By Marjorie Gorospe
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — “Dayo” literally means foreigner or stranger in Filipino.

Dayo is also the title of a first full-length animated film entry in the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival. It is Filipino-made.

Dayo is story about a boy named Bubuy who goes on a quest to save his grandparents kidnapped by enchanted beings and held captive in mystical land called Elementalia.

Robert Quilao, the director of Dayo, said the characters in the story were inspired by Filipino legend and culture.

Filipino mythological creatures like the Manananggal (a half-bodied vampire-like creature), Tikbalang (half-man, half horse creature), Kapre (giant hairy creature who smokes a giant tobacco pipe) are characters that have been added in the animated film.

But to add twist to the film, the infamous Manananggal becomes a Manananggol (Savior) and helps Bubuy save his grandparents.

“People that I know from other countries say we have a rich culture so why not make use of it,” Quilao said.

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