ElykRindon

Religious trauma is real, and stories about it absolutely have a place. But I’d love to see more stories where a character realizes the harmful version of Christianity they were taught isn’t the same as Christ.

Give me characters who deconstruct abuse instead of faith.

Give me characters who discover a deeper, kinder, more compassionate Christianity.

Give me doctors, teachers, farmers, artists, scientists, and ordinary people who see their work as their vocation.

Give me faith rooted in love instead of fear.

There are many places in the Philippines where sightings of local cryptids are often talked about, the City of Muntinlupa is no stranger to it. Here are artworks of known cryptids in Muntinlupa with a millennial twist, as seen in Museo ng Muntinlupa page.

The Tikbalang - is probably one of the most popular mythological creatures in the Philippines. According to stories, these beings have half-human, half-horse bodies. It has two versions: one with a horse's head and the other with a human-like face. Based on folklore, whoever rides on the back of the tikbalang and manages to pull out its golden hair from its nape will be able to tame it and serve as its master. Despite their powerful and fearsome appearance, tikbalangs do not harm or kill people. They simply enjoy leading or playing with people in the forest.

The "Nuno sa Punso" - are said to be old men with long beards. Their height is likened to that of a three-year-old child. According to other stories, the "nuno" are depicted wearing wide-brimmed hats called "salakot." The "nuno sa punso" are known for inflicting illness upon those who disturb their dwellings. Typically, this results in high fever, severe body pains, and swelling of private body parts.

The Sirena - In legends and on television, mermaids are commonly depicted as beings with beautiful and gentle faces, long hair, glistening skin, and a melodious voice. They are considered guardians of the seas, and whoever disturbs their domain will be punished and dragged into the depths of the ocean. Their enchanting voices attract men, and this is what they use to lure those they fancy into their world. In The City of Muntinlupa, there are often folk stories about mermaids being sighted in Jamboree Lake.

The "Tiktik" - belongs to the family of "manananggal." They are commonly depicted as creatures resembling birds that only fly at night to seek food. It's also believed that their color is as black as crows. They are known to favor consuming babies from pregnant women's wombs. The "tiktik" got its name from the sound it makes. When you hear its loud screech, you can be sure that the "tiktik" is still far away. But as the sound gets softer and softer, the "tiktik" is getting closer to you!

Portrait of a Sunflower

Paint the reality you want to see. Paint the dead flowers back to life.

Zeus & Poseidon

Vs.

Poseidon - "King of the sea, God of the sea, storms, earthquakes, and horses" - the ocean, and all its terrifying aspects. Him and Zeus were depersonalised for their crimes (rape and molestation), but he remains as both the unforgiving killer storms and the indiscriminate murderer of those who sink too far into the crushing pressure of the deep. Many fear the sins of mankind at its worst and choose to ignore it, but like the ocean, it can be ignored until you remember it’s always there and surrounding us, and its darkest deepest secrets have no limit. 

12 Olympians = Zeus’ Fall - made aware of a growing competition of an more powerful god outside Olympus (any of the monotheistic religions), Zeus’ already terrible behaviour becomes tyrannical and murderous - this is the last straw of the matriarchal Olympians and they overthrow him, reducing him and his equally terrible brother to their elemental forms. Zeus & Poseidon were dethroned and taking their places was Leto and Persephone. Leto is joined by Demeter and Hera to enact their revenge of Zeus & Poseidon. Persephone acts as her own god as well as Hades’ representative (Hades can’t leave the Underworld otherwise all hell will break loose - literally). 

Regalia