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A funeral procession in the Philippines, 2009. During the Pre-Hispanic period the early Filipinos believed in a concept of life after death. [1] This belief, which stemmed from indigenous ancestral veneration and was strengthened by strong family and community relations within tribes, prompted the Filipinos to create burial customs to honor the dead through prayers and rituals.
Indigenous traditions still exist today in other regions of the Philippines. [5] Parts of Filipino wedding ceremonies have become faith-centered and God-centered, which also highlights the concept that the union of two individuals is a "life long commitment" of loving and caring.
Pag-anito (also mag-anito or anitohan) refers to a séance, often accompanied by other rituals or celebrations, in which a shaman (Visayan: babaylan, Tagalog: katalonan) acts as a medium to communicate directly with the spirits. When a nature spirit or deity is specifically involved, the ritual is called pagdiwata (also magdiwata or diwatahan).
These ceremonies and rituals takes place on all levels, ranging from rituals perform within the family, to those led by the community's leader on behalf of the people. Such celebrations call for special structures to be built, such as ceremonial platforms and rafts. Rituals offering include rice, chicken and betel nut. [1]
During certain ceremonies, anito are venerated through temporary altars near sacred places. These were called latangan or lantayan in Visayan and dambana or lambana in Tagalog. [ note 2 ] These bamboo or rattan altars are identical in basic construction throughout most of the Philippines.
Some of the rituals attempt to define the future, appease spirits, ask for good harvests, invoke protection, heal the sick, asking for good luck, guidance and counsel. Almost every facet of Filipino life is linked to a ritual practice and is an indication of the value and pervasiveness of rituals in folk culture.
There are different kinds of rituals of Cañao. Such rituals are: for illness, good harvest and for progress. It is a festival, a liturgy and offering where animals are offered in thanksgiving. In marriages, healing, birth, burial and voyage, a prayer is offered. [7] Dancing during the ritual is also a practice. [8]
The Philippines's archaeological finds include many ancient gold artifacts. [24] [25] Most of them have been dated to belong to the 9th century. The artifacts reflect the iconography of the Vajrayana Buddhism and its influences on the Philippines's early states. [26] Some of the iconography and artifacts are exampled