Mangetchay/Mangatia
The supreme deity and netweaver | Group: Kapampangan
Mangetchay/Mangatia is the netweaver, the Great Elder who created the sky as a great net with the stars as the holes or eyes of the net. Mangetchay’s female form is known as Mangatia. The Kapampangan supreme deity, Mangatia is known as a gifted weaver, who wove the heavens as the creator deity.
After finishing their cosmic net, Mangatia dropped their sewing needle to the Earth and the former became either Mt. Arayat, or Batung Maputi. The latter is a massive white rock formation near the peak of Arayat, where many legends say the magical entrance to Apúng Sinukuan's subterranean palace is located.[2]
[2] Parker, Luther . “Daughters of Sinukuan,” Philippine Magazine 1929, Vol. 26, no. 1, 535, 694, 750.
Artist Statement from Kathryn Wadel:
“So far, as I learn more about these different myths, deities and creatures, I find they beautifully reflect the traditions and knowledge passed along through art and art making practices. Weaving textiles, nets, decor, and furniture are practices that date back alongside this creation myth that unites the sky and the earth. In this myth I see creation from the perspective of the Great Elder as a provider. It highlights weaving as a practice that is shared to provide for and strengthen the community. Weaving holds this tight with every twist and braided strand symbolizing a shared and unified strength. I find creation stories often offer tales of shared knowledge as a cornerstone of humanity. Observed from a mountain summit, the vast knowledge of the stars are gifts: ancient celestial bodies, stories, offering guidance and the best view of the universe. I imagine the woven net of stars cast upon the sky, like a web of knowledge, can be seen from the top of Mt. Arayat, where Mangatia dropped their sewing needle.
In this illustration I depicted Mangetchay / Mangatia, the Great Elder and Netweaver casting their intricately woven net over their head, creating the sky with stars forming from the mesh. Reading about Mangatia, I imagined them in different forms. Including a version where the Great Elder is weaving from an aerial view looking down upon the earth, blanketing it with a woven sky. In this iteration, I chose to pay homage to the rich fishing traditions of the Philippines archipelago. I drew a strong elder standing in a small fishing boat, casting their net up to create the sky. The stars and their constellations are significant motifs in Filipino myths and folklore that continue to guide fishers and farmers through hunting and harvesting seasons. In this piece I created a vibrant world of gradient colours, where Lapis blue and turquoise hues of the Philippines Sea harmonize with radiant Golden yellow and orange hues of the Sun at dawn, rising above the first horizon.”
