FRANKFURT, GERMANY – At the bustling Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025, the world’s largest literary gathering, Filipino writer Budjette Tan stands before an audience of international readers and creators. In his hand is a copy of “Trese,” the award-winning graphic novel series he co-created with artist Kajo Baldisimo, now translated into multiple languages and adapted by Netflix.
This week marks a special moment: the ceremonial handover of the Brazilian edition of “Trese,” where Filipino folklore finds a new home in Portuguese. The event symbolizes more than just a book launch, it’s a cultural bridge, connecting myths from Manila’s streets to readers in São Paulo and beyond.
“I hope this inspires people to learn more about the Philippines, to dive into our mythology and culture,” Budjette told adobo Magazine. “The way the world has fallen in love with Japanese stories or K-pop, I hope they’ll find our stories just as fascinating, and maybe even be inspired to visit the Philippines after reading them.”
The power of the visual medium
As readers line up to have their copies signed, Budjette reflects on why graphic novels are such a powerful medium for mythmaking.
“It’s a visual medium,” he said. “How our creatures look – how they’re designed – immediately captures the imagination. Hopefully, that’s the first step that draws people into learning more about our culture and folklore.”
Budjette’s fascination with myth traces back to childhood. “I grew up hearing these stories as if they were real,” he recalled. “My grandparents would tell me to ask permission from the dwarves before walking down a certain path. My mom told me we used to live in a haunted house. These weren’t just bedtime stories – they were part of everyday life.”
That deep-rooted connection to folklore inspired “Trese’s” distinct world – a modern, noir Manila where aswangs run kidnapping syndicates, kapres rule over criminal empires, and engkantos slip through alleyways unseen. When crime takes a turn for the supernatural, the police turn to Alexandra Trese, a babaylan-mandirigma (shaman-warrior) who walks between two worlds.
From Komiks to Netflix, and beyond
Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, “Trese” has evolved from a self-published comic sold for less than a dollar into a global phenomenon. In 2021, the Netflix animated adaptation introduced Alexandra Trese — and Filipino mythology — to audiences around the world, with Liza Soberano voicing the Filipino dub and Shay Mitchell leading the English version.
Budjette said the journey is far from over. “Kajo and I just finished Book Eight, and we’re moving on to Book Nine,” he shared. “The plan is to tell Alexandra’s story until Book Thirteen — to make it all thematic.”
Together with their executive producer Tanya Yuson, the duo continues to explore new ways of expanding “Trese’s” universe.
Comics in a Digital Age
The global comics industry is transforming fast, and Budjette sees digital platforms as both a challenge and an opportunity.
“Right now, webtoons and digital comics are overtaking print,” he observed. “But the interesting thing is that once a webtoon builds a fanbase, those readers still want to own the physical book. The digital space is the best way to reach readers — and once you do, they’ll treasure a printed copy even more.”
As Creative Group Lead at LEGO Agency in Denmark, Budjette seamlessly balances his work in advertising and comics. His years in the ad industry, he says, taught him one crucial skill: discipline.
“Advertising taught me to respect deadlines,” he laughed. “That pressure helped me and Kajo finish Trese fast during the early years. And it works both ways — sometimes an ad idea inspires a comic story, and sometimes a comic story sparks an ad idea.”
The Next Stories Waiting in the Shadows
Even after nearly two decades, there are still myths Budjette wants to explore. “We haven’t told the story of the kapre yet,” he hints. “And there’s a legend about a couple living in Malacañang, maybe Alexandra will have to investigate something there one day.”
At the Frankfurt Book Fair, “Trese’s” German edition — Mord am Balete Drive — also draws new fans. Meanwhile, the Portuguese translation opens another exciting chapter for Filipino storytelling on the world stage.
“This moment is surreal,” Budjette said. “We started Trese as a passion project—just thirty photocopied copies. Now it’s in different languages, reaching readers we never imagined. It proves that your stories can travel the world if you just start telling them.”
Words to Create By
Asked what advice he has for young creators, Budjette’s message is simple but heartfelt:
“Keep doing it. Even if someone tells you it’s been done or no one will read it, tell the story you want to tell. The internet is your canvas. Launch your stories and see where they take you.”
As the applause filled the Philippine Pavilion, it’s clear that “Trese’s” power lies not only in its monsters and mysteries – but in how it opens doors to Filipino imagination, folklore, and creative spirit.
From Manila’s haunted streets to the halls of Frankfurt, Budjette proves that mythology never dies – it only finds new worlds to live in.
adobo magazine is with the National Book Development Board of the Philippines at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair.
