Ever wondered what mysteries we have here in the Philippines or what made mothers protect their babies at night when the sound of wak wak wak can be heard at night? Or what made fishermen avoid some parts of our territorial seas when traversing? Ever seen people go on hike and go back with their shirts inside out? To understand the culture in the Philippines, their pamahiin or supernatural beliefs should also be made known. One of the most unique qualities of Filipinos would be their act of respect for nature. Nature for Filipinos is not only a source for living but also one that can either bring one blessings or misfortune.
Nature for Filipinos does not only consist of natural resources but also of magical being that can really put a curse on you if you piss them off. Here's a brief and short list of these enchanted creatures you might here about when visiting the rural and mountain areas of the Philippines.
ASWANG
Aswang is a mythical creature that can disguise itself in different forms such as a dog, pig, goat, cat and other animals. When you visit the Philippines, there can be varying descriptions of the Aswang from one region to another. Nevertheless it is commonly described as a shape shifting evil entity, can look like a vampire, ghoul or witch that preys on pregnant women and children. It is believed that Aswang is inherited by a woman from her grandmother.
Kapre
If one can see a big old tree and something smells like burning, it is no doubt a Kapre smoking his tabacco. A Kapre is a tree giant who mostly is depicted to live in ancient trees like the epiphyte, acacia, mango tree and bamboos . Though harmless, most people would be terrified by their looks. They are about 7 to 9 feet tall and are always depicted to be so black. They also have this strong odor that eventually catches human attention.
Tikbalang
This creature is portrayed as half human and half horse that roams in the forests and mountains of the Philippines. When you see Filipino travelers with their clothes inside out, this creature may be the reason for it. Though harmless, he may cause travelers to be lost or to keep going in circles when travelling forests. Travelers need to put on their shirt inside out to not be fooled by this one. In addition, it is believed that they have a golden strand of hair. When someone takes hold of their golden hair, they can control this beast.
Sirena
Guilty for drowning sailors with her voice, Philippines has its own mermaid. The Sirena is often depicted as a beautiful woman sitting on rocks brought by low tide. It is said that these creatures lure sailors in with their voice and when their ships are already in the middle of the ocean, the sirenas would transform into hideous gilled creatures that would sink the boat.
Manananggal
This creature is a relative of the aswang and lurks during a full moon but only on its upper torso, hunting pregnant woman and children. The lower torso is left on the ground. Before transforming, this creature, in its human form would spread oil all over its body before transforming. Nobody can really explain the reason for this. In order to kill this monster, someone needs to look for its lower torso and pour salt in it. These creatures being related to the devil are also rumored to be scared of salt. Once the salt is poured over its lower torso, its upper torso can no longer go back to human form and eventually be killed by sunlight.
Tiyanak
This monster disguises itself as a baby in forests, mountains, riversides, and abandoned places where there might be aborted babies that were dumped. It is believed that these monsters are the souls of babies that were aborted. In order to get their revenge, they mostly let mothers or pregnant woman feel their presence. They intend to kill and eat the unborn babies in their tummy as an act of revenge. When you hear a baby's cry at night, it is best to ignore it and run for you life. In order to scare them off, one should light a match stick and throw it on the direction where one heard the baby's cry.
Diwata/Engkanto
Just like all fairytales, there are good and bad fairies. In the Philippines, one of the reasons why you should respect nature is because of the diwatas. Diwatas are known to be the guardian of nature. It is said that they are fallen angels trapped in earth therefore just like any supernatural being, they can either be good or hurt humans. These creatures can put an spell on humans such as giving unknown diseases, making a traveler lost, hiding his belongings or if diwatas favor you so much, they could put you into an enchanted sleep and invite you into their realm. They will show you their kingdom and really make you fall in love with their place. However, if you don't want to stay there, you should never eat the food they offer you. Once a person has tasted their food, you will be one of them and there is no returning back to the mundane world.
Mangkukulam
Popular in the Visayas region of the Philippines, these are people who perform rituals to curse others. Most similar to voodoo kings and queens, these people are paid to get the job done. Sometimes they are paid to inflict pain, suffering and diseases to one's nemesis and sometimes, they are called to heal diseases or curses inflicted by diwatas and other mythical creatures. In order to avail of their services, one should have a photo or a strand of hair of the person they want to put a curse on. These people are said to have sold their souls to the devil as a trade for the powers and abilities that they possess now. Their abilities are also passed from generation to another. Some call them witch doctors, mambabarang, albularyo, and other more which varies from region to region.
Sigbin
Popular in southern Luzon and in Visayas region, this creature is often depicted as half dog, half goat with legs facing backwards. These creatures are said to feast on sickly children during Holy Week. It is said that as spawns of the devil, they come out during Holy Week to spread havoc and believes that during those time, God is not with the people. They are said to have a master and sleep in clay pots for over a year and to only appear during Holy Week.
White Lady
A kind of ghost but a woman in white. Often, they are seen in historic places or abandoned places where women in the 20th century died during the Spanish, American and Japanese colonization of the Philippines. Though harmless, their presence can be felt by apparitions or appearances in dreams. Some say these are the spirits of the women who were killed, abused, raped and experienced other injustices before dying.
I hope everyone enjoyed this article. I really have a knack for myths and folklore. I think this is part of a country's history and culture which should be preserved and spread. If you have other suggestions on what to write next, comment below please.