07/10/2025
Philippine stories are no strangers to mythical creatures. From tales of the manananggal – a winged woman whose torso can detach from her lower body – and the half-horse, half-human creature called the tikbalang, to the legendary bird Ibong Adarna whose songs can cure illnesses, Filipino imagination is filled with magical characters found in the country’s rich folktales.
Often passed on through oral tradition and epic poems, these mythical creatures have also found their way in children’s storybooks. In these colorful pages, mythical elements have shown that aside from their abilities to fly, heal, and shapeshift, they are also capable of accompanying young characters in their adventures. One artist who draws local mythical creatures in her books is Liza Flores, one of the Philippines’ leading children’s book illustrators.
For her work in children’s books, Liza has garnered numerous awards, including the National Children’s Book Awards and Filipino Reader’s Choice Awards. Her books The Secret is in the Soil and Ang Maliit na Kalabaw (The Small Carabao) have been included in the National Children’s Book Awards Best Reads for 2012-2013 and 2020-2021, respectively.
Liza is also known for her unique paper-cut art. As a paper cutting expert, she often explores and plays with paper texture to incorporate rhythmic shapes and forms in the stories that she draws – a distinctive style that is apparent in some of her best artworks that feature mythical creatures like My Big Sister Can See Dragons, Pok Pok Alimpako -- where she drew the legendary Sarimanok bird of the indigenous Maranao people from Mindanao -- and The Amazing Beasts of Philippine Mythology, where she illustrated a tree-dwelling demon creature from Ilocano folklore called Batibat.
On October 11, you can learn how to create your own mythical creature using just paper and scissors with no less than Liza herself – for free!
Grab the opportunity to meet and learn from Liza Flores at Liwaliw: The Philippine Experience (Die Philippinen im Kulturforum)!
📅 October 11, 2025
🕒 15:30–16:30
📍 Room A, Hanau Kulturforum Am Freiheitsplatz
RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1a6FsBrDBA/
To access the full schedule, visit: philippinesfrankfurt2025.com/events (program subject to change).
