Filipino Fairy Tales, Mythology and Folklore

Today I'm sharing "You're Already Beautiful"—a folk-fantasy tale I wrote in the middle of an £D relapse, when my body d*$m0rph1@ felt louder than my own heartbeat. Crafting this story was my way of whispering back to that voice: magic doesn't ask for beauty; it asks to be believed. This was inspired by the tale "How the Town of Marikina Got Its Name".

In this story (and in my own journey) I found that every time the wind touched my face, every time I felt a river-stone underfoot, the earth carried medicine. Reconnecting with the land—letting cold water hold me, letting birdsong rewrite the script in my head—showed me that nature mirrors back wholeness long before we can see it in ourselves. The forest doesn't call us flawed; it calls us home. 🌱💛

If you have been at odds with your body, this one is for you. Let the forest remind you: marikit ka na—you are already beautiful, right here, right now.

This poem is based on my experience working in a non-profit, and working under a boss who did not understand how racist she actually truly was. If you've experienced the subtle ways white supremacy crushes your spirit at work, this poem is for you. This first appeared in the ROOTed Rhythms Colours of Culture Exhibition, and you can read it here https://www.rootedrhythms.ca/exhibitions/2025-exhibition/the-white-key

When brilliance meets community pressure, what blossoms—and what withers? This episode retells the Filipino folk-inspired myth of Evangelina, a prodigious artist who withdraws from the glittering buzz of social expectations. Gifted but suffocated by gossip, envy, and "crab mentality," Evangelina seeks solace in solitude, only to transform into the nocturnal bloom known as Dama de Noche.

This retelling of the "The Legend of the Flower Dama Noche" is a cultural commentary and a reflection on how modern creatives navigate praise, pressure, and personal peace. This episode explores how talent, communal politics, and the quest for authentic selfhood intertwine—illuminating why some flowers choose to open only after sunset.

Imee Dalton (she/her) understands what it's like to walk the world as someone disconnected from her roots. She has been dedicated to her own healing and remembrance journey for decades. Known as "the Mayari Moon", Imee is a kali instructor, content creator and one of the hosts of the Babaylan Bruha Book Club Podcast. She lives on the ancestral lands of the mound builders that are the Hopewell and Adena. I interview her today on the podcast!

Seven years ago, she started training in kali, a Filipino martial art (FMA). Since then, it has ignited a passion within her to help others like herself to start to gain the confidence they need to walk the world without fear, remembering their truest selves. Kali is an ancient martial art form from the Philippines, that involves bamboo sticks, swords, knives and empty hand techniques. Kali, arnis, and escrima are different names for the practice of Filipino Martial Arts.

What Imee offers in her kali circles has been given to her by her guides, ancestors and the Tagalog and Kapampangan goddess of the moon, Mayari. Imee uses the energy of kali to heal from colonial trauma. She asks her students to sit with their shadow and confront where colonization still lives within them. Her book club podcast focuses on Filipinx spiritual books which are also inclusive of diverse spiritual practices across cultures, world history and lived experiences.

"I started practicing kali 7 years ago. My partner, who is half Filipino, had been training for a few years already. He kept asking me to join the gym where he was training FMA, saying I'd really like it. At the time, physical hobbies weren't my thing, so I kept declining his invitations," Imee recollects. "Finally, on a whim, I decided to come to the FMA gym. I fell in love immediately. Once I picked up kali sticks, I never put them down."

The first step of decolonization is remembering who you are and to look to the past so you can move into the future. One life lesson I learned in joining Imee's class is not to leave half of yourself at the door. There is a constant you across all energies, from the ages of your life and to the shapes of your body. The exploration of solar and lunar practices in her class set me on this unique path of healing.

"One of my main inspirations is Mayari. Looking back, both the moon and the lunar goddess have always been on the edges of my life calling to me," says Imee. "It wasn't until I started training in kali that I stumbled across Mayari's story. She was a moon goddess who looked like me and had kali sticks like me! The representation healed something in me from childhood. With her being the goddess of the moon and a warrior, it called to a deep place in me that felt disempowered and disconnected."

In a modern tale, the Tagalog worshiped Mayari, who had two sisters, Hanan, the goddess of the morning, and Tala, goddess of the stars. They were daughters of the supreme god, Bathala. Mayari also had a brother named Apo Laki, the god of the sun and war. He is a part of Tagalog, Pangasinan and Kapampangan mythology. In a Kapampangan myth, Mayari fought against her brother for equal rulership over the world. During the battle, Apo Laki strikes Mayari and blinds her in one eye. He immediately regrets his violence upon his sister and the two rule equally together. Mayari rules the night and her brother rules the day.

I am back with a new podcast season! In my first episode of the new season, let's uncover the ancient tale of Infinito Dios, the Infinite God. Bathala is the supreme deity in Tagalog mythology, but he was turned into 'God' when the Spanish came. One story that has endured is the story behind the Bathalismo, the Infinite God, who refused to be baptized.

Please read 'Back from the Crocodile's Belly'. The essay I reference is: "Bathala is Anting-Anting or why Bathala Hides inside the Stone by Nenita Pambid Domingo".

Hello all! This is my last episode of the year. I perform more Mindanao tales, from Mandaya and Subanun. The stories are: The Children of the Limokon, The Sun and the Moon, and The Widow's Son.

I'm back with more fairy tales from Mindanao, from Bilaan. I perform The Story of the Creation and In the Beginning. Y'all, please please look into the history of Mindanao if you can. Their issues are underreported by the news. I chose to tell these tales as a prayer this past month for those affected by the earthquake in Mindanao; and those who have been affected by the ongoing regional issues, including the war in Cotobato City.

Hello! I'm back with fairy tales from Mindanao | Bagobo. The two fairy tales are: Origin and Lumabet.

Hello! I am back with two fairytales: How Children Became Monkeys - Bulanawan and Aguio. These two tales are from Mindanao.

Had this modern interpretation concept of Snow White in my mind since I heard the new plot line for the upcoming Snow White movie. I don't want anymore diversity checklist-esque "empowered" women. I want a broken hero that's escaping a narcissist mother, which was what the fairytale was about in my opinion. One who finds a loving community and it feels too good to be true. One who doesn't wake up to true love's kiss. The love that wakes Snow White is the promise that one can overcome even the darkest of influences with the power of self-love and support from those who truly care.

Hello!!! I'm back with more fairy tales from Mindanao, specifically from Bukidnon! I perform How the Moon and Stars Came to Be - The Flood Story - Magbangal.

I'm back with more Igorot Fairy Tales! The Serpent Eagle - The Tattooed Men - Tilin, the Rice Bird

This week I'm performing Igorot Fairy Tales! The Creation - The Flood Story - Lumawig on Earth - How the First Head Was Taken

I'm back with more Tinguian Fairy Tales! The Turtle and the Lizard - The Man with the Cocoanuts - The Carabao and the Shell - The Alligator's Fruit - Dogedog

Last creative episode for FAHM! I read Chapter 12 of my fantasy novel, Diyosa Mata, which is a Filipino fantasy novel I've been working on!

Today I read chapter 11 from my fantasy novel, Diyosa Mata! Last year, I read Vidal's chapters, which show a young man growing up in the colonized capital of Lirio. This year, I'm happy to share the protagonist Mayari's story with you, as she observes her mother, Datu Marilag, kick the ever loving sh!t out of another Datu.

Hello again! Happy Filipino American History Month. In this episode, I cover Philippine gods and deities. I've written short stories for each one. I feature Tala, Magwayen, Mangatia, Diyan Masalanta and Apung Iru. Shout out to Kapwa Magazine -- I wrote these short stories being inspired by the primer guide I'm working on with them about aswang, deities and gods. This guide is being written by a few authors and will be released in their next issue!

Happy Filipino American History Month! This episode I tell stories I wrote about the different aswang from Filipino folklore.

The Batibat

A young man named Vidal doesn't believe in the supernatural. But when his friend Miguel falls victim to the Batibat in his sleep, Vidal seeks the help of a babaylan to vanquish the Batibat.

Anggitay

A young woman named Mayari encounters the female Tikbalang, the Anggitay in the woods. The two discover the beauty of the world together.

Siyokoy

A young woman named Danica falls in love with a handsome man by the sea. But lurking beneath his handsome face lies a terrible monster.

Tahamaling

A young civil guard captain named Rain goes into the woods, and pays his respect to a forest spirit, who then helps him stop the disturbances in the forest.

Kibaan

A boy named Danilo finds a Kibaan in his garden eating his yams. He strikes a trade deal with the little kibaan.

Today I perform more Tinguian Fairy Tales from Mabel Cook Cole. I tried to write Itneg in place of Tinguian. It appears as Tinguian in Cole's work, but feeling like I should mention the name of the Tribe for those curious about them! The stories read today are The Alan and the Hunters, The Man and the Alan, Sogsogot, The Mistaken Gifts, and The Boy Who Became a Stone.

Today I perform more Tinguian Fairy Tales from Mabel Cook Cole. I tried to write Itneg in place of Tinguian. It appears as Tinguian in Cole's work, but feeling like I should mention the name of the Tribe for those curious about them! The stories read today are How the Tinguian Learned to Plant, Magsawi, The Tree with the Agate Beads, and The Striped Blanket.

I'm back with more Tinguian fairy tales from Mabel Cook Cole. I perform The Story of Tikgi, The Story of Sayen, and The Sun and the Moon.

Back with more Tinguian fairy tales from Mabel Cook Cole. Today I read: The Story of Dumalawi and The Story of Kanag. You can find these stories on Project Gutenberg.

I'm back with Tinguian fairy tales! I've been SO sick the past three weeks, oh my god. Apologies for my tiredness in this episode.

These fairy tales were originally documented and written by Mabel Cook Cole. You can find her book on Project Gutenberg! They are called Gawigawen of Adasen and The Story of Gaygayoma Who Lives up Above.

This week I'm performing Tinguian fairy tales from Mabel Cook Cole. They are the two tales of Aponibolinayen and the Sun, and Aponibolinayen.

Back with some more stories from my home girl Mabel. These are the Moro fairy tales, the Mythology of Mindanao and The Story of Bantugan.

Hi! Back with more Illocano Fairy Tales from Mabel Cook Cole. I perform The Story of a Monkey and The White Squash.

I'm back with Ilocano Fairy Tales from Mabel Cook Cole. I perform The Monkey and the Turtle - The Poor Fisherman and His Wife - The Presidente Who Had Horns.

More Tagalog fairytales! I perform Mabel Cook Cole's The Adventures of Juan and Juan Gathers Guavas. You can read her work, it is in the public domain and on Project Gutenberg.

This time around I'm doing Tagalog fairy tales from Mabel Cook Cole. I perform The Creation Story and The Story of Benito.

Today, I'm reading the Visayan fairy tales, The Spider and the Fly and The Battle of the Crabs.

These are all in the public domain via Mabel Cook Cole's book, Philippine Folk Tales. Unlike the other episodes which I rewrote, these are pretty close to the tellings by Cole because I didn't want to steer too far from their simple tellings. I will clarify which ones I do rewrite, as I'll be performing a handful of these.

You can find all these tales on Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12814/pg12814-images.html#d0e4593

Today I'm reading the Visayan fairy tales, Why Dogs Wag Their Tails and The Hawk and the Hen. Why Dog Wag Their Tails was the very episode I ever did, so I'm throwing it back!!

These are all in the public domain via Mabel Cook Cole's book, Philippine Folk Tales. Unlike the other episodes which I rewrote, these are pretty close to the tellings by Cole because I didn't want to steer too far from their simple tellings. I will clarify which ones I do rewrite, as I'll be performing a handful of these.

You can find all these tales on Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12814/pg12814-images.html#d0e4593

These week I'm reading the Visayan fairy tales, The Virtue of the Cocoanut and Mansumandig.

These are all in the public domain via Mabel Cook Cole's book, Philippine Folk Tales. Unlike the other episodes which I rewrote, these are pretty close to the tellings by Cole because I didn't want to steer too far from their simple tellings. I will clarify which ones I do rewrite, as I'll be performing a handful of these.

You can find all these tales on Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12814/pg12814-images.html#d0e4593

I'm back for Filipino-Canadian Heritage Month with fairy tales! I'm reading Visayan fairy tales, the Sun and the Moon and the First Monkey.

These are all in the public domain via Mabel Cook Cole's book, Philippine Folk Tales. Unlike the other episodes which I rewrote, these are pretty close to the tellings by Cole because I didn't want to steer too far from their simple tellings. I will clarify which ones I do rewrite, as I'll be performing a handful of these.

You can find all these tales on Project Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12814/pg12814-images.html#d0e4593

Once upon a time, there was an old woman named Magda, who lived in a barrio in Bulacan. She was very wealthy. She had no husband or children to pass on her wealth, and her time was coming. A priest brings her a mystical rose to see if God has pardoned her sins.

This is my last episode until Fil-Can Heritage Month in June. I would like to take the time to work on my book, research and learn Cebuano. I started the same time last year, inspired by Philippine Folklore vol. 2, and I'm still calling out to the people who created this book to print and publish it again. Your words and work took me across many worlds filled with gods, goddesses, monsters, human and painted both the infinite and finite that our ancestors were teaching us about. Filipinos have always been doing this work in telling our folktales and mythology, and the creators of this book lived in Vancouver BC, where I was born and raised. I wish I had lived in the time they created this, because I believe now most of them have passed on, which I mourn in my own way. I tear up every time thinking about them. I still cling onto the hope that one of the elders or their descendants are out there and want to preserve history as well, and hopefully they see this.

There once lived a boy named Ernani. He was so small that other boys did not want to play with him. Even his family members did not want to play with Ernani because he was an odd boy. He was quiet and kept to himself. Ernani preferred being alone. He befriends a magical black ant friend.

There were two brothers, Nilo and Liko. They tended a farm, in which they grew many vegetables and beautiful flowers. Many people bought their produce. However, their farm work was hard because they had to get water from a faraway river. They had an old pump on their land, but it no longer worked. One day, Nilo helps an injured dog, who turns their old pump golden.

Dandoy helps a wounded stranger, who gifts him with a beautiful book that changes his life. Unbeknownst to Dandoy, his neighbors covet this book.

The duplo is a debate in verse. Those who planned to do the duplo did a lot of practice in the rice fields or resting under the tree. The participants usually searched for verses from nearby towns, and gave up their fighting roosters or dumalagas in exchange for verses.

The duplo was held during the prayers said for the dead. It was also held during the first anniversary of the death of a person. The widow or survivors of the deceased would usually invite some young ladies and gentlemen from their barrio or neighboring ones to perform the duplo.

The Balagtasan is a modified form of the duplo. It is a poetic joust between two poets. The first balagtasan was held on April 6, 1924, at the Instituto de Mujeres, a school for young women located on the Tayuman Street in Manila. The two poet combatants were Jose Corazon de Jesus and Florentino T. Collantes, two young poets then.

If you like to read more, the source of this was Teodoro E. Gener's lecture, Institute of National Language, Manila, Philippines, March 29, 1944 and his other lecture in June, 1948.

Long ago in the small village of Suyuk, a part of the place that is now the city of Baguio, there lived a tribe of Igorots whose leader was Kunto. They were a peaceful people and they respected one another. They believed in their gods which they called anito and the teachings of Bathala. Every year they celebrated the kanyao in honor of their anitos. One year they get a special gift: a golden tree.

There was a beautiful maiden who lived in San Mateo. Many men came from across the land in hopes to win her hand in marriage. Her response to the many proposals was that she was too young but she would think about it. Eventually, one of her suitors does an ambitious task for her to prove his love.

Happy Halloween! Vidal learns about the church's corruption through the manananggal during San Flores' party. But Vidal must find Danica before the manananggal does! The manananggal is my favourite aswang. I always imagined if I was one, I'd screw it up somehow and be the legs running free at night instead of the powerful lady flying.

Part 3 of my fantasy novel, Diyosa Mata. Vidal learns more about his past, and how the god, Sitan might have had a part in it. Vidal grows closer to Danica, who reveals that she knows more about the Kalayaans and magic, despite it being forbidden in Lirio. Vidal also faces his first aswang, the manananggal!

Today I'm back with Part 2 of Diyosa Mata! Happy FAHM!

Vidal meets his friends Rain and Danica. As he grows closer to them, it becomes harder to hide his magical abilities from them. Vidal tries to be normal, but his magical side begins to reveal things from his past.

Halloween special: I'll be reading parts of Diyosa Mata, the fantasy novel I've been working on. This novel is based on Filipino folklore and mythology and is a reinterpretation of the Spanish colonial era of the Philippines. After years of brutal indoctrination and injustice, the downtrodden people across the archipelago revolt against an imperialistic theocracy called the Derramar. They're inspired by Mayari Bathala—one of the last practitioners of magic known as the Kalayaans. Mayari sparks this rebellion in retaliation when the Derramar invade her island.

Mayari witnesses the strict influence of the Order warp the minds and hearts of her people: the harsh change in their beliefs affecting even the spirits of the islands, twisting them into the very foes the Order preaches against. She discovers a fellow Kalayaan—perhaps the last—named Vidal, and seeks to unite their powers to save their islands. In the capital, Vidal is a soldier of the Order-ordained task force, the Civil Guard. Serving the Derramar, he sees their corruption first-hand, which inspires him to join Mayari's uprising.

From his people, Vidal discovers the meaning of equality and unlearns the colonial socialization instilled in him. Mayari discovers her innate power to shapeshift into the god, Apolaki and fights as a fearless non-binary character. Vidal discovers the power of the spirit of the land within his fingertips. Together, the last of the Kalayaans face down their enemies and the forces that threaten to enslave their people.

The cover art was created by Naomi King! https://instagram.com/naomikingofficial

Evangelina was the clever daughter of a wealthy family in the town of Mabulak in Bulacan. She wanted to escape society and learn the world through her books and art. She wanted to bring people happiness, and her wish created the flower, the Dama de Noche.

Don't mess with the Nuno sa Punso! Learn about the little old dudes in mounds that protect nature from those who wreck the treasures of the forest.

Skilled markswoman, Princess Cloriana gets lost after hunting with her father's troupe, and her ability to survive both enemy and wilderness turns her into a queen. Disguised as a shepherds boy, Prince Igmidio comes to take her back home.

A young girl gazes upon herself in a pool, and in a moment of self-consciousness, get an affirmation that names the town of Marikina.

This is the last chapter of the Hinilawod epic! Humadapnon quests for the hand of Nagmalingtong Yawa. He sails on a sea of blood, a river between two crashing islands, and visits an island of hot-hot-women who capture him. Nagmalitong Yawa rescues Humadapnon from capture, and the two have many more adventures!

While Humadapnon was adventuring in our last story, his brother Dumalapdap set out on his own quest. He set out to the Land of Dawn, where the goddess Lubay-Lubyok Hanginun si Mahuyokhuyokon lives. Her long name is roughly translated as "Graceful movement of the Arrogant Breeze". She is the goddess of the night breeze, who resided in the east.

I re-wrote the story after reading the version in Outline of Philippine Mythology!

The Hinilawod epic continues with the Adventures of Humadapnon. He's questin' for some ladies like his brother. He's seduced by a sorceress named Pinganun, who gets him into witchcraft. But his love conquest leads him to Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan, the goddess of greed. She lives with her riches and her dwuendes, while men across the land come to try for her hand in marriage.

A continuation of Labaw Donggon's tale.

Can we get an anime of the Lord of Darkness, Saragnayan, and his wife, the Deity of Lust and Seduction, Malitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata though? Especially Malitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata, since girl cursed Labaw Donggon in the name of her love, Saragnayan.

ANYWAY. The actual plot is Labaw Donggon's sons come to save him from Saragnayan, and return him home. Labaw Donggon's brothers are angered by Labaw Donggon's defeat and imprisonment by Saragnayan, and decide to punish his kinsmen and followers.

Hinilawod is an epic poem orally transmitted from early inhabitants of a place called Sulod in central Panay, Philippines. The term "Hinilawod" generally translates to "Tales From The Mouth of The Halawod River". The epic must have been commonly known to the Visayans of Panay before the conquest, since its main protagonists, like Labaw Donggon, were noted in the accounts of the Islanders' beliefs and recorded by early Spanish colonizers.

Hinilawod recounts the story of the exploits of three Suludnon demigod brothers: Labaw Donggon, Humadapnon and Dumalapdap of ancient Panay.

In this episode, we talk about the first part of Labaw Donggon's adventures for ladies.

Hinilawod is an epic poem orally transmitted from early inhabitants of a place called Sulod in central Panay, Philippines. I'm so excited to share this story with you - it is an epic, comparable to the Odyssey or Iliad, with gods, goddesses, monsters and heroes.

The term "Hinilawod" generally translates to "Tales From The Mouth of The Halawod River".

This tale is from the Ilocos Region. This is a story of beautiful bell that was protected by its village from bandits, and the origin of makopa.

This the story of Tita and Nita, and why mangos are either sweet or sour. Tita is a demanding girl, while her sister Nita is diplomatic and kind. This tale is from Pangasinan.

I wrote the story to give the girls a bit more complexity as to why they have such different personalities! When I read that their parents pass away in the story, I dorkily thought of Frozen. Seems impactful to their individual personalities if these two girls lost their parents, and why each one views the world differently.

I'm back! I nerd out about Philippine Folklore vol 2. I'm still looking for the creators, so please help me find them if you know something about them!

I also read the first story "The Legend of the Sampaguita Flower" from the volume, rewritten and performed by yours truly.

The Legend of Mount Kanlaon is a fairy tale that has everything - a dragon, a hero, and animals!

I've been thinking about animism and our connection with the earth and animals. In my telling of this story, I wrote more into the hero Laon abilities to ground himself and tune into nature.

There are actually many tellings of this story. I read this story the first time from Maximo D. Ramos, but if you use good ol' Google, you can find variations of the myth online pretty easily.

Also - sorry all, I was sick this week, so I sounded like a croaky frog -ribbit-

Happy Filipino American History Month! Today I will read the fairy tale, "Why Dogs Wag their Tails". This show is meant for children and families to listen together. I dedicate this entire podcast to my three-year-old nephew, Winston. My family all loves Ton-Ton and my dad wants him to learn about our culture. Rewritten and performed by: Nathalie De Los Santos

This story appears in Mabel Cook Cole's Philippine Folk Tales. Another version exists as "Why Dogs Bare Their Teeth" by Maximo D. Ramos in his book Philippine Myths, Legends, and Folktales.