ABSTRACT

The Pre-Spanish Filipinos believed in the existence of one Supreme Being or God. The following authorities which may be consulted for the study of the pre-Spanish religion are: Pigafetta, Primer Viaje alrededor del Mundo; Uncilla de, Urdaneta y la Conquista de Filipinas; Argensola, Conquistas de las Islas Molucas; and Plasencia, Costumbres de los Tagalos. The crocodile was believed to possess certain supernatural power, hence the early Filipinos had a mystic fear of it; and they called it "Nono" meaning "grandfather". The greatest attribute of the Bathala was that He was the "God of Creation". Besides Bathala or Laon our ancestors believed in the presence or existence of the spirits. To win the goodwill of the anitos in general or to realize certain favors asked in particular, the early Filipinos offered sacrifices to them. It was quite probable that the pre—Spanish Filipinos believed also in the existence of minor gods or deities—in other words, in polytheism.