Editing Mermaid (section)

=== Philippines ===

In the [[Tagalog language]] mermaids are known as ''[[Philippine mythical creatures|sirena'' and ''siyokoy]]'' respectively.<ref name="TE">{{Citation|title=Tagalog-English Dictionary |first=Leo James |last=English |publisher=Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer; National Book Store |place=Manila |isbn=971-91055-0-X |year=1986 }}, 1583 pp.</ref> The general term for mermaid among all ethnic groups is Sirena.<ref>Philippine Demonological Legends and Their Cultural Bearings, Maximo Ramos, Phoenix Publishing 1990</ref>

In the [[Philippines]], mermaid concepts differ per ethnic group. Among the [[Pangasinan|Pangasinense]], the Binalatongan mermaid is a Queen of the sea who married the mortal Maginoo Palasipas and ruled humanity for a time.<ref name="The Beyer Ethnographic Series">The Beyer Ethnographic Series</ref> Among the [[Ilocano people|Ilocano]], mermaids were said to have propagated and spread through the union of the first Serena and the first Litao, a water god.<ref name="The Beyer Ethnographic Series"/> Among the [[Bicol Region|Bicolano]], mermaids were referred as Magindara, known for their beautiful voice and vicious nature.<ref>Bikol Beliefs and Folkways: A Showcase of Tradition. Nasayao, 2010</ref> Among the [[Sambal]], mermaids called Mambubuno are depicted as having two fins, instead of one.

In the folktale "Mermaid" ([[Cebuano language]]: {{lang|ceb|Ang Kataw}}) localized in [[Cebu]] and [[Bohol]] Provinces, a couple named Juan and Juana is about to have a daughter, but the pregnant wife has a constant craving for [[milkfish]] (Cebuano: {{lang|ceb|{{linktext|awa}}}}). One day his fishing caught nothing, but met a talking milkfish wearing a crown, the "King of the Fishes" (Cebuano: {{lang|ceb|{{linktext|hari |sa |mga}}}}) who offered to give him plenty every day, in exchange for the taking the child later, at 7 years of age. She was eventually swept away by the waves, and presumed lost to the king. The parents, hoping to see her again on the beach did so finally, on a moonlit night, witnessed a black haired woman with the body of a milkfish, whom they knew was Maria.{{Refn|name="alburo-tr"|Alburo, Erlinda K. ed. tr.,<ref name="alburo1977"/> Reprinted in ''The Penguin Book of Mermaids''.{{harvp|Bacchilega|Brown|2019|pp=223–234}} }}