Tigmamanukan
Encyclopedia
In Philippine mythology
, the Tigmamanukan was believed by the Tagalog people
to be an omen
bird. Although the behaviors of numerous birds and lizards were said to be omens, particular attention was paid to the tigmamanukan.
(as documented by early explorers in the 17th century) it meant, more generally, any bird, lizard or snake that crossed one's path as an omen. Such encounters were called salubong.
According to San Buenaventura's 1613 Dictionary of the Tagalog Language, one of the few primary written sources for Philippine precolonial culture, the Tagalogs believed that the direction of a tigmamanukan flying across one's path at the beginning a journey indicated whether that journey would be successful or not. If it flew from right to left, the expedition would be a success. This sign was called "labay." (In some Filipino languages, "labay" today still means "proceed".) If the bird flew from left to right, the travelers would surely never return. It was also said that if a hunter caught a tigmamanukan in a trap, they would cut its beak and release it, saying "Kita ay iwawala, kun akoy mey kakawnan, lalabay ka." ("You are free, so when I set forth, sing on the right.")
and family Irenidae). One explorer specifically identified the Asian Fairy Bluebird (Irena puella turcosa) while another specifically identified the Philippine Fairy Bluebird (Irena cyanogastra). In any case, most of the sources which describe the tigmamanukan agree that it is distinguished by a "blue" color.
Philippine mythology
Philippine mythology include a collection of tales and superstitions about magical creatures and entities. Some Filipinos, even though heavily westernized and Christianized, still believe on these tales...
, the Tigmamanukan was believed by the Tagalog people
Tagalog people
The Tagalog people are an ethnic group in the Philippines. The name Tagalog comes from either the native term tagá-ilog, meaning 'people living along the river', or another native term, tagá-alog, meaning 'people living along the ford', a ford being a shallow part of a river or stream where people,...
to be an omen
Omen
An omen is a phenomenon that is believed to foretell the future, often signifying the advent of change...
bird. Although the behaviors of numerous birds and lizards were said to be omens, particular attention was paid to the tigmamanukan.
Origin of the name
The roots of the word tigmamanukan can be traced to the word "manuk" or "manok." Today, this word means "Chicken", but in Pre-colonial PhilippinesHistory of the Philippines (pre-1521)
In Philippine history, the year 1521 marks the arrival of the first colonial power, and the beginning of what is often called the Spanish period. This period is thus described as the pre-colonial era or the pre-Spanish era....
(as documented by early explorers in the 17th century) it meant, more generally, any bird, lizard or snake that crossed one's path as an omen. Such encounters were called salubong.
Superstitions Regarding the Tigmamanukan
The Tigmamanukan as the Creation Bird of Tagalog Mythology
In at least one telling of the Filipino creation myth, it was the Tigmamanukan that was responsible for opening the bamboo that let out the first man and first woman.Possible species
While the name "tigmamanukan" is no longer used today, some early western explorers say that the specific bird referred to by the name is a fairy bluebird (genus IrenaIrena
-Other languages:*Irene in English*Irène in French*Eirini or Irini in Greek-People:*Irena Degutienė, Prime Minister in Lithuania*Irena Fleissnerová , Czech breaststroke swimmer...
and family Irenidae). One explorer specifically identified the Asian Fairy Bluebird (Irena puella turcosa) while another specifically identified the Philippine Fairy Bluebird (Irena cyanogastra). In any case, most of the sources which describe the tigmamanukan agree that it is distinguished by a "blue" color.