Butil ng Kaalaman

The Spaniards called the ancient Visayans "pintados" (tattooed men). "Batuk" (which means the marking of snakes or lizards) was the general term for tattoos, or "patik" in some places.

Tattoos were symbols of male valor, applied only after a man had performed in battle with fitting courage and, like modern military decorations, they are accumulated with additional feats. Meaning, they are not performed all in one sitting but in installments.


labid - distinctive inch-wide lines, both straight & zigzagging up the legs to the waist.

dubdub - tattoos on the chest up to the throat.

daya-daya/tagur - tattoos on the arm.

bangut/langi - frightening mask made of the face (like crocodile jaws).

hinawak - men tattooed below the waist

lipong - tattooed all over (except under G-string).


The departing Visayan soul [kalag] was delivered to the land of the dead, "Saad" or "Sulad", by boat. In Panay, Magwayen was the boatman.

These "solanun" (those who dwell in Sulad) were simply those who went to the grave without sufficient gold and whose relatives could not afford the paganito to rescue them.



DAKIT. The most celebrated tree of the ancient Visayans was given much importance in tonight's episode on 'Indio'!  Not known to most Visayans today (as well as to many Filipinos) that a 'dakit' tree was the ancient sanctuary of 'paganito' (sacrifices) and a "living temple" of Visayan rites, rituals and religious observances known as 'paglihi'.

Our ancestors have attributed "divinity" to this tree and they strongly believed that their 'diwata' (god) dwell in it and made it its grand abode (same as Magayon was left there to get her her strength).

It was not just a belief but a fact that this tree had healing powers. Its roots when mashed and mixed with coconut oil resulted in a fine ointment for healing wounds; leaves are also medicinal.

Other terms which are synonymous with 'dakit' are: nunok, "dalakit", danakit, daragit and baliti


.but many who courted Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan (BPSB) were greedy, and just wanted her gold, even when she got married to Humadapnon the suitors continued to court her and NYSD... while her sister was busy getting kidnapped, some tales say she was kidnapped every other day, some say every week, and Humadapnon ended up not being home at all trying to save his 3rd wife all the time. BPSD was busy protecting her husband's name and punishing people from trying to steal the gold at night when she sleeps. One day she got out of the nipa hut with all her gold in her magic dress and threw the gold up in the air, and they landed in the heart of all mountains, she then sarcastically told her suitors, "If you want gold, you need to work in the mountains for it!" One suitor was so angered by these words, that he threw a stone at BPSB, the goddess dodged the stone and gazed at him, the suitor was horrified and prostrated himself in front of her asking for forgiveness. The diwata waved her hand, and soon the man felt immense pain all over his back and skin, the burning sensation and the cracking of bones went on for days, and when it stopped, he found himself turned into the monster, some Aetas call " Bulawan nga Halo" or in Tagalog, Ang Gintong Bayawak, which is said to guard the entrance of caves where gold can be found or above sacred trees hunting for miners or trespassers for it's meal.

TUHAY (portrayed by Dominic Roco) is a native warrior in Indio who hates Simeon but will fall in love with Mayang (Sheena Halili).

In some parts of Samar, and probably in other Visayan islands, 'tuhay' means "virtuous". It is synonymous with "Tarong" (or tadong), a name used in the show for the role of Jomari Yllana (later by Dante Rivero).

Other meanings of "tuhay": all right, decent, ethical, honest, honorable, just, moral, nice, right, righteous, right-minded, straight, true, upright, good

Fine porcelain, along with gold jewelry and bronze gongs, constituted that heirloom wealth which Visayans called "bahandi".

Bahandi was required for status display, exchanged in marriages, shared among close relatives, held as collateral for loans, and loaned out itself to men who mortgaged themselves into bondage to obtain the bride of their or their family's 


The full moon was greeted with a variety of names- 'paghipono', 'takdul', 'ugsar'- but most significantly as "dayaw" [at present it is kadayaw in some Bisayan Islands], perfect or praiseworthy, fit recognition of its spectacular shape and sunset-to-sunrise brilliance.

Ancient Visayans had to celebrate the full moon because they believed "the diwata came to earth at that time" [same thing that was excellently

Nobody doubted that an eclipse (bakunawa) was caused by a huge sawa, python, trying to swallow the moon, and that it had to be frightened away by noisy pounding on mortars and house floors.

Tarong & Linang were seen tonight having their meal! The root crops on their table were bananas, camote, and corn.

Spaniards regularly praised the flavor and variety of Visayan bananas, which were staple food crops together with camote (sweet potato). Bananas were widely cultivated because its sugar content, before ripening, was all starch, and so provided a valuable staple of diet.

At the point of death, one last desperate rite was performed to call back the departed soul - the "Pag-uli". A coconut shell of water was placed on the stomach of the inert invalid and rotated to chants of "Uli, uli, kalag" (Come back, soul, come back) (Alcina 1668a, 3:220). In the case of a datu, some of his slaves were sacrificed in the hope they would be accepted in his stead by the ancestor spirit who was calling him away. Or an itatanun expedition would be sent to take captives in some other community.


os, DUNGAN* is a Kinaray-a word which is roughly translated as soul.

In other Visayan Islands, esp. in Samar-Leyte region, the term DUNGAN means "coincident, simultaneous, or synchronous". In Filipino, it's sabay. 


Babaylans enjoyed much respect from Visayans and had the most important role in a community in ancient times. They were equivalent of our priests today.

They were "shamans or spirit mediums, given to seizures and trances in which they spoke with the voice of 'diwata' (god/goddess) or other spirits". Alabay is an apprentice to some older babaylan.


"Those who died in war, who were murdered, or killed by crocodiles, traveled up the rainbow to the sky; in the Panay epic Labaw Donggon, the rainbow itself is formed by their blood falling to earth. In the sky world they became gods...."*




Facial tattoos of the ancient Visayans were restricted to the "boldest and toughest warriors".*



Natural forces like celestial bodies were personified for reverence or worship by 16th-century Visayans.

Moon, especially the new moon whose regular waxing from a thin silver to full brilliance so strongly suggested "prosperity and fertility".*

"Panday sa puthaw" (workers in iron).

Smithing was considered the noblest profession, probably because only the wealthiest 'datus' had the means to import the raw material. 

Binukot - meaning kept in a closed place. She is said to be very beautiful and fair skinned. She is kept from the public eye since early childhood and only members of the immediate family can see her. A binukot is not allowed to work or do household chores. Her feet are not allowed to touch the ground and she is not exposed to the sun. During her seclusion, she learns embroidery, traditional dancing and playing musical instruments. She also memorizes long tales making her a very good epic chanter. She is groomed to perfection by her family members so they can ask for a high bride price when she reaches the marrying age. She is auctioned to the highest bidder but he may not see her until after their wedding.

Animism - from the Latin word anima which means breath or soul. It is the belief in spiritual beings. Animists believe that spirits or souls exist; they picture souls as phantoms or shadows which shifts from person to person or from dead to living. They believe that spirits dwell within human beings, animals, plants,lifeless objects, mountains, rivers and other entities of the natural environment. It observes both the physical and spiritual world. In Animism, man is equal to the nature; therefore, he should treat other entities with respect.

Animism can be widely found on religions of indigenous people. It is the spirituality that existed before the advent of world religions. It share vital similarities with other religions such as the belief on the existence of the spiritual and physical world; prayers and offerings to communicate with the spiritual world; shamans or Babaylans to help communicate with the spirits; and the belief on a Sky God [ex. Kaptan of Visayas counterpart of Bathala of the Tagalogs, and Kanlaon] who is the creator and supreme ruler of all the other spirits. 

Karakoa - a sleek warship used by the Pintados tribe of Visayas during Pre-spanish era. It is a double ended cruiser with an elevated fighting deck and catwalks on its outriggers. It could hold as many as six banks of rowers

Bagani means a formidable leader, a man of dignity, a warrior who killed more than one enemy, and a Hero.
It is a warrior class. A bagani has his own warriors called the maniklads. They fight for their community. To become a bagani one should be brave, physically strong and he should be a son of a former bagani. To become a bagani, he should kill atleast 5 men in a battle.

The term bagani is similar to bayani.

Alam nyo ba na noong unang panahon kapag nangangayaw (raid by sea) ang ating mga ninuno ay nagdadala sila ng isang epic chanter?

Ginagawa nila ito upang ipaalam sa mga makakasalubong nilang ibang mangangayaw kung gaano kahusay o kagaling ang kanilang pinuno at dahil diyan ay magdadalawang isip ang mga ito na sila ay galawin.

Divination (from Latin divinare "to foresee, to be inspired by a god", related to divinus, divine) is the practice of attempting to acquire hidden knowledge and insight into events—past, present, and future—through the direct or indirect contact of human intelligence with the supernatural.

Methods of divination:

1. Palmistry - divination by reading lines on the palm of a person.

*Paghihimalad - ang paraan ng pagtatagna sa pamamagitan ng pagbabasa sa guhit ng palad ng isang tao. Hindi lamang ang hinaharap ang malalaman kundi maging ang pagkatao nito.

Scene: Ang paghihimalad ni Amaya kay Silay.


2. Spirit possession is a paranormal and/or supernatural event in which it is said that spirits, gods, demons, animas, extraterrestrials, or other disincarnate or extraterrestrial entities take control of a human body, resulting in noticeable changes in health and behaviour. The term can also describe a similar action of taking residence in an inanimate object, possibly giving it animation.

*Hola / Hulak /Tagdug means Spirit possession

Scene 1: Ang pagsanib ng diwatang si Malanduk kay Punong Babaylang Hilway.
Scene 2: Ang pagsanib ng isang batang umalagad sa katawan ni Punong Babaylang Hilway.


3. Astrology - study of the positions and movements of astronomical bodies -sun, moon planets, stars. It is a form of divination based on the construction of a horoscope for an exact moment, such as a person's birth, in which various cosmic bodies are said to have an influence.

Scene: Ang lunar eclipse (pagtatangka ni Bakunawa na kainin ang buwan) at ang pagsilang kay Amaya, ang sanggol na may kambal-ahas.


4. Clairaudience (hearing/listening)- clair (clear) and audience (hearing)] is a form of extra-sensory perception wherein a person acquires information by paranormal auditory means.

*Kakayahang marinig ang tinig ng mga umalagad / mga taong hindi nakikita o mga busaw

Scene: Ang kakayahan ni Alunsina na marinig ang mga tinig ng mga busaw.


5. Macharomancy (Greek makhaira, a short sword or a dagger, and manteia, prophecy; alternative spellings are machæromancy, machairomancy) is a form of divination by interpreting knives, daggers or swords, one of many methods of divination based on the use of weapons.

6. Abiyog – swing (ex. a bolo suspended from a cord)

*Pag-abiyog- paggamit ng isang sundang na nakasabit sa tuktok ng balay, kapag ang patalim ay umugoy ang ibig sabihin noo'y pagsang-ayon ngunit kung ito ay hindi gumagalaw nangangahulugan iyon ng pagsalungat.

Scene: Ang babaylang si Abyang habang nagsasagawa ng pag-abiyog.

*Abiyog at Hola

Scene: Ang pag-aanito ni Punong Babaylang Hilway sa diwatang si Malanduk upang ipagkaloob nito ang kaisugan kay Bagani.


7. Cleromancy - form of divination using sortition, casting of lots, or casting bones or stones, in which an outcome is determined by means that normally would be considered random, such as the rolling of dice, but are sometimes believed to reveal the will of God, or other supernatural entities.

*Pagtatali - pagtatagna kung saan gumagamit ng paro-bilog na bato o itlog, ilalapag nila ang bato at kapag ito ay panandaliang tumayo ng kusa ang ibig-sabihin ay sumasang-ayon ang tadhana ngunit kung hindi naman ito ay nangangahulugan ng di magandang kinabukasan.

Scene: Ang pagtuturo ng babaylang si Asinas sa mga alabay ng pagtatali.


8. Kibang (guibang) - move or wiggle. The occupants sit perfectly still amidships and the diwata (spirit) answers their questions by rocking the boat. If the baroto did sway, it meant good fortune; the greater the rocking movement, the better one’s fortune. As the baroto swayed, they would ask who was causing the boat to sway, a deity or an ancestor’s spirit. Where the boat swayed at the mention of the name, deity or spirit, there was their answer.

Scene: Ang pagsasagawa ng kibang ng mga babaylan bago mangayaw sina Rajah Mangubat.


09. Clairsentience (feeling/touching) from Latin word clarus, “clear,” + sentiens, derived from sentire, “to feel”. It is the ability to perceive the past or future condition of a subject by touching it.

Scene: Ang paghawak ng babaylang si Nana Sala sa lahat ng naninirahan sa balay ni Dian Lamitan upang malaman kung sino ang babaeng may kambal ahas.


10. Auspice - (Latin: auspicium from auspex) is literally "one who looks at birds", a diviner who reads omens from the observed flight of birds.

Scene: Ang pagdapo ng isang ibon sa baroto bago magsagawa ng pangangayaw sina Rajah Mangubat. Ayon sa mga babaylan, ito ay nangangahulugan na may isang bagong bayani ang kanilang makikilala.


11. Pyromancy - from Greek pyros, “fire,” and manteia, “divination”) is the art of divination by means of fire.

Scene: Ang pagtatanong ni Punong Babaylang Hilway sa mga busaw kung sino ang babaeng may Kapid Ahas.

Abba - God 

Alabay - Babaylan apprentice

Alibugha - prodigal

Anito - sacrifice, formal act of worship conducted by a babaylan 

Atubang - adviser, minister

Babaylan - shamans or spirit mediums, priestess

Baba - Father

Bakunawa - a dragon-like snake that rises from the sea and reaches up to the sky to brazenly eat the moon. It is considered 

to be the cause of eclipses.

Bai - princess

Balay - house

Bana - spouse

Banwa - territory/community

Baroto - boat or canoe

Bata-bata - dolls made from wood

Batuk - tattoo

Bankaw - spear

Baladaw - short broad dagger

Binukot - young women(usually the daughters of a datu or rajah)who were kept inside the house away from public eye

Bingil - virgin

Bugay - dowry

Bugna - destiny

Bulawan - gold

Bunga - Betel nut

Busaw - engkanto / forest spirits

Datu - chief or a lord of vassals

Dada - auntie

Diwata - Gods/Goddesses

Gahat - to raid by land

Ginoo - prince

Gubat - general term for warfare

Iloy - mother

Haop - Datu's following (barangay)

Hara - wife of a Rajah

Hayohay - an uripon (slave)

Hilugo - blood price

Himalad – palm reading

Himaraw - gift

Husay - comb / hair accessory

Ilawod - downstream

Iraya - upstream

Kalag - soul

Kadatoan - from a lineage of a datu or any nobility

Kagon - Mediator

Kaponoan – most sovereign

Karakoa - warship

Kandu - poem

Kampilan - a heavy pointed cutlass or sword

Kapid - twin 

Katipan - boyfriend

Ka-uban - companion

Kiral - lewd or a prostitute

Kalis - Kris(sword)

Kunggit - sungka

Lalangban - spiritual river

Paganito - an act of sacrifice

Pagka-bingi - virginity

Pag-unong - Suicide

Panday - blacksmiths,general term for carpenters,boat-builders and jewellers

Pangasi - Rice Wine

Putong - turbanlike male headdress

Rajah - ruler

Mabaw - illegitimate child

Magdaragat - sea man

Maiisog - brave

Mangayaw - to raid by sea

Mangkaw - marriage courtship

Saad - heaven

Sandig - warrior

Sandil - secondary wives

Silat - a kind of toothbrush made of vegetable husk for cleaning and polishing the teeth

Sulad - land of the dead / purgatory

Tagna - prophecy

Tanlag - conscience

Tala - star

Timawa - freeman

Tinubos - redeemed or ransomed

Tumao - Second degree royal lineage; lower nobleman or woman

Oyo - a polite term by w/c an older brother addressed his younger brother

Yoyo - uncle

Umalagad - ancestor spirits

Ungwento - ointment

Uripon - slave

Umbo - term for older sister

BISAYA

ibalong

Ibalong

The Ibálong, also known as Handiong, or Handyong folk epic of Bikol (region of Philippines). It is a narrated and orally passed down by male epic chanters called Kadunung


''Long ago there was a land called Ibalong (literally means ''the other side'') From the sea came ships bearing people, their leader was a half breed, he was half human and half sylph (tawong lipod) or so they say. Muscular and skin so pale (other versions tell he is Muscular and brown-skinned with tattoos and has gold ornaments, he is often mistaken to have come from the line of "tawong lipod (wind people) for he is fast and strong.)
The people that came from the sea led by Baltog (He and his people came to Albay by the way of Makabalo river. and settled in Tundol.
These people say that the soil was reach and lush but also infested by beasts and strange creatures.)

These people prayed to their moon god
They decided to make the land their new colony
built their houses, cultivated and planted their crops.

The beast and creatures of the land were forced to move away from the lands they have once lived and roamed. The biggrest of the beast was the Tandayang sa opon, a gigantic wild boar that was seemingly intelligent for the beast would attack the field during the night where none is guarding it.

Baltog furious of what happened to the crops chased the Tandayag, killed it with his bare hands, and hung its enormous jawbones on a talisay tree(tropical lead wood tree *Terminalia catappa) in front of his house in Tondol

Upon learning of the victory of their Chief Baltog, the people prepared a feast and celebrated. The very big jawbones of the dead boar became an attraction for everyone. Thus, came the tribes of Panikwason and Asog(sect of male shamans and witch doctors) to marvel at it

And again from some land far from Ibalong men came. Lead by a man tall and muscular and armed with a "bolo". (a large single-edged knife)

Handyong. Together with his men upon arriving at the land they wanted to purge, to kill and slaughter all the non-human creatures, so they could live in this new land.

 First fought the one-eyed monster with three necks in the land of Ponong. For ten months, they fought without rest. And they never stopped fighting until all these monsters were killed.

The warriors vanquished the giant next
They went to the lair of the giant flying fishes called Tiburon which had slimy, scaly, and hardy flesh and saw-like teeth that could crush rocks. Handiong and his men did not stop until they vanquished every Tiburon

After killing all the flying fishes they seek to enslave the Tamaraw.
They tamed the fierce tamaraws.


The creatures of Ibalon was now endangered and wanted to fight back.
The large Sarimao and his kind went  to fight the warriors
 But the warriors blessed by the moon god, and strong were skilled and killed all the sarimao and drove away the giant Sarimaw (they drove it to mount Kulasi)

They used their spears and arrows to kill all the Buaya crocodiles which were bigger than boats. the slaughter of these creatures was witnessed by the monkeys frightened and hid to the forest.

They purge the lands of all its mythic creatures they the rivers and swamps of Ibalon turn red with blood.

Oryol, a beautiful demigoddess decided to stop the foreign warriors.
Handiog and his men set traps for Oryol but she is intelligent and does not fall into their traps.

Oryol is beautiful but half of her body is that of a huge serpent. With the help of the magindara (vicious mermaids) She used her voice and did so the mermaids to lure the warrior, she and the mermaids were able to slay most of Handiog's men. Handiog angered seek revenged and sealed the mermaids inside a huge cave (in Mount Hantik)

Handiog searched alone for Oryol. While looking for the monster Oryol, he heard singing and was captivated by it, only to find out it was Oryol. The two battled, they gained respect for one another for they were both strong and able combatant. The two fell in love.
Oryol thought Handiog the secrets of governing  the lands.

Oryol could have killed him but she fell in love with her and help Handiong clean the land of monsters. He with the help of the demi-goddess Oryol revealing the secrets of the gods and beast made Bicol flourished.

Years have passed and Ibalong was rich and bountiful. Handiong built colonies in Isarog and a season of progress followed. Under Handiong‘s leadership, the people planted rice which they named after him. He built the first boat to ride the waves of Ibalon seas. Because of his good example, inventors came forth from his people. Ginantong made the plow, harrow, and other farming tools. Hablom invented the first loom for weaving abaca clothes. Dinahon, an Aeta, created the stove, cooking pot, earthen jar, and other kitchen utensils. The brilliant Sural thought of the alphabet and started to write on white rock.  Ibalon was rich and gold was abundant and  even slaves were respected under the laws of Handiong.

All is well until the gods intervened. The god of stroms Onos, muscular with with tattoos decorating his face and body, kept close watch over a child named Takay, Takay grew up into a beautiful young maiden. Onos fell in love with the fair Takay. The god of the moon warns the god of the storms that fods can not fall for mortals. Onos came down and confessed his love for the fair Takay, but Takay's heart already belonged another, a young man named Kamaway. Angered by this Onos flew in search of Kanaway. He struck Kanaway with lightning believing by killing him Takay would love him. He shot Kanaway with his lightning but Kanaway only turned to stone, he god angry and attacked mt. Asog with numerous lighting bolts (thus making it sink and turn into now Lake Buhi) The god of storms called fort winds and rain. The had brought  deluge and flood waters. From the heavens the moon gods Bulan and Haliya saw the whole thing, pitied the star-crossed lovers. They descended down to bathe in the waters of lake Buhi. The plans water plants were attending to the remains of Takay, the moon gods Bulan and Haliya transformed Takay into beautiful flowers and gave them to the water plants.

Spurned by the mortal she loves Onos had destroyed Ibalong.
A great beast appeared in the land of Ibalong. Half human half monster, it was Rabot
His voice loud and booming. He is strong and fierce and could make men turn to stone.
The hero Bantong (who was Handiog's friend) set out to kill this new treat to the lands of Ibalong. He took with him a thousand men. The monster was strong. So Bantog had to use his head, he observed the monster, and found out that it liked to sleep. So he waited for his chance, when the monster slept he stabbed it. With a single stab, Bantong killed the beast and  brought peace back to the land of Ibalong''