Me as a Writer - Interview Questions I answered for Manananggals in the City

 

What is a Manananggal?

 My upcoming book with Pinoy Indie Collab stars a Manananggal named Beldine Rosario. I have twisted the Manananggal myth to suit my story but I have taken some things from the source materials.

The Manananggal is a legendary monster with deep roots in Filipino culture, with a long and varied history that has been influenced by many different traditions. The Filipino root of "Manananggal" is "tanggal," which means "to remove" or "to separate." The creature's ability to dissociate its upper and bottom halves inspired its moniker, which describes its nocturnal, villainous antics.

Indigenous beliefs and animism were common in the Philippines before colonization, and this is where the Manananggal had their start. Many different kinds of supernatural entities, some good and others bad, were represented in these early beliefs. These indigenous traditions mixed with Catholicism after the establishment of Spanish colonial control in the 16th century. Like many other animals in Filipino legend, the Manananggal evolved and gained a darker reputation throughout time. The Manananggal has a reputation for being linked with witches, shapeshifters, and practitioners of black magic.

Traditional depictions of the Manananggal have her disguised as a beautiful woman by day and a hideous, winged monster by night. Its alleged diet includes the hearts of unborn children and the blood of living humans. It does this by separating its top body, which grows wings and flies to its prey, from its bottom body, which remains on the ground.

I wasn't going in that direction. In my world, Beldine and her tribe are a race of creatures who are all-women. Male offspring come out as humans. The women live in the jungles of Asia, primarily in the Philippines. They were discriminated against because of the Spanish Era, calling them demons and mosntaers. When the age of medicine came, humans found out that their organs were promising. They were exactly like humans except more resilient to disease and overuse. This led to them being a highly sought commodity and thus the tribe hid themselves further. When they were decimated, Beldine, a survivor, chose to live among humans, hiding in plain sight. 

Read about the complication that came to her life: Moonlight Eclipse

Sources for the manananggal can be seen here:

https://thoughtcatalog.com/january-nelson/2018/08/the-manananggal/

https://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Manananggal

https://phspirits.com/manananggal/

Manananggals in the City Book List

 The Mythical Manananggal

The manananggal is a mythological creature deeply embedded in Philippine culture and mythology, distinguished by its ability to split its upper body from its bottom half, allowing flight under the cover of night. Many people are terrified of these animals because they feast on the blood of unsuspecting victims.

A Literary Collab

"Manananggal in the City" brings together the skills of nine talented Filipino Indie Authors, each of them offers their own interpretation on this captivating fable. These authors deftly integrate mythology into the busy metropolitan environment, presenting a scenario in which the supernatural coexists with everyday life.

Upcoming Titles in the Collaboration

 

1.   1. The Tie That Binds by Mayumi Cruz

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Horror

FB: MayumiCruzAuthorPage

IG: @mcruz501

www.mayumi-cruz.com

 

2.    Moonlight Eclipse by Maita Rue

Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Urban Fantasy

FB: @authormaitarue

IG: Babymoonmaita

TikTok & YouTube: @maitarue

www.MaitaRue.com

 Amazon.com/author/maitarue

3.    3. My Girlfriend Is a Manananggal by Keira Viresse

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Urban Fantasy

FB page: @KeiraViresse

IG: @keira_viresse

Linktree: linktr.ee/keira_viresse

 

4.    4. One by One by Yeyet Soriano

Genre: Crime Fiction

FB: @Yeyetsorianowrites

IG: @Yeyetsoriano

Youtube: @yeyetsoriano6242

www.yeyetsoriano.com

 

5.    5. Naima's War by Jean Karl Gaverza

Genre: Fantasy

FB&IG: @Phspirits

https://phspirits.com/

 

6.    6. My Manananggal Dream by Paola Aliedo

Genre: Urban Fantasy

FB: @paolaaliedo

 

7.    7. The Groovy Manananggal by Fred Figueroa

Genre: Fantasy

FB: @fred.figueroa2

 

8.    8. Maya, At Your Service by Marigold Andres Uy

Genre: Action, Fantasy

FB &IG: @goldenartsbymarigold

 

9.    9. Expansion by Mia Daquial

Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy

FB: @MiaDaquial

Philippine buyers can buy these books by contacting the authors on their social media account.

Ebooks and paperbacks are also available on Amazon and other digital stores on each author’s account.