Meet the Queen of Philippine Horror Stories Yvette Tan
Ghouls, haunted houses, and ladies in white. These are just some of the characters and elements Filipino horror stories are made of. The Philippine genre of horror is often intertwined with folklore and mythology, making these stories unique and truly spine-chilling as some of them have been told from our childhoods, and ingrained deep into our consciousness. It’s no wonder that several Filipino authors return to these stories time and time again, finding ways to retell them or incorporate them into paranormal settings.
One of them is Yvette Tan, an award-winning writer and one of the most celebrated horror fiction writers in the country. An agriculture journalist and educator, Yvette’s works have garnered recognition from award-winning bodies such as the Don Carlos Palanca and the Nick Joaquin Literary Awards. She is also known for having written the screenplay for the 2017 independent film “Ilawod,” which received five nominations at the 2018 Star Awards for Movies.
The Beat Asia sat down with the queen of Philippine horror fiction to talk about how she became a writer, how her interest in the genre developed, and what other spine-chilling stories she has under her sleeves.
Hi Yvette! Can you tell us how you got started?
I’ve been writing since I was a child. I didn’t set out to be a writer. I initially wanted to be an artist. However, I read a lot and I started writing because I wasn’t able to find the kind of stories I wanted to read, so I had to write them myself.
Why write “Horror” or “Paranormal” stories? What about the genre interests you?
I didn’t set out to write horror. I just wrote what I was interested in. A friend had to actually take me aside and explain that what I wrote was considered horror.
I didn’t grow up liking horror. I did, however, grow up with an interest in the paranormal. That, combined with my appreciation of how sentences are put together in a horror story, is why I write in the genre.
Interesting! So, what is your definition of “Horror"?
I’ll go with American writer and editor Douglas Winter’s definition of horror in literature: “It’s not a genre, it’s an emotion.”
Horror inspires fear, shock, and sometimes terror, loathing, and disgust in people, though it can also invoke the sublime. I don’t think it should be relegated to literature or media with a speculative angle. Real life can sometimes be more horrible and terrifying than the imagination.
What do you think distinguishes Philippine horror stories from their regional or international counterparts?
The use of local folkloric creatures aside, I think what distinguishes Philippine horror from its international counterparts is also what distinguishes a certain culture’s horror from others: being steeped in the culture in terms of context and the mindset of the characters.
Can you tell us about your latest short fiction collection, 'Seek Ye Whore'? Where did the inspiration for it come from?
“Seek Ye Whore” was first published in Rogue magazine in 2008. I liked the wordplay of “seek ye whore” and tried to find a local context that would fit it. It sounded like how an American would pronounce “Siquijor,” which was the germ for the story.
As this is your second story collection, what is your process like? Do you determine a theme first and then write the stories in succession or are the stories written at different times?
I’m a very slow writer, something that I’m trying to change. My collections have been basically me finding old stories and putting them together with new ones. I always worry that my older stories might not be timely and might bore modern audiences but so far, people have told me that they appreciate them.
Having written horror fiction, do you still find yourself getting scared in real life? When that happens do you think of how you can incorporate those feelings or scenarios into your stories?
Oh yes! I’m a scaredy cat! I get scared when listening to true ghost stories. However, I don’t get scared when I’m reading or writing horror. I get inspired instead, and that’s the emotion that I carry with me when I write.
As you are both a fiction writer and journalist, do you enjoy one more than the other or find it more challenging?
I enjoy both equally. They [each involve] different skill sets with different challenges and levels of fun.
As for which is more challenging, probably fiction, because I have no subject or interviewee to fall back on for structure. Everything comes from the inside of my head.
Having authored different types of works from prose fiction to screenplays, is there a particular published work that you are most proud of?
I’m probably most proud of my second book “Kaba: 50 Maikling Kwento ng Kababalaghan at Katatakutan!!!” because I grew up speaking English, so to be able to write a whole book in Tagalog is a feat for me. I don’t want to be a Filipino and not know at least one Philippine language. The best part is the person who edited it turned out to be one of my high school Filipino teachers and my writing passed her judgment! My Bulaceña ancestors would be proud.
What’s one Horror book you always recommend?
“The Tooth Fairy” by Graham Joyce.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Write what you want to write, even if nobody’s heard of it before. When I started writing, horror wasn’t a mainstream thing and people didn’t know what to do with my writing. Now, folk horror is mainstream and many young Filipinos have embraced the horror genre. There’s a Carl Jung quote that goes, “Do your work truly and conscientiously, unknown friends will come and seek you,” and I really believe that.
Any upcoming projects we should look forward to?
My third collection of short fiction is coming out soon. It has no name yet, but it will hopefully be out by the end of the year.
For updates on Yvette’s latest releases and book events, follow her on Instagram. Her horror collections are also available at National Book Store branches and at Anvil Publishing’s online stores.
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