Lyrics Lore: How Filipino Music Reimagines Folklore

Filipino music has long been a powerful outlet for storytelling, with its lyrics often steeped in the country’s rich cultural history and folklore.

Humming along are contemporary artists, reimagining ancient myths, and mythical creatures, transforming them into vibrant symbols of modern struggles, and ease. They illustrate how folklore can be adapted and woven into contemporary music, slowly connecting the past to the present traditions.

ALAMAT’s Aswang: Reimagining the Monster

ALAMAT took the imagery of the aswang—an enduring figure in Filipino folklore tied to mythical beings like vampires, weredogs, witches, and ghouls—and reimagined it as a metaphor for all-encompassing, almost predatory love. The song’s lyrics evoke this love’s darkness and passion, likening it to the creature’s infamous hunger for flesh.

The lines:

Sipsipin mo ang aking dugo't buto't laman

Gamit ang mabalasik mong dila hanggang sa manghina

Ang katawan ko at puso, mula paa hanggang ulo

Pag-ibig ko sa 'yo'y kailanman 'di guguho

Transform the aswang from a figure of fear into a representation of desire and vulnerability in love. The act of "draining" someone reflects a desire so intense that it consumes body and soul, leaving the lover exposed but longing.

ALAMAT’s transformative song shows the aswang, often portrayed as misunderstood or demonized in folklore, as a parallel to the complexities of love—its power to uplift and devour, challenging conventional ideas of romantic relationships.

SB19’s Mana: A Call to Take Flight

Mana draws inspiration from the manananggal, a fearsome female creature in Filipino folklore known for detaching its upper torso and flying into the night sky. But instead of focusing on its sinister reputation, the song uses the manananggal as a metaphor for finding untapped potential and overcoming self-doubt.

One of the standout lines goes:

Manananggal, manananggal, mananggal, mana.

Langit, lupa, magsasama, basta ba maniwala.

The manananggal’s wings symbolize the inherent talents and abilities of every individual. SB19’s song emphasizes that success is not guaranteed; it requires effort and courage to “fly.” This reframing transforms a creature of fear into a symbol of empowerment, resilience, and self-discovery.

Felip’s Bulan: A God’s Struggle Against Darkness

Bulan is a powerful tribute to its Visayan moon god namesake. In Philippine mythology, Bulan is often depicted as a youthful deity who brings light to the world but is constantly at odds with forces of darkness.

The song captures this eternal struggle and layers it with themes of resilience and self-expression.

The lyrics:

O Haliya! Ibukas ang mata.

Lalamunin ka na niya. '

Wag magpa-api sa Bakunawa.

Sa himpapawid ang Agila'y sumilip–

Through this, Felip encourages listeners to confront their fears and uncertainties, much like how Bulan’s light battles the shadows. The invocation of another moon deity, Haliya, also symbolized unity to overcome darkness.

The singer-composer masterfully combined tribal-themed beats with modern production, mimicking the cosmic dance of light and dark—introducing Bulan to a global audience while drawing parallels between the god’s mythic struggles and the battles we face today.

The Lyrical Power of Folklore

What sets these songs apart is their ability to make folklore relatable and resonant. By transforming mythical creatures and deities into symbols for personal growth, resilience, and love, these artists prove that myths are not just tales from the past—they are living and evolving narratives that continue to shape us.

These songs encourage listeners to delve deeper into their cultural heritage. Someone who hears Mana or Bulan for the first time might be inspired to learn about the manananggal or Visayan deities, sparking curiosity about the richness of Filipino mythology.

Why Myth and Music Matter Today

The resurgence of folklore in music comes when many Filipinos seek to reconnect with their identity. Amid globalization and modernity, these songs serve as a reminder of the country’s unique heritage, offering a sense of pride and belonging, and bridging gaps between generations.

Older listeners can appreciate the nods to traditional stories, while younger audiences find new ways to relate to these myths through modern beats and lyrics.

Filipino music is pitching a sound where folklore and contemporary storytelling coexist beautifully. Songs like Mana, Bulan, and Aswang are not just hits—they’re cultural artifacts, preserving and reinterpreting the myths that make up the soul of the Philippines.

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