The Legend of Baday: A Folklore Study of Barangay Maybocog Maydolong Eastern Samar

This study aimed to document the folklore of the Baday in Barangay Maybocog, Eastern Samar and transform the gathered narratives into a multimedia storytelling output. Specifically, the study sought to (1) gather and document stories, accounts, and cultural knowledge related to the Baday, (2) develop a multimedia storybook based on the collected narratives, and (3) evaluate the quality and acceptability of the developed material. The study employed a qualitative, practice-based research design guided by a modified ADDIE framework consisting of the Analysis, Design, Development, and Evaluation phases. Data were collected through qualitative interviews with five (5) residents of Barangay Maybocog who were familiar with the legend of the Baday. The gathered narratives were analyzed thematically to identify common elements of the folklore, including its origin, physical description, cultural meaning, and moral role within the community. The findings revealed that the Baday is widely recognized by residents as a mysterious entity associated with riversides and fishing areas, particularly appearing at night. Respondents described the Baday as resembling a glowing or flaming farmer’s straw hat or a shadowy presence that manifests in quiet areas. The legend portrays the Baday not as a harmful creature but as a warning figure that reminds individuals to behave respectfully, especially toward nature and during nighttime activities. These documentedelements served as the foundation for developing a narrative and visual design for the digital storybook. Based on the analysis of the gathered data, a multimedia storybook titled The Baday of Maybocog was developed. The storyline, script, storyboard, and visual illustrations were created based on the descriptions and cultural context provided by the respondents. The final material was evaluated by ten (10) expert evaluators using the modified DepEd–Nueva Ecija Evaluation Rating Sheet for Storybooks and Big Books. The evaluation results showed that Factor 1 (Story Components) obtained an overall mean rating of 4.7, interpreted as Excellent and Highly Acceptable, indicating that the narrative structure, characters, visuals, language, and cultural representation effectively meet the required standards. Meanwhile, Factor 2 (Physical and Design Aspects) obtained an overall mean rating of 4.4, also interpreted as Excellent and Highly Acceptable, suggesting that the prints, book design, and paper and binding of the material are appropriate and well-constructed for its intended use. Overall, the results demonstrate that the developed multimedia storybook is a highly acceptable material for cultural preservation and educational purposes

Baday, folklore preservation, digital storytelling, multimedia research, ADDIE framework, Eastern Samar.

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