Fables from the Philippines

by Samuel DenHartog

Step into the magical world of the Philippines, where enchanting spirits, brave heroes, and clever animals come alive. In these tales, you’ll encounter talking jars and the power of betel nuts, alongside legendary beings who communicate with the elements. Through stories of star maidens and sun gods, ancient customs and beliefs are woven together, illuminating the deep connection between the people and the world around them.

The profound wisdom in these stories beautifully illustrates the connection between humans, nature, and the supernatural. One tale speaks of a fisherman who, in his panic, mistakenly believes he's captured a divine figure in his net. Another recounts a clever hero outwitting a monstrous Komow by sheer wit, while a lizard and turtle’s mischievous adventures offer humor. Then there’s the tale of a forest maiden transforming into birds, helping harvest rice. Each tale is steeped in rich local culture, passed down through generations to preserve the values and imaginations of these islands.

With themes of friendship, bravery, and transformation, this collection reflects both the diversity and unity of the Philippines' folklore. Whether told to amuse children or to explain the mysteries of the world, these stories invite you to explore the traditions, myths, and enduring spirit of a people whose legends echo across time.

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2024

About the author

Samuel DenHartog is a versatile and imaginative author whose works span a wide array of genres, including mythology, fables, fairy tales, fantasy, romance, mystery, science fiction, and children's books. His stories captivate readers of all ages, blending wonder with rich, timeless narratives.

What sets Samuel apart is his ability to breathe new life into ancient tales while preserving their core essence. Whether it's mythology, folklore, or fairy tales from various cultures, by carefully balancing tradition with modern touches, he creates stories that resonate with contemporary audiences, making historical and mythical narratives feel fresh, relevant, and engaging.

Off the page, Samuel is a lifelong learner, constantly expanding his creative horizons and engaging with innovative ideas. His journey is a continual pursuit of knowledge and creativity, bridging the worlds of tradition and imagination.

Reviews

[Marc *Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!* · Rating 1 out of 5]

Step 1: Search Project Gutenberg for "Philippino folk tales".
Step 2: Take literally the first two search results.
Step 3: Plug these public domain books into ChatGPT and have it rewrite the stories.
Step 4: Stick the A.I.-generated rehashed stories into book format. The paragraph formatting is wrong for fiction, but who gives a shit, right?
Step 5: Paste an A.I.-generated cover that looks decent at a distance, but up close reveals melting faces, unidentifiable blobby objects, and other horrors.
Step 7: Have A.I. also generate the book blurb. Recycle previous A.I.-generated author bio.
Step 6: Post it on Amazon.
Step 7: Have A.I. also write a blog post announcing the book. Click 'like' on your own blog post, why not, no one else will.
Step 8: Also make an A.I. video with an A.I. voice reading the A.I. book blurb for some reason.
Step 9: Every week put some different A.I.-generated books on free promotion, announce this on Facebook also.
Step 10: Profit (from people who don't recognize the A.I. product for what it is. Suckers, amirite?)
Step 11: Repeat with another "book" three times per week, during which time it is literally impossible to legitimately write this material, let alone even read the material you're copying.

Just so you can see first-hand how ChatGPT or whatever equivalent generative A.I. machine is doing all the work here rewrites extant text without adding anything of value, this is the first paragraph of the first story from the first search result for "Philippino folk tales" on Project Gutenberg:

One day Aponibolinayen and her sister-in-law went out to gather greens. They walked to the woods to the place where the siksiklat grew, for the tender leaves of this vine are very good to eat. Suddenly while searching about in the underbrush, Aponibolinayen cried out with joy, for she had found the vine, and she started to pick the leaves. Pull as hard as she would, however, the leaves did not come loose, and all at once the vine wound itself around her body and began carrying her upward.

And here is the opening to the first story in this A.I. piece of work:

The sunlight was barely filtering through the trees when Aponiboli and her sister-in-law set out to gather greens. The forest seemed calm, the soft rustling of leaves underfoot accompanying their footsteps as they made their way deeper into the woods. There was a spot they often went to, where the siksiklat vine grew, its tender leaves perfect for their meal. Aponiboli, spotting a patch of the vine, knelt down and reached for the leaves. But as she pulled, the vine resisted. Tugging harder, she let out a small cry of frustration, but what happened next left her gasping. The vine twisted around her wrists and arms, not in resistance but as if it had a life of its own.

Her heart raced. The vine coiled tighter, wrapping around her torso, pulling her off her feet. Before she could call out for help, her body was being lifted into the air, higher and higher, with the ground shrinking below her.

[KarensKael · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wouldn't it be great if Samuel DenHartog stopped ripping off the culture and history of various indigenous people from around the world? Haven't the Filipono/Tagalog already people suffered enough at the hands of greedy, lazy white people?