History
According to ancient myths, the Earth Mother Gaea gave birth to the three primary Diwatas: Bathala (Bathalang Maykapal), the supreme Sky Father and Diwatas' king; Aman Sinaya, goddess of the sea; and Amihan, god of the wind. Together, these three gods fashioned the first mortals from a bamboo shoot and instilled them with a soul ("kaluluwa"). Later, Bathala fell in love with a mortal woman while visiting Earth and sired three additional Diwatas: Apo Laki, god of war and the sun; the beautiful Mayari, goddess of the moon; and Tala, goddess of the stars. Subsequent generations of Diwatas soon followed, and they devoted much of their time and energies to serving as guardians of nature.[1]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Immortality: They are true immortals who cease to age upon reaching adulthood, and they cannot die by conventional means. The Diwatas are immune to all terrestrial diseases and are resistant to conventional injury.[2]
- Regenerative Healing Factor: If a Diwata is wounded, his or her godly life force will enable him or her to recover at a superhuman rate. It would take an injury of such magnitude that it incinerates a Diwata or disperses a major portion of his or her bodily moledules to cause him or her to die. Even then, it may be possible for a god of greater or equal power, or several gods acting together, to revive the deceased god before the god's life essence is beyond resurrections.[2]
- Superhumanly Dense Flesh: Diwata flesh and bone are about two-and-a-half times as dense as similar human tissue, contributing to the gods' superhuman strength and weight.[2]
- Superhuman Strength: An average male god can lift about 25 tons; an average goddess can lift about 20 tons.[2]
- Superhuman Stamina: The gods' metabolism gives them superhuman endurance in all physical activities.[2]
- Superhuman Durability: The skin, bone and muscle tissues of the gods are much tougher and more resistant to physical injury than the bodies of humans. The average Manidog god and goddess is capable of withstanding falls from great heights, exposure to temperature extremes, great impacts without sustaining injury.[2]
- Superhuman Reflexes: The Manidog's reflexes are in levels beyond the natural physical limits of the finest human athletes.[2]
- Magical Energy Manipulation: Many Diwatas possess additional superhuman abilities that may be magical in nature.[2]
Average Strength Level
The average Diwata male can lift (press) about 25 tons under optimal conditions; the average Diwata female can lift (press) 20 tons under optimal conditions.[2]
Weaknesses
Diwatas tend to weaken after prolonged stays in the Earth realm, and often bind their life essences to mortal hosts when away from Kaluwalhatian for extended periods.[1]
Habitat
Habitat
Earth-like
Gravity
Normal
Atmosphere
Normal
Miscellaneous
Level of Technology
Magic
Cultural Traits
The Diwatas were worshipped as gods by the people of the Phillippines and the neighboring islands.
Representatives
Trivia
- Diwata (or anito) refers to ancestor spirits, nature spirits, and deities in the indigenous Philippine folk religions from the precolonial age to the present.[3]
See Also
- 1 appearance(s) of Diwatas
- 2 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Diwatas
- 1 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Diwatas
- 1 image(s) of Diwatas
- 8 representative(s) of Diwatas