Cultural Meanings of Folklore Material

The Kaperosa, as a being, embodies the female ghost. According to Spike (2021), he posits that the distinct color of the white lady plays into the image of many Filipinos. The binary oppositions of light and dark create the notion that the Kaperosa stands out in the dark, and its whiteness may be attributed to a bad omen, as white cloths are often wrapped around the bodies of corpses. The color white may also be linked to the status of the Kaperosa, being married or almost married, as a symbol of purity. In essence, the color white may look innocent, but when played into the mental imagery of many Filipinos, it may present as something cold, ominous, and vengeful.

Universal meanings paint the Kaperosa not just a ghost but a repression of the underpinnings of Filipino society. Spike (2021) calls this a “hungry ghost” who is forced to meddle with the material plane. Often representing narratives of abuse, suffering, grieving, and death. To gain salvation, the Kaperosa haunts and society leans into the revenge of the man and their use of brute force against a woman. Hence, many accounts may come from male individuals who drive late at night. 

Perhaps, one cultural meaning that can be explicated in the folklore materials is the extensive use of nature and trees as the space where the Kaperosa resides. Unexplained mysteries (n.d.) posited that Balete trees have been regarded as homes for many mysterious creatures, like the Kapre. The image of the Balete and its long branches serves as a cautionary tale for elders to scare their children. Hence, pointing, cutting, or tampering with a Balete tree is considered taboo. Additionally, the binary oppositions of nature and progress mark the importance of the Pine trees in the folklore material as something that is alluring yet mysterious. Where truths, violence, and sufferings are hidden. Its thick brushes and tall stature are intimidating, like walls that close on beings that are not meant to roam the material plane.

Personally, the folklore materials I have chosen reflect my greater understanding of the Kaperosa as an axis mundi among many rural communities across the Philippines. It provided me with insights into human behavior, the cultural nuances of the select communities, and the values of people based on the anecdotes that I have explicated. Additionally, the meaning of these folklore materials to me is that orality still stands as s dominant form in the transmission of the stories with regard to the Kaperosa. On a much greater scale, orality provides a greater examination of cultures and how communities value nature and the imagery of womanhood. Because Kaperosa or White Lady is part and parcel of the rural and urban life of many Filipinos. It is shared through generations and goes through both oral and written traditions. This offers a glimpse of their past and how they value nature and womanhood.

Today, the tales of the Kaperosa are often documented digitally or in writing. Orality persists among many communities, but changes are minimal. Often, encounters are sometimes televised through mainstream media, and a greater flak of paranormal experts test the validity of the Kaperosa. Whether real or not, the identity and image ingrained by the Kaperosa on Filipino communities remains a harrowing reminder of their alluring nature. Providing much discourse on gender, history, and folkloristics.