Templong Anituhan

Philippine Indigenous Spiritual Traditions • Binabaylan • Diwata • Anitu • Engkanto • Hilot • Talata • Baybayin

Category: Bathala

  • Farewell to Bathalang Maykapal: Reflections from the Moon Cycle of August 13 to September 10, 2026

    As the New Moon rises over the Philippines on September 10, 2026, we come to the completion of another sacred moon cycle within the traditions of Templong Anituhan. While I am presently in Hawai’i conducting the first day of the Hilot Binabaylan Informed Competency Certification, the cycle of the heavens continues its movement, reminding us…

  • Neighbors, Not Kings: Reclaiming the Sacred Harmony of Precolonial Tagalog Spirituality

    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…

  • Bathala, Cosmic Order, and the Living Wisdom of the Ancient Tagalogs: An Indigenous Framework of Sacred Living

    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…

  • Bathala Before the Book:

    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.…

  • Bathala and the Spirit of the Ancient Tagalogs: Trade, Hospitality, and Creative Adaptation

    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…

  • The Ancient Tagalogs and Their Belief in the Creator Before Bathala: Exploring the Indigenous Religion of the Tagalog People Before the Influences of Srivijaya, Islam, and Christianity

    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…

  • The First Day of Bathala: When Spiritual Cleansing Begins

    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…

  • Bathala and the New Moon Cycle: A Sacred Renewal of Recognition and Devotion

    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…