Tabi-tabi Po

The Filipino word tabi-tabi po signifies (excuse me). It is the most prevalent Filipino custom that we follow, particularly when we are going through a forested area or come across a balete tree.  We believe that there are other elements living in that tree or anthills. If you failed to say the word "tabi-tabi po" expect that you will experience unexplainable illness right after, that can only be cured by an "Albularyo" or (folk healer).  From giants smoking tobacco to little, grouchy old guys dwelling in anthills, Filipino folklore is full of elementals. Many Filipino children's childhoods are filled with tales about these monsters, which inspire both curiosity and dread. Many superstitions still exist today when it comes to such creatures.

Let me share you a little story of my grandfather encountering different kinds of elemento. I have published an article before about elemento "A Castle in our School" you can freely check it out if you want to.

When we were little, our grandparents used to tell us a story about them encountering different elemental spirits such as, engkanto, Kapre and duwende. These are the most common elemental spirits in the Philippines.

The Kapre

Kapre is like a dark giant humanoid creature who lives in a huge tree such as acacia, mango, balete and even bamboo. They just usually sits in a tree and smokes cigarettes. They believed that if you ever got lost in a place again and again  that means a Kapre is playing with you. To get rid of it, you'll have to take off your shirt and wear it inside out. I have mentioned in my other article that our house was just right next to our school, and our school was haunted and filled with huge acacia trees around. My grandfather told us this story how he encountered this Kapre which he called "Manoy". It was 11 in the evening when my grandpa wakes up to pee. The wall of our school before isn't concrete yet and it's just a pilled of bamboo. The biggest acacia tree was right in front of the house of my grandparents. When my grandpa went outside, he noticed a smoke coming from the acacia tree. Who would've burned leaves at the middle of the night at that hour? That's what he thought to himself when he saw the smoke. Then he saw a huge dark man holding a huge cigarette smoking in the acacia tree. My grandpa was not a scaredy type of a man, so instead of running heading back to the house. He instead greeted the Kapre in our vernacular language "Maayong Gabie diha noy" which means (Good evening, noy). Then the Kapre stared at him with his red eye.

The Engkanto

Engkantos are the most common elemental spirits. They mostly live in a balete tree or what they called their castle. They said that if you look at your reflection at someone's eyes, and you see your reflection upside down, that means that person is not human and it's an engkanto. They believed that engkantos are the richest of all because it's palace were all gold. We have a neighbor that had been taken by an engkanto. He's been missing for like a week and then he was found right under the acacia tree. They've been wondering he got there all alone. He then said he was in a beautiful castle with a beautiful girl. You can read the rest at my other article here.

Duwende or Nuno

Duwende / dwarfs  or commonly called as Nuno sa punso. If you see a mounds of soil or anthills, they're not just nests for insects like termites and ants. You should never break or even step on it. "Tabi tabi po" was taught to us by our parents in the Philippines, especially in the provinces, whenever we passed by a soil formation or a secluded area where trees and shadows create an air of mysticism. As a result of the fact that it is their home and we should not interfere. Also, it was believed that the inhabitants of these mounds were to blame for sudden fevers, inflammations, and other undiagnosisable diseases. There are different kinds of duwende in the Philippines. There are Good, friendly and evil. Some say that they keep thousands of precious gems and gold under their anthill home. You can ask Duwende for anything you want, and he will oblige. It is possible to ask for gold or gems from a duwende if you are friends with them.

Philippines is also known for its folklore and legends. There are lots of elemental spirits in the Philippines but I will no longer mention them all, I will just give it to other Filipino user who will participate on this prompt initiated by @JonicaBradley

If you would like to participate in this writing prompt please follow these simple steps:

Write anything about monsters, myths, and legends

Write 100% original content

Tag, @JonicaBradley

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Submit to PromptlyJonica here

Lead Image Source

Kapre

Engkanto

Duwende

If you haven't watch this movie, I highly recommend this Filipino animated film in titled "Dayo: Sa Mundo ng Elementalia" it's one of the best Filipino animated film I've seen before RPG Metanoia and Trese.

Author's Note

Thank you guys for passing by and spending some time reading this article of mine.

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Arigathankyougozaimuch ❣️