In Philippine mythology, a diwata (derived from Sanskrit devata देवता;  encantada in Spanish) is a type of deity or spirit. The term literally meant "deity", or the gods and goddesses of the natives of a particular ethnic group. Diwatas were said to reside in large trees, such as acacia and balete and were understood as the guardian spirits of nature: casting blessings or curses upon those who brought benefits or harm to the forests and mountains. Although they were literally everywhere in old beliefs, many are diwatas of communities, nature, the spiritual realms, and the celestial abodes and the underworld. In modern times, the term "diwata" is sometimes loosely used to refer to a generic type of beings, much like "elf" or "fairy", or very specific types due to Spanish colonization.