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Dios Buhawi

From Negros, Visayan

Ponciano Elofre was a barangay head in Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental. He became known as Dios Buhawi, "Whirlwind God". He led a religious and political revolt against the Spanish in the late 1800s.

Folklore is retold; versions differ.

Sources: Wikipedia: Dios Buhawi (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikidata (CC0)

The story

Ponciano Elofre is a documented historical figure. He was a barangay head in Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental, in the late 1800s. His followers later called him Dios Buhawi, which means "whirlwind god." The title is a nickname. No detailed record of what powers people claimed for him is known.

The history is this. Elofre failed to collect all his taxes. Soldiers killed his father, Cris Elofre, by beating him, to teach Elofre a lesson. After that, Elofre led a revolt against forced payment. He also asked for religious freedom and brought back old babaylan rites. His followers, called babaylanes, grew to about 2,000. Writers say he wore women's clothes, in line with the old asog spiritual leaders.

Spanish officials grew alarmed. Governor-General Valeriano Weyler sent 500 Guardia Civil troops and a warship. On 22 August 1887, Elofre raided Siaton and died in the fighting. His wife, Flaviana Tubigan, then led the movement for a time, and a man named Ka Martin de la Cruz came after her. One historian thinks part of the group later joined Papa Isio.