Once Upon a Time in the Philippines: Spellbinding Tales of Devils, Darkness, Déjà Vu, Dubious Deeds, and Devious Hearts

A volcano awakens. The sky darkens. And something far older… begins to stir.June 15, 1991. As Mount Pinatubo vents and Super Typhoon Yunya wreaks havoc over the Philippine Islands, another eruption brews beneath the surface— one of curses, spirits, and blood. In the smoke-choked shadows of the Philippines, ten chilling tales unfold… and nothing will ever be the same.Once Upon a Time in the Philippines is a dark, loosely connected horror anthology where supernatural folklore, psychological terror, and brutal realism collide. From vengeful witches in the jungle to sea-bound specters and shape-shifting brides, these stories explore what happens when ancient forces awaken in a nation already gripped by disaster. Each tale stands alone— but together, they reveal a tapestry of dread woven from history, myth, and human ruin.Inside, you’ll encounter:Folk horror and Filipino myth: Mangkukulams, diwatas, and aswang rise from the land’s forgotten past.Psychological and cosmic dread: Isolation, obsession, and madness bloom like mold under the ash.Supernatural revenge and body horror: From jungle to city to sea, the grotesque and the uncanny haunt every corner.Recurring characters and twisted fates: Each nightmare echoes into the next— building toward a final reckoning.Set during the real-life eruption of Mount Pinatubo and steeped in the rich darkness of Philippine lore, the tales in this anthology will grip you, disturb you, and refuse to let go.Perfect for fans of:Horror anthologiesShort horror storiesFolklore horrorPsychological and supernatural horrorStories with twisted endings and cultural rootsExperience the dark beauty and visceral terror of the Philippines as each story draws you deeper into a world where nature’s fury is matched only by the unseen horrors it awakens.Little Monkey: A simple-minded balut vendor finds refuge among ancient guardians, but vengeance and primal justice lurk in the jungle shadows.Mangkukulam: When a lovelorn teen summons dark spirits to heal a broken heart, the price of obsession proves devastatingly real.Deep Sea: Beneath Subic Bay’s black waters, an underwater repair mission becomes a claustrophobic nightmare teeming with monstrous visions and psychological torment.Multo: A Triad enforcer confronts ghostly retribution in an abandoned warehouse, discovering that some debts can only be paid with blood.True Love: An investigator’s desperate attempt to save his marriage awakens a monstrous addiction far worse than infidelity.Perlitang Pinatubo: A haunting poem awakens an ancient spirit whose heartbreak ignites deadly vengeance amid volcanic chaos.Premonition in Paradise: On idyllic Boracay Island, buried secrets surface in a seductive romance that spirals toward horrific revelation.Lirio: Ancient grudges erupt violently in Manila’s Quiapo district, blending folklore, vengeance, and ancestral horror.The Honeymoon: A detective’s dream vacation turns lethal when Filipino folklore and marital bliss collide in a blood-chilling twist.Halo-Halo: In a gripping finale, characters from each tale converge in a chilling climax of supernatural revenge, twisted fates, and relentless terror.Read it by flashlight. Whisper it to friends. Add it to the shelf where your nightmares live.Because in the Philippines, monsters don’t hide under beds— they wait in the banyan trees, whisper in the storm winds, and knock three times on your soul.Get your copy of Once Upon a Time in the Philippines— before the ash settles.