MAIKLUM SA TUBIG

MAKLIUM SA TUBIG
GOD OF THE SEA

Balud, also known in Hiligaynon mythology
as Maklium sa Tubig from the Hinilawod Comics website
@ hinilawod.posterous.com

Maklium sa Tubig (Being of Water) is the god who rules the Visayan seas in the epic Hinilawod. In the plays however, his name is sometimes BALUD (Tide) and is one of the suitors of the virgin goddess Alunsina. He also has two brothers vying for Alunsina’s hand in marriage, named Maklium sa T'wan and Maklium sa Bagidan. When the goddess Alunsina chose the mortal Datu Paubari as her husband, all the other gods were enraged by her decision and plotted against them.
Maklium sa Tubig was assigned by his brother Maklium sa T'wan to release a violent flood on the couple who lived peacefully on the plains, but their plans were thwarted by the goddess Suklang Malayon, who warned her sister Alunsina of the impending danger, which allowed the couple to escape ahead of time.

ANCESTOR OF THE WATER GODS

Maklium sa Tubig is also said to be the ancestor of the water gods of the Visayan Pantheon, as according to oral tradition of some tribes… he mated with the different aspects of water to beget his divine children which included Paiburong (the god of the middle world, which some also believed came from the elder brother Maklium sa T'wan, Kasaraysarayan sa Silgan, the river god), Luyong Baybay(goddess of the tides who is sometimes believed to be also a descendant of Maklium sa T'wan). He is also said to be the great uncle of Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan(goddess of greed), Lubay Lubyok Mahanginun si Mahuyokhuyokan(goddess of the night breeze), Nagmalitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata(bride of darkness and lust goddess) and also a brother/half brother of Panlinugon, an Underworld ruler and the master of earthquakes. 

 

THE SEA GOD

As a sea god, he is also revered by the Visayan people living on the coasts as the source of aquatic life, giving thanks to him for a bountiful catch and offering prayers and sacrifices for a calm sea and a fantastic bounty. The Panayanons of yore see him as a benevolent god, who has an impulsive temperment and can stir the seas to make unforgiving tides and whirlpools that can do a lot of damage and claim lives of fishermen, thus prompting the people to never forget honoring him in their daily lives.

EVOLUTION OF IMPORTANCE THROUGH SPANISH INFLUENCE
His worship was also replaced by the numerous Catholic saints whom the natives venerated when the Spaniards introduced Catholicism in the archipelago, and Maklium sa Tubig's fame and veneration was almost eradicated, except for a few native people who were unreachable and therefore, avoided the baptism into the Catholic faith... segregated from the modern world and free to worship their own pantheon as they please.