Aswang, an encompassing term for various shape-shifting malevolent creatures in Filipino folklore, includes vampires, ghouls, witches, viscera suckers, and human-beast hybrids. Reverberating through myths, stories, arts, and films, the aswang holds a significant place in Filipino cultural consciousness, dating back to the 16th century when Spanish colonists noted its status as the most feared mythical creature in the Philippines.
In Bicolano mythology, Asuang, the god of evil and chaos, ruled over the creatures of the night and the monsters of Ibalong. Asuang had two beautiful and powrful daughters, Oryol, half-serpent, and Magindara, half-eel. He also had a hord of creatures under his called ''Aswang'' command. Bestowing his powers upon mortal men and women, Asuang's dark gifts included blackbirds flying from his mouth, which, when consumed by worshippers, transformed them into creatures of the night with a penchant for feeding on humans. Asuang's attempt to steal fire from his brother Gugurang led to disastrous consequences, affecting the entire world and establishing him as the malevolent deity in Bicolano folklore.
Where do Aswangs come from? ( Bicol myths)
Aswangs In Bicol mythology originating from the underworld called Gagambang or transformed mortal humans given dark gifts (black pearl or stone that turns into black chick or birds) by the deity, navigate the night with supernatural abilities, emphasizing their insatiable need for human flesh, blood, or entrails. As the sovereign of monsters, Asuang commands a legion of creatures collectively known as "aswang," that he send to scatter to the Visayas region. symbolizing fear and darkness in Filipino folklore.
Behaviorally, aswangs are nocturnal creatures, often dwelling in cemeteries and woods, with a fear of light and a disdain for noise. Despite their wild and monstrous nature, aswangs can adapt to human communities, infiltrating villages and cities. Traditional Filipino values are inverted in aswang behavior, as they exhibit overtly evil tendencies, targeting even their own kin, contrary to the strong kinship and family closeness valued in Filipino culture.
Various countermeasures against aswang involve holy objects, spices, salt, ash, and other tools for protection. Rituals during childbirth and remedies for miscarriages are devised to prevent aswang attacks. Special anti-aswang oil, holy masses, and other methods are employed to detect and ward off these malevolent creatures.
The origin of the aswang in Philippine folklore is rooted in the archipelagic geography, oral transmission of narratives, and adaptations based on localities. The stories evolved over time, reflecting the fears and cultural intricacies of the Filipino people. As the aswang tradition intertwines with deities like Gugurang and Asuang, it provides insights into the complex dynamics between gods, their interactions, and the profound consequences of their actions on the mortal realm, contributing to the rich mythological heritage of the Philippines.
Aswang, a term encompassing diverse shape-shifting creatures in Filipino folklore, parallels Western entities like vampires, ghouls, witches, viscera suckers, and werewolves. In Bicolano mythology, they served the evil god Asuang, who granted his worshippers dark gifts. These gifts included the power to transform into creatures of the night, empowered by the night itself. The most devoted received stones that transformed into blackbirds, allowing flight and transformation, while others transformed into animals like dogs and boars, gaining strength. However, these dark gifts came with a price—feeding on entrails, flesh, or blood, avoiding salt waters, and venerating the full moon in remembrance of Bulan, Asuang's lunar deity friend.
Aswangs, demonic beings, possess the ability to repeatedly transform, often adopting bestial forms at night. Carnivorous and cannibalistic, they closely resemble humans but differ in biology, mentality, and diet. Their main diet consists of human liver and blood, with a particular affinity for unborn children. Known for preying on children and the sick, aswangs are feared mythical creatures in Filipino folklore, noted by Spanish colonists as the most dreaded among the Philippines' mythical entities during the 16th century.
ASUWANG NA LAYOG - those who can take flight
ASUWANG NA LAKAW - who walk on bipeal or four legs
The Aswang, as per Philippine folklore, is a nocturnal creature with a penchant for human flesh and blood. It possesses the ability to shape-shift into various animals and wields supernatural powers such as witchcraft. The etymology of the term "aswang" remains a subject of ongoing debate. With the advent of Catholicism, the creature was demonized, rendering it susceptible to religious symbols like crosses and holy water.
Dr. Maximo D. Ramos, in his book "The Aswang Syncrasy in Philippine Folklore," classifies the aswang into five categories. These include the blood-sucking vampire (Mandurugo), the viscera-sucker or self-segmenter (Manananggal), the weredog capable of transforming into a dog or boar, the malevolent witch with an evil eye, and the ghoul that steals and consumes corpses.
The belief in the aswang is deeply ingrained in Philippine culture, predating Spanish colonization. Despite scientific and modern advancements, Western Visayas continues to harbor this belief. Urban legends, occasional news reports, and historical suspicions of newcomers perpetuate the fear of encountering the aswang in both rural and urban settings.
Notable stories from the region contribute to the aswang folklore. Teniente Gimo of Dueñas and Maria Labo from Iloilo are infamous figures associated with alleged aswang activities. These tales have permeated popular culture, inspiring films and cementing their place in local lore.
In Capiz, numerous tales and persistent rumors have labeled the province as the "aswang capital of the Philippines." Aswang communities are rumored to exist, although the veracity of such claims remains uncertain. Aklan, on the other hand, has its own classification system for the aswang, detailing variations such as the flying Aswang Lupad and the self-segmenting Aswang Hubot.
Humanoid
Canine
Porcine
Avian
Feline
Aquatic
THE DEITY ASUANG AND HIS ASWANG HORDE IN BICOL MYTHOLOGY
In Bicolano mythology, the powerful deity Asuang, the god of evil and chaos, ruled over the creatures of the night and the monsters of Ibalong. The myth of the aswang, a ghoulish were-dog, is widespread in the Philippines, particularly in Western Visayan regions. Regional variations include terms like "tik-tik," "wak-wak," and "sok-sok." The term "aswang" is often interchangeable with "manananggal" and is commonly associated with female figures.
Aswangs are depicted as shape-shifters, living inconspicuously as regular townspeople during the day and transforming at night into creatures such as cats, bats, birds, boars, or dogs. They exhibit a preference for consuming unborn fetuses and small children, particularly favoring livers and hearts. Some possess proboscises for extracting children from their mothers' wombs or homes. Aswangs are known for their speed, silence, and deceptive noises like the Tik-Tik, designed to confuse victims. The Bubuu is an aggressive type that mimics the sound of a laying hen at midnight. Additionally, aswangs may replace live victims or stolen cadavers with doppelgangers made from tree trunks or other plant materials. The bloodshot eyes of an aswang result from staying up all night searching for wakes to steal bodies. The wide variety of descriptions in aswang stories makes it challenging to define their appearances or activities conclusively.
Asuang (deity)
Evil god of Ibalong lord of all evil creatures and monsters. He had two beautiful daughters one was half serpent from waist down ( Oryol ) and the other was Magindara who was half eel from the waist down. He was sovereign of all the monsters. He also gave his powers to mortal men and women. From his mouth blackbirds flew and entered the mouths of his worshippers giving them powers to transform into creatures of the night that feed on humans. In some stories he also gave black eggs for mortals to swallow and gives power and thus turning a regular man or woman into an ''aswang'' Aswangs In Bicol mythology originating from the underworld called Gagambang or transformed mortal humans given dark gifts (black pear or stone that turns into black chick or birds) by the deity, navigate the night with supernatural abilities, emphasizing their insatiable need for human flesh, blood, or entrails. As the sovereign of monsters, Asuang commands a legion of creatures collectively known as "aswang," symbolizing fear and darkness in Filipino folklore.
In Bicol mythology, Asuang, the evil god of Ibalong, ruled over all creatures and monsters, with two daughters—Oryol, half serpent, and Magindara, half eel. He bestowed dark gifts upon mortals, symbolized by blackbirds flying from his mouth, enabling them to transform into night-dwelling creatures known as "aswang." Originating from the underworld Gagambang, these transformed mortals, granted dark gifts like black stones or eggs, roamed the night with supernatural abilities, driven by an insatiable appetite for human flesh, blood, or entrails.
As the sovereign of monsters, Asuang commanded a legion of creatures collectively named "aswang," instilling fear and darkness in Filipino folklore. Described as tall and attractive, his true monstrous form is revealed in the moonlight. Asuang, once equal to Gugurang, the supreme deity, attempted to steal Gugurang's sacred fire but failed. Residing in Mount Malinao, Asuang, deemed a dark and evil god, shares an intriguing friendship with Bulan, the god of the moon, both worshipped by the cross-dressing priests called "Baylan" or "Asog."
Legend has it that Asuang led hordes of monsters, including flesh-eating, viscera-eating, and blood-drinking creatures named after him. Despite embodying darkness, Asuang's association with Bulan highlights a complex balance between good and evil. Aswangs, empowered by Asuang, exhibit strength under the full moon and are believed to be healed by moonlight.
The genesis of an Aswang involves a ritualistic transfer of power, marked by black stones or small birds emerging from Asuang's mouth. These objects carry the essence of the malevolent deity, transforming the host into an Aswang with supernatural abilities and strength, particularly potent in the cover of night.
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Bangkilan
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Magindara
the Magindara are beautiful but vicious creatures of the sea they are like mermaids but unlike mermaids they eat human flesh. Aswang ng dagat, the Marindaga are half women from waist up and half fish from the waist below. They have colorful and sharp scales.They have enchanting voices that can draw fishermen to their deaths. In Bikolano myth the first Magindara was a demigoddess, beautiful as she was kind. She was the daughter of the evil god Asuang. Magindara had the power to summon storms with her voice. One time Asuang asked Magindara to destroy villages using her voice to summon storms. The kind demigoddess refused. Banished by her enraged father she dived into the sea, many years later beautiful half maiden half fishe creatures appeared from the spot where she was last seen. These lovely mermaids were vicious as they were beautiful, stories say that they would lure fishermen to devour, but their favorite snack were Visayan pirates. Some stories tell that they protect the waters of Ibalong from Visayan raiders and that they do not eat children for the innocence of children is poison to them.
karaniwang Aswang
Aswangs are physically much more like humans at daytime; they only change their figures at night when they feel they are in need of food. It has been said that if an aswang married a human, upon their wedding, their mate would become an aswang as well but seldomly can they reproduce. The couple may hunt together at night but will go in separate routes, either to avoid detection or because they do not like to share their meal.
These creatures are not harmed by sunlight. They are daywalkers. Aswangs can also be befriended, they can talk to you like any normal human being: they laugh, cry, get mad, jealous, hurt, and envy. These creatures do not harm their neighbors. Neighbors were said to be exempted from their target victims for food. They search for food in far away places that it would not be too obvious for them. Aswangs are said to be vulnerable during daytime because they do not have the excessive strength that they have in their nighttime prowl, therefore being weaker than ordinary people. When people know of their identity, they are hunted down and killed.
The dead Aswangs who weren't able to transfer their dark stones to another relative. A vampire-like creature that rises from the dead and feeds upon humans by biting their necks. Their power is transferable, just like that of Aswangs, by the use of a black stone. The heir will swallow the stone, and protrude it for the next generation of Amaranhigs.
Amalanhig
In Waray and Western Visayan folklore, the Amalanhig are flightless aswangs that have returned to life as vampire-like zombies after failing to pass on their power to a relative. These creatures rise from their graves and inhabit the woods, preying on nearby villages at night, using their sharp, pointed tongues to suck the blood of residents.
There are two types of Amalanhigs: those of aswang origins and those of human origin. The former are resurrected aswangs, while the latter are individuals who died with unfinished business or were murdered and seek revenge. Amalanhigs with unfinished business relentlessly pursue their chosen targets, while avenging Amalanhigs tickle their victims to death while draining their life force. The presence of these creatures is often accompanied by the foul stench of their rotting flesh.
Amalanhigs have stiff legs that cannot bend, yet aswang Amalanhigs are remarkably fast and cannot be outrun. Legend suggests that climbing a crooked tree or jumping into a river or body of water can thwart their pursuit. Water has the unique ability to turn an Amalanhig into a pile of worms and maggots, which must be destroyed before the creature can reform.
According to a legend predating the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, a chieftain once commanded his priestess to create an army of immortal warriors. These warriors were made by killing ordinary men, encrusting their bodies with dark soot, placing a peculiar pebble in their mouths, and performing rituals. After three days, the warriors came back to life as mindless, walking corpses, only meeting their demise after completing their assigned tasks.
Binaliw or Tigbaliw
Binaliw, a type of aswang, takes on the appearance of an everyday person. This sneaky creature infiltrates the house of a sick person without being noticed, as it possesses the skill to make itself invisible. Its intention is to whisk away the victim by substituting them with a banana trunk cleverly made to resemble the person. The term "Baliw" or "baylo" is aptly used, meaning "to change."
MANANAGAL
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Mananagal
the Mananagal or the self-segmenters. The Manananggal butchers human prey and feasts on its heart and liver. Imagine seeing a half-bodied, flying creature with wild, flaming eyes and sharp teeth, hungrily searching for its next victim. A manananggal is a beautiful female by day who turns into a blood-devouring monster at night. At midnight, especially on a full moon, it applies a special oil on its body while chanting a prayer. Fangs, claws, and wings emerge until the manananggal separates from its upper torso, usually with its guts hanging out.
The manananggal (sometimes confused with the Wak Wak) is a mythical creature of the Philippines, an evil, man-eating and blood-sucking monster or witch. It is described as hideous, scary, often depicted as female, and capable of severing its upper torso and sprouting huge bat-like wings to fly into the night in search of its victims. The word manananggal comes from the Tagalog word tanggal (cognate of Malay tanggal), which means "to remove" or "to separate", which literally translates as "remover" or "separator". In this case, "one who separates itself". The name also originates from an expression used for a severed torso.
It is said that they mostly prey on sleeping, pregnant women, using an elongated proboscis-like tongue to suck the hearts of fetuses, or the blood of someone who is sleeping. The severed lower torso is left standing, and it is said to be the more vulnerable of the two halves. Sprinkling salt or smearing crushed garlic or ash on top of the standing torso is fatal to the creature. The upper torso then would not be able to rejoin itself and will die by sunrise
Tiktik, a distinct type of Aswang found in the land, possesses a slim and elongated physique, enabling swift running and adept climbing. It is armed with an exceptionally long tongue, which serves as both a weapon and a tool for extracting blood. The modus operandi involves lowering its slender, tubular tongue to pierce the victim's abdomen, particularly targeting unborn children.
AIR TIKTIK
The Flying Tiktik, a winged variation hailing from the Visayas, boasts large wings and emits loud, high-pitched cries during flight. When seeking a slumbering pregnant woman, it infiltrates the house with the ability to crawl on walls, suspending itself inverted above the intended victim. Using its elongated tongue, it pierces the victim's abdomen to feed on the unborn child. Some accounts suggest that the Flying Tiktik is the companion bird of the aswang, assisting in locating target victims. The bird perches on the roof, emitting a distinctive call that lends its name. However, an alternate legend depicts the Tiktik as an adversary of the aswang. Its cry serves as a warning, alerting others to the presence or impending arrival of an aswang and thwarting the fiend's stealthy approach.
Tiyu-an, a variation of the manananggal hailing from Capiz, is a unique kind that lacks wings and doesn't split its body in half. Instead, this creature leaps onto the roof of its victim's house or enters unnoticed. Once there, it extends its tongue into a very long and thin proboscis, piercing the belly of a pregnant woman to suck the blood of the fetus inside. In some instances, it will lick and sniff a severely ill person, draining their life force until the victim succumbs. The tiyu-an is exclusively female and possesses a perpetual puppy companion that never ages. Passed down through generations, this canine companion is believed to be the source of the tiyu-an's powers. When the puppy licks the tiyu-an, it signals that it's hungry, prompting her to embark on a hunting expedition.
Kikik
an over-sized black bird, but you will know when it's near you when you hear a soft "Kikik " sound. When it's far from you, you will hear a very loud "Kikik" sound.
WAK-WAK
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Wak-wak
The Wakwak is a vampiric, bird-like creature in Philippine mythology. It is said to snatch humans at night as prey, similar to the Manananggal and the Ekek in rural areas of the Philippines, due to its ability to fly. The difference between the Mananggal and the Wakwak is that Wakwak cannot separate its torso from its body while the Manananggal can. Some believe it is also a form a vampire takes. Other people contend that a "Wakwak" is a Philippine night bird belonging to a witch.
The Wakwak is often described by old folks to have long sharp talons and a pair of wings similar to those of a bat. It uses its talons or claws to slash its victims and to get their heart. Many say that its wings are also sharp as a knife.
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PATIYANAK
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Patyanak, a spooky fusion of an untimely discharged human fetus and a tiny black bird. Picture it with large round ears, a completely bald head, and an eerie, mournful wail resembling that of an infant. Legend has it that if a pregnant woman hears its cry during the night, a miscarriage might be on the mystical horizon!
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PATIYANAK - Patyanak in Bicol folklore is a frightening entity, is a fusion of an untimely discharged human fetus and a tiny black bird. Upon reaching maturity, it exhibits distinctive features such as large round ears and a completely bald head. Its eerie, mournful wailing closely resembles that of an infant, and if heard during the night by a pregnant woman, it is believed to induce a miscarriage.
Tiyanak
An infant-like creatures that eat the living and terrify children. There origin (some says) are aborted fetuses from mother's womb who took revenge of not giving them birth, or babies who died before receiving baptism.
After death, they go to a place known as Limbo, a chamber of Hell which unbaptized dead people fall into, and are transformed into evil spirits. These phantasms return into the mortal realm in the form of goblins to eat living victims. The tiyanak can also be the offspring of a woman and a demon. It can also be an aborted fetus which comes back to take revenge on its mother. Most Tiyanaks are said to live in forests. If they see a human, they transform into what looks like a normal baby. When the person notices the Tiyanak and comes near to take a look at it, the Tiyanak changes back to its true form and eats its prey.
The true origin of Tiyanak came from the Malaysian creature, Pontianak or Mantianak - a female viscera. They share many similarities, but the Pontianak is the mother who died while pregnant, Tianak is the ghost of the child, not the mother herself.
Whenever we hear Tiyanak, the first thing which come to our mind is an innocent-looking baby, but according to some, they look like dwendes (dwarf). You can kill this monster by means of any pointed instruments, more specifically pointed metal made of silver.
When wandering in or near forested areas, be on the alert when you hear the sound of an infant crying. Don't try to look for it, lest you be the victim of the Tiyanak. The tiyanak is vampiric in nature and begins its monstrous life as an aborted or dead fetus that was not baptized before burial. Evil spirits possess the infant's body and use it to kill by eating the victim's inner organs and drinking its blood.
Ek-ek
These are bird-like humans, much like the Manananggal, except they cannot sever their torsos from their body. These shape shifting aswang monsters turn into large birds or bats and prowls at night. The Ekek is named appropriately, because in its attacking its victim, this monster produces an “ek-ek-ek” sound. In a similar manner
In Philippine mythology, Ekek (or Ek Ek) are creatures who are bird-like humans. They are winged-humans who search for victims at night. They hunger for flesh and blood. They are usually described by old folks as flying creatures that look like the Manananggal but are unable to divide or split their body. Apart from the Manananggal, they are also associated to the Wak Wak because of some similar characteristics. The only difference between a Wak Wak and Ekek is that Ekek has a bill like birds whereas the Wak Wak has none.
The Ekek can transform into a huge bird/bat at night and prowls. Similar to the Manananggal, the Ekek looks for sleeping pregnant women. Then it extends a very long proboscis into the womb and kills the fetus by draining its blood. It is said that while this is taking place, a "ek-ek-ek" sound is often heard. The Ekek fools people into thinking it is far by producing a faint
Ibingan
Numpugot / Numputol
similar to a mananagal the Numpugot however decapitates itself and takes flight. It grows small batlike wings on the back of its head though it doesn’t flap for the Numpugot floats. The Numpugot has shark-like teeth that I uses to rip its victims flesh
BONGO
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| Bonggo |
Bonggo, the feared minister of the deity Aswang. With sunken eyes flashing fire, this ferocious, large, and muscular black humanoid strikes terror with long, black hair, an ugly hairy face, and sharp claws. Vengeful and utterly cruel, Bonggo embodies fear itself.
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Bonggo in Bicol mythology is the dreaded an ancient type of Asuang minister of the deity Aswang, instilled fear with its fiery, sunken eyes. This formidable being was a massive, muscular black humanoid, adorned with long, black hair and a repulsively hairy face. Armed with razor-sharp claws, Bonggo embodied ferocity and cruelty, displaying vengeful tendencies that struck terror into the hearts of those who encountered it.
MANDURUGO
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Mandurugo
the Mandurugo are pretty young women who taken flight by night. They transform into monstrous flying creatures with the head of a woman and the body of a bird of prey
BalBal
a Bal-Bal is a monster that steals corpses whether it is in a funeral or grave and feeds on them. It has a strong sense of smell for dead human bodies. It also has claws and teeth sharp enough to rip the clothing of the dead. Since it eats nothing but corpses, it has a foul breath. Once this monster has spotted and eaten the corpse, it will leave the trunk of a banana tree in the coffin creating an illusion of the stolen body to trick people.
Bal-Bal was also associated to Aswang, Amalanhig, and even to Busaw, which were all flesh eaters. They were classified to one of the most fearful creatures in thePhilippines because of their appearance. They were even described and compared to the vampire of the western continents
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| LAKI |
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The Laki possesses distinct characteristics, featuring hooves resembling those of a goat, skin mirroring the texture of a goat, and an ugly human face. Despite its nightmarish appearance, the Laki is incapable of directly causing harm to humans. Instead, it startles night travelers with its shrill, piercing sounds, creating an atmosphere of eerie surprise. The Laki's existence and transformation unfold within the mythical realm of Bicolano folklore, showcasing the intricate relationships between divine retribution, mischief, and supernatural consequences.
Sigbin
(honorable metion)
Tikbalang
The question of whether the aswang is a tangible threat or a remnant of a bygone era lingers, leaving the truth shrouded in the mystique of Philippine mythology.
REMINDER THIS BLOG IS BICOL MYTHOLOGY AND FOLKLORE
REMINDER
The orally transmitted mythology of the Philippines is intended for sharing and understanding, not for appropriation, commercial exploitation, or the promotion of foreigners and foreign products. It is a dynamic narrative tradition that evolves over time, distinct from the standardized mythologies found in Western and European cultures. Unlike these established mythologies, the Philippine government has not mandated standardized versions of stories and legends.
Orally transmitted stories undergo variations and evolve over time, resulting in numerous different versions. There are many different version told by Filipinos,and retold by Filipinos.
