We're excited to release the second leg of this four-part story alongside the pin designs to be revealed with it! I was really happy to see that you guys enjoyed the more grim take for a campaign storyline so we'll be continuing in-theme. I've updated the trigger warning to reflect the second part of this story, and if you don't think you'll enjoy the story based off what is warned but still want to see the revealed pin designs, I've kept the same red block at the end of the story as a visual landmark for you to know when the story has ended ;>

Without further ado, here is Filipino Folklore part two!

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The Mambubuno's Mythology:
The Mambubuno comes from Zambale folklore and is one of the many different mermaid-like monsters believed to inhabit the Philippines, or more specifically the western side of the central Luzon region. Like most merfolk, Mambubuno are half fish and half human by description, but unlike the usual stories Mambubuno’s lower half is split into two tails as opposed to one, and they are said to have unorthodox powers compared to most similar legends (one of those powers potentially being that the mambubuno is the perfect mascot for a coffee shop).
Mambubuno often live on rocky shores with deep underwater caverns nearby, and if you travel to these places you run the risk of becoming the target of a Mambubuno’s obsession. Should they be entranced by you, they will seek out opportunities to wrestle you into the water, submerging you below the waves and allowing you to magically breathe underwater so long as they will it. From there they will take you into their lair to live with them forever.

If you convince the Mambubuno to let you out, it will always be under the pretenses that it is only a temporary visit to the surface world, and if you try to escape then the Mambubuno will try to drown you. Even if you manage to make it back home you will find all your friends and relatives aged, decrepit, or dead… this is because for every day you’ve been kept prisoner in the Mambubuno’s lair, a full year has passed on the surface.

One fun detail is that Mambubuno are sexually dimorphic; they both tend to be covered head to tail in scales, but for the male they are slimy and black, while the females often have vibrant patterns and colors on their scales instead.

Our Mambubuno Pin:
The Mambubuno will be a two inch pin with hard enamel colors and black nickle plated metal line art. It will have two prongs and use UV printing for it's colorful scales and shining hair.

The Adarna Bird's Mythology:
The Ibong Adarna or Adarna Bird is from a poem by the same name ‘Ibong Adarna’. It’s debated who exactly wrote the original story, but some popular beliefs is that it was either José de la Cruz or Huseng Sisiw.
The poem tells the story of an ill king, his three sons, and the Adarna Bird who is believed to possess healing powers with it's magical song. The king sends his sons out one by one to catch the Adarna Bird, but are all lulled to sleep by it's music and turned to stone when the bird subsequently defecates on them. All hope was seemingly lost until the very last son, Don Juan, encountered a wise old hermit who tells him how to complete his task without falling asleep. The story continues on with Don Juan capturing the bird, saving his brothers, as well as his father, but not before he falls victim to the jealousy of his brothers. If you're interested in reading the whole story, which is much too complex for us to get you a short description that does it any justice, you can find the translated poem here: The Ibong Adarna Poem
Our Adarna Bird Pin:
The Adarna Bird will be a two inch pin with hard enamel colors and black nickle plated line art. It will have two prongs and use UV printing for it's beautiful feathers, alongside stained glass enamel to depict it's song. Another fun detail is that the notes included in the Adarna Bird's song are the first notes in the Philippine Anthem! :>

The Calamansi Minipin:
The calamansi design is meant to depict the dayap lemon used by Don Juan to stay awake in the Ibong Adarna poem.
It will be a 1" minipin with hard enamel colors and gold plated metal line art. It will have a single prong, use screen printing for details, recessed metal for it's leafage, and stained glass enamel for it's center and juices.
The Adarna Feather Minipin:
The Adarna feather depicts  a feather from the Adarna Bird. We based our rendition of the Adarna Bird after the real life Philippine Trogon!
It will be a 1" minipin with hard enamel colors and black nickle plated line art. It will have a single prong, and use UV printing for it's colors and highlights.

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We hope you've enjoyed so far! We're halfway through the story and over halfway done showing you our pin designs!  Let us know what you think in the comments below :>

Stay adventurous,
- Jacob & Tokii