The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 - Volume 40 of 55, 1690-1691: Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 - Volume 40 of 55, 1690-1691: Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
[23] Pastells (ut supra, p. 64, note 1) discusses the meaning of
the word Bathala; he thinks that it is ascertained "by resolving the
word into its primary elements, Bata and Ala = 'Son God, or Son of
God.' This is why the first missionaries did not deprive the natives of
this name when they instructed them about the existence of God and the
mysteries of the Trinity, the incarnation, and redemption, as states an
anonymous but very circumstantial relation written at Manila, on April
20, 1572. This is more evident in the song which the Mandayan baylanas
use in their sacrifices, when they chant the Miminsad, saying: [Here
follow the words of this song, for which consult our Vol. XII, p. 270,
note.] ... The Mandayas believe that Mansilatan is the father of Batla
(man being a prefix which indicates paternity, being, or dominion),
and the Búsao who takes possession of the baylanas when they tremble,
and of the Baganis when they become furious; it is a power which is
derived from Mansilatan.... This interpretation of the word Bathala
is confirmed by that word of the Visayans, Diuata; we always find here
the same idea signified in the words Diwa and uata, differing only in
their transposition.... In closing, we may note that Dewa in Malay,
Déwa in Javanese, Sunda, Makasar, and Day[ak?], Deva in Maguindanao,
and Djebata in Bornean, signify 'the supreme God,' or 'Divinity.'"
[24] The caverns were, in especial, formerly the usual sepulchres of
the Indians. The anthropologists have profited by this circumstance
for their studies, and for furnishing the museums of their respective
nations with skeletons of those natives. (Pastells, ut supra, p. 66,
note 1.)
[25] The Mahometans [Moros] had their mosque, or lañgà." (Pastells, ut
supra, p. 66, note 3.) Legazpi says (Vol. III, p. 60): "The heathens
have no [religious] law at all; they have neither temples nor idols,
nor do they offer any sacrifices."
[26] A reference to the common little house or chirping lizard,
which is often seen and heard on the walls of the houses. See Census
of Philippines, i, p. 74.
Arthur Stanley Riggs says in a note in a forthcoming volume, The
Filipino Drama: "The common or house lizard in the Philippines has a
pretty, chirping note. When one hears a lizard 'sing,' as the Spaniards
call the cry, it means, among the Ilocanos, an important visit of
some kind. If hunting at the time one hears several lizards sing,
he must turn back immediately, as disaster will inevitably follow
further progress. Other curious and interesting superstitions obtain
in like manner in other parts of the islands."
[27] i.e., "over and above the dowry."
[28] i.e., "Property which was given to women over and above the dowry,
and remained at their own disposition."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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