Urban Legends in the Philippines and other Myths

Folk legends have been deeply ingrained in Filipino culture and over the years, they never cease to evoke fascination.

With the current flooding, mermaid legends are now being recounted with growing relevance and interest.

Legends entail common perceptions that capturing and captivating a mermaid portents huge flooding. It was reported that in the aftermath of "Ondoy" disasters, a pool of people rallied along the Manila Aquarium in quest of a mermaid believed to be held captive in one of its display tanks.

In the same vein, two people frequenting Dumaguete relate that when the coastal area was submerged by flood four years ago, fishermen and farmers headed toward the Silliman Marine Science laboratory armed with pitchfork sand oars.

They cried to free the mermaid they alleged to be imprisoned by marine biologist for research purposes. Marine Science Department Director Alcala had to open the tank area to persuade people that there was in fact, no imprisoned mermaid.

Urban legends also circulated and spawned strange stories in the 1980s. Among the most popular is the snake twin of Robina Gocongwei, awaiting to devour unsuspecting customers to enter the department store fitting rooms where trapdoors are installed for its feeding.

Who has not heard of the legend of the White Lady who is notoriously scaring the motorist passing along Balete Drive, asking for a ride, then suddenly disappears?

Ilocos Norte, a province in the Philippines, also has its share of urban stories persisting to this day centering on the belief that former President Fedinand Marcos is still alive- thanks to a sort of embryonic fluid, and that his "corpse" viewable in Paoay is nothing more than a wax figure.