52: GREAT BALLS OF FIRE | Santelmo - Part 1: Flaming Orbs of Death?

Goodness, gracious! This week, we fire it up with a deep dive into the legend and lore behind the Santelmo, or St. Elmo’s Fire. Were these mystical balls of fire omens of death and destruction… or a sign pointing to hidden treasure?

Buckle up as we go into tangents you never expected: from old sailors tales, to physics concepts about plasma and electricity they didn’t teach us in high school, to the patron saint of abdominal pains.

Learn about the various sightings of the Santelmo in ‘rural legends’ of old and recent memory, the historical origins of the story and where the name comes from, and how the legend continues to live in popular imagination.

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The Gods Must Be Crazy is a podcast on Philippine Mythology hosted by friends Anama Dimapilis and Ice Lacsamana, avid mythology nerds and semi-professional gossips. Follow us over at @godsmustbecrazy.pod on Instagram and Facebook for more good stuff. We welcome any suggestions on future topics or episodes. You can also join us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thegodsmustbecrazypodcast.

You can also find us on Youtube – Gods Must Be Crazy Podcast channel, where we post some of our episodes and interviews. For other inquiries, please email us at godsmustbecrazy.pod@gmail.com

The intro and outro music is by Brian O’Reilly (@dendriform on Instagram).

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References/Further Reading:

https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/santelmo-origin-trese-a00293-20210614-lfrm

https://www.aswangproject.com/santelmo/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Elmo%27s_fire

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erasmus_of_Formia

https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2014/05/04/101292-holy-confessor-erasmus-bishop-of-formia-in-campania

https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=182

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning

https://trese.fandom.com/wiki/Santelmo

51: PAST LIVES | The Eternal Love Story of Maruja

Buckle up, lovebirds and skeptics! This week, we're diving into the heart-stopping saga of Maruja, a love story so strong it just couldn't stay buried. From Mars Ravelo's comic genius to cinematic reboots, Maruja's undying romance with Gabriel has been making fans swoon for over a century.

We're peeling back the layers of this epic melodrama where forbidden love meets ghostly whispers. Maruja, destined for a loveless marriage, pulls the ultimate bridezilla move with a tragic twist, promising a love revival a hundred years later. Does her reincarnated self, Cristy, get a supernatural second shot at a happily ever after? Or is she just experiencing some seriously vintage déjà vu?

Tune in for a spectral analysis of love, betrayal, and the kind of romantic antics that only a century of longing can brew. Let's decode why Maruja's story keeps resurrecting in Filipino pop culture—because who doesn't like a good old-fashioned love story that refuses to die?

Correction: You CAN get divorced in the Philippines but only if you are Muslim, per the Code of Muslim Personal Laws of 1977.

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The Gods Must Be Crazy is a podcast on Philippine Mythology hosted by friends Anama Dimapilis and Ice Lacsamana, avid mythology nerds and semi-professional gossips. Follow us over at @godsmustbecrazy.pod on Instagram and Facebook for more good stuff. We welcome any suggestions on future topics or episodes. You can also join us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thegodsmustbecrazypodcast.

You can also find us on Youtube – Gods Must Be Crazy Podcast channel, where we post some of our episodes and interviews. For other inquiries, please email us at godsmustbecrazy.pod@gmail.com

The intro and outro music is by Brian O’Reilly (@dendriform on Instagram).

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References/Further Reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maruja

https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2014/02/14/1290145/enduring-appeal-maruja

https://www.balita.ca/darna-dyesebel-and-maruja/

https://www.gmanetwork.com/lifestyle/news/109250/tiktok-user-goes-viral-for-finding-her-look-alike-at-the-national-museum/story

50: O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? | Indarapatra & Sulayman, A Maguindanao Epic

How many brothers does it take to kill five monsters & bring an entire civilization out from hiding?

In our 50th episode, we cover the epic tale of Indarapatra and Sulayman, two gallant brothers whose heroics helped the people of Maguindanao (the precursor modern-day Mindanao). This set the foundation for a civilization and culture so strong they were able to flourish and put up incredible resistance across centuries of Spanish invasion.

This epic story has everything: from self-driving boats, A.I.-powered weapons, surveillance trees to a literal man-made stove-top. Join us as we look to understand possible historical precursors to this tale, while trying to disentangle the epic figure of Raja Sulayman from his historical counterpart, one of the last great rulers of Old Manila.

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The Gods Must Be Crazy is a podcast on Philippine Mythology hosted by friends Anama Dimapilis and Ice Lacsamana, avid mythology nerds and semi-professional gossips. Follow us over at @godsmustbecrazy.pod on Instagram and Facebook for more good stuff. We welcome any suggestions on future topics or episodes. You can also join us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thegodsmustbecrazypodcast.

You can also find us on Youtube – Gods Must Be Crazy Podcast channel, where we post some of our episodes and interviews. For other inquiries, please email us at godsmustbecrazy.pod@gmail.com

The intro and outro music is by Brian O’Reilly (@dendriform on Instagram).

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References/Further Reading:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maguindanao_people#Culture
• https://sharjahart.org/sharjah-art-foundation/people/saleeby-najeeb-m
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Najeeb_Mitry_Saleeby
• https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1710/rajah-indara-patra-and-the-dragons-a-mindanao-legend
• https://morohistorylawandreligion.wordpress.com/chapter-01/history-of-magindanao/magindanao-history-and-genealogies/the-mythology-of-mindanao/
• https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/blogs/post/the-legends-of-the-sarimanok/
• https://sacred-texts.com/asia/pft/pft47.htm
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajah_Sulayman
• https://www.jstor.org/stable/1497353

49: HE WILL ROCK  YOU | Bernardo Carpio, the Lost Hero of the Tagalogs

In this seismic episode, we're cracking open the legend of Bernardo Carpio, the mythical giant (or man-sized hero, depending on who you ask) whose shrugs supposedly cause earthquakes. From his tangled roots in forbidden love to his epic showdowns, Carpio's story is more than just a tale – it's a tectonic narrative of resistance and resilience.

But wait, it's not all about muscle, might, and mountain-sized struggles. Dive into the pre-colonial origins and find out how an alligator ties into this earth-shattering saga.

We'll also explore how this hero’s tale has morphed into a symbol of freedom against oppressors, from Spanish colonizers to modern-day challenges. Are we still waiting for Carpio to break free and usher in an era of justice? Or is he just a mythic reminder to keep fighting the good fight?

Buckle up for a mythological adventure that's going to rock your world – hopefully only metaphorically.

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The Gods Must Be Crazy is a podcast on Philippine Mythology hosted by friends Anama Dimapilis and Ice Lacsamana, avid mythology nerds and semi-professional gossips. Follow us over at @godsmustbecrazy.pod on Instagram and Facebook for more good stuff. We welcome any suggestions on future topics or episodes.  You can also join us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thegodsmustbecrazypodcast.

You can also find us on Youtube – Gods Must Be Crazy Podcast channel, where we post some of our episodes and interviews. For other inquiries, please email us at godsmustbecrazy.pod@gmail.com

The intro and outro music is by Brian O’Reilly (@dendriform on Instagram).

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References/Further Reading:

Eugenio, Damiana (2002). Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. University of the Philippines Press. pp. 4–5. ISBN 971-542-357-4.

"Ang Alamat ni Bernardo Carpio: A Philippine Legendary Hero". The Katig Group. January 5, 2006. Retrieved January 13, 2007.

"The Valley Fault System". Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Archived from the original on March 7, 2007. Retrieved January 15, 2007.

Ocampo, Ambeth (August 17, 2007). "Looking Back: Natural calamities". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 21, 2007.

http://www.philippinestamps.net/RP2012-Carpio.htm

48: CACAO ME MAYBE | Maria Cacao, the Golden Ship-bourne Goddess of Mount Lantoy 

In the last of our “Walang Kamatayan” Series, we take a delicious detour into the land of chocolate with Maria Cacao.  Brace yourselves for a mystical ride with Maria Cacao, the goddess with a penchant for golden ships and chocolatey ventures. This episode sails through the legend of Maria Cacao – from her curious Spanish makeover to her eerie, yet glamorous, soul-harvesting escapades.

But wait, there’s a dark twist! Dive into tales of ghost ships and post-disaster sightings. Is Maria Cacao just a harbinger of doom, or a symbol of resilience in the face of tragedy?

So, grab your favorite hot chocolate sikwate (hot cocoa), and join us for a journey where folklore meets reality, and myths get a modern twist!

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The Gods Must Be Crazy is a podcast on Philippine Mythology hosted by friends Anama Dimapilis and Ice Lacsamana, avid mythology nerds and semi-professional gossips. Follow us over at @godsmustbecrazy.pod on Instagram and Facebook for more good stuff. We welcome any suggestions on future topics or episodes.  You can also join us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thegodsmustbecrazypodcast.

You can also find us on Youtube – Gods Must Be Crazy Podcast channel, where we post some of our episodes and interviews. For other inquiries, please email us at godsmustbecrazy.pod@gmail.com

The intro and outro music is by Brian O’Reilly (@dendriform on Instagram).

—

References/Further Reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Cacao

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CDwBdvTKUo&t=7s

https://www.mycebu.ph/article/philippine-chocolate-queen-raquel-choa/

https://discover.hubpages.com/religion-philosophy/The-Enchantress-Maria-Cacao-and-Her-Golden-Ghost-ShipThe-Mountain-Goddesses-of-the-Philippines-Part-3 

https://www.facebook.com/DTI.Cebu/photos/a.3522343797989900/3521217668102513/?type=3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate_industry_in_the_Philippines

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl6dYdEqlqQ&t=4s

47: MARRY MY DEAD BODY | Ghost Marriage Practices Around the World

We’ve all heard stories of love living on after death, but is it possible for love to BEGIN after death?

In this episode, we veer slightly off the beaten path and explore the little-known practice of Ghost Marriage. Finding its roots in ancient China and India, you would be surprised to learn that the practice still lives on in various forms to this day: in provinces in rural China and India and in Chinese diaspora communities around the world. 

How exactly can a marriage take place when both parties are no longer living? How does one go about finding a match in the afterlife? How can a practice meant to ensure the happiness of departed loved ones lead to greed, grave-robbery, and even murder?

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The Gods Must Be Crazy is a podcast on Philippine Mythology hosted by friends Anama Dimapilis and Ice Lacsamana, avid mythology nerds and semi-professional gossips. Follow us over at @godsmustbecrazy.pod on Instagram and Facebook for more good stuff. We welcome any suggestions on future topics or episodes.  You can also join us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thegodsmustbecrazypodcast.

You can also find us on Youtube – Gods Must Be Crazy Podcast channel, where we post some of our episodes and interviews. For other inquiries, please email us at godsmustbecrazy.pod@gmail.com

The intro and outro music is by Brian O’Reilly (@dendriform on Instagram).

—

References/Further Reading:

https://www.ancient-origins.net/weird-facts/posthumous-marriage-0018586 

https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/ghost-marriages-love-living-and-deceased-003658

https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d33ez/dead-babies-married-decades-after-their-deaths-india

https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7vey8/livestream-ghost-marriage

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-37103447

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/04/china-imprisons-men-ghost-marriage-corpse-bride

https://coconuts.co/singapore/features/secret-city-have-you-been-to-a-ghost-wedding-in-singapore/

The Ghost Bride Book: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/16248223 

The Ghost Bride Series (Netflix): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9690302/ 

The Ghost Bride Film (Philippines): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7582830/ 

Marry My Dead Body Film (Netflix): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22742964/ 

Note/s: While Marry My Dead Body (2022 Film) does indeed feature queer themes, it is, sadly, more of a comedy than a romance. Yeah, we know, we’re disappointed, too.

46: UNDER THE SEA | Magwayen, the Hiligaynon Goddess of the Underworld and of the Sea

Talk about a career shift!  How does a Goddess who co-created humanity (the first ever collab) end up being a psychopomp and ruler of the underworld?  What in pre-colonial Visayan belief would make you end up in the “good place,” and what do crocodiles have to do with it?

In this episode, we learn about Magwayen’s quite unexpected journey, her family, the traditions of the pre-colonial Visayans, dragon battles, and her magical shells.  We also dive into (pun intended) Magwayen’s depictions in modern day and how she still continues to inspire from the depths of the underworld and sea. 

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The Gods Must Be Crazy is a podcast on Philippine Mythology hosted by friends Anama Dimapilis and Ice Lacsamana, avid mythology nerds and semi-professional gossips. Follow us over at @godsmustbecrazy.pod on Instagram and Facebook for more good stuff. We welcome any suggestions on future topics or episodes.  You can also join us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thegodsmustbecrazypodcast.

You can also find us on Youtube – Gods Must Be Crazy Podcast channel, where we post some of our episodes and interviews. For other inquiries, please email us at godsmustbecrazy.pod@gmail.com

The intro and outro music is by Brian O’Reilly (@dendriform on Instagram).

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References/Further Reading:

https://www.hellapinay.com/article/2016/11/16/magwayen-bisayan-goddess-of-the-sea

Visayan Myths of the Philippines, Pinoy-Culture, Philippine Folklore Stories by John Maurice Miller 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/how-the-visayans-honored-the-dead 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/300558/how-ancient-visayans-revered-the-dead 

https://vizayanmyths.blogspot.com/2013/05/magwayen-maguayan.html 

https://diwatahan.tumblr.com/post/145514840518/b-i-s-a-y-a-n-m-y-t-h-o-l-o-g-y-s-e-r-i-e-s

https://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magwayen 

https://www.tipplehampercompany.com/gin-bottles/psychopomp-magwayen-gin/

https://www.instagram.com/magwayenbistro/`