Dictionary of Philippine Mythology by Ferdinand Blumentritt

Ferdinand Blumentritt’s Dictionary of Philippine Mythology is a landmark work that paved the way for the scholarly exploration of the mythological traditions of the Philippines.

Originally published as Diccionario Mitológico de Filipinas in 1895, this English-translated edition brings new life to one of the earliest and most comprehensive studies of the deities, spirits, and supernatural beings that inhabit the belief systems of the archipelago’s diverse ethnolinguistic groups.

A close confidant of José Rizal, Blumentritt approached Philippine mythology with the precision and depth of an anthropologist. The entries are carefully annotated, with sources ranging from ancient Spanish chronicles to Jesuit letters, offering differing perspectives on the other faces of Philippine culture that existed before the Spanish colonial grip was established. Blumentritt’s methodical work not only documents the gods and rituals of the indigenous peoples but also compares them with mythologies from Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, making this dictionary a rich, cross-cultural study of animist traditions.

This edition preserves Blumentritt’s original insights, making it accessible to modern readers while enriching the experience with vivid illustrations of select creatures in Philippine mythology. More than a reference book, Dictionary of Philippine Mythology is an exploration of the world of ancient Filipinos, where the gods command the forces of nature, ancestral spirits guide mortals, and ancient rituals hold the power to alter fate.