Philippine Bathala and Anitos - The Supreme Creator and Nature Spirits

BY NICOLE LAU

Philippine mythology centers on Bathala, the supreme creator deity, and the anitos (also called diwata), nature spirits who inhabit trees, rivers, mountains, and all natural features. Before Spanish colonization brought Christianity, the diverse peoples of the Philippine archipelago practiced animistic religions where every aspect of nature was understood as inhabited by spirits requiring respect, offerings, and proper relationship. Bathala represents the distant, transcendent creator, while the anitos are the immediate, accessible spirits who directly influence daily life. This mythology reflects the Filipino understanding of a cosmos filled with spiritual presences, where humans must navigate relationships with both the supreme deity and countless local spirits to ensure prosperity, health, and harmony.

Bathala: The Supreme Creator

Bathala (also called Bathalang Maykapal, "Almighty Creator") is the supreme deity in Tagalog mythology, the creator of the world and all life. Bathala is transcendent, dwelling in the sky realm (Kaluwalhatian), and is too vast and distant to be directly approached by ordinary humans. Unlike the personal, interventionist gods of many traditions, Bathala created the world and established its order but does not actively manage daily affairs, leaving that to the anitos and other lesser deities.

Bathala's name may derive from the Sanskrit "Bhattara" (lord or deity), suggesting pre-colonial trade and cultural exchange with Hindu-Buddhist Southeast Asia. However, Bathala's character is distinctly Filipino, adapted to the animistic worldview of the archipelago.

The Creation Story: Bathala and the Cosmic Egg

In Tagalog creation mythology, in the beginning there was only the sky and the sea. Bathala dwelt in the sky, while a great serpent or bird lived in the sea. They fought for supremacy, and Bathala eventually defeated the serpent. From the serpent's body, Bathala created the earth, the mountains, and all living things. In some versions, the world emerged from a cosmic egg, with Bathala shaping the contents into the ordered cosmos.

This creation establishes Bathala as the source of all existence and the one who brought order from chaos. The use of the defeated serpent's body to create the world reflects the understanding that creation requires transformation and that even destruction serves creative purposes.

The Anitos: Nature Spirits and Ancestral Beings

Anitos (or diwata) are spirits that inhabit natural features and phenomena. Every tree, river, mountain, rock formation, and natural place has its anito. These spirits are not abstract forces but are understood as conscious beings with personalities, preferences, and the power to help or harm humans. Anitos include nature spirits (dwelling in specific locations), ancestral spirits (deceased family members who continue to influence the living), and deified heroes (exceptional individuals who became spirits after death).

Anitos must be honored through offerings, rituals, and proper behavior. Before cutting a tree, fishing in a river, or building on land, permission must be asked from the anito who dwells there. Failure to show respect brings misfortune, illness, or accidents. Success in hunting, fishing, farming, and all endeavors depends on maintaining right relationship with the anitos.

The Babaylan: Shamanic Priestesses

The babaylan (predominantly female shamanic priestesses, though some were male or transgender) served as intermediaries between humans and the spirit world. Babaylan could communicate with anitos, perform healing ceremonies, conduct rituals for planting and harvest, preside over life transitions (birth, coming of age, marriage, death), and divine the future. They were spiritual leaders, healers, and keepers of traditional knowledge.

Babaylan entered trance states to communicate with spirits, often through dance, chanting, and the use of sacred objects. They diagnosed spiritual causes of illness (often attributed to offended anitos) and prescribed rituals to restore balance. The babaylan's authority came from their ability to navigate the spirit world and maintain harmony between humans and anitos.

Major Deities and Spirits

Beyond Bathala and the countless anitos, Philippine mythology includes various major deities: Mayari (goddess of the moon, Bathala's daughter), Tala (goddess of the stars), Hanan (goddess of morning), Apolaki (god of the sun and war), Aman Sinaya (goddess of the sea), Lakapati (goddess of fertility and agriculture), and Mapulon (god of seasons and growth). Each ethnic group had their own pantheon with local variations and additional deities.

The Underworld: Kasanaan

The dead journey to Kasanaan (the underworld), ruled by Sitan (also called Sidapa or other names depending on the ethnic group). Kasanaan is not a place of punishment but is the realm where the dead continue to exist. Proper burial rituals and offerings ensure the deceased reach Kasanaan safely and do not become wandering spirits who trouble the living. Ancestors in Kasanaan can be contacted by babaylan and continue to influence their descendants.

Sacred Trees and Nature Worship

Certain trees are particularly sacred, believed to house powerful anitos. The balete tree (a type of fig) is especially revered and feared, understood as a dwelling place of spirits. Offerings are left at the base of sacred trees, and cutting them without proper ritual brings severe consequences. This tree veneration reflects the Filipino understanding that nature is not merely environment but is populated by conscious spiritual beings.

Spanish Colonization and Syncretism

Spanish colonization (1565-1898) brought Christianity and attempted to suppress indigenous beliefs. Bathala was sometimes equated with the Christian God, while anitos were demonized as evil spirits or devils. However, indigenous beliefs persisted, often syncretized with Catholicism. Saints were understood as similar to anitos, Catholic rituals incorporated indigenous practices, and many Filipinos maintained dual religious identities, practicing both Christianity and traditional spirit veneration.

The babaylan tradition was particularly targeted, with female spiritual leaders seen as threats to both colonial and church authority. Many babaylan were killed or forced to convert, and the tradition was nearly destroyed. However, elements survived in folk healing practices and are experiencing revival today.

Contemporary Practice and Revival

While the Philippines is now predominantly Catholic, indigenous beliefs persist in rural areas and are experiencing urban revival. Environmental movements invoke anito beliefs to protect forests and rivers, arguing that nature has spiritual value beyond economic utility. Neo-babaylan movements seek to revive pre-colonial spirituality and reclaim indigenous identity. Offerings are still made at sacred trees and natural sites, and respect for anitos continues in folk practice.

Lessons from Bathala and Anitos

Philippine mythology teaches that the supreme creator is transcendent and distant, while immediate spiritual needs are addressed by accessible local spirits; that every aspect of nature is inhabited by conscious spiritual beings requiring respect; that female spiritual leadership (babaylan) was central to pre-colonial Filipino society; that proper relationship with spirits ensures prosperity while disrespect brings misfortune; that indigenous beliefs can survive colonization through syncretism and underground practice; and that environmental protection has spiritual as well as practical dimensions when nature is understood as inhabited by spirits.

In recognizing Bathala and the anitos, we encounter the Filipino understanding of a cosmos filled with spiritual presences, where the babaylan mediate between worlds, where every tree and river has its guardian spirit, and where the ancient beliefs persist beneath and alongside the colonial religion, waiting to be remembered and revived.