Mga Nilalang na Kagila-gilalas

by Edgar Calabia Samar

Narito ang aklat na nagpapakilala sa mga lamánlupà at halimaw na nakapananakit, ngunit kung minsan ay kaibigan din: mga aswáng na nagdudulot ng takot at kamatayan; mga bayáning may kahanga-hangang lakas, tapang at talino; mga antitong gumagabay at nagbabadya; at mga diwatà at bathalàng namumuno at nangangalaga sa lahat ng nilikha - silang mga nilaláng na nabubuhay sa mayamang salaysay at paniniwala ng iba't ibang pangkat sa ating bansa.

Matakot at mamangha sa mga nilaláng na kagila-gilalas ng ating lahi.

Genres: Nonfiction, Mythology, Folklore, History

147 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Edgar Calabia Samar is a multi-awarded poet and novelist from the Philippines. His first novel, Walong Diwata ng Pagkahulog, received the NCCA Writer’s Prize in 2005, and its English translation as Eight Muses of the Fall was longlisted in the Man Asian Literary Prize in 2009. In 2013, he received two Philippine National Book Awards––one for his second novel, Sa Kasunod ng 909 (Best Novel), and another for his book on the creative process, Halos Isang Buhay: Ang Manananggal sa Pagsusulat ng Nobela (Best Book of Criticism). Si Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tabon, the first book in his YA series Janus Silang, also received the Philippine National Book Award for Best Novel in 2015 and the Philippine National Children’s Book Award for Best 2014-2015 Read in 2016. He has also received prizes for his poetry and fiction from the Palanca and the PBBY-Salanga Writer’s Prize. His other books include Pag-aabang sa Kundiman: Isang Tulambuhay, a poetry collection, and 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang, a children's encyclopedia of Philippine fantastic creatures. In 2010, he was invited as writer-in-residence to the International Writing Program of the University of Iowa.

Reviews

[Jahnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lubos akong natuwa sa librong ito. Tiyak na matindi ang pagkasaliksik at pagbuo sapagkat komprehensibo at nasakop halos ang buong parte ng Pilipinas. Napakaganda rin ng mga guhit ng bawat nilalang.

Nakamamangha ang mayamang imahinasyon na lumikha sa mga nilalang na ito at ang mga kwento na inihabi sa bawat nilalang na naging parte na ng ating kultura at kumunidad. Pagpapahalaga at hindi pasensya ang maibibigay natin para sa mga kathang-isip na ito.

Naalala ko tuloy ang mga gabing nagkakatipon kaming magkakaibigan noong aking kabataan at nagtatakutan sa pamamagitan ng mga kwentong kaugnay ng mga nilalang na ito. Sa pagtitipong iyon napapalawak pang lubos ang imahinasyon at nabubuo rin ang komunidad.

Naalala ko rin si Pedro Penduko. Ang iba sa mga nilalang na ito gaya ng mga nasa Luzon ay nalaman ko lamang nang sila ay nakaharap ni Pedro Penduko. Maibabalik pa kaya ito sa telebisyon?

Sadyang natuwa rin ako na naisali rin ang mga bayani sa mga epiko natin gayundin ang mga diwata, bathala, at anito. Tama nga naman. Sila man ay tunay na kagila-gilalas.

Nagustuhan ko rin na ito ay nakasulat sa wikang Filipino. Mas nagkaroon ng lalim at diin ang mga nilalang at ang kanilang mga kwento. Sana'y marami pa ang makakabasa ng librong ito.

[Neil Franz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kagila-gilalas.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marami akong natutuhan sa librong ito. Mga bagong impormasyong mitolohiya mula sa iba't ibang panig ng Pilipinas. Marami pa sanang ganitong libro ang magawa sa atin 🙏🇵🇭

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a joy to read this book! This is an encyclopedic introduction to Philippine mythology, full of the different gods and monsters identified by our people during the pre-Hispanic times. If we are all well-versed in Greek and Roman mythology, we should also get acquainted with our own.

[selina]

for wip research purposes hehe

[Dessa Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enlightening read. RTC.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

ganda! kagila-gilalas!

[Rome · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book along with the Janus Silang book series.

I originally didn't think I would like this book. I have long forgotten Filipino folk tales and mythology, but I became more curious as I read the Janus Silang book series plus this book has a really nice cover (haha).

This book has quenched my new found thirst to know more about Philippine folk stories and mythology. I easily became intrigued with these creatures and creators alike. There were some that I have known from childhood and there's a whole bunch of characters that got introduced to me only through this book.

I especially liked the graphics and caricatures which allowed me to get to know better these "creatures and creators."

Through this book, I realized that we have more stories to share about the nature of being human - our hopes and dreams, and our fears and nightmares.

I hope to read more Filipino books in this genre.

[The Library-Under-The-Stairs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been scared, but still so fascinated and drawn to 'kababalaghan' stories and tales. I grew up under the influences of my Bisayan relatives on my mom's side, so they always recount their, or their acquaintances, experiences with the supernatural or paranormal. And from then on, im was always in search of books about our very own Philippine mythology, though, sadly, there are few, hard to find, and very expensive.
But then I came across this book, Mga Nilalang Na Kagila-Gilalas by Edgar Calambia Samar. I am so happy and excited to get a copy that I read the whole thing in one night! It is not as extensive as the other more expensive Philippine mythology book out there, but it has within it a great number of the famous, and not so famous, creatures, heroes, gods and goddesses of our own mythology. It also has great illustrations, though some are not as accurate a representation as from how it was describe to me by my relatives (an example is the Sigbin).
Our own culture is so rich, our mythology is truly amazing, spine-chilling, that i truly wish that they would teach this at our schools. Nakakapanghinayang na karamihan sa atin ay konti lang ang alam, o walang interes, tungkol sa ating sariling mitolohiya.
All in all, this book is a great addition to a bookworm's collection of non-fic Philippine mythology reference. It was so nostalgic reading, my Filipino heart is truly overjoyed.

[shanslayyy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world is a common ground for things that exist and those that do not, and this book encapsulates that for me. An informative and visually appealing presentation of Mga Nilalang na Kagila-gilalas that introduces diverse supernatural creatures, tales, and myths from different ethnic groups in the Philippines.

Upon reading this book, there are some parts that I find hard to understand due to some words with which I am not familiar; however, it only made me realize that Philippine mythology and the Filipino language have a lot to offer, and this is deeply reflected in the richness of its culture, which led me to discover a plethora of intriguing creatures and entities with unique backgrounds and overall identities. With its straightforward writing style and engrossing illustrations, this is a well-researched educational piece that also features the talents and skills of all the people who worked hard for the completion of this book.

Overall, Mga Nilalang na Kagila-gilalas beautifully uses the Filipino language as it tells many stories while building a connection between these creatures and the human psyche. 

 

 

[Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maraming salamat muli kay Sir Egay na nagpukaw sa akin ng diwa ng pananaliksik, hindi tungkol sa mga nilalang na kaniyang inilahad at inilathala rito. Bagkus, naiisip ko ngayon kung paano nanaig ang Kristiyanismo at Islam sa bansa bilang mga relihiyong monoteistiko. HIndi ako naniniwalang naging laganap ang mga ito dahil lamang sa puwersa ng koloniyalismo, subalit may nakita ang mga sinaunang tao sa mga relihiyong ito na nagsisilbing sintesis ng kanilang mga paniniwala. Tunay namang isa itong diskurso ukol sa kapangyarihan ng Siyang Walang Makaiisip ng Nakahihigit na nagkaroon ng makamundo (at taliwas) na interpretasyon sa mga armas at pamunuan ng mananakop, subalit hindi rin maipagkakailang may kinalaman ito sa pag-unawa ng mga sinaunang tao sa kapangyarihan ng mga bathala at bayani.

[Julienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nakakatuwang isipin na mayroong libro na tumatalakay sa mitolohiya ng mga Pilipino. Dati-rati nangangarap lang ako makabasa ng libro na parang Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods na nagpapakilala sa mga gods and goddesses. At ngayon, eto na, Mga Nilalang na Kagilagilalas ni Edgar Calabia Samar.

Dati-rati, tuwing naiisip ko ang Filipino mythology, lagi ko lang naiisip ay mga kapre, diwata, bathala, nuno, aswang, mambarang pero marami pa palang iba. Sobrang lawak pala ng mitolohiya natin. Nakakatuwang isipin na may kategorya pa palang iba ang mga ito.

Wala akong masabi kundi, maraming salamat kay Edgar Calabia Samar dahil nabibigyang pansin na ang ating mitolohiya.

[JeLo Guevara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5

Bata pa lang ako, mahilig na talaga ako sa mga kuwento tungkol sa iba't ibang mahiwagang nilalang, halimaw, at mga Diyos ng iba't ibang mitolohiya. At sa muling pagbabalik ko sa pagbabasa, dito ako nagsimula.

Ang librong ito ay lupon ng iba't-ibang nilanglang na tunay ngang kamagnha-mangha. Mga anito, bathala, halimaw o mga diwata man - tunay na ito'y pupukaw sa iyong kuryosidad.

Bagaman ang iba dito'y kilala ko na, meron pa ring mga nilalang na ngayon ko lang nakilala, patunay lamag kung gaano kahitik ang ating panitikan at kultura sa ganitong kuwento.

Ang impormasyon na nakalathala dito ay buod lamang ngunit sapat pa rin upang makilala sila.

[Jill B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my go-to book every time I need a quick scan of Filipino mythological beasts. If you want to know more about Filipino supernatural creatures and beliefs, you can put this among your pile. I wish another edition would be released. This time with much more comprehensive explanation about the creatures and where the beliefs about them could have originated. As well as how the beasts have evolved in the Filipino imagination in modern times when they’ve become mixed with characteristics coming from different regions of the Philippines as well as foreign influence.

[Meeko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hindi maipagkakailang lubhang malalim ang pananaliksik ni Sir Edgar upang matipon ang mga kagila-gilalas na nilalang kabilang sa koleksyong ito. Napakalawak ng mundo ng mga nilalang sa Pilipinas at ginawa ng manunulat ang librong ito upang mas maintindihan at mamulat ang mga mambabasa sa pagsilip sa ganitong parte ng kultura na mayroon tayo.

Madaling maintindihan at lubhang nakapupukaw ng atensyon at interes ang lahat ng nasasaad sa libro.

[Angelo Abequibel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pinatutunayan ng librong ito ang lawak ng ating imahinasyon at kultura bago pa man dumating ang mga dayuhang mananakop, na itinuring na mala-demonyo ang paniniwala sa mga anito, aswang, at iba pang nilalang ng dilim. Mahusay at malinaw ang pagsasalarawan sa bawat nilalang, ngunit mas gaganda pa sana kung may kulay ang mga ilustrasyon upang mas madaling ma-visualize ng mga nagbabasa ang bawat anyo ng mga nilalang na tampok sa librong ito.

[arawrr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mayroon pa ba akong masasabi bukod sa pagpuri sa kahusayan mula introduksyon at pahuling salita?Nakatutuwang makitang naisakatuparan ng akda ang layunin nitong gawing lokal at panindigan ang mitolohiyang Pilipino na hango mula sa iba't ibang pangkat etniko ng bansa. Itong mga kolektibong haraya ang kaluluwa ng kulturang maibubukod sa impluwensyang banyaga.

[Dewey (0110.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book full of Filipino mythical creatures from various folklore, culture, and traditions. It offers a glimpse on different belief system our country has during the pre-colonial period. It is fascinating and thought-provoking that it makes you want to explore its implication to our Filipino identity and history.

[Jonathan Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I initially thought this book to be a fictional story that focuses on mythological creatures and figures from the Filipino culture similar to Janus Silang. I did not expect this to be an interesting educational read.

[Alessa Lee Ébon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reference book, honestly. And the illustrations really helped with the visualization.
I admit, for the first two parts of the book, I made myself only read it when the sun is up. Call it my personal pamahiin 🫣😂

[Elena ( The Queen Reads ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iba talaga pag Samar na gawa 😍🤗

[Len · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talagang kagila-gilalas!

[Shed · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this, I am determined to be a Mantiw.

[Gelo Arucan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great reference material for those interested in Pinoy folklore and mythology.

[Maribel Cuenza · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book is so amazing really, u guys will love this book.

[Alan Mar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, interesting and enjoyable read

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish this book existed when I was a kid.

I’m buying another copy to keep pristine. I might read this once a year.

[Nana · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a book that's supposed to be all about the incredible figures of Philippine mythology, the writing is bland, sometimes confusing, and does not excite the reader.

[Bibliophilic Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5 / 5

[Andrea Aguas · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there is a book for starters when it comes to Philippine mythology and folklore, it's this.