Scriptures are a collection of stories that explain the origins of the world, natural phenomena, and the actions of Diwata. It serves as a cultural narrative, often tied to the beliefs of a community. Anitism, on the other hand, encompasseses the spiritual practices, rituals, and theology rooted in those beliefs. Scripture is a component of religion, while religion is a broader system that includes worship and rituals. The stories are deeply tied to the Anitism religion, and its Diwata. While scripture focused on narratives about these beings, Anitism involves rituals to honor or appease them.

VISAYAS ★

Makaptan dwells highest in the sky. There is in the sky another Diwata, called Sidapa. This Diwata possesses a very tall tree on Mount Madja-as. There he measures the lives of all the new-born, and places a mark on the tree; when the person’s stature equals this mark, he dies immediately. It is believed that at death all souls go directly to the infernal regions (Magwayen carries them to inferno); but that, by means of the maganitos, which are the sacrifices and offerings made to the Diwata Pandaki in sight of the Mount of Madja-as, they are redeemed from Simuran and Siguinarugan, Diwata of the lower regions. Sumpoy, another Diwata, sallies forth, takes them away, and leads them to Sisiburanen, the Diwata before mentioned, who keeps them all. Good or bad alike, he takes them all on equal terms, when they go to inferno.

Thousands of years ago, when Laon first created the world, the Earth was devoid of human beings and animals, except a single bird, the Manaol. This bird was the only pet of Laon, who told her to take care of her feathers. However, in spite of the feat that she was required to obey him, otherwise some sort of punishment would be inflicted upon her, she was free to wonder anywhere-to scour the wilderness of the Earth, or to dive and stay in the dept of the seas.

Once, it so happened that in the course of the wondering of this Manaol in the forest, she was caught in the horny stems of rattan. She tried to get out by flapping her wings, but her effort was in vain. After a while, many of her feathers, and large and small, were torn from her body and wings. As she could not get away, she called for help. Soon Laon came full of anger. He then released her, but not without punishment. He said, "Because of your misconduct, I will make your life sad. Henceforth, I will create other creatures to molest and frighten you. But of your fallen feathers these creatures will come; and out of your eggs deposited in the hallow of a tree, I will make living, which shall be more powerful than you."

Then she heard what her master spoke, she became frightened. Then, her fright increased when she saw her small feathers transforming themselves into flying birds and insects, and her large plumes, into creeping animals.

While she was a mute with despair and awe, she remembered her eggs in the hallow of a tree. Her mind was very much troubled about what would become of them. One day, expecting to find living beings from them, she visited the place, where they were deposited. As soon as she reached the spot, she beheld two strange forms, a man and a woman. Immediately, the heart of this poor Manaol sunk in an agony of despair and down she fell, never to rise again. These man, woman and all other creatures took her place on Earth, thus becoming the first inhabitants of this great globe.

In very ancient times here lived a man in the island of Negros. He was as tall as a giant and he was famous for his strength. He cultivated the whole plain of Negros planting here and there various crops of his own consumption. Besides his strength he was also endowed with intellect that he knew the language of the animals. Due to his strength he was feared by everybody, and due to his wisdom he was the judge of disputes arising between individuals in the community, be they man or animals. Men and animals went to him for the settlement of their disputes. He was the supreme ruler of the land and he was popularly known among the inhabitants by the name of "Laon" meaning either God or king.

One late afternoon when Laon was making a promenade around his fields meditating at his crops, could were seen gathering in the sky then afterwards the rain began to fall. A deep smile appeared on his face for probably the rain refreshed his crops after a long period of drought and would therefore insure their growth. Laon went home with this smile on his face and with the comforting thought in his mind.

The rain continued to fall heavily and heavily and when Laon visited his field, he found the water reaching his knees.

"This will surely give me a good crop," he said and went home full of contentment.

The rain still continued to fall heavier and heavier and at last when he was going to visit again his fields he was very much suprised to find them and the whole surrounding country covered with water.

"What does this mean?" he asked himself. "Is this a flood?"

Having seen that the flood increased and the water became deeper and deeper, he began to build a very big house of clay, sand and rocks to protect himself from being drowned.

After a few days he went out of his house to view the surrounding country. The rain had already stopped but the surrounding country was still covered with water. The world all about his house was in perfect silence and he could see nothing but water covering the ground. He then went inside his house and with a big shovel in his hand he dug a very big ditch to dain the water.

The big house he build is now the Kanlaon volcano, and the big ditch he dug is now the Bago river.

Long, long ago, when the Island of Negros was yet inhabited by men, there lived in Kanlaon a Diwata named Laon. Mt. Kanlaon was thickly forested by thorny shrubs and trees which grow wild and luxuriant.

Laon was possessed of an adventurous spirit, and the presence of this forest was an obstacle to his whing. To order to follow his fancy, he made up his mind to clear the forest and to create on it. But how could he do this? He was alone. There was no one to help him do the work.

One day he took his magic handkerchief (birang) and waved it in the air and there stood a crowd of men and women. Now Laon had the laborers. But how could they do the work? They had no tools to work with, no food to eat, and nothing of the necessities that we, at present, enjoy. This was another question. For a moment he hassitated - then waved his handkerchief again - and out came all the things they needed.

As the questions were solved, they began the work. With saws and bolos, pikes and iron bars, the men began to cut down the trees and shrubs.

Time went by; and night came, and the weary laborers stopped. They ate and, for a while conversated with each other, until at last they felt very sleepy, and so they slept.

Morning came and the sun was already high up in the sky; but the tired men and women were yet asleep. Laon awakened them. All awake except two. Laon awakened them, but in vain. At last he became impatient and ordered five of the strongest men from the crowd to roll the sleeping heads in their mats and place them on the stone. Quickly it was done, and by the poor souls were on the stone. Laon took a stick and hit and hit the men, until he was exhausted. Then he ordered the mat to be rolled out.

The mat was rolled out; and there stood the two beings, no longer men, but monkeys; they had four feet and no hands, a tails and a low nose etc. With shame they ran to the forest and stayed there all their lives, uncared by man, untill the hair covered their bodies and they were called monkeys.

The men and women continued their work until Laon set them free and allowed to settle in the seacoast, these people became the inhabitants of Negros.

It is a historical fact that the worship of these deities was an important part of the formidable Visayan warrior culture. “When they go to war or on a plundering expedition (mangubas), they offer prayers to Barangaw, who is the rainbow, and to their Diwata, Inaginid and Makanduk. For the redemption of souls detained in the inferno above mentioned, they invoke also their ancestors, and the dead, to see them and receive answers to their questions.”