Here’s an excerpt from the second Filipino story in Insignia Vol.3., written by Sheenah Freitas. It is a short piece, based on local folklore and magic.
‘The Third Eye’ by Sheenah Freitas
Some say the only way out of the provinces is to marry someone rich. When a class graduates, it’s almost as if a great migration happens, as hundreds of hopeful women pack up and head to the city. Many will come back. Some will stay because they found success, or simply because they’re too ashamed to come back.
My sister was one of those girls. The night before she was to leave for Manila with a group of girls from neighboring villages, she told me how our superstitions would be the end of us. How if we kept believing in imaginary creatures, we’d always be seen as stupid. Ignorant. Impossible.
She spat on our beliefs, cursed our way of living, and then pointed to a tree where a family of duwende lived. Our family apologized to them on her behalf and offered them food, but my sister rolled her eyes at us. I guess she was too sophisticated for such things. She had too many dream and aspirations.
But all of that ambition was wasted.
She’s dead.
Her body was found beside the duwende tree in the morning.
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Insignia: Southeast Asian Fantasy Page
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More Excerpts:
‘Horse Feet’ by Celestine Trinidad
‘Running from Shadows’ by Joyce Chng
INSIGNIA STORIES 