“Forgotten Island” has finally arrived in cinemas, bringing Filipino folklore, fantastical creatures, and a magical adventure to the big screen. Even more exciting is the Filipino talent behind and in front of the film, from its cast of Filipino actors to the creatives who helped bring this distinctly Filipino story to life.
Liza Soberano and H.E.R. star as the protagonists, alongside Filipino actors Manny Jacinto, Dolly De Leon, Jo Koy, and Lea Salonga, who lend their voices to the film. At the helm are directors Januel Mercado, a Filipino director, and Joel Crawford, whose wife is Filipino. Mercado and Crawford previously worked as story artists on popular animated films “The Croods: A New Age” and “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.” With Forgotten Island, they take on full co-directing duties for the first time, bringing a Filipino story to life, and we are ecstatic.
Set during the 1990s in the Philippines, Forgotten Island follows childhood best friends Raissa (Liza Soberano) and Jo (H.E.R.), who become trapped in the mystical world of Nakali, a place filled with the magical and mythological creatures they grew up hearing stories about. They soon discover that the island feeds on the memories of those within—and they must find a way out before they forget each other forever.
If Forgotten Island has you craving more Filipino folklore, fantastical creatures, and stories steeped in local mythology, here are 8 books to add to your reading list from Fully Booked.
Ilustra Daybreaker Book 01 by Tori Tadiar
Genre: Graphic Novel/Middlegrade
If you love a fun and fantastic adventure and you’re a graphic novel reader, Ilustra by Tori Tadiar is a must-read. It tells the story of Mika, a junior high misfit who grew up believing in legendary beings, thanks to her Lola. Years after her Lola passes away, Mika is visited by a talking moth, which gives her a burst of power and binds her to two classmates, setting them on a quest through the islands of the Philippines to unlock its hidden myths. They must navigate their clashing personalities and race against time to save the world from a sun-devouring beast—all before detention ends.
Song of the Mango and Other New Myths by Vida Cruz Borja
Genre: Short Fiction/Literary
For lovers of short fiction, Vida Cruz Borja’s fifteen stories serve up characters and elements from Filipino myths in contemporary settings. Two writers write their ideal lovers into existence using ink from a mangkukulam. A kapre and a farm girl play out a tale as old as time in the Spanish colonial Philippines. If Maria Makiling opens a pop-up café, will you order human heartbreak on the menu? In each richly-imagined tale, ordinary humans and magical creatures strive for a just and equitable world—which is its own myth, as the author explains in the book’s introduction. One more thing: the cover is too pretty to pass up!
The Bathala Games by E. Manawari
Genre: Young Adult/Fiction
E. Manawari’s YA fantasy novel follows Michelle Macabebe, a teenager desperate to escape her quiet island life on Luna Asul. When a talking cat selects her for The Bathala Games, she is thrust into a deadly competition run by bickering deities, not-so-gentle giants, and overworked gods. As Chi navigates the world of Neithers and competes against four rivals, her real-life problems pile up—from her strict mother to a one-sided crush, and a secret that broke her heart.
Read this book if you want to learn more about Filipino folklore, while exploring coming-of-age themes, such as self-discovery, teenage angst, and belonging.
The Amazing Beasts of Philippine Mythology by Ilustrador ng Kabataan
Genre: Children’s Literature/Compendium
Visit the vast realm of Philippine mythology with this fun, tongue-in-cheek, and comprehensive compendium brought to life by INK (Ilustrador ng Kabataan). Each artist brings a unique creative take on the creatures within, and with 56 beasts featured, this is one hefty, richly illustrated book to savor. Meet the mandurugos, busos, tiktiks, batibats, and many more creatures you may not have heard of yet. Be forewarned, though: these beasts live among us. Should you encounter one, don’t forget to say, “Tabi-tabi po.”
Mga Nilalang na Kagila-gilalas by Edgar Calabia Samar
Genre: Compendium
Here’s another compendium to say “Tabi-tabi po” to. Mga Nilalang na Kagila-gilalas is a beautifully illustrated encyclopedia, with every page dedicated to a mystical being, from the fierce aswang to the wily mambabarang. Collected and written by award-winning author Edgar Calabia Samar, who penned the Janus Silang series, this is not your usual drab encyclopedia. Each entry comes to life with captivating illustrations by some of the country’s esteemed artists, including Leo Kempis Ang, Sergio Bumatay III, and more. This gem of a book deserves a spot on any bookworm’s shelf.
The Boy, the Mountain, and the Serpent Who Ate the Moon by Caris Avendano Cruz
Genre: Young Adult/Fiction
During a town fiesta in Sto. Niño, three kids—the headstrong Bayani, stubborn Isay, and anxious Aaron—wander off. They cross a bridge that suddenly grows legs and carries them to the “Land Beyond,” a mysterious place where nights are endless. Armed with only flickering candles, they venture deeper into the night and encounter kapres, manananggals, and other creatures. They also meet “Losts,” kids who have disappeared from Sto. Niño. Can they find their way home before they become permanent residents of the Land Beyond? Cruz seamlessly weaves Filipino folklore into this atmospheric, charming adventure, balancing the story’s darker elements with humor and themes of hope and friendship.
Nest of Tongues by Randy Ribay
Genre: Young Adult/Fiction
Young adult author Randy Ribay’s newest story is about manananggal siblings Lily and Caleb. By day, they are ordinary students at an American school. By night, they shed their human forms and fly over the Californian skies as manananggal. Their family is part of a group of Filipinos collectively known as “Tawong Lipod,” or Ta’Li for short. Their common enemy? The Bayani, a once-in-a-generation hero blessed by the gods with supernatural skills and abilities for the sole purpose of tracking down and exterminating the Ta’Li.
Ribay turns the concept of the manananggal on its head, imagining them as regular humans who are on the good side. Along with the fantastical elements, we get to know the siblings and their struggles—growing up and figuring out their identities.
Squalo and Mage: The Rage of the Bakunawa by Kara Bodegon-Hikino
Genre: Middle Grade Graphic Novel
Squalo and Mage is a fun and whimsical graphic novel series about Mage, a young sorceress, and Squalo, her talking stuffed companion, who set off on an epic, role-playing game-inspired quest all over Mundo.
After Mage’s father is killed by a Tikbalang, his dying wish is for her to find Bakunawa, the guardian of the sea. But the journey won’t be easy. Ventrolio, an evil nightmare-maker, is hunting Mage, while monsters and other dangers await at every turn. Along the way, the pair must take on side quests, slay monsters, obtain weapons, and collect points as they race to save Mundo from plunging into chaos.
