Why Death Myths?

Many Southeast Asian cultures, including the Philippines, have strong beliefs in an afterlife and the presence of spirits. Filipino mythology and death stories help shape national identity by passing down important cultural values like reverence for one's ancestors and reverence for one's elders.

My fellow writers Jean Karl Gaverza and Mary Louise Lu and I conceptualized Lagimat, A Tome of Philippine Death Myths. It has 61 entries divided into seven chapters. There are Psychopomps, The Ones Who Live Beyond, The Balancers, Sowers of Discord, Witches, Creatures and The Places Beyond.

In doing this project, I realized that although each ethnolinguistic group in our archipelago has distinct beliefs, there are similarities. And the way we view death, is different. It is very different from the Catholic and Christian views. Most of our death myths center around a journey. Many of the psychopomps are boat men, places in the afterlife are towns. Our views on death is not grim. What started a horror made me realize that Filipinos (the original pre-hispanic ones) have a more positive view of death. Perhaps there is a lesson or two to be seen here.

And perhaps, there is a part two to be written...

I've used different scripts in the book. they all say the same thing: Lagimat

How come I didn't use more scripts? Simple: These are the only cultures we have touched in these books (those with scripts, at least).

Pre-order Lagimat and other books for MIBF here: https://forms.gle/vmRP9p1AUp6ALore8