Hanan is the goddess of morning, and one of the three daughters of Bathala by a mortal woman. She has two sisters, Mayari and Tala, the goddesses of moon and star, respectively. Hanan is considered as a very important goddess in every new stage or phase in a person’s life. People’s first prayers, harvests and animal sacrifices, more specifically, roosters, are offered to her in events like the birth of a child, womanhood or manhood, death and any new beginnings. These prayers are only conducted at the break of dawn.

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   Hanan’s story starts the moment the mortal woman conceives her. Bathala is thrilled about this, considering this joyous occasion as a start of a new era when gods and mortals come together and unite. While admiring the moon, the mortal feels a pang in her stomach. It is a difficult birth. Mayari came out first, then came Tala. Bathala anticipates three daughters; however, it seems like Hanan wants to make a delayed entrance into the world. The mortal is suffering from pain until dawn and Bathala grows impatient. As the sun starts to peek through the horizon, the mortal feels Hanan inching her way out of the womb. The mortal holds Hanan close. Finally a new morning comes. The mortal smiles as the sun hits her daughter’s face. A faint sound of crowing and clucking can be heard all the way from the village. The mortal, at her last breath says, “My beautiful Hanan, you are the morning star and my heart burns there too.”