KAPRE: The Tree Dweller | Philippine Mythology Documentary

Summary

This episode delves into the fascinating history and evolution of the Kapre, a giant cigar-smoking figure from Philippine mythology. Despite its simple folklore image, the Kapre has a complex past tied to animism, colonialism, and cultural transformation. The video explores its roots in pre-colonial animist beliefs, its connection to the Islamic term 'kafir,' and how it evolved into the iconic tree-dwelling figure known today. The narrative also highlights how the Kapre is portrayed in modern literature and media, serving as both a guardian and a reflection of societal issues.

Takeaways

• 🌲 The Kapre is a giant, dark-skinned creature in Philippine mythology, often seen sitting in trees and smoking cigars.
• 🧑‍🚬 The Kapre is generally non-violent and simply observes people, although stories suggest there are Black Kapres that can be dangerous.
• 🏛️ One of the most famous Kapres, Mr. Brown, is said to live in a 100-year-old Balete tree near the entrance of Malacañang Palace.
• 🪖 A theory suggests that the Kapre legend might have originated to discourage natives from helping escaped African slaves during Spanish colonization, but this is unproven.
• 🗣️ The word 'Kapre' likely comes from the Islamic term 'kafir,' meaning non-believer, which was later used by the Spanish to describe uncivilized behavior.
• 🚬 The Kapre's smoking habit became part of its identity after tobacco was introduced to the Philippines by the Spanish, making it a regional identifier.
• 🎨 The Kapre's modern appearance was shaped by comic artists in the 20th century, who expanded on the folklore.
• 📚 The Kapre has deep animist roots predating foreign influences, and it has been portrayed in various forms in modern Filipino literature and comics.
• 🔄 The evolution of the Kapre reflects both colonial influence and Filipino efforts to reclaim their cultural identity.
• 🇵🇭 Despite external influences, the Kapre's origin and ownership are deeply rooted in Filipino culture, with modern Filipinos rediscovering their unique heritage.

Q & A

What is a Kapre in Philippine mythology?

A Kapre is a giant creature in Philippine mythology, often depicted with dark skin, sitting in trees, and smoking cigars. It is considered a nature spirit that generally does not harm people but is known for watching them.

What are the differences between the White Kapre and Black Kapre as mentioned in the script?

The White Kapre is described as a more benign spirit that smokes in trees and lets things be, while the Black Kapre is believed to be malevolent and capable of harming people.

Who is Mr. Brown, and why is he significant in the context of the Kapre?

Mr. Brown is a famous Kapre rumored to live in a 100-year-old Balete tree near the entrance of Malacañang Palace. The tree was given Heritage status by President Aquino in 2011.

What is the connection between the Kapre and the Filipino revolutionary Emilio Aguinaldo?

Rumors suggest that Emilio Aguinaldo had a Kapre who protected him, which some believe was actually David Fagan, an African American soldier who defected to the Filipino revolutionary army.

How did the name 'Kapre' originate according to the script?

The name 'Kapre' is believed to have originated from the Islamic term 'kafir,' meaning non-believer. It was later used by the Spanish to describe uncivilized behavior, and eventually applied to the Kapre creature.

How did the Kapre's characteristics evolve over time?

The Kapre's characteristics evolved from being a giant black spirit in animist beliefs to adopting traits like smoking cigars from the Ilocano Pugot. Spanish influence and later, comic artists, further transformed its physical appearance.

What role did tobacco play in the Kapre's depiction?

Tobacco became associated with the Kapre after the end of the tobacco monopoly in the Philippines in 1882, when smoking cigars became more common among the population, including the Kapre.

How has modern interpretation of the Kapre differed from traditional beliefs?

Modern interpretations of the Kapre often reflect societal issues and psychological themes, such as in Yvette Tan's short story 'Kulog,' where the Kapre tries to protect a child from an abusive father.

What does the script suggest about the Kapre's role in Filipino culture?

The script suggests that the Kapre, with its deep animist roots, plays a role in connecting Filipinos to their pre-colonial past, and has been reinterpreted over time to reflect changing cultural values and identities.

How has colonialism influenced Filipino perceptions of their mythology, including the Kapre?

Colonialism led Filipinos to view their local culture, including mythology like the Kapre, as inferior. However, there is a growing movement to reclaim and appreciate these aspects of Filipino heritage.

Outlines

00:00

🌳 Encountering the Kapre in Philippine Mythology

This paragraph introduces the Kapre, a mythological creature in Philippine folklore. It describes the Kapre as a giant with dark skin, often found in trees, and known for smoking cigars. The Kapre is portrayed as a nature spirit that does not harm people but watches them from a distance. Some regional variations are mentioned, such as the Black Kapre, which is said to be malevolent, and the White Kapre, which is harmless. Notable stories include Mr. Brown, a Kapre living in the Balete tree near Malacañang Palace, and tales linking a Kapre to Emilio Aguinaldo, a Filipino revolutionary.

05:02

🧭 The Historical Roots and Evolution of the Kapre

This section delves into the historical background of the Kapre, suggesting it may have originated from the term 'kafir,' which was used in various contexts, from Islamic texts to describing non-Muslim African slaves brought to the Philippines. The narrative explains how the Kapre's image as a cigar-smoking giant developed over time, influenced by the Spanish colonizers, the introduction of tobacco, and animist beliefs of the pre-Spanish Philippines. The text outlines the transformation of the term from 'cafre' to 'capre,' eventually becoming 'Kapre' after the adoption of the abakada alphabet.

10:03

🌟 Modern Interpretations and Cultural Significance of the Kapre

The final paragraph discusses the contemporary portrayal and cultural significance of the Kapre in Filipino society. It highlights how the Kapre has been adapted in modern Philippine comics and literature, often serving as a metaphor for societal issues. Yvette Tan's short story 'Kulog' is cited as an example of a Kapre being misunderstood as a monster when in reality, it was trying to help. The narrative underscores the Kapre's roots in animism and its transformation under foreign influence, reflecting the broader themes of colonial impact and the Filipinos' journey toward embracing their identity and heritage.

Keywords

💡Kapre

The Kapre is a giant, cigar-smoking creature in Philippine mythology, known for lurking in trees. The video explores the Kapre's origins, physical characteristics, and the folklore surrounding it. Traditionally portrayed as a dark-skinned giant, the Kapre is a nature spirit that watches people but rarely interacts. The video also touches on regional variations, like the Black Kapre, believed to be harmful, and the White Kapre, which is more passive.

💡Cigar

Cigars are a key element associated with the Kapre, symbolizing its leisure and otherworldly nature. The video explains that the Kapre's cigar-smoking habit was adopted after the introduction of tobacco to the Philippines by the Spanish in the late 16th century. This characteristic helped shape the Kapre's identity, blending pre-colonial animist beliefs with colonial influences.

💡Animism

Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities, such as plants, animals, and objects, possess a spiritual essence. The Kapre's roots are traced back to animist traditions in the pre-Spanish Philippines, where spirits, including giants like the Kapre, were believed to inhabit the natural world. The video highlights how these animist beliefs are integral to understanding the Kapre’s origins.

💡Colonialism

Colonialism plays a significant role in shaping the modern perception of the Kapre. The Spanish and later American colonization influenced Filipino culture and mythology, leading to the transformation of indigenous beliefs. The video discusses how colonialism imposed foreign ideas, changing the way Filipinos viewed their folklore, including the Kapre.

💡Pugot

The Pugot is an Ilocano spirit that shares similarities with the Kapre, particularly its cigar-smoking habit. The video explains that the Pugot was an earlier version of the Kapre in Filipino folklore, representing a black giant spirit that inhabited trees. The Kapre eventually absorbed the characteristics of the Pugot, evolving into the creature known today.

💡Islamic term 'Kafir'

'Kafir' is an Islamic term originally meaning a non-believer. The video explores how the term evolved over time and was applied by Spanish colonizers to describe African slaves. The word eventually transformed into 'Kapre,' reflecting uncivilized behavior and later becoming associated with the mythical creature. This etymological journey illustrates the Kapre's complex history.

💡Emilio Aguinaldo

Emilio Aguinaldo, a Filipino revolutionary and former president, is mentioned in a story linking him to a Kapre. The video suggests that the Kapre protecting Aguinaldo might have been David Fagan, an African American soldier who defected to the Filipino army. This story highlights the blending of historical figures with folklore, adding depth to the Kapre's mythos.

💡David Fagan

David Fagan was an African American soldier who joined the Filipino revolutionary army. In the video, there are rumors that Fagan was transformed into a Kapre after his death, symbolizing the merging of historical and mythical narratives. His story reflects the complex intertwining of folklore with the real-life struggles of marginalized individuals during the colonial era.

💡Balete tree

The Balete tree is a significant location in Philippine folklore, often associated with supernatural beings like the Kapre. The video mentions a specific Balete tree near Malacañang Palace, rumored to be the home of a famous Kapre named Mr. Brown. The tree's heritage status and its connection to the Kapre emphasize the deep-rooted presence of folklore in Filipino culture.

💡Filipino identity

The video addresses the evolving Filipino identity, particularly in relation to folklore like the Kapre. It discusses how colonialism impacted Filipinos' self-perception and how there is a growing movement to reclaim and embrace indigenous beliefs. The Kapre, as part of this cultural heritage, symbolizes the struggle between foreign influence and the preservation of Filipino traditions.

Highlights

The Kapre is a giant, dark-skinned creature in Philippine mythology, often seen smoking cigars in trees.

The Kapre is considered a nature spirit that doesn’t harm humans but watches them from afar.

There are two types of Kapres: the White Kapre, which is benign, and the Black Kapre, which is malevolent.

The most famous Kapre, 'Mr. Brown,' is rumored to live in a 100-year-old Balete tree near Malacañang Palace, which was given heritage status in 2011.

Former Filipino president Emilio Aguinaldo is rumored to have been protected by a Kapre, speculated to be an African-American soldier named David Fagan.

The term 'Kapre' is believed to have originated from the Arabic word 'kafir,' which means non-believer, but its exact adaptation into Philippine folklore is unclear.

The Spanish colonizers used the term 'cafres' to describe African slaves, which may have influenced the creation of the Kapre as a deterrent against helping escaped slaves.

The physical traits of the Kapre evolved from the Ilocano spirit 'Pugot,' which also smoked cigars in trees.

The Kapre's cigar-smoking habit became a part of its lore after tobacco became widely available in the Philippines post-1782.

The Kapre's modern appearance and characteristics were significantly shaped by early 20th-century comic artists.

Recent interpretations of the Kapre in Philippine media continue to evolve, portraying it as a knowledgeable being with deep roots in the land.

Modern Filipino artists use the Kapre as a mirror for societal issues, as seen in Yvette Tan’s short story 'Kulog,' where the Kapre tries to protect an abused child.

The Kapre's resurgence in Philippine comics shows its continued relevance and adaptability in modern storytelling.

Despite the influence of foreign cultures, the Kapre remains a uniquely Filipino creation with deep animist roots.

The evolution of the Kapre reflects the broader struggle of Filipinos to reclaim and appreciate their cultural identity amid colonial influences.

Transcripts

If you notice the scent of cigars in the Philippine jungle, or see the glow of

embers near giant tree. Or maybe you feel the eyes of an eight-foot beast

upon you while you sleep.

It might just be the Kapre. What is perhaps the simplest creature in

philippine mythology turns out to have a very complicated past. In this episode we

will attempt to peel away the layers that comprise the origin, history, and

evolution of the Kapre.

The Kapre has been described as a giant. Dark skin, hangs out of trees and loves to smoke cigars. Which sounds like one of my uncles.

The Kapre is really interesting to me because it's almost...

... the experiences with the Kapre are almost, and the stories, are almost the same.

You smell the tobacco and there's something huge outside your window on the trees.

A nature spirit. It just sits in a tree,

smokes a cigar, and doesn't really pay attention to you, except looks really evil.

That's about it. I've never heard of a Kapre harming anyone. It just likes to watch.

Some residents from Mambukal told us, whatever you do go ahead and do whatever you need...

to do but in the big circle right next to the entrance there's a bend over

there, don't pass there because there's Black Kapre in there, and they're bad. That's the

first time I have heard that there were the White Kapre who just

smoked in the trees and let things be, and the Black Kapre that would actually hurt you.

Perhaps the most famous Kapre is Mr Brown, rumored to live in the 100 year

old Balete tree near the front entrance of malacañang palace. In 2011,

President Aquino even gave the tree Heritage status. Or maybe you've heard

the tales of how Emilio Aguinaldo, a Filipino revolutionary and former

president, had a Kapre who protected him. Rumors suggest that the Kapre was

in fact David Fagan, an African American soldier who defected to the Filipino

revolutionary army led by Aguinaldo. Unconfirmed reports suggest that

Fagan was decapitated by hunters, but others believe he lived out his days on

the Aguinaldo Estate in Cavite and would be seen wandering the grounds at

night.

I remember from our first interview that I never knew exactly what a Kapre did.

It was just this huge creature that was up

the tree smoking. I read after that it's based on the Indian word Kaffir, or is

it South Africa? One puzzling aspect of the Kapre is where the name came from.

It is generally believed that it came from the Islamic term kafir, meaning

non-believer, but exactly how and why this happened is unknown -

especially since the Islamic population of the Philippines didn't use the term.

I decided to go back to the beginning and trace exactly how the Kapre got its

name. The word kafir comes from a pre-islamic Arabic term meaning to cover

seeds with earth or soil. In the Qu'ran it meant the denial of truth. Muslim

historians in South Asia later used the term kafir for Hindus, Buddhists, and

Sikhs. By the 15th century, the word kafir was used by Muslims in Africa to

refer to the non-muslim African slaves sold to European and Asian merchants.

Meanwhile, major changes were happening in the Philippines. In episode one, we

talked about the Hindu and Buddhist influences in the region, but by 1390

Muslim traders had spread Islam through much of Southeast Asia, including the

southern Philippines. Later in 1565, the Spanish began setting up colonies and

converting the native populations to Christianity. During this time, the

Spanish brought in slaves through Portuguese merchants. In historical documents the

slaves brought through Acapulco to Manila were referred to as negroes, while

the slaves brought from East Africa through India and Malaysia were referred to

as both negroes and cafres - borrowed from the Muslim term kafir. By the mid 17th

century, many of these slaves were revolting. This is what sparked the

theory that the Kapre was an invention of the Spanish to stop natives from

assisting Negro slaves when they escaped. But there is no historical evidence to

prove this. In fact,

use of the word and foreign slavery began to steadily decline from 1640 to 1820.

It would be another hundred years until the word Kapre was used to describe

the creature. But before we get to that, lets take a look at the origins of the

Kapre's physicality. Last episode we talked about the animist beliefs of the

pre Spanish Philippines, and how they believed in good and harmful spirits.

Contrary to popular belief, evidence shows that they also believe that some

of these spirits could appear in physical form. Early reports on folk

beliefs of Filipino tribes have several accounts of various giant black spirits.

But it was the Ilocano Pugot that smoked cigars in a tree before the Kapre took

ownership of those characteristics. So how did the term Kapre get applied?

Spanish literature written in the Philippines at the time show that the word

cafre had evolved into a term describing an uncivilized or uncouth

behavior. This descriptive word became the general term for the pugot and any similar

creature. Their phonological alteration pronounced it

capre. The early 20th century was also the first time that the creature

was reported to be smoking cigars and pipes. Tobacco was introduced to the

Philippines in the late 16th century by the Spanish. By 1782, a government

monopoly turned tobacco into a strictly controlled crop on Luzon and Mindanao.

Farmers were given quotas to reach and made very little profit, while corruption

and bribery enrich government agents. The world famous Manila Cigar was

a luxury reserved for the upper class. However, in 1882 the monopoly was

abolished and tobacco became available to anyone who could grow or buy it. In the

Ilocos Region, families would share foot-long cigars. It's only natural that

the Kapre would also indulge in this leisurely activity. Then in 1940,

the abakada alphabet was officially adopted. The alphabet did not contain the

letter C which saw the spelling of capre changed. Around the same time,

comic artists would complete the physical transformation into what we know today.

They took artistic license with the folklore and gave life to the

imagination of storytellers. Recently there has been a resurgence in

Philippine comics and I think we can expect the evolution of the Kapre to

continue. The Kapre in Trese has appeared I think once or twice. I've just portrayed it as one of

those knowledgeable contacts of Trese. As far as I'm concerned the

Kapre has been around even before the Spanish came here, so they know a lot about the

land. I can't talk much about it, but there is a story that I've been meaning to do

specifically for the Kapre and I haven't gotten to that bit. It's interesting to see

how modern artists interpret the Kapre. In the past

supernatural beliefs were used to ease psychological burdens. Lately, stories

have been using these cultural constructs as a societal mirror, exposing

the true monsters. Yvette Tan's short story Kulog, where an unhappy girl

befriends a young Kapre is a perfect example. He sees this child

growing more and more miserable everyday. He sees how she's being treated at home, how her

mother won't stand up for her. Then one time it goes too far, one time he can't stand it anymore, so

he tries to save her, and by trying to save her, he shows

himself the neighborhood, who until then thought that the house this family lived

in was haunted. They didn't know it was the Kapre trying to kick

everyone out. So everyone sees the Kapre they automatically think this

monster is harming the child. So they hurt the Kapre instead of going for the

actual monster, which is her father. Even with modern interpretations, the Kapre

is still used to explain mysterious events. The first time the psychic made a

circuit of the house and she she went into my room and said, "who lives here, who stays here?"

Oh, it's my nephew. "Cause there's somebody here, there's a creature here

who has been trying to get your attention for quite some time. "

She went into a trance. Afterwards my my Aunt showed me the

automatic writing that she did. She went into a trance and communicated with the Kapre and it

revealed a lot of things to her. I don't know if it's true, you can really read

the handwriting, but it says, here are some of the facts about the Kapre.

It says his name is Simone and he's wanted to live with us for quite some time. If we deign to let him live

with us, he will protect the house, will be the house's guardian spirit.

The Kapre has deep animist roots that predate foreign influence, and only

recently underwent the physical transformation into what it is today.

Smoking at the end of the tobacco monopoly was used as a regional

identifier. The pugot and similar creatures were unified under a single name, while the

creativity of comic artist drastically changed its appearance. Its name stems

from a pre-islamic term meaning to cover with soil. It then showed up in the

Qur'an. Later, it was used by Islamic scholars to describe non-muslims.

Borrowed by the Spanish, it describes some of the slaves brought by the

Portuguese, where then evolved into a term to describe a barbaric or

uncivilized behavior. This descriptive word was applied to the creature. Their

phonological alterations saw that cafre was pronounced capre.

Finally, the adoption of the abakada alphabet in 1940 saw the word spelled

with a K instead of a C. Even though much of the Kapre's evolution is due

to foreign influence, it's important to remember that its origin and ownership is

truly and uniquely Filipino. I think because of colonialism of how the Spanish

made us think that we were less than we actually were, and how the Americans

may or may not have reinforced that, consciously or unconsciously, we

Filipinos tend to think of anything

local, anything of themselves as automatically inferior, and we need... basically we need a white

person to say otherwise.

It's changing now. Now people are learning to love the Philippines on its

own terms. It's a slow process, but it's gaining traction. But until

recently it was always... white person says it doesn't exist, therefore it doesn't

because should know better. And the mere fact that I'm talking English this way goes to show

how much of an influence other culture has been on us. I think it's important to

see where you came from, just so that you can figure out whether you want to

continue that or to depart from it. I think more and more everyday we are coming to

terms with the deeper parts of our being colonized. Y'know, from the very

beginning. Ahhh ahhh

we are Filipinos, we're proud to be Filipinos, but we still go and have McDonald's

type of hamburgers, even if we do go to Jollibee. But yes the terms of our songs,

in terms of our poetry etc, I think that the Filipino's embracing is going back a lot more

and trying to find things that are a lot more...intrinsic is the word? I don't know. That is

indelibly Filipino, and you can't ignore the animistic side of the Pinoy. You just can't.