Hello all! As the title indicates, I have also posted this in another Discussion sub-forum in hopes of finding a reader to help me out. I hope it is okay with the mods and y'all if I post it here too, as I imagine it will have a slightly different audience.
I've written a novel based on Philippine mythology and the "lesser deities" known as the Diwata. In my research, I've come across very little, and largely inconsistent, information about them. Most agree they are pale and beautiful, and concerned with nature (the basic premise of my novel). They like trees, and are known to destroy crops or give bountiful harvests depending on human behavior. Males may live in/near the sea and tend to be mean. Most of this comes from ill-referenced Wikipedia articles.
I hoped it would be okay for me to expand on what little I found to build my fictional world, but I've received comments on culture appropriation and the importance of accurately representing the Philippine culture and the lore. Would anyone here be able to comment on this? Are the Diwata still actively talked about in the Philippines, as Wikipedia indicates? Is there a resource I could access that has more information?
I would also appreciate opinions, if any, on the importance of culture in the novel. The plot takes my MC across the entire globe, and the Diwata are everywhere, so I've been reluctant to add too many Philippines-specific details in fear of it reading like I'm trying to educate rather than entertain.
Thanks so much!
