Episode 4: Gawigawen of the Adasen
Welcome to Cozy Kwento, where we tell Filipino folktales slowly and softly — as if by lamplight, while the rain hums on the roof.
In Episode 4: “The Oranges of Gawigawen,” the Sun sets off on an impossible errand to satisfy his wife’s craving — for the sweetest oranges in all the worlds. Only problem? Those oranges belong to Gawigawen of the Adasen — a six-headed giant with a kingdom surrounded by lightning, talking dogs, and walls that reach the sky.
This story has everything:
⚡️ Grumpy weather gods giving travel warnings.
🕷 A helpful spider who spins ladders to heaven.
🐶 Dogs who bite first, ask questions later.
🍊 And a reminder that love can make us do some truly unwise, but unforgettable, things.
Light your favorite candle, pour some tea, and settle in for an old Cordillera tale about love, pride, and biting off more than you can chew.
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Cozy Kwento is a storytelling spinoff of The Gods Must Be Crazy, a podcast on Philippine Mythology. Follow us over at @cozy_kwento_podcast and @godsmustbecrazy.pod on Instagram for more good stuff, and possibly answer some burning questions after this episode such as: What does a manananggal look like? How do you cook adobo? We also welcome any suggestions on future topics or episodes.
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Source: Philippine Folk Tales by Mabel Cook Cole (1916), Project Gutenberg