Visayan-Eskaya deities

 The Eskaya, also known as the Visayan-Eskaya, is a cultural minority residing in Bohol, Philippines, with distinctive cultural practices encompassing literature, language, attire, and religious observances. The Eskaya gained public attention in 1980, sparking intense speculation by local journalists and amateur historians regarding their ethnolinguistic identity. Claims ranged from historical displacement from the Middle East to allegations of being a cult speaking an invented language. Central to Eskaya identity is their unique language and script, attributed to divine inspiration from their ancestor Pinay, who based it on the human body. Suppressed by Spanish colonists, the language resurfaced under Mariano Datahan (ca. 1875–January 17, 1949), a veteran of Bohol's republican army. While Pinay's historical existence is uncertain, recent studies combining linguistic analysis and oral history suggest the Eskaya language likely originated within a generation under a charismatic individual.

Officially recognized as an Indigenous Cultural Community under The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997, the Eskaya have seen fluctuations in linguistic and cultural education since the mid-1980s, with reports of decline alongside documented revitalization efforts.

Geographically, the Eskaya primarily inhabit a mountainous region intersecting Duero, Guindulman, Pilar, and Sierra Bullones municipalities in Bohol's southeast interior. The original settlement in Biabas (Guindulman) was established in 1902, and a second township, Taytay (Duero), was founded in 1951 by Fabian Baja following Datahan's guidance. Substantial Eskaya populations are also found in Canta-ub, Lundag, Tambongan, Cadapdapan, and Fatimah. In 1996, the community received a certificate of Ancestral Domain Claim from President Fidel Ramos. While an official census is lacking, estimates suggest 130 Eskaya families lived in Bohol in 1991.

In Eskaya mythology, notable figures include:

1. Ai Suno: The supreme child deity, also known as Salvador Suno, later conflated with the Child Jesus due to Christian influence.

2. Baroko: A bird aiding in the retrieval of the Lingganay nga Ugis (silver bell), crucial for Ai Suno's return to free his people; if retrieved by someone else, it is believed to bring a great deluge.

1. Pinay: The founder of the Eskaya language and script, sometimes considered a reincarnation of Datahan, a historical figure who founded an Eskaya school.

2. Tumud Babaylan: Custodian of a sacred silver bell stolen by a Spanish priest; retrieved through the aid of the bird Baroko.

3. Humabad: A priest-ruler of Opon, known for treacherously welcoming Magellan and conducting a blood compact.

4. Umanad: The epic hero and ruler of Cortes who resisted Magellan, allied with Lapu-Lapu, and waged war against Humabad, resulting in Humabad's death and Umanad's mortal wound.

5. Daylinda: Wife of Umanad, baptized by Magellan and later cast away by Umanad; committed ritual suicide after her husband's death.

6. Dangko: The ruler of Talibon who resisted Magellan's baptism and subjugation.

7. Iriwan: An aide from Lapu-lapu to Umanad, a friend who assisted in the battle against Humabad and transported Umanad's body to Cortes through the mystical river Abatan-Waji.