Maragtas Retold by Devin Galloway

Maragtas retells the story of Datu Puti and his companions' journey out of Odtohan and their discovery of what would become the Philippine islands. The story begins with the evil king Makatunao, a man of uncontrolled appetites. Civil war erupts when the king attempts to kidnap one of the datu's wives. After the king's superior forces crush the opposition, the surviving rebels are forced to flee the kingdom in search of a new home where they can live in peace. They travel to Maydia island (now called Panay) and barter with the Ati king Marikudo for the right to settle along the coasts. Their adventures continue as they explore surrounding islands and establish a powerful society.

Devin Galloway studied linguistics and interpreting, then spent three years traversing the width and breadth of Panay recording folk tales and urban legends in six languages. From the memoirs of an 85 year old former guerrilla fighter on the shores of Capiz, to traditional folk histories in the mountain barangays of Tapaz, to urban legends in the alleyways of Molo, he visited nearly every village on the island in his quest to collect every story he could find. He met his wife Marites, a descendant of Datu Bangkaya, in Aklan. They currently live in Washington state with their three children. This project was born from a desire to connect their children to their family history and Visayan heritage. Ethel Martinez is the shop owner of Ate Ethel's Fond Memories and is a 2nd generation Filipino-American. She's been a professional graphic and illustrative designer for over 20 years and has worked for companies such as Papyrus and Starbucks. Ethel creates artwork that speaks of culture, history, and memories of her youth in the Philippines. You can see and purchase her work at www.ateesfondmemories.com