Souls in Filipino cultures (kaluluwa)

Many peoples of the Philippines hold that a person has more than one soul. The Tagalog word kaluluwa names the soul of the dead. Counts of souls differ by group. The Ifugao speak of two, one in the eyes and one in the breath. The Hanunoo Mangyan say two to five. The Bukidnon say seven. The Ilocano describe four soul systems. Many tales say sickness can come from the loss of a soul, and dreams can come when a soul wanders in sleep.

Ideas about the afterlife also differ. Old Tagalog accounts speak of Maca for good souls and Kasanaan for sinful ones. Visayans speak of Kasakitan. The Ibaloi place the dead at the summit of Mount Pulag. The Bukidnon say the seven souls join and go to Mount Balatucan for judgment. Among the Bagobo, one soul becomes a busaw after death.

Many groups honor ancestor spirits, who can guide and protect their families. They may also cause harm if people disrespect them. The words multo (ghost) and espiritu come from Spanish.