Author: Apu Adman Aghama
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For centuries, the story of our ancestors’ beliefs has been told through a borrowed lens. When Spanish chroniclers arrived on our shores in the 16th century, they brought with them a worldview built on cosmic warfare—an absolute battle between a distant, heavenly God and a malicious, fallen Devil. Looking at the beautiful, fluid spiritual landscape…
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Introduction: Before There Were Sacred Books When discussing religion, many people instinctively look for a sacred text. Christians have the Bible. Muslims have the Qur’an. Hindus have the Vedas. Buddhists have the Tripitaka. This often leads some people to ask: “What was the holy book of the ancient Tagalogs?” The answer is both simple and…
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How Faith in the Great Creator Reached the Tagalog People Without a Sacred Scripture When discussing faith in the modern world, many people immediately think of sacred scriptures. Christians have the Bible. Muslims have the Qur’an. Jews have the Torah. Hindus preserve the Vedas and Upanishads. Buddhists have the Tripitaka and other collections of teachings.…
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When discussing the origins of the word Bathala, many people immediately focus on its linguistic roots. Scholars have long noted that the term is associated with Sanskrit influence that reached the Philippines through centuries of interaction with neighboring Asian cultures. Yet the story of Bathala is not merely about language. It is also a story…
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Introduction When discussing the ancient religion of the Tagalog people, the name Bathala is often recognized as the supreme deity of precolonial Tagalog belief. However, a deeper exploration of history raises an intriguing question: What did the ancient Tagalogs call the Supreme Creator before the title Bathala became widespread? Long before the arrival of Hindu-Buddhist…
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Reflections on Leadership, Criticism, Trust, and the Deep Work of Renewal Yesterday marked an important transition in my spiritual journey. After formally bidding farewell to Diwatang Makaako of the Kinaray-a people, I stood before the Kapulungan ng mga Diwata and asked for a new guardian and guide for Templong Anituhan Inc. For the coming lunar…
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August 12, 2026 – Templong Anituhan At the turning of a new lunar cycle, Templong Anituhan marks a significant spiritual transition. After offering gratitude and a formal farewell to Diwatang Makaako, who served as the guiding presence during the previous moon cycle, a new chapter begins. At approximately 6:00 PM, during the observance of the…
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Today is the final day of the Waning Crescent Moon. Tomorrow, we enter the New Moon, and once again we shall stand before the Council of the Diwata to seek a new Guardian and Guide for the coming lunar cycle. As this sacred cycle comes to a close, I find myself reflecting upon the guidance…
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For centuries, the vibrant heartbeat of pre-colonial Philippine spirituality was systematically silenced. Colonial forces demonized our ancestors’ relationships with the Anito (spirits and ancestors) and the Diwata (nature deities), replacing local cosmologies with Western, Abrahamic structures. The rich traditions of the Catalonan and the Babaylan were pushed to the margins of history, leaving a deep…
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Since the New Moon of July 14, 2026, a profound journey of remembrance has unfolded before me. As part of our sacred observance within Templong Anituhan Inc., we stood before the Council of the Diwata and sought guidance regarding the spiritual guardian who would accompany our community for the next cycle of growth. It was…
Templong Anituhan 