50: O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? | Indarapatra & Sulayman, A Maguindanao Epic How many brothers does it take to kill five monsters & bring an entire civilization out from hiding? In our 50th episode, we cover the epic tale of Indarapatra and Sulayman, two gallant brothers whose heroics helped the people of Maguindanao (the precursor modern-day Mindanao). This set the foundation for a civilization and culture so strong they were able to flourish and put up incredible resistance across centuries of Spanish invasion. This epic story has everything: from self-driving boats, A.I.-powered weap ..read more

49: HE WILL ROCK  YOU | Bernardo Carpio, the Lost Hero of the Tagalogs In this seismic episode, we're cracking open the legend of Bernardo Carpio, the mythical giant (or man-sized hero, depending on who you ask) whose shrugs supposedly cause earthquakes. From his tangled roots in forbidden love to his epic showdowns, Carpio's story is more than just a tale – it's a tectonic narrative of resistance and resilience. But wait, it's not all about muscle, might, and mountain-sized struggles. Dive into the pre-colonial origins and find out how an alligator ties into this earth-shattering saga ..read more

48: CACAO ME MAYBE | Maria Cacao, the Golden Ship-bourne Goddess of Mount Lantoy  In the last of our “Walang Kamatayan” Series, we take a delicious detour into the land of chocolate with Maria Cacao.  Brace yourselves for a mystical ride with Maria Cacao, the goddess with a penchant for golden ships and chocolatey ventures. This episode sails through the legend of Maria Cacao – from her curious Spanish makeover to her eerie, yet glamorous, soul-harvesting escapades. But wait, there’s a dark twist! Dive into tales of ghost ships and post-disaster sightings. Is Maria Cacao just a harb ..read more

47: MARRY MY DEAD BODY | Ghost Marriage Practices Around the World We’ve all heard stories of love living on after death, but is it possible for love to BEGIN after death? In this episode, we veer slightly off the beaten path and explore the little-known practice of Ghost Marriage. Finding its roots in ancient China and India, you would be surprised to learn that the practice still lives on in various forms to this day: in provinces in rural China and India and in Chinese diaspora communities around the world.  How exactly can a marriage take place when both parties are no longer living ..read more

46: UNDER THE SEA | Magwayen, the Hiligaynon Goddess of the Underworld and of the Sea Talk about a career shift!  How does a Goddess who co-created humanity (the first ever collab) end up being a psychopomp and ruler of the underworld?  What in pre-colonial Visayan belief would make you end up in the “good place,” and what do crocodiles have to do with it? In this episode, we learn about Magwayen’s quite unexpected journey, her family, the traditions of the pre-colonial Visayans, dragon battles, and her magical shells.  We also dive into (pun intended) Magwayen’s depictions in m ..read more

KOZY KWENTO EP 2: My Son-in-Law, The Devil | Philippine Folktale Retelling What do you do when the devil himself wants your daughter’s hand for marriage? Enter a protective mother, a vagabond with gambling problems, a princess with the strongest migraine (but without any speaking lines), and hijinks ensue. In this Kozy Kwento episode, we cover the Kapampangan folktal of “The Devil and the Guanchinango” as well as the Tagalog’s “Mabait and the Duwende” documented in Filipino Popular Tales by Dean S. Fansler.  In the full Patreon-exclusive version, you’ll also get to hear the story of th ..read more

44: NOT TODAY, SITAN | Sitan, The Tagalog God of Death in Philippine Folklore At the moment of death, where did the pre-colonial Tagalogs think they would go, who would decide where they would go, what kind of reptilian psychopomp would ferry them there, and who will rule in their village of rest (or grief)?   These and many other questions will be answered in this week’s episode.  This October, we’re covering the different beings and entities representing Death in Philippine mythology, folklore, and urban legends. In this second episode, we’re covering the Sitan, the Tagalog god of ..read more

43: KNOCK KNOCK | ANG KUMAKATOK, The Death Messengers of Philippine Folklore What do you do when there’s a mysterious set of knocks on your door in the middle of the night? Don’t answer it, for it may just be a portent of death.  This October, we’re covering the different beings and entities representing Death in Philippine mythology, folklore, and urban legends. In this first episode, we’re covering the mysterious entity known only as the Kumakatok.  From the war-ravaged streets of Old Manila in the 1940s, mysterious ‘cult-killings’ in the 80’s, and the strange paranormal surveillan ..read more

As we gear up for the spooky season, we're revisiting some of our favorite episodes. Here's one where we learn about the death & burial practices of our pre-colonial ancestors in Visayas and Mindanao, and how your social class could impact your fate after death. Enjoy! --- EPISODE 13: MUMMY MIA: HERE WE GO AGAIN (PART 2) | Death, Burial and the Afterlife in Pre-Colonial Philippines  As we close-out the series on this fascinating topic (for now), we move further south and explore the death & burial practices of our pre-colonial ancestors in Visayas and Mindanao. In this episode ..read more

42: TRUE LIES | The Modern Myth of the Tasaday Tribe What happens when sinister forces try their hand at modern mythmaking?  In this episode, we learn about the Tasaday tribe – the stone-age tribe that was “discovered” in the 70s that put the Philippines on the map as one of the last undiscovered ancient societies.   Learn about what journalists, anthropologists, and gossip mongerers of the day discovered, inferred, and saw with their own eyes to reveal more than what was originally thought.  Were they really the cave men they claimed to be?  Or was something more snea ..read more