Lagimat

 

Lagimat: Tome of Philippine Death Myths, delves into the rich tapestry of Philippine mythology. Explore 61 unique spirits, deities, creatures, and sacred places associated with death across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. This dual-language book, presented in both English and Bisaya, offers a comprehensive guide to the ethnolinguistic groups that honor these entities, revealing the diverse beliefs that shape their cultural landscapes.
Featuring the stunning artwork of 19 talented Filipino artists, Lagimat not only serves as an informative resource but also as a visual celebration of the myths that have been passed down through generations. Each entry invites readers to discover the profound connections between life, death, and the spiritual world in the Philippines, making it an essential addition to the library for anyone interested in folklore, mythology, and cultural heritage. Deities, spirits, creatures, and places depicted in this book are based on research and interpreted by the artists’ imaginations.

About the Contents

The Book is divided into several chapters. We have the Psychopomps, The Ones Who Live Beyond, The Balancers, Sowers of Discord, Witches, The Creatures and The Places Beyond our Reach.

Why Dual Language?

We decided to write this book in dual language: English and Bisaya, to make Philippine Mythology more accessible to a wider audience. Maita Rue wrote the English text to connect with a global market, introducing these rich cultural stories to readers around the world. The Bisaya translations, done by Jennifer Banisilla in her first foray into published translation, were chosen over Tagalog because there are statistically more Bisaya speakers in the Philippines. This decision allows us to reach a broader Filipino audience, ensuring that these myths resonate with communities that often see their languages underrepresented in literature.


The 19 Artists

We made a call to artists interested in this project. This is not just a for-hire artist relationship but a collaboration of the mind. Each artist, Maita and our researcher Karl, had to talk to conceptualize each creature or deity.

Maita Rue (18 artworks plus layout), Mary Louise Lu (3), Donnie Ray Obina (5), Seb de Jesus (4), VexingLex (4), Joll Mark Manabat (4), Michael Sean Talavera (4), David Geralao (3), NiƱo Acero (3), Andrea Pua (3), Chris Alejado (3), Jerric Miraflores (2), Franzel Mae Mendoza (2), Chris Micu (2), Raven Venida (2), Marius Dideles (2), OOTF (1), Dot Lazo Tiu (1), Enervaugnn (1).


Rue * Gaverza * Lu

This is the first collaboration between Maita Rue, Jean Karl Gaverza, and Mary Louise Lu. Maita is a multi-genre author who has had several books published since 2017. Jean Karl Gaverza is a researcher and author. He has several books including Philippine Spirits and Mythica Obscura. Both concentrate on Philippine mythology. Mary Louise Lu has published short stories with mythical undertones. Together, they conceptualized Lagimat.


The Scripts Used in the Book



Press Feature

Sun Star Davao

Metro News Central


Buy the Book

Lagimat is Available on Amazon.


For Metro Manila Purchase, Lagimat is available in a store called 1372 Design HUB: Escolta. Kahel Press will also be carrying copies during events.


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