ABOUT

      Through generations, diverse myths are continuously passed on verbally. In this way, a nation’s various identities are well-preserved and respectfully accepted. The batch of Arts and Design 2021 of Sta. Elena High School, will hold an exhibit virtually this June 2021 depicting the different forms within the theme of “Philippine Mythology”. The said event is entitled “MitoFilipino” named after combining the words “Mitolohiya” and "Filipino".

      These mythological characters are created by our ancestors to worship, believe, dread, or just learn a moral lesson from their own stories. In a country like this, myths have been a big part in building identities of each Filipinos, guiding them how to live accordingly. The belief of connecting with these creatures in exchange of any offerings lead for the old generation to adapt with the environment and survive.

      Mythologies are referred as narratives of the past that are passed from generation to generation. They are usually sacred which some are even associated with theology and rituals. The goal is not just to tell a story but to teach a lesson and serve as a guide upon experiencing challenges of life. The myths in Philippine history are mostly influenced by different countries such as India, China, Spain, and America resulting to the spread of different traditional beliefs carrying distinctive religions.

      At the very beginning of existence of the Filipinos, it said that the Filipino cultural version of Adam and Eve was Maganda and Malakas, in which these two came from a bamboo tree and opened by a deity named Amihan.

      The Philippine mythologies refer to many gods, like the god of the hunters, labor and good deeds, land, seasons, sun, moon, stars, water, animals. The gods that Filipinos used to worship is Bathala- the supreme god of being, creator of man and earth and addressed sometimes as Bathalang Maykapal. Amanikable, a god, which was originally worshipped as the god of hunters. Idiyanale, the goddess of labor and good deeds. Ikapati, the goddess of cultivated land. Lakapati was a major fertility deity, andoften confused with Ikapati from variant Tagalog pantheons, Lakapati. Mapulon, the god of seasons and husband of Ikapati of whom they had a daughter was also shown.

      But besides the gods and goddesses, myths are also composed of scary creatures usually describe as someone who have both animal and human features. Some of them are: aswang, a woman who seeks vengeance through eating newborn babies after her own child died; tikbalang, a horse headed creature with a human like body featuring long limbs and pointed nails; kapre, a big hairy muscular creature living on a tree accompanied by his cigar to smoke.

      As the myths vary in two different contexts: first, the reason behind creating the gods is to honor the daily prosperity we are gaining, and second, the creepy forms are created to scare children not to stay outside during nighttime since they show up when darkness has arrived.

      Mythology plays a big role in cultural aspects, a way in which cultures attempt to explain the world and answer questions of human concern. For instance, mythology delves into such basic debates as good versus evil or looks into the nature of man. Mythology also illustrates different cultures and their narratives. They show how our ancestors thought and what they believed. They provide literature with concepts and patterns, and they also provide literature with story, character, themes and pictures.

      What lead to the artists in choosing this theme is to remember the Filipino mythology which had a major impact culturally during our ancient times and even until the present.

      The exhibit will be projected through accessing a website designed by the participant artists themselves. Each Philippines mythological forms are equally distributed to the participants in order to accommodate the wide variety of theme. Before letting the audience enter the virtual museum, a virtual opening will be held in our page hosted by some of the artists involved discussing about the background of theme and provide entertainment to gain more engagements. And once the website is now free to access, the audiences are expected to take a tour and appreciate every art piece.