tradition of the Maranaos stay compact, and amazingly resilient against outside influences.

One of the Islamic Muslim Tribes in the Philippines which has sustained its culture and tradition even in the modern days is the Maranao Tribe.  The term Maranao literally means “People of the Lake,” with reference to the location of the Tribe’s habitat immediately contiguous to Lake Lanao, south of Marawi City, in the province of Lanao del Sur, and one of the Bangsamoro Regions.

The Maranaos, as they are called, have their own spectacular culture and tradition peculiar to them which make them stand out from other Muslim Tribes.  They are known for their metal crafts, architecture, colorful dances, cultural attire, tapestry, distinctive cuisine, and epic literature.

One of the most popular art manifests of the Maranaos is their vivid color combinations.  This taste of art that displays bright, eye-catching colors attracts not only the locals but even foreign visitors who came to know their art.  This eye-catching color combination taste which they integrate with their other forms of artistry, is truly amazing and captivating.  

Among the most distinct and an essential trademark of the Maranaos’ art forms is the Sarimanok.  The Sarimanok is a legendary bird that serves as the symbol of the Maranaos. Sarimanok came from the words “sari” (a garment of different colors deeply related to their culture) and “manok” (rooster with its beautiful and colorful feathers), believed to represent good fortune and prosperity, a symbol that the Maranao people in the Philipines are associated with, and a significant part of Maranao people’s cultural heritage.

SARIMANOK

CULTURAL DANCES

Another art form of the Maranaos which also made an impression in their distinct culture and tradition are their dances.  The cultural dances also showcase the Maranao’s ingenuity.  Performing these dances highlight certain celebrations such as during festivals and occasions intended for entertainment.  Their trademark prevails in the use of ornate colorful costumes and instrumental music.  Their dances were created from the Darangen, an ancient epic of the Maranao community.

One of their famous dances include the Kappa malong-malong which is also known as Sambi sa Malong.  This is a cultural dance where dancers show the several ways of using malong. It portrays how malong is worn with the fabric combined of many bright colors, an identity of the Maranaos’ taste of colors.  The meaning of the dance lies in the aim of partaking the usefulness of malong that to fully absorb the steps of this dance, one must learn and understand the significance of malong – a simple tubular yet highly functional piece of cloth for all Filipino-Muslim.

KAPPA MALONG-MALONG

Another popular dance is the Singkil, a royal dance where the woman gently steps in and out of the clipping bamboos while holding a fan.  The woman dancer wears an elegant colorful costume as the main dancer.  Its music is by the sound of a gong, an original sound intended for the dance.  This dance is one of the proofs of Maranao’s original dances which identifies them from other tribes, a true Maranao pride.

 SINGKIL

Along with the art forms like the Sarimanok and the dances reflective of the Maranao culture and tradition is the Torogan which literally means a resting or sleeping place.  It is a traditional ancestral house symbolizing a high social status or nobility among Maranao People.  This pre-colonial house was home of the royal blood whose positions in the community were that of sultans or datus deemed political leaders looked up with great respect by their respective constituents. 

The Torogan portrays the ingenuous architectural prowess of the Maranaos.  One of the last standing Torogan and the only remaining habitable structure was declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines in 2008 which can be found in Bubung Malanding, Marantao, Lanao del Sur.  This structure was built without the use of nails only fitted joints and fiber lashings.

It is one of the attractions and pride of the Maranao Tribe as it reminds them of the historic deed of their brave leaders who withstood Spanish conquest.  The Torogan symbolized rank, power and prestige.

TOROGAN

Torogans were elevated from the ground using “tukod” or hard tree trunks of huge girths. At the center is the “tapuwilih” post surrounded by twenty-five others at the base.

Another part of the culture and tradition of the Maranaos is their distinct taste of food.  They have a different choice of food and preparation.  Travelers from neighboring provinces and students of the Mindanao State University (MSU) have been privileged to taste the delicacies peculiar to Maranao Tribe. Their famous cultural delicacies include the sakurab. It’s made with palapa (dried coconut shavings and dried chili), local native scallions and chili, a common appetizer for the Maranaos.

Known for love of spicy flavors, most of their food are indeed hot and spicy.  The palapa also serves as a mainstream ingredient in most of their popular dishes like pyaparana manok (chicken with coconut meat), beef randeng (beef with coconut), bakas (tuna fish), and badak (jackfruit) with coconut milk and powdered turmeric [kalawag], which adds a yellowish color that sets their food apart food from other Muslim Mindanao cuisines.

During their month-long celebration, Maranao’s special ‘kakanin’ delicacies also highlight the event, most of which are made from sticky rice flour with coconut milk and brown sugar such as dudol, tamokansi, tiyatag, pabrot, and many more.

MARANAO CUISINE

The traditional clothing of the Maranaos goes with their art form display of colorful, handwoven clothes. A known conservative tribe, women wear tightfitting short blouses and narrow cut pants resembling breeches and a wrap-around material to make certain that their bodies are fully covered.   Men on the other hand, also wear narrow cut pants and wraps a sash-like cloth around the waist where he places his weapon – usually a long knife. 

MARANAO CLOTHING

The traditional clothing of the Maranaos goes with their art form display of colorful, handwoven clothes. A known conservative tribe, women wear tightfitting short blouses and narrow cut pants resembling breeches and a wrap-around material to make certain that their bodies are fully covered.   Men on the other hand, also wear narrow cut pants and wraps a sash-like cloth around the waist where he places his weapon – usually a long knife. 

Start satisfying your curiosity and witness in reality this one Tribe that exhibits a distinguished way of life.  It is worth knowing that a certain tribe has been able to preserve its culture and tradition despite the changes of times.  It is an overwhelming experience to actually see these people’s unique culture and tradition and truly inspiring to note how they sustain such amazing culture and tradition.  This is what makes the Maranao culture and tradition impressive and worth discovering.  

[joshcontextualstudies]

Artist research: Whang od

For this project, I have taken inspiration from the Filipino artist Whang-Od, a lady that started tattooing from the young age of 15. She first learned from her father, breaking stereotypes of women using her exceptional talent and skill potential that her father believed she possessed. Her art originates from the Mambabatok culture, incorporating designs like eagles, for warriors who killed enemies, python skin and other geometric designs.

Whang-Od began tattooing and travelling far to villages around the Phillipines. Many communities would request for her to imprint symbols carried through their ancestry to individuals reaching a significant point in their lives. For men, she would do bikking tattoos, a chest tattoo that stretched over the shoulders and arms, taking several days to complete and in return, the individual paid in food, rice or a large pig. Women were also tattooed, to show fertility and beautification. As for tattooing materials, she would use completely organic and naturally sourced materials, consisting of charcoal and water that is pricked into the skin using thorns from calamansi or pomelo. This is known as batok and is actually a lot more painful of a method than modern tattooing techniques. She then adapted a signature tattoo in 2017 that consisted of three dots, symbolising herself and her blood-related apprentices and also the next generation in her art. 

Every tattoo Whang-Od made told a story. They marked milestones, celebrated victories, and symbolized status in the community. Warriors often had intricate designs that showcased their bravery and accomplishments. Women, too, wore these tattoos as a badge of honor and beauty. The designs were as unique as the individuals wearing them, each carrying a specific meaning:

Filipino tattoos were considered terms of honour in the past, especially for warriors who wore geometric designs and animal emblems that stood for bravery. Moreover, these tattoos had mystical significance and were thought to provide prosperity and protection. Common natural symbols for development and life were the sun and waves. Together, they created a rich legacy of tattoo art in the Philippines that combined nature, spirituality, and power.

In traditional tattoo art from the Philippines, animals are very symbolic and each one stands for a unique quality. For example, the Philippine Eagle, sometimes referred to as the "Haring Ibon" or King of Birds, represents freedom, authority, and the spirit of the Filipino people. The carabao, also known as the water buffalo, represents patience, persistence, and hard work���values that are reflected in Filipino farmers. The Tamaraw, an indigenous animal in the Philippines that represents strength and rarity and reflects the resilient nature of the Filipino people, is another noteworthy figure. The Sarimanok, a legendary bird in Filipino culture, is also connected to good fortune, which makes it a well-liked option for people wishing for luck and wealth.

Nature-inspired tattoo designs in the Philippines have deep symbolic meanings that evoke the natural splendour of the nation. These landscapes, which range from breathtaking coasts to deep woods, are skillfully weaved into tattoos to convey distinct stories. Mountains stand for the path of conquering hurdles and are a sign of strength and resiliency. The bravery to sail through life's continual changes is embodied by ocean waves. Bamboo is a sign of adaptation and flexibility, while the sun is a symbol of vitality and optimism. Including these components in tattoos, people convey experiences and trips while also honouring the landscapes of the Philippines. The goal of traditional tattoo art from the Philippines is to provide narratives via symbolic significance, more than just looking aesthetically pleasing.

As I craft my linocut design, I'm inspired by Filipino tattoo art, aiming to express my identity through symbols. I carve geometric patterns resembling traditional tattoos, symbolizing resilience and self-discovery in my journey. Animal figures like the Philippine Eagle and Carabao represent authority, hard work, and perseverance, shaping my identity.I also include nature symbols—the sun, moon, and waves—symbolizing life's cycles and growth. These elements pay tribute to my cultural heritage and my personal journey. Each stroke of the carving tool adds layers of meaning, reflecting who I am and the values I cherish.Through this artwork, I celebrate my identity, embracing my cultural roots and individual experiences. I hope to inspire others to reflect on their own stories and connections to the world around them.

[conflictcrafter]

pit sarimanok

after all your complaints, we now reach the possible conclusion of the performance's meaning (and our consequent cultural forgetting of the thing). using the general transactional model of communication which emphasizes the role of feedback as simultaneous and indelible asset in meaning-making, and leaning on to Barthes' concept of mythology, i now posit that the text lies beyond the performance but in the fiasco.

much of the people on the internet call the performance out for misrepresenting the ethnolinguistic group. and a couple of days after the it was originally performed, the institution behind it publicly apologized through writing.

if the internet intellectuals had not called the performance and the choreographer/s out (the writer), it would have appeared that they agreed on the myth that the performance (the text) was re-presenting. but the opposite happened. many maranao muslims and outside of that culture alike judged the myth as wrong. and so, the simultaneous feedback (as the text was shown live, and still is alive as a meme) has been to correct it. the institution behind the performance, as it cannot be re-performed, admitted the error, and thus, re-establishing the myth that they unwittingly trampled.

viewing the whole thing under the lens of the transactional model of communication and Barthes' concept of myth, it appears that the interlocutor 1 (the writer), being the choreographer and later the institution, spoke of an erroneous myth through that performance (the text). simultaneously, as the interlocutor 2 (the reader) receives the erroneous myth, they correct it. i rather argue that it was simultaneous due to the rapid exchange of info through the internet. it would appear at this level that the text is the performance. but viewing where the myth lies (pun could be intended), and finally re-established, it appears that the real text is the fiasco.

the myth that is agreed by both writer and reader on the first level is this: that maranao muslims do not uphold the Sto Niño.

the second level myth, which is re-asserted in the fiasco is this: that maranao muslims are the subaltern in the mainstream filipino identity and that they should be defended from erroneous cultural appropriations. (i assert this paradigmatically since if Christian imagery is wrongfully appropriated, the Christians, by mere reacting, become the pathetic antagonist of the narrative instead of the wrongful appropriator.)

moreover, the second level myth is expressed though the reaction by the culturally guilty bourgeoisie hegemons who are eager to be an 'amicus' to the subaltern by showing that they, too, are offended.

and finally, the third level myth is that the maranao muslims are rather a cultural force to reckon with despite being considered a minority. thus, tread carefully when dealing with them. again, i say this rather paradigmatically since if this same incident is imagined with other cultural minorities, that performance would not gain so much negative reaction. say, the 'victimized' culture is the obo manobo, or the sama dilaut, or the badjaos, it would not have come to this. during kadayawan, for instance, free interpretation of cultural images borderline to parody and yet this kind of reaction has not been observed.

i do not dismiss the performance as text since all is text. rather, i point out that the myth-making (or myth-re-establishing) occurred in the fiasco rather than in the performance. thus, supporting the notion that the reader is part and parcel of meaning-making rather than solely present and given by the writer. in this case, the reader, as they react, become the poet. and those who react on that poiesis are also poets, furthering the hyperreal. all but contribute to the reaffirmation of agreed and sublated myths one way or another. these myths in turn form the building blocks, though in flux, of the national identity that is us, whether we like it or not.

and like all other historical realities in this part of the country, we are all going to forget about this. that was enough amicus.

[gbwhtspro]

Works of National Artists Abdulmari Imao, Federico Aguilar Alcuaz to be NFTs Soon on Artifract

Subscribe to our newsletter! Editing by Nathaniel Cajuday Through the partnership signed last year by Artifract and the heirs of Abdulmari Imao and Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, the artworks of the National Artists will soon be accessible on Artifract.io as NFTs.  According to Imao’s son, Toym, the soon-to-launch NFTs will feature the Sarimanok motif of the older Imao which is re-imagined into the…

[myfairynuffstuff]

Abdulmari Asia Imao (1936 - 2014) - Sarimanok. 1997. Acrylic on canvas.

[purplemys]

First things first, I'd like to point out the disconnect between the actual cultural traditions now to the actual mythologies. You have people here celebrating Christmas, worshipping God and all that is holy and you have the myths and legends being absolutely pagan nightmare fuel.

Pre-colonial Philippines is a different thing entirely. One that if told to me at Elementary, I would have said wasn't Philippines at all. 🤷‍♀

The exact religion during that era I couldn't find but we can narrow it down to Islam and Paganism/Animism. This where concepts like Bathala and Engkanto come in.

Here's a picture of the early Filipinos converting to Christianity:

Would love to point out that we had our own literature back then too, before the Spaniards came and destroyed a lot of it.

This, I can't read on a whim even if you asked. I never learned it beyond that one time I used it for a banner.

Just like the religions being replaced with Christianity and subsections of it, the Baybayin got replaced with the Spanish(?) Alphabet. They're integrating these symbols into buildings and other graphic material, like posters, banners, etc. esp recently.

But in my opinion, it's a little too late for my generation (and earlier ones) for this. We were only taught Tagalog and English formally while the Baybayin was like some cool trivia for us to know about. We uh, technically embraced the Spanish culture.

Anyway, back to the religion, there's no longer any Paganism practiced beyond the Indigenous People and their areas, there's hundreds of them btw. The religions here are mainly Christian, Roman Catholic, Iglesia ni Cristo (which I cannot explain to you well if you asked), Protestant Christian, Islam, and then the occasional Jehovah's Witness coming to your door to recruit you.

I'm agnostic. I don't actively participate in these religions after trying to become both an avid Catholic (as it was a requirement in Elementary), and then Born Again Christian (as my aunt's insistance that my depression will be cured).

Needless to say, I don't do any of that beyond Christmas.

*

Side tangent, the Philippines is divided into 3 main islands(?) - Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Split into 17(??? Last I remember was 12) Regions, and over 7,100 islands. Point is, even for such a small country, we're pretty diverse.

So forgive me if I say, you'll find the hundreds of provinces wayyyy more interesting (than what I could ever say about the general populace) since all of them are practically their own thing, with their own dialect, customs, traditions and maybe religion.

The Philippines is after all a melting pot of different cultures from various countries. Most notably Spain, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and America. I don't think Japan counts.........

*

Now for the superstitions and mythologies because that's what I actually know. 😅 ✨

Behold! Nightmare fuel!

Various creatures from folklore that may or may not exist in the province. The letters stand for the names and image of the creatures. Most famous are the Manananggal, Tikbalang, Diwata, Sarimanok and Kapre.

I can't name the others because they're likely confined to certain regions and provinces.

The superstitions and mythical creatures actually intersect sometimes.

Examples include:

Our ancestors and maybe some provinces believe the existence of dangerous supernatural entities that lurk around the forests and the fields. To generalize, they call them Maligno. Meaning, malignant (entity).

This, I actually practice whenever I get anywhere near forests, fields, or any huge tree that might have a perch for some creature. I don't want to catch another type of curse than what I already do.

This, happens to me often, to the point that it's just an inconvenience. Yes, it is scary but also, I trust my mother to help me when it comes to that specifically. 🤷‍♀

*flashbacks to all the times I couldn't function from crippling pain, praying to whatever entity did this to lift the curse*

I'm not joking, I do believe in this one especially. People don't just suddenly catch the stomach flu or diarrhea or whatever ailment the moment you said "Hi." or "Hello" to them. 🤷‍♀

We also have Albularyo/witch doctors and Mambabarang/ witches. Mother believes in Anting-Anting or what special object that has your kin's "holy" powers to stave off the supernatural entities.

Wow, this sounds kinda crazy.

Anyway, more superstitions that I've been told:

Don't whistle at night outside in the province, you're calling for spirits to enter your house.

Don't sweep your trash outside at night, you're throwing out good fortune.

Keep a mirror facing the front door, it takes good fortune.

Stepping on shit brings good fortune, monetary wise.

Hearing an deafening whistling noise can signify your demise.

I can't remember any other ones right now because the rest are Feng Shui related and I can't exactly get into that without explaining how close China and Philippines are culturally.

Uh, spring traditions? We don't have any as far as I'm concerned. We only know Summer , Rain, and Cold. Winter doesn't have snow. :((

Another Edit: I neglected to mention Alamat or The Legends, as we have Legends for almost anything. That's a different thing entirely.

Hey... I'm curious about something. How do you and your family treat Greek mythology and superstitions? 👀

Do you believe in them to a degree? If there were Gods and Goddesses, why wasn't it a full religion?

I hope this isn't rude. I'm more than happy to talk about mine.

Don't worry, it's not rude

Sorry, this took so long, it's a surprisingly hard question to answer because I needed to think about how I view Greek mythology vs how the rest of the world sees it and this accidentally turned into a rant 😅

also some of my opinions might be considered controversial but... I don't care! lol I guess the 5 Greek followers I have can unfollow me if they don't like this or whatever 😂

Anyway have some sparkles because this is kind of long oops ✨✨✨

WARNING: me trashing on Americans

The Greek pantheon was like any other religion in ancient times, but it's not really treated like one anymore. The main religion of Greece now is Orthodox Christianity, and the largest religious minorities are Islam and Catholicism. My parents and I are atheists. I'm certain there's still people that practise it, but they would probably be seen as foolish by the general public.

We are taught part of our mythology in school at the age of 8 (unless they changed it idk 😂). It isn't taught like a religion, but more like fairytales.

The way it's taught is very lacking in my opinion. Instead of explaining for example how sexism influenced the creation of these myths and what a giant asshole Zeus was, we are just told Hera was "the jealous type" and that's why she's the antagonist in most of the stories she appears in.

Achilles and Patroclus were definitely gay, but no one ever talks about it. According to our school books, they were just really close friends! In fact, this specific topic is avoided so much that I first heard about it from foreigners on the internet! A lot of people deny this, even saying that "friendship was just different back then, it was deeper"!! I'm sorry sir, I don't think I'd ever ask to be buried with the ashes of my just a friend™ no matter how close we were! Technically speaking there's nothing explicit in the original text, but Aeschylus, Phaedrus, Plato and Alexander the Great all read it as a romantic relationship and the first 3 even had their own headcanons about it, so that's enough for me!

I'm guessing a lot of these depend on what type of teacher each person has, and it's been a long time since I was 8, so teachers might be more open about it now, but if you just read the 3rd year history (mythology) school book this is the content you'll get. I don't think withholding this information is done because it's being taught to kids, it's not a "they're 8, so they wouldn't understand sexism". That would be a silly argument considering our mythology is filled with incest, rape and gore, which our school books very openly mention throughout. They are just trying to avoid it.

From 9 and up, we are taught more actual history than mythology. We focus on real historical figures and events, so most of the less know myths get forgotten. At 13-15 we're taught the Odyssey and the Iliad (by Homer), and Helen (by Euripides). Yes, that is in fact the order that they teach us these 🙃!! Supposedly it goes from easier text to harder text for each year, but I personally think that's stupid because the story is completely backwards now, and we get it translated to modern Greek anyway, so what's the point of telling it backwards???? It's not convenient, it's confusing! Anyway, these are taught in a similar way to literature. We analyse the text and characters and all that.

Ages 16-18, I honestly have deleted most of these from my brain tbh 😂. OK, not exactly, the first and third year are more historical texts and philosophy. The second year we do another play, Antigone (by Sophocles). Actually wait, the first one was about a war and there was a ton of political intrigue in there, and it was super interesting. The third one was more about philosophy.

The plays aren't exactly the same as mythology, it's more like fanfiction about historical figures and gods! I mentioned them because..... I just like them lol

I kind of deviated a lot from what you actually asked me and answered more generally. For me and my parents specifically, religion isn't really something we participate in. My grandma is very religious though. She used to go to church every Sunday before covid. Now she watches it from the TV (there's a specific Christian chanel that broadcasts church service from different parts of the country). I personally hate how brainwashed some people are by Christianity (including my grandma). Thankfully, we haven't reached American levels of religious fanaticism.

Mythology isn't really something that's on our minds often. My grandma didn't go to school, so I doubt she knows much about it. My parents probably learnt some of it. Outside of the school environment, ancient Greek mythology isn't really a topic most people think about (maybe I think about it more than the average Greek person, because I'm an art student and a bit of a history nerd). But even then, I've seen more about Greek mythology from people who treat it like a fandom on the internet and make AUs with their characters and stuff like that. Now, I know I made jokes earlier about fanfiction and headcanons, so this is probably going to sound very hypocritical of me...

However, Homer's poems and other ancient Greek plays are not the same as myths. They're not treated the same. They are theatrical performances based on historical events/figures. I don't care much about people's modern interpretations of these, because they are fictional stories. Now, myths are also fictional, I even compared them to fairytales at the start. But they were still based on ancient people's religious beliefs. People practised it as a religion, they had rituals and traditions, some of which are still done today (though they have changed and evolved over time). The myths were more like the framework for what the Gods represented in their lives. Kind of like how most Christians don't believe the events in the Bible literally happened.

I'm fine with people taking inspiration from a myth and doing a modern retelling as long as they're respectful. I've seen some modern, more feminist retellings of Medusa that I personally really liked. I've even thought of making my own version of Arachne (=spider) but without the religious propaganda and classist undertones.

What I'm not ok with, is people wearing bedsheets to "dress up as Greek"! I'm sure you can probably relate to this because Americans do this with a ton of cultures. If you want to "dress up as Greek", do this:

I'll respect you more!!

(this is obviously a joke, don't do this either, you'll get laughed at. This dude is part of a parody show)

And secondly, I'm not ok with people taking mythology and twisting it into something completely unrecognisable that doesn't even seem like it's from the culture it was based on. Basically, Americans shouldn't be allowed to make movies about other people's cultures!!! Ok, I'm exaggerating, but if you're going to do something based on mythology/religion of some other culture, you need to do proper research and be as respectful as possible.

Good example: Dreamworks-Prince of Egypt, 1998

Even as an atheist who was only taught religion in school, I can tell this is a very respectful adaptation. The team that made this met with religious experts to make sure they got it right.

Bad example: Disney-Hercules, 1997

This is the most American a Greek myth has ever been! It's more like Superman than Heracles. Don't do whatever the fuck Disney did here guys. I'm actually planning on tearing this film apart in a future review, so I'm not going to say anything else right now.

I'm not saying don't make changes. Greek mythology is very "fluid" in a way. Every myth has multiple versions, with minor or major differences between them. Changes are fine, even making a parody is fine. But I think the end result shouldn't just resemble its inspiration on a superficial level. It's not enough to have your characters wear a tunic and sandals and have them say Zeus instead of God every couple of sentences. The important part is why a particular myth exists. What is the original message? What does the story/character represent? That needs to be kept the same, otherwise the adaptation won't be an adaptation anymore. It will be a different story disguised as an adaptation. At that point, you should just make an original story.

Alright last thing and then I'm done talking I swear 😂!

You also asked about superstitions.

Here's a small list:

if you spill coffee it's good luck

if your right palm is itchy, you'll get money, but if your left palm is itchy, you'll give money. The first one is usually interpreted as like: "you'll find coins on the street or win one of those scratch lottery tickets". The second one is like: "a sign that the electricity bill is coming, or you need to pay rent". (my dad believes this one)

if you're born on Saturday, it means you're lucky (I was born on a Tuesday 😔)

evil eye: a curse when someone "glares" at you/has bad intentions. If you have blue eyes you're immune to this, otherwise you can wear an evil eye charm. (this comes from the Middle East, I think. You might know about this, because there's a ton of different countries that believe it. I personally just like the charms)

when you visit a house for the first time, you need to enter with your right foot first for good luck. If you enter with your left, it's like wishing bad luck for the people who live there. This is also done for the first person to visit the house on New Year's Day.

if you enter a place from one door you can't leave from another door, you have to use the same one. (supposedly it ruins your matchmaking if you do that)

if you're talking with someone, and you say something simultaneously, you say "touch red" and then you need to touch something red before you continue speaking. (I remember doing this a lot as a kid)

if you talk about something bad happening hypothetically, you knock on wood or say the phrase "knock on wood", so it doesn't happen

if you get served the last drop of wine, you get bitches 😎!!

There are a lot of traditions that are really old that a lot of people still follow, even if they're not religious or the tradition comes from a different religion. I'll tell you one of my favourites that's relevant right now. Every first of March people in a lot of Balkan countries (Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, North Macedonia and others) wear a bracelet made from intertwined red and white threads. This is worn for the whole month of March, and it is supposed to protect you from getting burnt by the sun. At the end of the month, we take them off and leave them for swallow birds to use in their nests. Swallows are believed to bring spring.

hand reveal lol:

If you read this far, you are a legend.

It's your turn now. How do you and/or your family view Philippine mythology? What about the people in general? And also, do you have any traditions for spring?

[artheo4w]

I wrote the word guhit in Baybayin and formed it into a person drawing a sarimanok, a famous creature in the Philippines, showcasing my belief: we get to learn and love our culture through arts.

Ever since I saw on the internet the mock-up logos of famous brands written in Baybayin, I could not help myself but try to learn Baybayin just so I could try to do the same. It was so fun knowing that we have our own writing script, though sadly was no longer commonly used today. I made this artwork in hopes that people would get interested in Baybayin and in our culture like how those people who made the Baybayin mock-ups did to me.

My submission to Likhain Natin: Digital Arts Making Contest by La Salle Filipiniana Dance Company. Did not win, but at least I get to make this :D

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wips