SPIRITS OF THE B'LAAN TRIBE

The Benevolent Spirits

MELE or MELU
The Creator and ancestor of men.  The highest in the order of spirit-beings.  He lived in the Sky World and did not meddle in the worldly affairs of men.  He is the most powerful of all spirit-beings and his assistance was sought in times of calamities and at very special occasions by mortals.  They prayed and gave offerings to him.

DIWATA  (Duwata, Dwata, Duata, Adwata)
According to Bilaan myths, Mele with Diwata and with Fiuweigh and Saweigh, were the first beings in the beginning of the world.  They made the world and men by joint efforts.
There were also two different other stories told by famous anthropologies, Cole and Genotiva.  According to Cole, Diwata is the wife of Mele and of equal strength with him.  But, according to Genotiva, Diwata is Mele's younger brother and of not equal strength with Mele.

MNGUHUL   
A harmless spirit-being because they made friends with the people. They had the ability to
forewarn people of dangers and to foretell possible luck in hunting, any event or activity that will be undertaken by any member of the community.
 
The Malevolent Spirits
Magical incantations and offerings were employed to ward off their evil powers.

BLUGUL
They are the souls of bad men eaten by a soul-eating-demon who sleeps in the underworld.  He causes earthquakes when he moves in his sleep.

SILING/BLANGA/MAGUT-AYEM
Another class of demons, old and most feared because they feed on human flesh.

LOOS KLAGAN
A mischievous spirit that caused a lot of embarassment to his victims especially among      women.  He also caused harm to people who angered him.

MALULUGUD
Spirit that scares and frightens people by transforming into frightful-looking animals.
MALALAGUY, a Bilaan who was a vagabond and a good-for-nothing individual was likened to this spirit.

BUSUA
This is a class of malicious spirits.  They fedd on the souls of people and caused sickness to those whose souls they wanted to eat.
 
Source: The Soul Book. Francisco R. Demetrio, Gilda Cordero-Fernando and Fernando N. Zilacita.

Courtesy: Kulay's Philippine Mythology and Folklore: B'laan [ link ]