Diwata

Diwata is a word for nature spirits, fairies, gods and ancestor spirits in the animist beliefs of the Visayas, Palawan and Mindanao. People often picture a diwata as a guardian of a forest, mountain, lake or field. In some places the word means the same as anito, the older word for spirits of the dead and of nature. A ritual to honor a nature spirit or a god is called a pagdiwata.

Spanish writers who met these beliefs compared the spirits to European elves and fairies. They used words such as duende and encanto. In Muslim communities, similar spirits could be called jinn. Over time the diwata became a figure of stories, and the word is now common in popular culture.

Modern uses are easy to see. Two Philippine microsatellites, Diwata-1 (2016) and Diwata-2 (2018), carry the name. A volcanic range in Davao Region is called Mount Diwata, and films, shows, games and songs use the word. Local diwata stories, such as Maria Makiling, are covered in their own entries.