They Deserve Each Other

PHILIPPINE GODS AND GODDESSES: Bathala

Bathala, also known as Abba, is said to be the creator of everything. He dwells in the sky which is called Kawalhatian together with the lesser gods and goddesses. He is kind, giving the people everything they need to the point of spoiling them. This was where the Filipino saying “Bahala na” (come what may) came from. It is also known that Bathala sends anito (ancestor spirits, nature spirits, and deities) to help mankind with their daily activities.

photo credits: ledsetgo & melisica

Van Gogh, Monet, Waugh, Degas; pastel touch.

these god-siblings five.

For a brief time - a thousand years, for that is brief for the two of them - the Heat Haze Boy and the Monsoon Girl grew tired of their quarrel.

“Sister, we need a bigger playground,” said the Boy.

The Girl nodded in agreement. “Let us create the world and all its creatures.”

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Although they could have done it by themselves, the Twin Forces wanted help. And so, they created five god-siblings to assist them in their endeavor.

Licalibutan, the eldest, was strong and mighty, with a body made of rock. He rubbed off pieces of his skin and gathered them up into mounds. These became the mountains and land. Pleased with his work, he laughed heartily and left the rest of it to his siblings.

Libulan, the second, was calm and thoughtful, with a body made of copper. He paused for a moment, and reasoned that life could not spring forth without water. He pierced his heart, and from it bled the rivers and seas.

Liadlao, the third, was wild and fiery, with a body made of gold. Impatient for his turn, he fumed that the world was still cold and dark. He then took out one of his eyes and placed it in the heavens, making the sun.

Lisuga, the fourth, was curious and inventive, with a body made of silver. Sighing at her third brother’s impetuousness, she plucked out her teeth and hung them in the heavens as well, making stars.

Libali, the youngest (our stories often forget her) was humble and generous, with a body made of flowers. Marveling at everything that her siblings created, she wept with joy, and her tears became seeds that fell into the earth and grew up to be plants.

Such is how the world came to be.

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This is part of my Five Powers expansion for Swellbloom Kids. If you liked this, you can view more of my work here.

mythology family ♥︎ hanan for @gisabarrovv​

in tagalog mythology, hanan is the goddess of morning, dawn, child birth and new beginnings. she is one of the three demigod daughters of bathalang, the creator of the universe. hanan is the sister of mayari (goddess of the moon), and tala (goddess of the stars).

Anggitay are creatures from Philippine mythology. Said to have the lower half of a horse, and the upper half of a woman they were similar to the Greek Centaur, except for the fact that they were exclusively female. 

They were said to be the female counterpart to the Tikbalang, a creature thought to lurk in the forests and appearing as a bony, humanoid with horse-like features and excessively long limbs.

More Myths 

Character Mannerisms/Behaviors: Bonus Questions

I accidentally made more questions than necessary, so here are some bonus questions!

1. What mannerisms does your character have when they’re nervous?

2. How does your character smile? Are their smiles usually genuine?

3. Are there any mannerisms or “code words” your character must use for their job? If so, what are they, and what do they mean?

4. Does your character generally have “open” or “closed” body language? Is this reflective of their personality?

5. Does your character commonly carry something around, such as a magazine or a cigarette? How do they interact with the thing they carry?

6. How do your character’s mannerisms reflect their personality, past, or desires? (For example, a character could always hover near the door because they’re noncommittal, or because they’ve had to run away from bad situations in their past.)

7. If there is magic in your character’s world, what words or mannerisms must be used to “activate” it?

8. How often does your character touch other people? If often, can they be overly touchy, or are they careful not to make others uncomfortable?

does it ever drive you crazy— just how fast the night changes?

LIFE AFTER DEATH | beliefs of the ancient tagalogs . . .

Back in the pre-colonial period, Tagalogs already believed in the final judgement of men— that is, the punishing of the evil and the rewarding of the good. The souls of good men were said to be taken to Maca, a village where they enjoyed eternal peace and happiness; a paradise. 

However, those who deserved punishment were brought to Kasanaan, the village of grief and affliction where they were tortured forever. The souls that ended up in Kasanaan were kept by the leader of the ancient hell, Sitan.

It is said that all the wicked went to that place, and there dwelt the demons, Sitan and his four agents, who embodied evil and punishment. 

Due to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, Roman Catholicism was forcefully introduced to the Tagalog. In Roman Catholicism, a good person is sent to Heaven while a bad person is sent to Hell to burn in scalding oil.

Source: In outline of Philippine Mythology by F. Landa Jocano; Juan de Plasencia’s in 1589 “Relation of the Worship of the Tagalogs, Their Gods, and Their Burials and Superstitions”

Babaylan Knowledge: A Complete Tutorial About Herbal Medicine in the Philippines

Certain herbs, even some fruits are used as traditional and alternative medicine in the Philippines. This Buzzle article presents information on some popular medicinal plants, which are approved by the Department of Health, Philippines.  […] Source: A Complete Tutorial About Herbal Medicine in the Philippines

Character Motivations

I tried to go for more external, concrete motivations in this list, but motivations can also be abstract, such as to become brave. If you’re struggling with writer’s block, try combining some of these to see what you come up with.

Your protagonist might desire:

* To rescue/protect a person

* To end a war/conflict

* To find a hidden treasure/location

* To defeat their nemesis

* To solve a mystery

* To fix a dystopian society/expose a dark truth about society

* To break free from captivity

* To return home

* To outwit the devil/make a deal with the devil (or another powerful force)

* To become wealthy/famous/powerful/immortal

Keep reading