Philippine fairy-bluebird

The Philippine fairy-bluebird (Irena cyanogastra) is a species of bird in the family Irenidae. It is endemic to the Philippines being found in the islands of Luzon, Mindanao, Samar and Bohol.

Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest. They are seen in mixed flocks along with Philippine bulbuls, Blue-headed fantails and other forest birds. It is threatened by habitat loss and hunting for both food and pet trade.

Mythology


This species is considered as sacred to the Tagalog people as it is perceived as the tigmamanukan omen. It is believed to be a messenger of Bathala, the supreme creator god of precolonial, indigenous Tagalog religion.

In old Tagalog mythology in southern Luzon, the Philippine fairy-bluebirds were known as the tigmamanukan omen birds. According to legend, Bathala ordered a tigmamanukan bird to crack in open a bamboo stalk from which came Malakas and Maganda, the first humans.

In another legend, Bathala also sends the tigmamanukan bird (sometimes in the forms of a snake or lizard) to aid humans if they need to proceed or stop a journey. If a traveler sees a tigmamanukan omen passing from right to left, it is “labay” or divine approval to proceed with the journey. If the tigmamanukan omen passes from left to right, the traveller should not proceed, or else he or she will never return. All tigmamanukan omen birds are said to live on the mythical Mount Batala sacred to the god.