Folklore Mythical Beings in the Philippines

Tagalog Culture and Beliefs

• A blindfolding ritual was performed for young girls during their first period to signify their transition to womanhood.

Afterlife Beliefs

• The Tagalog concept of the afterlife is referred to as "Kaluluwa", a place of punishment, grief, and affliction.
• In Tagalog beliefs, a woman who dies in childbirth is believed to be sent to a special place in the afterlife, Kasanaan.

Mourning and Funeral Rites

• The Tagalogs mourned their deceased chiefs by laying them on a boat that served as a coffin, which was then set adrift on a river or sea.
• The deceased chief's body was prepared for burial by being wrapped in cloth and adorned with gold and other precious items.

Tagalog Deities and Worship

• In Tagalog beliefs, Badhala is a deity worshipped during worship ceremonies.
• The Tagalogs worshipped a range of deities, including Bathala, who was believed to dwell in Kasanaan.

Social Hierarchy and Slavery

• Maharlica held a high social status in Tagalog society, distinguished from commoners by their wealth and land ownership.
• In pre-colonial Tagalog society, slaves were typically emancipated through the payment of a ransom or by being redeemed.
• When a free woman married a slave, their children took on the status of their mother.

Economy and Debt

• In Tagalog society, debts were typically handled by pawnbroking, with debts passed on to the debtor's family after death.
• The common punishment for failing to pay back a loan was slavery.
• The primary reason for individuals becoming slaves in pre-colonial Tagalog society was debt bondage.

Occupations and Roles

• A Mangkukulam was a type of healer or shaman in Tagalog culture.
• A Sonat was a type of Tagalog poet or musician.
• A Simbahan referred to a place of worship in Tagalog culture.

Miscellaneous

• The book "Customs of the Tagalogs" was written by an unknown author.
• A Sibi was a temporary shed constructed during Tagalog worship ceremonies.
• Observation and judgment were considered key components of artistic work in Tagalog culture.

Test your knowledge on mythical creatures and beings in Filipino folklore such as 'Manggagaway', 'Aswang', 'Manananggal', and more.