Compiled and edited by Damiana L. Eugenio — known as the Mother of Philippine Folklore — this third volume in the eight-volume Philippine Folk Literature Series focuses on the legend: extraordinary accounts of happenings believed to have actually occurred. The Introduction offers a detailed characterization of the legend, distinguishes it from the folktale, and presents a system of classification with examples drawn from the collection.

Five categories are represented: heroic and historical legends about epic heroes, historical personages, and figures with extraordinary powers; religious legends recounting miracles of God and His saints; legends of encounters with supernatural beings such as the aswang, cafre, and duende; miscellaneous legends about sunken bells, buried treasure, and the like; and place-name legends. Within each category, selections are arranged by geographic region — Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao — and given in English translation. Intended to be national in scope, the collection draws widely from the country's major ethno-linguistic groups, making it as broadly representative of Philippine legendary tradition as possible.