Even though the Philippine Islands is contested territory within the Vigil, the actual supernatural communities get along with an ease that would surprise most other supes from other countries. Many suspect that it’s a mix of the appropriation of World of Light Filipino culture (the strong emphasis, for example, on pakikisama – or simply the unspoken agreement to watch over one’s own and generally leave others to their own devices), a natural result of the country’s colorful (and difficult) history of colonization and invasion, and the propensity for misguided nationalism to lead to a strong need for most Hunters to turn their sights – and weapons – on “monsters”. It helps, of course, that the Maharlika’s position has always been one of self-preservation, survival, and cooperation – something that has helped them whenever the likes of the Methuselah failed them, or when Zangyaku itself was stretched too thin by their own war with the Dragon’s conspiracy.
The Philippines has also always placed a strong emphasis on blood ties and camaraderie. By merit of the country’s geographical position, Sleepers “awaken” to their inherent gifts, or are just more naturally exposed to external influences like Amrita and geists. Sleepers who stay asleep also show a remarkable propensity for accepting the fact that the World of Darkness exists, even if they may never fully understand what that means, or what the World of Darkness is actually like.
Metro Manila might be the city with the largest concentration of supernaturals in the country, but the capital is not, by far, the seat of political power. Here are brief profiles of the men and women behind the names penned on every major Accords contract forged on Philippine soil.
GABRIELLE BATUMBAKAL Alias: None
Rivers Hunter [Mage] The older one of the Batumbakal twins, born just a few minutes ahead of her brother. While Amado continued the family legacy of protecting (and sometimes controlling) the Malaahas Family, Gabrielle turned her attentions towards aiding the Maharlika and attending to the needs of the large demographic of Sleepwalkers in the Philippines. She has gone from simple Groundskeeper to the strongest voice of Sleepwalkers from Luzon and some parts of the Visayas Islands.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 01 OCTOBER 2016
The Batumbakal Clan - beholden to Lola Maganda, their Companion - embodies Wisdom in its purest form, the ideal that all of the Awakened seek in order to see through the Lie. They use their blood and bones to invoke their rituals, and have a much wider range of magic at their disposal than most other Rivers. The main caveat of their legacy is that they must swear an oath of protection over a Mage and his relatives by blood or formal adoption. We note, with interest, that the Batumbakal have always sworn fealty to the Malaahas, which actually includes the heavy duty of destroying any member of the Malaahas Family who Falls.
FOR THE SLEEPWALKERS/TOUCHED :: Gabrielle Batumbakal
Alias: None
Rivers Hunter [Mage]
The older one of the Batumbakal twins, born just a few minutes ahead of her brother. While Amado continued the family legacy of protecting (and sometimes controlling) the Malaahas Family, Gabrielle turned her attentions towards aiding the Maharlika and attending to the needs of the large demographic of Sleepwalkers in the Philippines. She has gone from simple Groundskeeper to the strongest voice of Sleepwalkers from Luzon and some parts of the Visayas Islands.
PLOT POINTS AS OF 01 OCTOBER 2016
FACE PEG: KC CONCEPCION