Thursday, October 24, 2013

Deities of Philippine Mythology

our-ASEAN.blogspot.com - The Philippine mythology is the god of gods, goddesses and diwatas worshiped by ancient Filipinos before the Christianization of the natives after the Spanish conquest of the Philippines. Although not as widely known as the European and Asian countries, they have the same elements and characteristics when compared to other mythologies.
Philippine mythology include a collection of tales and superstitions about magical creatures and entities. Some Filipinos, even though very Christianized, still believe in the fairy tale. Prevalence confidence Philippine mythological figures strongly in the provinces. 

Because the country has many islands and is inhabited by different ethnic groups, Philippine mythology and superstitions are very diverse. However, there are certain similarities between these groups, such as the belief in Heaven (kaluwalhatian, kalangitan, kamurawayan), Hell (impiyerno, kasamaan), and the human soul (kaluluwa). 

Myths countless circulating throughout the Filipino countryside contain a variety of mythical creatures. Although there is no scientific evidence for any of these creatures, there is also no shortage in the rural part of Philippine society who firmly believe in their existence. This discrepancy is sometimes rationalized by the explanation that only pure and good human being able to see these creatures. 

Ancient Philippine mythology varies among the many indigenous tribes in the Philippines. During the pre-Spanish era, some tribes believed in a single supreme who created the world and everything in it, along with the lesser gods. Others choose to worship many trees as an act of animism. The Philippines currently has three religions, animism in northern Luzon, southern Luzon and the Christian in the Visayas, and Mindanao Muslims. Here are some of the gods and goddesses of ancient Philippine tribes:

Bathala - The Supreme God
Amanikable - The God of the Sea
Idiyanale - The Goddess of Labor and Good Deeds
Mayari - The Goddess of the Moon
Hanan - The Goddess of Morning
Apolaki - The God of Sun and War
Dumangan - The God of Good Harvest
Ikapati - The Goddess of Fertility
Anitun Taboo - The Goddess of Wind and Rain
Anagolay - The Goddess of Lost Things
Mangkukulam - The God of Fire
Mapulon - The God of Seasons
Galang Kaluluwa - The Winged God
Dumakulem - The Guardian of the Mountains
Manggagaway - The Goddess of Sickness
Sitan - The God of the Afterlife
Dian Masalanta - The Goddess of Love
Ulilang Kaluluwa - The Serpent God
Philippine Mythology
Graphics Credit to Psyduck - Mcgee (http://www.deviantart.com/art/Bathala-The-Supreme-God-291519207)

History The Arch of Nanyang Singapore

our-ASEAN.blogspot.com - It is located in the Jurong West area Nantah Arch. There are two Nanyang University (or Nantah) Archs in Singapore, one original and one replica. The original stand current-day Jurong West Street 93, while the replica arch lies in the Yunnan Garden Nanyang Technological University.
In the past, cars, taxis, and buses will pass the original arches of Old Upper Jurong Road to Nanyang University. Arch never shifted, but the surrounding landscape has changed greatly.
Four great character "南洋 大学" (Nanyang University) on curved cursive script originally written by an expert calligrapher Yu Youren (于右任, 1879-1964). 1955 represents the year when the pre-university classes begin for students to prepare for their entry into the new university. A year later in March 1956, the first batch of 584 students admitted to Science, Commerce and Arts faculty.

The Arch of Nanyang
Chinese society misses a center of higher education after World War II. In 1953, a leading businessman and chairman of the Singapore Hokkien Association of Tan Lark Sye 陈 六 使 (1897-1975) proposes to build a university. His proposal was echoed by Lee Kong Chian 李光 前 (1893-1967), king of rubber and one of the richest Chinese in the world during his time.
Hokkien Association donated 523 Arces land in Jurong West, while China of all trades in Singapore and even other parts of Southeast Asia rallied in monetary donations. Ordinary people showed their solidarity in support, with a rickshaw driver in 1770 and nightclub hostesses donate their earnings to the cause. Tan Lark Sye yourself a generous donation of $ 5 million. (He was later buried in Bukit Brown Cemetery after his death). It was a difficult time when the university was first established. British colonial government did not support the idea, and even universities are not allowed to register its name under the category of education. In the end, it must be registered as a Private Limited Nanyang University.
Nantah logo consists of three bands of color and the yellow star. Stars represent the university itself, while the three circles stand for the three major races Singapore: Chinese, Malay and Indian. They also signify the unity of the people, as well as the progress and productivity of a nation. Nanyang University received the first enrollment of students of different races in 1975.
In 1977, former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew proposed restructuring of Nanyang University, citing the need to mainstream English. Entrepreneurs start avoiding educated Chinese graduates who are increasingly worried about trends in society.
Three years later, Nanyang University merged with the University of Singapore to the National University of Singapore (NUS). There is also widespread suspicion that the move had political reasons because the government wants to eradicate the communist ideas were developed in the campus in the last decade.
With the closure of Nanyang University, a technical institute took over the campus in 1981 and was named Nanyang Technological Institute (NTI). No not until ten years later in 1991 before the agency was upgraded to a second British university Singapore, Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
At the end of the nineties, there was a call and appeal to restore the name back to the NTU Nanyang University, including the end of the leading calligrapher and poet Pan Shou, but the move never materialized. Comprises a library and museum, Chinese Heritage Centre at NTU was founded in 1995 to provide the knowledge and study of ethnic Chinese communities around the world. It was previously an administrative building and library for Nantah, and built together with the university in 1955.