Filipino Fairy Tales, Mythology and Folklore

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 pass...

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...

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.

CW: emotional abuse, domestic violence

I read aloud my short story, Imaginary Conversations. I wanted to write a dark legend/myth retelling about how when survivors try to leave abusive situations, they’re not understood completely after by the outside world. This story is inspired by the Lady of Shalott by Alfred Tennyson. This is not a Filipino tale--I wrote this one when I was in college, never really shared it, but then I rewrote it during the pandemic.

Imaginary Conversations centres around Blanca, who is struggling to stay home with her abusive father during th...

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...

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...

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 c...

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...

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...

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...

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!