SIDAPA

Sidapa and Bulan
art by Godrey Escota

Sidapa is the god of death, in old Ibalong he is only worshipped in coastal areas of Bikol and is perceived as a foreign god and is popularly known as the handsome consort of the moon god Bulan. while in the Visayas region, he is worshipped as a very powerful deity of life and death. Described as very tall and muscular with golden horns, some stories say he had ten golden horns, some stories it was a golden crown. Also in some stories when he appears a swarm of black butterflies can be seen (some stories say it's a murder or flock of crows sometimes swarm of bats that appear instead of a swarm of butterflies).

Bulan and the Tawong Lipod ''Slyphs''

Bicolano variant

Bulan and Haliya were celestial deities known for their luminous beauty. the twin lunar gods having long black hair and luminous fair skin that gods and monsters were in awe with their beauty, Haliya convinced by her servants (the wind people) to descend and bathe in the waters of the earth, in turn, convinced her brother to go down as well. They were so beautiful that even vicious beast would be rendered tame in awe of them. Even the god of evil and chaos Asuang was dumbfounded by the celestial deities. It is said that when Bulan bathe in the waters of Bicol be became friends with the evil god Asuang, and that a foreign god (a deity worshipped by Visayans) was also captivated by his androgynous beauty.  A foreign god with golden horns (golden crown) showered the two with endearments and gifts.The foreign god was not just extremely handsome he was also powerful which he proved when he defeated the god of the seas Magindang in the battle for supremacy. it was none other than Sidapa.

Sidapa

Bulan

god of death

Sidapa  was a deity venerated in the Pre-colonial Philippines, mainly in the Visayas area. His worship spread to Bicol and as far as Taal ( The descendants of the Visayans sailed far and settled by Lake Taal spread out in two general directions: one group settling later around Laguna de Bay, and another group pushing southward into the Bicol Peninsula.)
Known as the god of death and patron deity of Madja-as mountain;
Sidapa in Visayan mythology is very one of the more ambiguous deity, some stories tell that he was a lover of the sky god Captan, and depict Sidapa as a woman, some versions describe him as a monstrous black winged being with ten golden horns cloven hooves  but most stories describe him as an extremely handsome man with golden horns while in some golden crown resembling horns.
 He was known to be cruel and unkind because he had not tasted food all under heaven but when he descended a slave gave him food, moved by the goodness of mortal beings he decided to plant a tree where he can measure the lifespan of mortals. He is a protective deity also a kind one for when prayers are offered to him he would extend the life of a dying individual. Sometimes he even sends his loyal vassal Pandaki (deity of second chances) to claim the souls he had already claimed and given to Maguayen (a deity that brings the souls to the netherworld).

Sidapa and Bulan
Visayan variant

Sidapa and Bulan

                    Sidapa was once a sky god, who sometimes took the form of a lovely maiden she was cruel and unkind because she has never tasted the food from the world all under heaven when he descended he was given food by a slave child, then he finally tasted mortal food and a taste of kindness and was moved. He became kind and merciful and showed his true form; tall and muscular with golden horns. He extended the life of all those who prayed to him. Sidapa was also the patron god of Madjaas in Panay, where he owned a very tall tree where he measures the life of mortals and from his domain, he saw the beauty of the seven moons. Like the other creatures, beasts, and immortals, he was captivated by their beauty. He had longed to see them up close, he had learned that the lunar gods would sometimes descend to bathe in the waters, but he also discovered that he had many rivals. He discovered that the god of war was preparing to raid the skies in order to even just one of the moons. Sidapa clashed divine steel with the war god (Malandok) and defeated him. next, he outwitted the goddess of the tides who was singing beautiful melodies to the moons. Sidapa asked the mermaids and birds to sing serenades and praises to the moons, thus defeating the goddess. Next, he contented with a deity of the ocean (Makliumsatubig/Magindang) which he defeated. He then commanded the flowers to bloom and make sweet perfume and nectar that would reach the heavens and entice the celestial gods to descend. All his efforts were not in vain as one of the moons moved by all his actions descended with an entourage of wind sylphs. Sidapa took starlight and gave it to winged insects turning them into fireflies to guide the deity. it was the pubescent male aspect of the moon named Bulan, he was said to be so luminous and fair that the birds for a time forgot to fly and sing upon seeing his face, he was also said to have eyes and long black hair darker than midnight, he was so comely that the vicious  mermaids became tamed and the fishes and the water beasts forgot how to swim for a time being.  Bulan would make his descend to meet with his admirer and partake in sweet nectar. But not too long a great beast from the depts of the sea with a mouth size of a lake soared into the sky to devour the lunar gods, it was the fish-dragon Bakunawa. Sidapa upon realizing what was happening soared to snatch the boy Bulan right before he was about to be eaten by the Bakunawa. because of gratitude and enticed by endearments and sweet nectar the moon became childbride of the god of death. Stories say that they sleep in each other's arms under their tall tree.

Bulan the celestial deity known for his androgynous beauty,having long black hair and luminous fair skin that gods and monsters were in awe with his comeliness. He chose Sidapa to be his divine consort

John Raspado wearing Sidapa inspired costume

 1st Mr. Gay World   of Philippines

REMINDER

The orally transmitted mythology of the Philippines is intended for sharing and understanding, not for appropriation, commercial exploitation, or the promotion of foreigners and foreign products. It is a dynamic narrative tradition that evolves over time, distinct from the standardized mythologies found in Western and European cultures. Unlike these established mythologies, the Philippine government has not mandated standardized versions of stories and legends.

Orally transmitted stories undergo variations and evolve over time, resulting in numerous different versions. There are many different version told by Filipinos,and retold by Filipinos.