Moonlit Memories: Rediscovering Filipino Queer Gods and Ancient LGBTQ+ Heritage

Darlings, while the rest of Manila is busy chasing the latest TikTok trends, your favorite cultural connoisseur has been digging through the mystical archives of our pre-colonial past, and let me tell you, our ancestors were serving gender-fluid realness long before it became fashionable! As we celebrate Pride Month this May 2025, it’s time we reconnect with our gloriously queer mythological roots that Spanish colonization tried (and failed) to erase.

Divine Diversity: The Queer Pantheon

Before Catholicism swept through our 7,000+ islands, the Philippines embraced a spiritual area where gender fluidity wasn’t just accepted, it was divine, darling! Take Lakapati, the Tagalog goddess of fertility and agriculture, who embodied the ultimate gender-bending excellence as an intersex, transgender deity. Considered one of the kindest gods in the pantheon, Lakapati’s intersex nature symbolized balance and harmony, essentially the OG yin-yang icon of pre-colonial Philippines.

Then there’s the deliciously mysterious Amihan, the genderless Tagalog deity of wind, often depicted as a golden bird precisely because of their non-binary fabulousness. Talk about letting your spirit soar free from gender constraints!

Moonlight Romance: Fact vs. Fiction

Now, I know many of you have been sharing those romantic tales about Libulan (the boy moon god) and Sidapa (the god of death) as ancient queer representation. I hate to be the bearer of disappointing news, but recent scholarship has revealed this particular love story is actually a modern creation. *dramatically clutches pearls*

But don’t despair! Libulan (also known as Bulan) remains a fascinating figure in Visayan mythology. Described as the “youngest son of primordial gods” with a “slender, graceful form,” some accounts portray him as hermaphrodite or a crossdresser. In fact, Libulan’s gender-fluid characteristics align perfectly with pre-colonial Filipino acceptance of male babaylans (shamans) who wore female attire as symbols of spiritual authority.

Trans Warriors and Divine Duality

The Suludnon myths tell of powerful female binukots (well-kept maidens) who could transition into male warriors when needed. Nagmalitong Yawa transformed into the male warrior Buyong Sumasakay to rescue her beloved, while Matan-ayon became Buyong Makalimpong during battle sequences. These weren’t just costume changes, they were complete gender transformations embedded in our cultural storytelling!

Even the supreme creator deity in Waray mythology possessed both female and male aspects, Malaon, “the ancient one,” represented justice and equality in her female form, while her male aspect, Makapatag, embodied vengeance and punishment.

Artie’s Picks: Modern Queer Filipino Artists Reclaiming Ancient Power

As we rediscover these divine queer ancestors, a new generation of Filipino LGBTQ+ artists are drawing inspiration from these myths, creating visual feasts that reconnect us to our authentic cultural heritage. Stay tuned for my upcoming gallery feature spotlighting these visionaries who are painting, sculpting, and digitizing our beautifully queer Filipino mythology for the modern age!

Remember, sweethearts, before colonial forces tried to shame us, our ancestors celebrated the divine spectrum of gender and sexuality. Now that’s what I call a heritage worth slaying for!