A Week Of Sari Sari Stories: Kalipay and the Tiniest Tiktik/ Si Kalipay Ug ang Kinagamyang Tiktik
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Sari Sari Stories invites you to learn of a Filipino mythological creature, the ‘tiktik’, with its delightfully eery, Kalipay and the Tiniest Tiktik/ Si Kalipay Ug ang Kinagamyang Tiktik. I assure you, it is both delightful and eery.
Before we dive into this unique story, let’s first talk about the mythological creature in todays story, the tiktik. The tiktik can also be known as a lite version of the aswang. I first learned about the aswang, because I was pregnant all 3 pregnancies in the Philippines! If you read the link posted above, you’ll understand. We used to watch a show called, Grimm, and a Filipino actor Reggie Lee brought the concept of the aswang to American tv 9 in the episode, Mommy Dearest. It was incredible to see the cultures cross on screen. Ok, good, now that you know a little bit about this morbid creature, let’s talk about how it appears in a sweet children’s story.
“This is a story of Kalipay and her new friend, Gamay, a vegetarian tiktik (mananaggal); and how they both overcome their differences.” -pumplepie
part of the lightness of the story is the whimsical and cheery art decorating the backdrop of the story
Kalipay is a story that represents hard concepts in Filipino culture in a soft manner with an underlying essence of hope. Kalipay and her friend Gamay are unlikely friends who overcome obstacles from their own personal communities, together. The Filipino people have been an ensign to the world many times as they rise up and show extreme resilience during environmental catastrophic events. As I read the story I began to understand perhaps why mytholigcal creatures are so ingrained and important. While they may be frightening, they are also uniting. The story of Kalipay and Gamay displays unity in a very unique and profound way.
The more I read Filipino children’s books the more I learn about Filipino culture. When I know about Filipino culture I can have a dialogue and integrate with the local community and plant roots here. Who would have thought that Filipino children’s books could be so helpful for integration and relocation? What is your cross culture bridge that helps you? Or, if you are a Filipino, what is your favorite mythological creature and why?