The study of Philippine Folklore and Mythology is an arduous task. However, it is something that I have dedicated the last 10 years of my
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Category: Opinion
Opinion pieces and studies about the various cultures and beliefs from the area now known as the Philippines.
ARTICLES ON CULTURE & HISTORY:
PSYWAR in the Philippines | ASWANG of the CIA
Supernatural Philippines: Growing Up in the Shadows
The Aswang Complex in Philippine Folklore
Devils in the Philippines: From Demonization to Abandonment
ENGKANTOS: Mystical Malady Bringers & Folk Healing
The Way of the Juramentado: To Kill and To Die
Philippine Folkloric Creatures amidst a Cultural Identity Crisis
APOLAKI’S LAMENT: Who killed the ancient Filipino gods?
The Beautiful History and Symbolism of Philippine Tattoo Culture
The Soul According to the Ethnolinguistic Groups of the Philippines
The Hidden Myth Behind the Symbolism of the Anting-Anting
CULTURE & TRADITION: Phalluses and Phallic Symbols of the Philippines
PANG-O-TÚB: The Traditional Philippine Tattooing You Haven’t Heard About
PHILIPPINE RELIGION: A Curious Thing Happened on the Way to Christianization
THE BOAT-COFFIN BURIAL COMPLEX IN THE PHILIPPINES
The Mysterious Cebuano Bird in Pigafetta’s Account
ARTICLES EXAMINING MYTHS, LEGENDS & FOLKLORE:
The Pleiades and the Seven Skymaidens in Philippine Folklore
The truth about the ASWANG in Capiz
PRINCESS URDUJA: Finding the legendary 14th-century Philippine heroine
LAPULAPU IN FOLK TRADITION: A Reconnaissance of Collective Memory and Knowledge
Rainbows in Philippine Mythology & Folklore
SHARED MYTHS: The Philippines and Mexico
The Role of Birds and Serpents in Philippine Mythology
Teniente Gimo, Aswang: Crippling Superstition or Brilliant Tactic?
Foolish and Wise: Chronicles of Folkloric Tricksters
Psychopomps (Death Guides) of the Philippines
Top 10 Legendary & Accursed Mythical Items in Philippine Lore
How to Travel the Underworld of Philippine Mythology
How to Travel the Skyworld of Philippine Mythology
The Flood Motif and the Symbolism of Rebirth in Philippine Myths
The Egg Motif in Philippine Creation Myths
The Sky Maiden Motif in Philippine Tales
The Theme of Resurrection in Philippine Epic Tales
Epic Heroes of the Philippines that are ready for a TV Show
Apocalyptic Visions of the End from Philippine Mythology
PHILIPPINE MYTHOLOGY: Similarities and Parallels to World Mythologies
An Analysis of the Multi-Headed Beings of Philippine Myths and Epics
Examining the ‘First Man & Woman From Bamboo’ Philippine Myths
ARTICLES REGARDING TREES, PLANTS, & FARMING
Flora De Filipinas: A Short Overview of Philippine Plant Lore
PHILIPPINES | When Superstition Supports Sustainable Farming
Rooted in Truth: Strange Trees & Beasts from the Philippines
Down the Roots of Mystical and Sacred Trees in Philippine Lore
ARTICLES REGARDING EDUCATION:
Why Isn’t PHILIPPINE MYTHOLOGY Taught in Filipino Grade School?
The Problem and the Importance of “LOWER MYTHOLOGY” in Philippine Folklore
Writing History: The Fiction and Truth of Baybayin
MYTHOLOGY AND PHILIPPINE STUDIES: Why it is Important
The Term “Filipino” by F. Landa Jocano
How Learning Philippine Mythology and Folklore Can Shape Our Future
ARTICLES ON GENDER:
BINUKOT: Women Secluded and Veiled in Philippine History
Were Babaylans “Chopped Up and Fed to the Crocodiles” by the Spanish?
LAKAPATI / Lakan Pati : The Transgender Tagalog Deity
Witches in the Philippines, or Spanish propaganda?
ASOG: Emergence of the Male Babaylan
The Moon God Libulan/ Bulan : Patron deity of homosexuals?
Let’s Discuss Transgender People in the Pre-Colonial Philippines
Uncovering the BULAN & SIDAPA Love Story Deception
BATHALA: Examining the Name & Gender of the Creator Deity
GENERAL RESEARCH & OPINION ARTICLES:
Jordan Clark and The Aswang Project
The Mysterious Mummy of Capiz, Philippines
ASWANG FESTIVAL in Roxas City, Capiz | What Happened?
The Aswang and the Nursing Process
ENGKANTO & ANITOS: Could Science Be Close To Proving They’re Real?
PHILIPPINES: More People Practice Indigenous Religions Today, than in 1521. However…
Ancient Cultural Weaponry: Finding the Visayan Bakunawa Kampilan
Superstitions and Beliefs Surrounding ALL SAINTS/ SOULS DAY in the Philippines
QUESTION: Was there a Kingdom of Maharlika, with a pre-colonial one true God?
FOLKLORIC SPIRITS: Is Knowing “Tabi Tabi Po” Enough When Travelling the Philippines?
Etymology of ASWANG: Where did the word come from?
Why Is Salt A Deterrent Against Engkantos and Folkloric Spirits?
Modern Interpretations of the Tungkung Langit and Alunsina Creation Story
The God before God: An Allegorical Reading of the Impinito Dios Myth
6 Guidelines for Becoming a Filipino Shaman
What if, one day, an Anito from the sky world delivered a message claiming that you are one of the chosen to become a part
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PHILIPPINES: More People Practice Indigenous Religions Today, than in 1521. However…
I’ve always wondered approximately how many people lived in the area that became the Philippines when the Spanish arrived. The more people and regions that
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SHARED MYTHS: The Philippines and Mexico
Mexico and the Philippines have ties that date back 400 years. It was said that this started when Spanish Governor General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi
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IKUGAN: Tales of Tailed Men in the Philippines
The fateful meeting of “civilized” and primitive factions in the world during the Age of Discovery forced an escalation of the Western ideals of progression. Among the lands that
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The Way of the Juramentado: To Kill and To Die
Even the gun toting Spaniards feared the berserker swordsmen of the Philippines, the Juramentado. Assassins and Holy Avengers Not to be mistaken with people who have
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Philippine Folkloric Creatures amidst a Cultural Identity Crisis
Since completing The Aswang Phenomenon documentary in 2011 and launching The Aswang Project blog last year, I have been met with overwhelmingly positive feedback. Young
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Aswang Lore: Transferring the Black Chick
“In your research, what did you find out about the supposed black chick that people swallow to become an aswang? Erik Matti used it in
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Ancient Cultural Weaponry: Finding the Visayan Bakunawa Kampilan
Among Filipino swords, the most distinguishing characteristic of the Kampilan is its huge size. At about 36 to 40 inches (90 to 100 cm) long, it is
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Aswang Urban Legends: Maria Labo and Teniente Gimo
It was the early 90’s and it would still be a few more years before social media was introduced. The internet was exclusive to a handful of people but
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