My Folktober Drawing For Today Is The Philippine Diwata, Or Faery, Maria Makiling. Historically Referred

Hey guys! This is the title page of a 6 page mini-comic for the awesome Amanda Scurti’s new fantasy Earth-themed anthology TERRESTRIAL. It’s loosely based off the Filipino mythological figure, Mariang Sinukuan. I’ve been wanting to do something with her for awhile, so I was really excited about the anthology’s theme. You can pre-order it here, before it debuts at SPX in September. Check out all the other wonderful contributors!! It’s a mind-blowing list. Thank you again Amanda for inviting me. :)

filipiniana but make it moth 

Lola’s party-all-night outfit

AHHH I have three thesis proposals due in 11 days! I already know that thematically I want to explore Asian and Asian American representation in popular American media, but still have to narrow it down.

Here’s some quick character sketches from one of my ideas. I was looking up Filipino legends and found the story of Mariang Sinukuan, a diwata or mountain fairy. She got a little bit of an attitude the more I drew her which is not completely inaccurate based on the stuff I read about her, haha. I might end up doing a big visual development project on her for thesis, but we’ll see how the other two proposals pan out first!

PHILIPPINE MYTHOLOGY MEME || [1.5/4 LEGENDS] MARIA MAKILING + HER THREE SUITORS

Maria was sought for and wooed by many suitors, three of whom were the Captain Lara, a Spanish soldier; Joselito, a Spanish mestizo studying in Manila; and Juan who was but a common farmer. Despite his lowly status, Makiling eventually chose Juan.

Spurned, Joselito and Captain Lara conspired to frame Juan for setting fire to the cuartel of the Spanish. Juan was shot as the enemy of the Spaniards. Before he died, he cried Maria’s name out loud.

The diwata quickly came down from her mountain while Captain Lara and Joselito fled to Manila in fear of Maria’s wrath. When she learned what happened, she cursed the two, along with all other men who cannot accept failure in love. Soon, the curse took effect. Joselito suddenly contracted an incurable illness. The revolutionary Filipinos killed Captain Lara.

From then on, Maria never let herself be seen by the people. Every time somebody got lost on the mountain, they remember the curse of the diwata. They remember the great love of Maria Makiling.

Filipino Miku at Jollibee!

A speedy doodle.

I’m quite rusty.

Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Final Evening Gown

A tribute to Whang-Od

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Apo Whang-Od And The Thousand-Year-Old Tradition Live On

Apo Whang-Od has left a literal and figurative mark on the world. A new generation emerges to follow in her footsteps.

Cary Santiago - TernoCon 2018 

In the Philippines, “terno” refers to a woman’s ensemble that consists of matching colors/patterns. … By the late 1940s, the terno’s meaning and silhouette evolved into any Western dress with butterfly sleeves attached to it.

image source

more information about the Filipino Terno

Filipino fashion and creativity is next. level. 

My local version of Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)