#runin-reads

[maya-chirps]

Do you know anything about pre-colonial ilokano culture? Like any practices, myths etc :)

Precolonial Ilokano culture has also been on my radar especially since I myself am of Ilokano descent actually! My ties to the culture had been severed by my Ilokano grandfather after a falling out with his family, but I might be able to get together some sources and articles on precolonial Ilocos some other time.

One of the most popular myths from the Ilokos region that is often taught in schools even outside the area is the Life of Lam-Ang or Biag ni Lam-Ang. This story follows Lam-Ang and different parts of his life from before his birth and up to his peaceful life after all of his adventures. You can read it here alongside a collection of other epics from other Filipino ethnic groups and an English translation here (thanks to a Christian school's English class lol)

From quick research, an article by Jordan Clark of the Aswang Project lists the 1978 book Handbook of Philippine Language Groups as source for knowing the early Ilokano pantheon or at least the generally accepted Ilokano pantheon.

This book identifies Buni as the supreme being of the pantheon, who, from other sources I've seen, is often referenced as someone who has tasked the giants with creation. I can't seem to find the specific myth that exactly references how the world had come to be. Parsua was also identified as a creation deity.

Then there are the deities related to different nature-related and weather-related things which are listed as Apo Langit (Lord Heaven), Apo Angin (Lord Wind), Apo Init (Lord Sun), and Apo Tudo (Lord Rain).

There are also variations listed within the article that had been referenced to have come from the book published in 1952 called the Historical and Cultural Data of Provinces specifically from Vigan, Ilocos Sur, although it seems to have more outsider influence.

Here's the plain-text from the article since it's pretty difficult to find other sources of this myth other than the book and the article:

Cabalangegan was formerly a jungle at the edge of the river Abra. On the far side of the river were mountains high and steep. On these mountains lived an old man named Abra, the father of Caburayan. The old man lived and controlled the weather. It is said that the river Abra was a gathering of water vapor, shaded, and the days were always bright with sunlight. At that time Anianihan, God of Harvests, was in love with Anianihan, Goddess of Healing. Her mother, Lady Makiling knew about their mutual understanding, but Abra did not know it for the three were afraid to tell him since he might punish them as he disapproved of Anianihan. Abra wanted his daughter to marry either Saguday, God of the Wind, or Revenador, God of Thunder and Lightning. This being so, Anianihan took Caburayan from her home. Abra wept a great deal. He sent Lady Makiling away after beating her. When Abra was alone, he wept day and night till Bulan, God of Peace and Calm, came. But though Bulan was there to brighten Abra’s spirits, Abra did not stop weeping. He could not express his anger. He begged the other gods to bring back his daughter. One day the sun, eye of Amman, shone so bright that the water of the river Abra was excessively heated. Smoke rose from the river. Soon, thick, black clouds began to darken the sky. Then Saguday sent the strongest wind until the crowns of the trees brushed the ground. The god Revenador sent down the largest strings of fire. The heaviest of rains fell. All these frightful events lasted seven days. The river Abra then rose and covered the trees. There rose a vast body of water and the highest part of the mountain could be seen. It looked like the back of a turtle from a distance. At this spot Abra lived. On the seventh day, Abra heard a cry. He also heard a most sorrowful song. Abra dried his tears and looked around, but he saw no one. He determined to find Maria Makiling, his grandchild. He did not find her for the cries of the baby had stopped. The search for the baby lasted three full moons, but to no avail and the poor old man returned to his home very sad. He lost all hope. His wits were gone. At that time Maria Makiling was under the care of the fierce dog Lobo, that was under a god of the Underworld. He had been punished by the other gods and that is why he looked like a fierce dog. He was sent down to do charity.

From just the story alone, there's some obvious influences from other cultures such as one of the deities mentioned, Lady Makiling, the mother of Caburayan, having come from Laguna, as well as the usage of the word Lobo to name a fierce dog with the word having come from Spanish.

This may be the reason why this myth isn't regarded as highly as a more authentic version of the precolonial Ilocano pantheon although it is an interesting story still.

I do want to learn more about Ilocano precolonial culture too but that's all I have for now! Hopefully it's informative enough especially since finding sources outside the Aswang Project website is rather difficult.

[orpheuslament]

I watched bones and all 2022 the other night and I CANNOT stop thinking about it. Love as hunger love as consumption. The inherent queerness of being an outcast, of finding a home in the first person you find that is like you. Cannibalism can be a metaphor for so many things but I just want what Maren and Lee have!!

i want to thank you bc this ask kinda prompted my latest poem lmao bones and all means so much 2 me

[mlm-blues]

I love the colour blue too it’s so boy ish and I wasn’t allowed to wear it much as a kid!!!

ahhhh me too!!! that's why i love it sm :] i know it's kind of playing into stereotypes (is that the right wording?), but it makes me feel so masc when i wear blue and just identifying with the colour in the way i do.. makes me happy >__<

and the colour in general slaps. and the mika song slaps. blue is great! 💙

[sainamite]

rin!

[jexversea]

the most sad part about the ending is the fact that they can't never fulfill their hope and dreams for their country since they only talk about it with each other. nobody alive knows about what it. rin wanted a free tuition for school, venka wanted to make a rule to punish sexual predator, kitay wanted to preserve ancient text in every university.

and yet, the country they fought for. the country they spend their blood, sweat, and tears, will have none of that.

their dreams are buried with them.

[changeofpace]

Back at it with the R.F. Kuang.

Only halfway through the first Poppy War book so no spoilers! Their faces have been burned in the back of my mind for a week and I needed to let it out. I wanted to draw how I interpreted them so far without looking up other art.

[lynn-reads-and-writes]

If you think about it, both Chaghan and Rin should be cautionary examples of how a situationship will absolutely destroy your life.

Stay safe out there kids.

[kitaysteapot]

altan trengsin… havent heard that name in a while🚬

ok reading how altan haunts rin in the dragon republic is so heartbreaking☹️

[lilees]

let us never forget that Yin Nezha is canonically packing

[xelasrecords]

I complied the sparse Rinzha moments in The Dragon Republic because I'll take what I can get

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[turtleducsk]

Nezha reached out and toucher her hair. "That's a good look on you. Nice to see your eyes again." - Chapter 7, The Dragon Republic

[clairevberry]

I don’t see enough people talk about how rin and nezha’s ideologies essentially switch from tdr to tbg. like nezha was originally the idealistic one who really believed in a republic, meanwhile rin thinks he’s terribly naive. rin is pragmatic for the most part, plus she has her own goals and doesn’t really concern herself with this grand vision for the future of nikan. but this changes in tbg. reality has crushed nezha and he’s just trying to appease the hesperians so half of nikan won’t starve. rin on the other hand is attempting to start a revolution, in regards to her army gaining territory it’s working, but they don’t have the resources (aka food) to sustain the population. yet she pushes forward. she’s clinging to her ideals despite the destruction she’s causing. ofc, sacrificing yourself for your country is also a terribly idealistic thing to do, one she looked down on tearza for doing in the past. and then the once idealistic nezha is left to pick up the pieces.

[orpheuslament]

Hi! I really love your work. I’ve been looking for poetry by trans masc writers and I was so so enamoured when I stumbled upon your writing :))

aw thank you sosososo much!!!!! <333

[ladydeath-vanserra]

Rin and Chaghans relationship is so hostile but it's so funny 😭 they're like siblings. they're fighting over a BOY. a DEAD boy

[ihuak-art]

chasing altan

[twolovelyberries]

character sketches from the poppy war! i did not even know pain when i made these.