Boroka

Overview

Boroka is the child-eating witch in Santiago Dumlao’s tale from San Narciso, Zambales, printed in Fansler’s 1921 collection. She has a woman’s head, wings like a bird and four feet like a horse. She eats boys and girls and particularly favours their livers. When Pedro’s parents fail to return, he mistakes a midnight knock for his mother’s arrival; Boroka seizes him and carries him to her mountain home.

Pedro becomes her obedient housekeeper. During her absences a friendly horse visits, teaches him to ride and eventually warns that she intends to eat him. Boroka has gone to invite other witches to the feast. The horse gives Pedro a red and a white handkerchief and carries him away. Dropped during the pursuit, the red cloth becomes a fire that burns off the witches’ wings. They continue running until the white cloth becomes a wide sea that they cannot cross.

The ending leaves Pedro safe and thanking the horse. It does not describe his later life, reunion with his parents or the witches’ deaths. Fansler calls the account fragmentary and compares it with longer romances, but their additional adventures are not part of Dumlao’s tale. His proposed derivation of Boroka from Spanish bruja is an editorial suggestion, not a verified etymology or proof that every creature called a witch shares this anatomy.

Origins & earliest records

Philippines; Santiago Dumlao of San Narciso, Zambales

Records & interpretation

Complete tale and shared comparative notes read in the retained 1921-edition transcription.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Filipino Popular Tales

   Dean S. Fansler, collector and editor; source: Santiago Dumlao of San Narciso, Zambales · 1921

   Tale 36, Pedro and the Witch, pp. 279–280; notes 280–285; American Folk-Lore Society

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Primary records and illustrations

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Historical collected folktaleFansler, tale 36, Pedro and the WitchResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.