Compiled by Damiana L. Eugenio — the "Mother of Philippine Folklore" — this introductory volume to her eight-volume Philippine Folk Literature Series presents a single-volume survey of the full range of Philippine oral tradition. Drawn from her career-long work documenting the archipelago's regional and linguistic traditions at the University of the Philippines, the anthology gathers representative selections spanning myths, legends, folk tales, epics, folk songs, proverbs, riddles, and charms from across the country's many ethno-linguistic groups. It serves both as a standalone introduction to Philippine folk literature and as a guide to the more specialized volumes that follow in the series.