4: The Legend of the Bayabas (Guava) | PALENGKE PHABLES

It’s Beauty and the Bayabas in this story of why the fruit of the Bayabas has a crown. In this tale as old as time, learn about the fate of King Barabas, the perils of gluttony and greed, the duty rulers owe to their subjects, and why you should never take mysterious old women at face value. Also, weigh in on the Team Sinigang vs. Team Adobo debate.

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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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Sources:

https://owlcation.com/social-sciences/Philippine-Legend-The-Legend-Of-Guava 

https://medium.com/@capucaosharon20/the-folktale-of-the-guava-tree-ef174984bb38

https://buklat.blogspot.com/2017/11/bakit-may-korona-ang-bayabas.html 

3: The Legend of the Ampalaya | PALENGKE PHABLES

Before it was the star of every dish your mom forced you to eat, ampalaya was just a plain, smooth veggie with a major inferiority complex. In this minisode, we unravel the OG tale of envy, theft, and justice that made the ampalaya the icon of bitterness it is today. Featuring anthropomorphic produce, colorful neighbors, and deep-fried feelings.

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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).

Sources:
Rivera, Augie D. "Alamat ng Ampalaya = The Legend of the Bitter Gourd." Manila: Adarna Book Services, 1995. https://the-thought-oasis.blogspot.com/2020/08/004-alamat-ng-ampalaya-by-augie-d.html.

2: The Legend of the Dama de Noche (Night Jasmine) | PALENGKE PHABLES

This legend will teach you not to take the ones you love for granted. Meet the beautiful Dama, and learn the tragic tale of how the Night-Blooming Jasmine, or Dama de Noche came to be. Fly with us as we detour to some hot and sexy Italian Islands and learn the secret to keeping the always keeping that relationship spark alive.

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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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Sources:

https://thephilippineliterature.com/the-legend-of-the-dama-de-noche/ 

https://discover.hubpages.com/education/The-Legend-Of-The-Dama-De-Noche 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cestrum_nocturnum 
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/italy-fertility-islands/index.html

1: The Legend of the Langka | PALENGKE PHABLES

In this nineties romcom-meets-tragic-folktale, we meet Anka—an outsider with a heart as soft as a langka seed—and Alberto, the village hottie who maybe (??) loves her. There's a garden, gossip, lightning, and a very betrayed fruit. Also, we unpack our Halo-Halo feelings. Spoiler: Lanka is controversial.

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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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Sources:

https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/alamat-ng-langka/57443707

Coming May 7, 2025 : Palengke Phables

A mini-season of tall tales, tragic love, and bitter truths. Join us as we dig into Filipino legends behind your favorite fruits, flowers, and vegetables—because every gourd has a story, and not all of them are wholesome.

62: BREAKING DAWN | Hanan, the Tagalog Goddess of the Dawn

It’s a new day, a new episode, and finally time to talk about Hanan, the long-overdue Tagalog goddess of dawn! She’s been there all along, ushering in the sunrise, bringing in the harvest, and very recently being recruited as the unofficial goddess of the New Year. But why do we know so little about her?

Join us as we uncover Hanan’s origins, from her celestial family (yes, she’s sisters with Mayari and Tala) to her often-overlooked role in Philippine mythology. We take a deep dive into the myth where she blinds the Bakunawa in a cosmic battle to save the moon, a tale that somehow feels like The Nutcracker meets True Blood. 

We also discuss how modern Filipinos have unofficially assigned her the job of goddess of fresh starts, why her PR team (if she had one) is seriously slacking, and how this forgotten dawn deity deserves a Sailor Moon-style transformation sequence (artists, we need you on this). 

✨ Start your day with us, a quiz, and a whole lot of mythological nerding out.

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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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Sources:

"Exploring the Tagalog Story of Hanan in Philippine Mythology." Wars and History. 

"Hanan: The Morning Goddess." Mythlok. "Hanan." Treasury of Tagalog. Accessed January 23, 2025. URL: https://tagalogmyth.wixsite.com/treasuryoftagalog/hanan. 

"Hanan, Tagalog Goddess of Dawn + Full Moon in Scorpio." Hella Pinay.  

"Hanan (goddess)." EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki.  

"Philippine Mythology Gods and Goddesses: An Ultimate Guide." FilipiKnow.  

"Exploring Philippine Mythology: Gods and Goddesses of Tagalog Pantheon." Yodisphere.  

"Hanan | Facts, Information, and Mythology." Pantheon.org. URL: https://pantheon.org/articles/h/hanan.html. 

"Ancient Philippines: Rituals for Land, Weather and Sailing." The Aswang Project. URL: https://www.aswangproject.com/ancient-philippines-rituals/. 

"Religious Experiences and Spirituality: Indigenous Religions in Pre-colonial Philippines." Slideshare.net. URL: https://www.slideshare.net/indigenous-religions-philippines. 

"PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD: Philippine History." StudyLib. URL:  https://studylib.net/doc/pre-colonial-period-philippine-history. 

"Indigenous Religions of the Philippines: Preserving Ancient Beliefs." Pinas Culture. Accessed January 23, 2025. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annapurna_(goddess) 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanan_(given_name)  

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27929190/#:~:text=Inspired%20by%20Philippine%20mythology%2C%20the,create%20ripples%20throughout%20the%20universe. 

In Celebration of Valentine's Day, we bring you tales of love and woe from one of our earliest episodes on the Tagalog Goddess of Love: Dian Masalanta aka Maria Makiling!

EPISODE 2: THE GODDESS OF LOVE JUST CAN’T CATCH A BREAK | Maria Makiling/ Dian Masalanta (The Philippine Mountain Spirit & Goddess of Love)

In this episode, we visit the misty peaks of Mount Makiling in Laguna (a province in South Luzon). There we encounter one of the staples of Philippine legends and folklore: the beautiful mountain nymph Maria Makiling.

What do Maria Makiling and Dian Masalanta, the Tagalog Goddess of Love, have to do with each other? What is the juicy love story that led to her retreat and self-imposed seclusion in the mountains? And why should you never throw away your ginger?

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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 question after this episode such as: What does Mt. Makiling look like? How do you cook tinola? Who is Gardo Verzosa and why are they still thirsting after him in this episode? 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:

https://ztevetevans.wordpress.com/tag/dian-masalanta/

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

https://discover.hubpages.com/religion-philosophy/Maria-Makiling-and-the-Mountain-Goddesses-of-the-PhilippinesPart-1

61: GOOD LUCK, BABE | Feng Shui (2004), When Good Luck Has a Price

When it rains, it pours—both in good luck and death, if Feng Shui is to be trusted. This episode, we recount one of the most epic and beloved horror films in the Philippines, Feng Shui, released in 2004, directed by Chito S. Roño and starring the queen of block-buster horror herself, Kris Aquino. When the Lunar New Year comes, everyone’s concerned with bringing in the most luck and prosperity, but what would you do if it came with a price? 

Join us for a truly wild ride as we follow one woman’s journey through amazing luck and success, followed by devastating consequences. Follow us through a Final Destination-esque romp through the Chinese Zodiac, figure out who makes it to the end, and learn what Feng Shui and the cryptic bagua mirror is actually used for.

We hope you’re strapped for a long drive or a cozy night in, because this one’s a doozy!

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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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Sources:

Roño, Chito (dir.), Feng Shui (ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc., 2004).https://fengshui-homes.com/feng-shui-movie-review-by-a-feng-shui-expert/

https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-feng-shui-1275060

https://medium.com/illumination/all-about-the-bagua-mirror-24425cc193f7

https://fengshuinexus.com/feng-shui/a-guide-to-feng-shui-bagua-mirrors-use-placement-more/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-footbinding-persisted-china-millennium-180953971/

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/feng-shui/

https://letterboxd.com/film/feng-shui/reviews/by/activity/

60: I’VE BEEN DREAMING OF A WHITE LADY | White Lady Hauntings in the Philippines

She’s the lady in white, and she’s the bane of lone nocturnal cab drivers everywhere. This episode we cover one of the most popular ghostly creatures that has made a mark across cultures all over the world, the White Lady. If you’re driving alone through Quezon CIty’s famous Balete Drive, or picking up lone passengers in Baguio’s Loakan Road, you might encounter her solitary spectre.

Join us as we follow tales of her appearance around the Philippines and abroad, figure out her story, and what keeps her tethered to the earth, doomed to haunt men (yes, mostly men) forever.

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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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Link to the Jessica Soho Episode mentioned: White lady, diumano sumasakay ng taxi sa Loakan Road sa Baguio City? | Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho

Sources:https://opinion.inquirer.net/64301/the-ghost-of-balete-drive

https://www.mybalitz.com/blog/2021/10/27/white-lady/

https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-vanishing-hitchhiker-the-white-lady-and-hauntings-across-the-seas

https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DlQ1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=aCUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2820,122918&dq=balete+drive+white+lady&hl=en 

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Lady_(film)

https://www.mangkukulam.com/folklore/389/Kaperosa

https://dle.rae.es/caperuza 

Minisode 59: NAME GAME | How the Cities of Metro Manila Got Their Names

Ever wondered why Metro Manila’s cities are named the way they are? This episode dives deep into the curious, quirky, and fascinating origins behind the names of the 16 cities of Manila. From Caloocan’s hidden corners to Marikina’s poetic charm and Las Piñas’ sweet pineapple past, each city holds stories that reveal its history, culture, and the occasional hilarious linguistic misunderstanding.

Join us as we explore tales of lovers, rivers, and even a dash of colonial confusion that shaped the names we know today. Whether it’s “kumakati” tides, “maraming labong” bamboo shoots, or the shimmering indigo fields of “Maynila,” this episode promises to be a nostalgic stroll through Metro Manila's vibrant history.

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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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Sources:https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/story-names-cities-of-manila-a00304-20191021-lfrm