Sirena, whose song draws fishermen overboard
By Ralf Ittermann · last reviewed on
Sirena is a spirit of Philippine tradition.
Her song lures fishermen and swimmers into the water. In legend, Sirena’s song draws fishermen overboard, a motif the following overview places among the sea beings of the region.
The Sirena is the Philippine mermaid who lures fishermen and swimmers into the water with her song. Unlike European mermaids, she also lives in lakes and rivers. She combines Spanish-colonial ideas with the figure of Magindara.
Type: Mermaid, water spirit with song motif
Origin: Spanish-colonial, indigenous
Texts: Ramos
Period: colonial to present
Appearance: female upper body, fish tail
Historical Background
Period of the Texts
Spanish-colonial in shape from the 16th century onward, on an indigenous foundation, still alive today.
Area of Diffusion
Throughout the Philippines, especially the Ilokano regions, the Visayas and Bicol; also away from the coast, in lakes and rivers.
Sources
Means: Ramos’s standard work treats the sea beings within the framework of Philippine mythology.
Name and variants
Spanish/Philippine: Sirena, a Spanish loanword for mermaid from the colonial period; regionally Magindara in Bicol/Visayas, Kataw in the Visayas, and male Sireno or, more commonly, Siyokoy.
Appearance and Behaviour
Appearance
A beautiful woman down to the hips, below which is a scaled fish body.
Effect
A hypnotic voice draws fishermen in, ranging from distraction to shipwreck; the Magindara is man-eating, others merely seductive.
Profile: Sirena
The key aspects at a glance.
A Spanish-colonial term, merged with Magindara and Kataw.
Fishermen and swimmers near her song; even boats can be endangered.
Female upper body, scaled fish tail, hair adorned with pearls.
Seduction by song leading to being pulled down into the water; the Magindara is considered man-eating.
The anting-anting amulet is the best documented, alongside the sign of the cross, prayer and salt.
The Siyokoy is her male counterpart; what sets her apart from the Naga (Bicol) is her pure mermaid type.
From Spanish loanword to Magindara
Sirena is a Spanish loanword that merged with the pre-colonial, flesh-eating Magindara. Unlike European mermaids, she also lives in lakes and rivers; her male counterpart is the Sireno, or more commonly the scaled, gilled Siyokoy.
From Dyesebel to children's folklore
The Sirena is a well-known figure in Philippine popular culture, present in films, the Dyesebel series and children’s folklore. From a religious-studies perspective, an example of colonial syncretism: Catholic iconography overlaid on indigenous water spirits.
The anting-anting against the water
Best documented is the anting-anting, a Philippine amulet bearing Christian iconography. Widespread but more general are the sign of the cross, prayer, salt and holy water.
Mermaids compared
The Sirena belongs to the Philippine Aswang pantheon, with the Siyokoy as her counterpart, distinguished from the Naga (Bicol); she descends from the European sirens, and is related to Mami Wata.
Frequently asked questions about Sirena
Is the Sirena purely Spanish?
No, only the name and parts of the iconography; underlying it are older beings such as Magindara and Kataw.
What distinguishes her from the Siyokoy?
Sirena is female, the Siyokoy male and scaled.
Further links
Further reading:
Literature (selection)
More in the bibliography.
Known as the Sirena of the Philippines, she remains the Philippine mermaid whose song is feared, with the Magindara as her most dangerous form.
