The Bagobo people in the southern Philippines have rich folklore and peculiar literature with influences from the Hindu religion. One story that struck the globally-renowned contemporary artist Leeroy New is that of Mebuyan, the goddess of death and fertility.
“When I went to Philippine High School for the Arts, I had Roberto Feleo as a mentor. He illustrated The Soul Book by Gilda Cordero-Fernando, a compilation of pre-colonial Philippine mythology,” recalls New. “He introduced us to these characters with Mebuyan as one of the more striking figures from our literature that came from the south,” he adds, referring to his Mindanawon roots.
Mebuyan, for the Bagobos, is the goddess
