For readers new to Filipino speculative fiction, a guide recommends five accessible stories that blend fantasy, science fiction, and horror with Philippine elements. These picks introduce the genre's rich landscape, shaped by local myths and societal reflections.
Speculative fiction, or spec fic, encompasses stories that speculate on society, the future, and beyond, including fantasy, science fiction, horror, and more. While fantastical tales from Encantadia to Voltes V have long captured Filipino imaginations, the formal recognition of Filipino speculative fiction as a genre emerged recently in the 2000s, thanks to writers like Dean Francis Alfar and his Philippine Speculative Fiction anthologies.
To help newcomers navigate this vibrant field, five beginner-friendly stories stand out:
'Elizabeth Yu is a Universal Constant' by Sydney Paige Guerrero: A multiverse tale where a woman observes her alternate selves, finding them all disappointingly ordinary. Featured in Fusion Fragment’s June 2024 issue.
'Naermyth' by Karen Francisco: In a post-apocalyptic Philippines overrun by mythical monsters, a soldier rescues a non-human stranger, unraveling truths about her world. Published by Avenida Publishing in 2006.
'The Apollo Centennial' by Gregorio Brillantes: Set in 2069, a poor farmer escorts his children to a moon landing centennial exhibit amid a repressive society echoing the Marcos era. Published in 1980 and hailed as one of the finest English short stories by Filipinos.
'Mythology Class' by Arnold Arre: College students at UP Diliman hunt mythical creatures that have entered the human realm, blending Philippine folklore with modern life in this award-winning graphic novel.
'The Kambubulag' by Catherine Batac Walder: A folk horror story centered on the urban legend of the kambubulag moth, a symbol of misfortune and death haunting a superstitious road. Included in the 2013 UP Press anthology 'Demons of the New Year'.
The guide was written by Angel Baleña, a Rappler intern and Creative Writing student at the University of the Philippines Diliman.