Folklore like all oral tradition

 

Myths and Symbols : Philippines (page 82)

by Demetrio, Francisco

NAGA

The naga  or irago are beautiful mermaid-like beings in Philippine mythology and prevalent Bikolano mythology, other names are Irago, (marindaga, marinaga, and maginaga) They are a type of fresh water mermaids, but instead of having regular fish tails, they have eels and/or water snakes for tails and the upper body of a human female having an alluring face, a curvaceous body and long flowing hair. They are sometimes called Duyong by the Tagalogs.

In the epic of Ibalong the hero sealed the Nagas into a cave for helping Oryol.

Vicious to adults but gentle to children they are considered the protectors of springs, wells and rivers. They bring rain, and thus fertility, but are also thought to bring disasters such as floods and drought.

Nagas or Irago are snake-like mermaids that may take a human form. They tend to be very curious. According to traditions nāgas are only malevolent to humans when they have been mistreated. They are susceptible to mankind's disrespectful actions in relation to the environment. They are also associated with waters—rivers, lakes, seas, and wells—and are generally regarded as guardians of treasure.

Ang mga Irago o Naga sa mitolohiyang Bikolano ay mga espiritu, engkanto at sirena ng tubig. Mga magagandang nilalang ng tubig ang  ang pang ibabang bahagi ng katawan ay tila ahas o ahas dagat.

 

Art by Develv 

In other beliefs the most powerful of the Nagas became a goddess named Bakunawa. She is captivated by the beauty of the seven moons and turned herself into a giant dragon-serpent in order to reach them, but the deity Bathala punished her so she remained in her dragon state for all eternity.

Naga and Magindara 

Whats the difference between Naga and Magindara?

The Naga and Magindara are both mythical water beings in Bicol folklore, but they have distinct traits and roles.

The Naga, also called Irago, Marindaga, Marinaga, or Maginaga, are half-human, half-serpent maidens with eel-like or snake-like tails. They dwell in freshwater sources like rivers and wells, acting as guardians of water. While they are gentle with children, they can be fierce toward adults, especially when their domain is disturbed. Nagas can bring rain and fertility but may also cause disasters like floods or droughts if angered. Some legends say the most powerful Naga transformed into Bakunawa, the serpent-dragon who tried to devour the moons.

On the other hand, Magindara are more like mermaids, with colorful fish-like tails instead of snake-like bodies. Unlike Nagas, who do not harm humans, Magindara are believed to be man-eaters. They live in the sea and are known for their beauty but also for their dangerous nature.

The key difference is their appearance and behavior—Naga have serpent-like tails and protect water, while Magindara have fish tails and are feared as predators.

Confusion with the Magindara

Because of they share an almost similar sounding names and because they both are half human and half sea creature there is a strong confusion in distinguishing the Naga from the Magindara. The difference is that the Magindara's tale is like of multicoloured fishes, and the Magindara are believed to eat human flesh. Meanwhile the Naga's tail, they have eels and/or water snakes for tails and the Naga do not eat humans.

The Mermaids of Malinao

Legends of the beautiful but vicious mermaids were prevalent in Bicol one of the stories concerning these mermaids happened allegedly during the Spanish occupation of Bicol In one of its Municipality in Albay. The story tells of Moro(Islamic) raiders who plundered them and took seven women, and how the mermaids sank the boat they were using to save these women.

magindara

Long ago in a province city in Bicol called Anilao live a girl named Maria, she was baptized in the ways of the Colonials from the Wests but she and her family secretly still worshiped and believed in the old ways. One night a terrible storm passed their province. The next day she and her brother went to play by the river, In the river, they saw a beautiful maiden, she looked injured. As the two came near the lovely maiden they were shocked. She had long flowing hair which covered the top part of her body but the lower part of her body was like that of an eel. The children also noticed that she was trapped, her tail caught between driftwood in the river. Scared the two children ran home and told their mother, Pedro the elder of the two children told their mother that they must tell the parish priest about it, Their mother scolded him and said that they would be punished by the priest if ever they told him that. Their mother told them that they must help the maiden, the mother told them that it was a Magindara that might have been washed their during the storm, but only the children can help it because they are known to be vicious towards an adult. The next day Maria and Pedro went back to the river, scared but reminded that their mother told that the creature would never harm children they came close and helped her. The mermaid told the children she was not a Maginadara but rather a Naga. That Magindara are different from her kind but she is of higher status. The two children freed her tail. The beautiful Naga thanked the children and some how magically made it drizzle. The children danced happily under the summer rain. Before the Naga left she told the children that they would repay them for their kindness and if ever they would need help in the seas, all they need to do is either chop a lock of their hair of pluck some strands. The hair will signify they are calling her and she will help. Then she swam away and also the drizzle stopped.

Years have passed and Maria and her brother Pedro had not forgotten the beautiful Naga. One day as Maria was walking by the beach he herd screams suddenly a band of Moro men grabbed her. Things happened so fast and she realized she was being abducted by these strong men. Men who looked thicker in muscle then the men from her community. They were forced in their boats, Maria and the other women started sobbing. Wiping her eyes she looked at the waters and remembered the lovely Naga, she pulled strands of hair from her nape and prayed that the Naga would help her. A thud on the side of the Moro boat. Then another, Maria got a glimpse of colored scales.

magindara

The boat flipped, and she and the Moro men and the abducted women were now the in the waters. Maria saw beautiful women with long flowing hair with lower bodies of multi-colored scaled fishes. They were beautiful but they tore the flesh from the Moro men. She would have drowned in fear but something was pulling her. Like the other women the lower half of her body was like fish but unlike those of the magindara that were colorful and scaled, hers was of gray and silver. It was the lovely Naga she and her brothers helped before. The seven girl, Maria one of them woke up on the shores. The whole Anilao was in joy that the boat of the Moros had sunk and not one of them saw seen, and all the girls that were abducted were safe. It drizzled that day and only Maria knew that it was a sign from the lovely Naga who had rescued them.

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.