Secret societies: The 13 clans: The hero/writer's journey to book one of a series based on Philippine lower mythology: A creative writing thesis

• Main Author: Silos, Camille Tay
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2008
• Subjects: Mythology > Psychological aspects; Psychology; Pathological; Heroes; Comparative Literature
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/2433
• Institution: De La Salle University

This is a creative writing thesis that aspires to produce Book One in a series of six novels titled Secret Societies. The sextet recounts the tale of an ordinary 17-year-old young woman named Katrina Kat Luzon whose life changes drastically when she stumbles upon a box with engravings no one other than she can see. Bound to a being named Dan, she embarks on a journey with the title of Protector, tasked with translating the 13 pieces of paper found within the confines of the box, uncovering the history and secrets of the 13 clans of the Philippines as a result, and plays hunter, mediator or peacemaker with all the clan members of the secret societies. The 13 clans have been in existence since the beginning of time, and while Kat has only had the honor of being somewhat familiar with one of them (the Human Clan or Angkang Tao), she now has to familiarize herself with 12 more. Alongside trying to find a middle-ground between her normal and extraordinary life, she undergoes a myriad of changes; from her outlook on life, morals, reality, truth, trust and power, to a giving of oneself the old Katrina never would have thought of. Book One serves as an introductory book in the sense that the main characters are introduced, the setting solidified, the details of the secret societies set and Katrinas role as Protector placed into position. In this book, she finds a mysterious box, meets Dan, a being who appoints himself as the Guardian of the Protector, and refuses to accept the role of Protector. This feeling is further strengthened when Dan chucks her into a scene that forces her to open her eyes to the reality that she is leaving innocent people to live should she shun her duties as Protector. She unwillingly acknowledges her responsibility though and, as such, comes face-to-face with the first clan she is translating the Werebeast Clan or Angkang Asuang. It is at this point that she learns that everything is not what it seems. Together with Dan, she dives into a world that exists right before her eyes, learns to survive in the face of death and, in the end, accepts the role of Protector half-heartedly, making the transition from Book One to Book Two possible. In creating the Secret Societies sextet, Joseph Campbells Heros Journey framework, as adapted by Christopher Vogler, will be used as a guide in ensuring that a flow exists from the first book to the last. Ideas, studies and observations on mythology, heroes/heroines, archetypes and fantasy will be used as reference materials in writing the novels, specifically the works of Maximo D. Ramos, Carl Jung and, of course, Joseph Campbell to name a few. Drawing inspiration from fantasy giants of the past and current writers and artists, both foreign and local, the author shall attempt to produce a fantasy novel and, through it, bring into contemporary times age-old mythological creatures of the Philippines for present-day readers to enjoy and relate with.