This work has not been peer reviewed by the University of the Philippines Rainbow Research Hub or its project members. The views expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Hub or its project members.
2026 Philippine Queer Studies Conference
POSTER PRESENTATION
Reclaiming the narratives: Reconstructing the existence of LGBTQIA+ in the philippine pre-colonial society through ancient shaman during the age of contact and Spanish colonization (10th to 19th century)
Raymond S. Presado
In the Philippine precolonial societies, the shamans or priestesses were widely recognized as Catalonan in the Tagalog region and Babaylan in Visayas. These spiritual leaders not only guided their communities in rituals and offerings but also wielded political influence as advisers to the Datu. They played significant roles in the early revolts against Spanish colonization. This research essay contributes to the historical reconstruction of the diverse roles of women and non-conforming genders, as embodied by priestesses or shamans in pre-colonial societies. Particularly, the study aims (1) to describe the role of the women and queer shamans community in Pre-colonial Philippine Society; (2) to identify the challenges they encountered with the rise of monotheistic religions, such as Islam and Catholicism, alongside the imposition of colonial structure and, (3) to compare the roles of women and queer identities in pre-colonial society to contemporary Philippine society. To pursue these objectives, the study employs Queer Theory to deconstruct the heteronormative binaries perpetuated in the Philippine history, as well as Postcolonial Feminism to examine the “double oppression” of the early shamans during the Spanish colonizations. In addition, this paper utilizes thematic analysis as the framework for analyzing emerging themes and patterns from various sources, including local and foreign literature, documentaries, and historical texts. The findings highlighted the reconstructing roles, influence, and the shared struggle of women and queer people during colonization. The roles and influence of shamans in the spiritual realms and political arena of their communities present the mutual and symbiotic power dynamics of the shaman and datu. Then, the shared struggle of women and queer people was the double oppression of their indigenous and gender identities by demonization and persecution during the colonial period.