RING OF FIRE: MAHARLIKA

COPYRIGHT PAGE RING OF FIRE: MAHARLIKA Copyright © 2026 by Yakinthos Altadio All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, organizations, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The mythological figures, creatures, and elemental forces depicted herein are interpretations and creative reimaginings of Philippine folklore and are not intended to represent literal historical or religious fact. Cover Design: Stary Writing Studios Interior Illustrations & Map: Yakinthos Altadio Edited by: Yakinthos Altadio Published by: Stary Writing Press ISBN (Paperback): 978-0-000-00000-0 ISBN (eBook): 978-0-000-00000-1 First Edition: November 2026 Printed in the Philippines For licensing inquiries, bulk purchases, or translation rights, please contact: Stary Writing Press Email: hyakinthosaltadio@g*******m --- AUTHOR’S NOTES By Yakinthos Altadio "Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan." (He who does not look back to where he came from will never reach his destination.) This book is a homecoming. When I first conceived of Ring of Fire: Maharlika, I was standing on the shores of a small coastal town in the Philippines, watching the sun set over the vast Pacific. The sky turned the color of molten gold, and the waves crashed against the black volcanic rocks. In that moment, I felt the presence of something ancient—something that existed long before the Spanish galleons, before the Chinese junks, before the first humans ever set foot on these islands. I felt the heartbeat of Maharlika. The Genesis of the Story The idea for this novel did not come from a single moment of inspiration, but from a lifetime of listening. I grew up with stories of the Aswang lurking in the mango trees, the Kapre smoking his pipe atop the balete tree, and the Sirena singing songs of warning to fishermen who ventured too far into the deep. These were not just bedtime stories; they were warnings. They were lessons about respect—for nature, for the spirits, and for the unseen forces that govern our world. But as I grew older, I noticed that these stories were fading. They were being replaced by Western dragons and European castles. The Tikbalang was forgotten in favor of the centaur. The Bathala was overshadowed by Zeus. I wrote Ring of Fire: Maharlika to reclaim that space. I wanted to build a world where our monsters were just as terrifying, our heroes just as noble, and our magic just as powerful as anything found in the myths of other lands. The Philosophy of Fire and Water At its core, this story is about balance. The Ring of Fire is not just a geological phenomenon; it is a metaphor for the duality within all of us. Fire represents passion, destruction, ambition, and the raw, untamed power of the earth. Water represents empathy, adaptability, memory, and the deep, silent wisdom of the ocean. Kael, our protagonist, is caught between these two forces. He is a modern man connected to the digital world of the surface, yet he is bound by blood to the ancient world of the deep. His journey is not about choosing one over the other. It is about finding a way to let them coexist. In a world that often demands we choose between progress and tradition, between science and faith, Kael’s struggle is our struggle. We cannot simply burn down the past to build the future. Nor can we drown in nostalgia and refuse to move forward. We must forge a new ring—a new connection—that honors both. A Note on Mythology and Culture I have taken great care to treat Philippine mythology with the respect it deserves. However, I must be clear: this is a fantasy novel, not an academic text. The Anitos in this story are not the same as the anito spirits of ancestral worship. The Sirena here are not merely the mermaids of European lore; they are elemental guardians of the sea. The Tikbalang is not just a horse-headed monster; he is a symbol of the marginalized, the outcast, and the misunderstood. I have blended pre-colonial belief systems with modern steampunk aesthetics and ecological themes. This was a deliberate choice. I wanted to show that our mythology is not stagnant. It is alive. It can grow, evolve, and speak to the issues of today—climate change, ocean pollution, and the exploitation of natural resources. If you are a Filipino reader, I hope this book makes you proud of your heritage. If you are a non-Filipino reader, I hope this book makes you curious to learn more about the rich tapestry of Southeast Asian folklore. The Importance of Place The Philippines is an archipelago of over 7,000 islands. It sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped belt of volcanoes and earthquake epicenters. This is a land of constant change—of eruptions that destroy and create, of typhoons that flatten and renew. To live in the Philippines is to live with the constant awareness of nature’s power. We are not separate from the earth; we are guests on it. Ring of Fire: Maharlika is a tribute to that awareness. The underwater city of Ilaya is not just a fantasy setting; it is a reflection of the real-world coral reefs and trenches that are currently under threat from human activity. A Call to Action This is a work of fiction, but the threats facing our oceans are real. The Apoy in this story is a metaphor for the consequences of our negligence. If we continue to pollute, to overfish, and to ignore the signs of climate change, we will not need a mythical fire to destroy us. We will do it ourselves. I urge you, dear reader, to look at the sea differently after reading this book. Listen to the waves. Respect the fire. Remember that the surface world and the deep are one. Acknowledgments No author writes alone. This book would not exist without the support of many people. To my family, who never stopped believing in my dreams, even when I was lost in the depths of my imagination. To my mentors, who taught me that stories have the power to heal and to change the world. To the scholars and historians who have dedicated their lives to preserving Philippine pre-colonial history. To the artists and creators who keep our mythology alive in comics, film, and literature. To Star Writing, for taking a chance on a story that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. And finally, to you, the reader. Without you, Kael’s journey would end on an empty page. You are the ones who breathe life into the fire. The Future The story of Kael and the Maharlika is far from over. The Ring of Fire has been reforged, but the world is vast, and there are other secrets buried beneath other seas. There are other Heirs, other kingdoms, and other fires waiting to be lit. I invite you to stay tuned. The deep is calling. Mabuhay ang Maharlika. Mabuhay ang mga Bayani. — Yakinthos Altadio Manila, Philippines 2026