Mga Dikta sa Kawanangan: A Record of Famous Filipino Beliefs on the Celestials

Early Filipinos governed their lives in unique and interesting ways. They believed in the mystique of the natural things around them. They were enamored with the rocks, the trees, the rivers, the sky, and the stars beyond. Their understanding of what those twinkling speckles at the night sky were limited but they sure were imaginative. Many Filipino folktales and myths showed this reverence as most human affairs were connected with the alignment of the stars and the celestials. 

In this article, we will be discussing some of the most famous Filipino beliefs and practices regarding astronomy and the celestials. 

Balatik 

Our ancestors were fascinated by the stars that they established asterisms and used these as basis for many human activities such as the Balatik. 

The Balatik, also called Tres Marias by the Tagalogs, is composed of the three bright stars on the belt of the constellation Orion. The balatik, meaning a snare, was used to signify the beginning of the kaingin period and the the time for planting.  

Moroporo

This is commonly known in Filipino as Supot ni Hudas as it resembles the pouch of the biblical character. In Western astronomy, moroporo is the star cluster of the constellation Taurus—the Pleiades. Like the balatik, the moroporo also held significance to the practice of the ancient Filipino. Such activity is for sea navigation and planting season. 

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