Religious

 

Before Spaniards came, the early Filipinos have their own different beliefs. Their beliefs and chosen gods are based in different things they see in their environment that might affect their way of life. As an example, the nature serves as one of their gods. According to Morga, “Others worshipped the sun and the moon, indulging in feasting and orgies during their conjunction.” In addition, “There were those who worshipped a certain bird with yellow color which lives in the mountains, called Batala, and they also worshipped and revered the crocodiles when they saw them, kneeling down with their arms crossed, in view of the harm often done to them by these animals, on the belief that by doing this, the monsters would be appeased and leave the people alone.” These statements show that people in the early times do not have a one, real God that everyone will worship.

 

In terms of their practices of worship, they don’t have churches or places where they will praise their gods. It is clear that: “There were no temples or houses of common worship of idols anywhere in the islands anywhere in the Islands, and each one performed in his own house…” as mentioned by Morga in his Sucesos. Also, early Filipinos don’t believe in punishment by a powerful God because of wrong actions and behavior. Nevertheless, Morga also stated in his writing: “During all this time that the natives had lived as gentiles or non-Christians, they did not learn practicing the depraved and sinful offense against nature or sodomy.” Early Filipinos have their shamans and herbalists that create different spells and witchcraft that can serve as protection or cure to illness. This is how the religion was practiced by the early Filipinos. They have their own beliefs and culture that made them unique before the Spanish Era.