My Mother's Aswang Encounter

Let me tell you a story about one of my mother's terrifying experience when she was pregnant. It happened 14 years ago but it's not the only time my mother experience this kind of terrifying moment in her life as a pregnant woman. Before I will start, let me tell you what is an Aswang first.

Aswang is one of the most terrifying supernatural creatures in the Philippines. They have the capability to shape shift and it is because they possess supernatural abilities. They can sometimes turn into an animal. According to the Philippine folklores, they are humans during the day and they interact like an ordinary person to the whole neighborhood. At night, the Aswang will hunt for their prey and they love pregnant women so much.

Now let's go back to my mother's Aswang encounter. It was in the middle of the night. My mother is conceiving my sister and during that time, my father is not around. He has to go fishing and the only people left is my mother and my teenage brother. I was so young during that time, I think I am only 5 years old. The lights suddenly shut down while our neighboring houses still had electricity. It is strange that it is only our house who have no electric light. A few seconds, a loud rasping sound can be heard on our roof. My mother is so terrified and she really know that it is an Aswang. She gets a piece of garlic and salt. In Philippines, we have a belief that these garlic and salt can ward away the supernatural creature due to its unpleasant smell to their nose. My mother is shaking while getting garlic and salt at the same time. What I can remember during that time is that it was so really dark that I can only see the figures of my mom and brother. My brother got a knife and he suddenly open the door, pointing the knife. It is unbelievable that my coward brother suddenly become a man during that time. Thankfully, the lights suddenly came back and the scratches from our roof disappear. I do not know what will happen to my mother during that time if it's just her and me. I am very thankful that my brother didn't let his fear conquer him. I believe that the fierceness of my brother that time made the Aswang go away.

Some people doubt the existence of Aswang, it is because they have never seen or encountered any. Based on the experience of my mother, I believe in their existence. I also believe in supernatural creatures (the entity we cannot see). We cannot prove their existence because they are not ordinary beings just like us humans. It is really true that we are not the only creatures living in this world.

If other countries have their vampires, we also have our version here in Philippines except they are more attracted to the fetus of pregnant women. They say you will know if an Aswang is near if you will hear a birdlike sound in the middle of the night. A pregnant woman shouldn't sleep alone especially when the window is open.

Some additional facts about Aswang creatures:

•They eat the heart and livers of unborn fetuses using their very lengthy tongue that can extend from the roof to the ground.

•They can take their victims and replace them with a doppleganger at home and return them sick and die naturally so that the relatives won't suspect about it.

•The name Aswang comes from the Spanish word "Azura" meaning demon.

In these modern times, some people disregard the existence of Aswang. I also don't believe in this creature but after hearing my mother's experience with it including the experience of other mothers I have met, they all have the same stories. Even my classmate who told her boyfriend about this case cannot believe at the existence of Aswang. She also retells the story of what her father experienced when they were on the farm. It's really scary that the unbelievable things are actually true. If only humans can see beyond the lens, we would probably see a lot of different strange creatures.

November 2, 2022

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