Filipino Fairy Tales, Mythology and Folklore

This new season of Filipino Fairy Tales, Mythology, and Folklore begins with "The Creation of the Earth," a Philippine folktale about the ocean, the sky, a kite bird, bamboo, and the beginning of humanity. In this episode, Nathalie reflects on Philippine sky stories, oral tradition, and the ways our ancestors used myth to understand the natural world. The episode also includes the tale in both Eng...

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...

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-exhibit...

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 rete...

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...

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 Bell...

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, i...

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...

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 fe...

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...

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.