The Gods Must Be Crazy: A Philippine Mythology Podcast

43: KNOCK KNOCK | ANG KUMAKATOK, The Death Messengers of Philippine Folklore

What do you do when there’s a mysterious set of knocks on your door in the middle of the night? Don’t answer it, for it may just be a portent of death.

This October, we’re covering the different beings and entities representing Death in Philippine mythology, folklore, and urban legends. In this first episode, we’re covering the mysterious entity known only as the Kumakatok.

From the war-ravaged streets of Old Manila in the 1940s, mysterious ‘cult-killings’ in the 80’s, and the strange paranormal surveillance sightings during the COVID lock-downs, these mysterious beings haunt the doorways of prospective victims, warning them of their terrible, unavoidable fate.

Join us as we explore the lore of the Death Knock beings in the Philippines, learn of modern-day sightings, and the strange and eerily-similar beliefs that exist in Celtic, African, Balinese and Native-American mythologies.

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The Gods Must Be Crazy is a podcast on Philippine Mythology hosted by friends Anama Dimapilis and Ice Lacsamana, avid mythology nerds and semi-professional gossips. Follow us over at @godsmustbecrazy.pod on Instagram and Facebook for more good stuff. We welcome any suggestions on future topics or episodes. You can also join us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thegodsmustbecrazypodcast.

You can also find us on Youtube – Gods Must Be Crazy Podcast channel, where we post some of our episodes and interviews. For other inquiries, please email us at [email protected]

The intro and outro music is by Brian O’Reilly (@dendriform on Instagram).

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References/Further Reading:

Trinidad: The Three Who Knock. Sison, Antonio D. (2021). Journal of Critical Perspectives. https://www.asj.upd.edu.ph/mediabox/archive/ASJ_57_2_2021/16_Trinidad_The_Three_Who_Knock.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumakatok

https://discover.hubpages.com/religion-philosophy/The-Mythology-Behind-the-Mysterious-Sinister-Knockers-of-the-Philippines

https://www.thesummitexpress.com/2021/04/fear-mindanao-demonic-cult-attack.html

https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/deaths-cult-like-group-leadership-feud-davao/

https://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=82909&page=1

https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4498605/4385166/4509519

https://www.tumblr.com/myhauntedsalem/189705241702/three-knocks-an-old-superstition-states-that-when

https://www.nowbali.co.id/late-night-visits/

https://darktales.blog/2019/03/28/the-banshee-irelands-heralds-of-death/

https://seeksghosts.blogspot.com/2014/12/death-harbinger-three-knocks.html

In celebration of our Singapore Writer's Festival Panel, Here Be Dragons: The Magical Beasts of Southeast Asia, we are re-airing our Dragonlore episode! Welcome, new friends! :)

EPISODE 9: IMAGINE DRAGONS | Bakunawa (The Moon-Eating Dragon of Philippine Myth)

You’ve seen them in blockbuster movies like Shang-Chi and epic fantasy TV shows like Game of Thrones, but did you know that we have our own mythical dragons (yes, dragons plural) in Philippine Mythology? In this episode, we tackle the majestic Bakunawa and their dragon cousins around the islands.

We also learn about pre-colonial calendars, astronomy, and how our ancestors decided which month it made sense to build a house. Find out just how recently we encountered a dragon-creature’s close cousin, interesting origins of a children’s game of tag, and the very strange way a dragon expresses its love.

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The Gods Must Be Crazy is a podcast on Philippine Mythology. Follow us over at @godsmustbecrazy.pod on Instagram for more good stuff, and possibly answer some burning questions after this episode such as: What does a manananggal look like? How do you cook adobo? Who is Gardo Verzosa and why do they keep thirsting after him? We also welcome any suggestions on future topics or episodes.

The intro and outro music is by Brian O’Reilly (@dendriform on Instagram).

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Sources:

References

• ⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakunawa⁠
• ⁠https://www.aswangproject.com/bakunawa/⁠
• ⁠https://www.aswangproject.com/minokawa-mindanaos-eater-of-the-sun-moon/⁠
• ⁠https://www.aswangproject.com/laho-moon-eater/⁠
• ⁠https://www.aswangproject.com/pre-colonial-diy-a-brief-how-to-list-of-early-filipino-practices

56: GOLD RUSH | The Tallano Gold Myth, Part 2

Not ALL the glitters is gold! This is the 2nd part of the Tallano Gold Myth story, which purported that the Philippines was ‘owned’ by the clan that ruled an ancestral Maharlika kingdom, and left hundreds of thousands of tons of gold hidden away for the Filipino people. In part 2, we cover how the strange conspiracy theory has evolved in the modern times: how it affected recent presidential elections, and how multiple individuals have since stepped forward and claimed to be the long-lost heirs of this immense kingdom, including, of course, all that gold.

Get ready for wild stories involving Rizal’s supposed hidden identity, UFO cults and investment advice from aliens, squatting syndicates, and the potential existence of United Nations Seven-Star Governor Generals?! And watch out for a special soap recommendation to ‘wash away the dark spots of Philippine history.’

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this episode are opinions and quoted allegations. The content here should not be taken as indisputable facts. This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Remember to do your own research before you believe what you see on the internet!

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The Gods Must Be Crazy is a podcast on Philippine Mythology hosted by friends Anama Dimapilis and Ice Lacsamana, avid mythology nerds and semi-professional gossips. Follow us over at @godsmustbecrazy.pod on Instagram and Facebook for more good stuff. We welcome any suggestions on future topics or episodes.

You can also join us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thegodsmustbecrazypodcast.

You can also find us on Youtube – Gods Must Be Crazy Podcast channel, where we post some of our episodes and interviews. For other inquiries, please email us at [email protected]

The intro and outro music is by Brian O’Reilly (@dendriform on Instagram).

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References/Further Reading:

When Fake News Infects Political Networks: Case Study of the Tallano Gold Myth in the Philippines, https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4293563

The Tallano Gold Myth : UFO Cults, Polarization, and Contact Zones, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372912833_The_Tallano_Gold_Myth_UFO_Cults_Polarization_and_Contact_Zones

https://www.creativeimage.jp/foundation/_pdf/The%20True%20Story%20of%20the%20Tallano%20(TALA)%20Estate.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tallano_gold

https://diktadura.upd.edu.ph/2022/09/18/ecstatic-loyalists-await-their-share-of-the-marcos-wealth-but-is-it-fools-gold/

https://shopee.ph/TALLANO-GOLD-SOAP-24K-i.465696249.13760780388

46: UNDER THE SEA | Magwayen, the Hiligaynon Goddess of the Underworld and of the Sea

Talk about a career shift! How does a Goddess who co-created humanity (the first ever collab) end up being a psychopomp and ruler of the underworld? What in pre-colonial Visayan belief would make you end up in the “good place,” and what do crocodiles have to do with it?

In this episode, we learn about Magwayen’s quite unexpected journey, her family, the traditions of the pre-colonial Visayans, dragon battles, and her magical shells. We also dive into (pun intended) Magwayen’s depictions in modern day and how she still continues to inspire from the depths of the underworld and sea.

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The Gods Must Be Crazy is a podcast on Philippine Mythology hosted by friends Anama Dimapilis and Ice Lacsamana, avid mythology nerds and semi-professional gossips. Follow us over at @godsmustbecrazy.pod on Instagram and Facebook for more good stuff. We welcome any suggestions on future topics or episodes. You can also join us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thegodsmustbecrazypodcast.

You can also find us on Youtube – Gods Must Be Crazy Podcast channel, where we post some of our episodes and interviews. For other inquiries, please email us at [email protected]

The intro and outro music is by Brian O’Reilly (@dendriform on Instagram).

—

References/Further Reading:

https://www.hellapinay.com/article/2016/11/16/magwayen-bisayan-goddess-of-the-sea

Visayan Myths of the Philippines, Pinoy-Culture, Philippine Folklore Stories by John Maurice Miller

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/how-the-visayans-honored-the-dead

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/300558/how-ancient-visayans-revered-the-dead

https://vizayanmyths.blogspot.com/2013/05/magwayen-maguayan.html

https://diwatahan.tumblr.com/post/145514840518/b-i-s-a-y-a-n-m-y-t-h-o-l-o-g-y-s-e-r-i-e-s

https://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magwayen

https://www.tipplehampercompany.com/gin-bottles/psychopomp-magwayen-gin/

https://www.instagram.com/magwayenbistro/`

50: O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? | Indarapatra & Sulayman, A Maguindanao Epic

How many brothers does it take to kill five monsters & bring an entire civilization out from hiding?

In our 50th episode, we cover the epic tale of Indarapatra and Sulayman, two gallant brothers whose heroics helped the people of Maguindanao (the precursor modern-day Mindanao). This set the foundation for a civilization and culture so strong they were able to flourish and put up incredible resistance across centuries of Spanish invasion.

This epic story has everything: from self-driving boats, A.I.-powered weapons, surveillance trees to a literal man-made stove-top. Join us as we look to understand possible historical precursors to this tale, while trying to disentangle the epic figure of Raja Sulayman from his historical counterpart, one of the last great rulers of Old Manila.

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The Gods Must Be Crazy is a podcast on Philippine Mythology hosted by friends Anama Dimapilis and Ice Lacsamana, avid mythology nerds and semi-professional gossips. Follow us over at @godsmustbecrazy.pod on Instagram and Facebook for more good stuff. We welcome any suggestions on future topics or episodes. You can also join us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thegodsmustbecrazypodcast.

You can also find us on Youtube – Gods Must Be Crazy Podcast channel, where we post some of our episodes and interviews. For other inquiries, please email us at [email protected]

The intro and outro music is by Brian O’Reilly (@dendriform on Instagram).

—

References/Further Reading:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maguindanao_people#Culture
• https://sharjahart.org/sharjah-art-foundation/people/saleeby-najeeb-m
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Najeeb_Mitry_Saleeby
• https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1710/rajah-indara-patra-and-the-dragons-a-mindanao-legend
• https://morohistorylawandreligion.wordpress.com/chapter-01/history-of-magindanao/magindanao-history-and-genealogies/the-mythology-of-mindanao/
• https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/blogs/post/the-legends-of-the-sarimanok/
• https://sacred-texts.com/asia/pft/pft47.htm
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajah_Sulayman
• https://www.jstor.org/stable/1497353