Documenting the Pukdaw Folklore of Barangay Surok, Borongan City, Eastern Samar: Development and Evaluation of a Digital Storybook

This study documented the Pukdaw folklore in Barangay Surok, Borongan City, Eastern Samar, and transformed the various narratives collected through in-depth and concise interviews. Using a qualitative method supported by the ADDE framework (Analysis, Design, Development, Evaluation), the researchers interviewed five elders who have their own prior firsthand experiences related to the creature. The findings revealed that the Pukdaw is believed to have a stone-like creature that dwells in the depths of the water, particularly in the riverine areas of Barangay Surok. Moreover, the creature is perceived as a guardian of the waters, and anyone who abuses its habitat for its resources will meet their end by the creature’s wrath. By using the narratives, the researchers created a narrative digital material containing the visual and the identity of the Pukdaw folklore. The material was evaluated by 10 high school English and Filipino teachers using an evaluation tool adapted from the DepEd Region III Nueva Ecija Evaluation Rating Sheet for Storybooks and Big Books. The results of the evaluation yielded excellent results in all factors, along with recommendations to improve the digital material. The study about the creature Pukdaw held importance in the preservation of local folklore in the Philippines, particularly in Eastern Samar. Documentation of myths and mythical creatures that live in the water is scarce, and the researchers determined that the creature Pukdaw would be a valuable addition to the list of folklore in the Philippines. Although orally transmitted and undocumented, the Pukdaw of Barangay Surok held a significant role in shaping the beliefs and traditions in the community.

Keywords: Pukdaw, Surok, Multimedia, Qualitative

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