Welcome to Cozy Kwento, where we tell Filipino folklore stories that linger like the whisper of leaves at night.
In Episode 5: “The Conjure Man of Siargao,” a foreigner living on the island wakes to a strange sight — a solemn old monkey sitting quietly at the foot of his bed.
It’s a gift from a mysterious conjure man, an old hermit who lives deep in the mountains and commands the loyalty of the island’s apes.
But the peace of the forest doesn’t last. When greed and violence arrive from the outside world, the conjure man’s retribution is silent, swift, and absolute.
A story of island magic, empathy, and justice, this tale from Sargent Kayme’s 1901 “Anting-Anting Stories” reminds us that the forest remembers — and it protects its own.
Light your candles, listen close, and step into a Siargao very few remember.
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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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Sources:
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Anting-Anting Stories, by Sargent Kayme at www.gutenberg.org