Lakanica

Lakanica is a protective spirit in Philippine folklore that watches over rice fields, ensuring the harvest's safety and punishing thieves or those who damage crops with illness or misfortune. Farmers offer rice, flowers, or prayers to appease Lakanica, gaining blessings for bountiful yields. This spirit embodies respect for agriculture and the land, reflecting indigenous beliefs in animism and the sacredness of rice as a life source. Lakanica serves as a guardian of sustenance, symbolizing the balance between human labor and nature's favor in Philippine rural tradition.