The Anggitay: The Filipino Female Centaurs
Art by: Jairus Tabanera
Who and what were the Anggitay?
Derived from pre-colonial Tagalog folklore, specifically from the Batangas area, the fabled anggitay is a mythological creature whose upper body was that of a woman, while her lower half, from the waist down, was that of a mare. The anggitay is basically the Philippine counterpart of the Centaurides (female centaurs) from Greek mythology.
In some folklore, it was said that an anggitay could only be seen during a sunshower when it suddenly rains on a bright sunny day, while others say that they can only be found in the deep, lush jungles. They are also believed to be drawn to gems, jewels, and other precious stones. Other beliefs suggest that they are the female counterparts to another fabled Filipino creature, the Tikbalang.
Where the tikbalang represents chaos, trickery, and illusions, the anggitay serves as their antithesis. They were believed to have a calming effect on those who saw them and have been known to aid lost wanderers find their way home.
But whatever the belief might be, the physical traits of the anggitay are generally the same. Their human top half has long, flowing black hair, glistening brown skin, and is usually attired in clothing similar to the people around her. In some versions of the myth, she bears a singular horn on her forehead, similar to that of a unicorn’s, but in some, the horn is absent.
In the Alamat books...
In the Alamat Book Series, the anggitay is a nilalang-lubong or earthbound creature similar to duwendes, kapres, and tikbalangs. Made by the Poon deities alongside the tikbalang, the anggitay is the female counterpart and mate of the fabled half-man, half-horse creature, pretty much how they were ascribed to in the original folklore.
Being creatures with the gift of free will, much like every other nilalang-lubong, the anggitays had the option to either stay in the immortal realm of Kaluwalhatian, follow the dark designs of the Yawàs, or remain neutral and live out their lives in Kalupaan. So when the war of the three realms began, the anggitays, still loyal to Kaluwalhatian, served as the most feared archers in Kaluwalhatian's grand army. Much like how the tikbalangs served as the heavy cavalry units in the Poons’ armies, the anggitays were the fast and lethal cavalry archers who hunted down all who served Kasanaan.
Though always on the front lines of every battle, the few and strongest of them who survive to the twilight of their years were regarded as heroes. These distinguished anggitays are called the Marilag. They are easily recognizable by their majestic white horn at the center of their forehead.
Some of these heroic anggitays you may have heard about in the first book of the series, the kawan leader Sarangay, who aided Lam-ang in his battle with the deranged tikbalang, Sildado. Though much of her tale remains untold and unfinished, rest assured, Sarangay still has a part to play in this ongoing series.