Pokémon is an iconic 90s to 2000s anime that cemented itself in the childhood of aspiring Pokémon masters worldwide. With its imaginative creatures and years-long adventures, there’s no question why the series is beloved among all.
But have you ever wondered what the classic pocket monsters would look like if the show took place in the Philippines?
Filipino artist Jhay Alejo took it upon himself to illustrate the answer through uniquely Filipino creatures.
In his illustrations, Alejo depicted various types and evolved forms of each Pokémon. The Pokémon themselves reflect a distinct part of Filipino culture; Filipino fans of the original series will be excited to see Pokémon named “Starsier” or “Steelapia.”
Other Filipino Pokémon take roots from traditional myths, like the “Trikbalang” and “Blakunawa.”
On his take on the Philippine Pokémon, Alejo told Esquire, “Ever since I was a kid, I loved Pokémon. And since artists left and right are making their own fakemon and regions, I might as well share the Filipino culture through fakemon art.”
Fakemon is a portmanteau of the words “fake” and “Pokémon.” It refers to Pokémon illustrated or drawn up by fans of the series.
While Alejo still hasn’t decided on an official name for the region (he’s thinking of the name Kaisa, after the Filipino word kaisahan), he’s already got a Philippine version of Professor Oak.
“As with the tradition of naming Pokémon professors after trees, mine would be named Professor Acacia,” he stated.
If you’re interested in more of Alejo’s work, check out his social media channels on Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr. The young artist also illustrates characters from Philippine mythology, the video game Genshin Impact, and of course, Pokémon.
