Ever since I joined the #StrangeLit workshop and wrote Bloodline Maharlika, I’ve been on a quest to get my hands on every reference book pertaining to Philippine mythology, history, and folklore. Acquiring these books took effort not just on the financial side, but on the logistics aspect as well. I consider myself lucky if I find one in mint condition or wrapped in plastic. I had to actively look for them book stores, but most of the time I’d find them in a dusty, forgotten corner, abandoned and ignored with creased pages and torn covers. Sometimes I’d go out of my way to brick-and-mortar book shops and I’d find rare gems. And there are moments when I’d score the last copy in mainstream book stores.
