ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Philippine mythology

Philippine mythology refers to the collection of tales, beliefs and traditions of the people of the Philippines about the world around them. Think of it like a big book filled with stories about magical creatures, gods and goddesses, and other supernatural beings.

Now, let's start with the gods and goddesses. In Philippine mythology, there are a lot of them but some of the most well-known are Bathala, the supreme god of the Tagalog people, and Mayari, the goddess of the moon. The gods and goddesses were believed to have extraordinary powers which they used to influence the world and its inhabitants.

Then, there are the supernatural creatures or entities. You might have heard of the Aswang or the Tikbalang. These are some of the most famous creatures in Philippine mythology. The Aswang is a shape-shifting creature that can transform into a variety of animals and likes to eat unborn fetuses, while the Tikbalang is a horse-like creature that is often blamed for lost travelers.

There are also some objects or places that have magical powers. Some examples of these are the enchanted trees or the Gabaldon Building in Nueva Ecija which is believed to be haunted.

Overall, Philippine mythology is a set of fascinating stories that tell us about the Filipinos' beliefs and imaginations in ancient times. It is an important part of their cultural heritage and traditions that continue to live on through oral storytelling and other forms of art like music and dance.