anito

Anito is a term used in the Philippines to refer to ancestral spirits and nature deities within pre-colonial Filipino spirituality. The concept encompasses a range of beings believed to influence daily life, weather, harvests, health, and protection. Anitos could be family ancestors who resided in the spirit realm or guardian spirits associated with places such as rivers, forests, and mountains. The category and name of spirits varied by region, and in some areas the term anito was used specifically for ancestral or household spirits, while diwata referred to higher or more generalized deities.

In many communities, anito were represented by carved figures, statues, or shrines that served as focal points for offerings and prayers. Household altars often held these effigies along with offerings of food, drink, and other gifts. Rituals and communication with the anito were typically conducted by spiritual leaders such as babaylan or catalonan, who acted as healers, diviners, and mediators between the living and the spirit world.

Belief in anito was closely linked to daily life, including farming, illness, luck, and protection. Practices varied regionally, but common elements included seasonal rites, prayers, the offering of sustenance to appease spirits, and acts of reverence to secure favorable outcomes.

Spanish colonization and the spread of Christianity brought significant changes, leading to syncretic practices and the gradual decline of traditional anito worship. Nevertheless, elements of ancestral and nature-spirit veneration persisted in some communities and in the broader cultural imagination. In modern contexts, the term anito often appears in scholarly discussions of pre-colonial religion, heritage preservation, and the revival of indigenous spiritualities.