philippine myth

She may not be Rapunzel but this female aswang from Philippine folklore has hair to die for...literally. Sa lumang paniniwala ng mga Karay-a sa Probinsya ng Iloilo, may isang uri ng babaeng aswang na lumalabas pagkagat ng dilim bilang gumagapang na kumpol ng buhok. Binabalot nito ang taong...

The alan of Tinguian folklore are as big as humans but with certain deformities. They have wings for arms, which they use to fly, and skin as tough as carabao hide, and their fingers point backward from their wrists while their toes are at the back of their feet. They spend some of their time...

In some parts of Mindanao, the mantianak or manti-anak is the vengeful spirit of a *******t woman who died before giving birth. Thinking that she could have lived had she not been impregnated by a man, she blames all men for her untimely demise. She returns as a wraith with a hole or slit in her...

The sigbin or amamayong are creatures resembling a cross between a dog, a goat, and a kangaroo a bit larger than a goat and have whip-like tails. Although four legged they mostly hop on their longer hind legs. They have wide ears that clap when they’re on the move. At sunset or during the night...

In the olden days in Quezon Province and in Laguna, the sipay is believed to be a mysterious man (allegedly hired by people engaged in the construction of bridges and buildings) who snatches children who are outdoors at 3 p.m. or after sunset and carries them off inside a sack (some say the sack...

Folklore about the mermaid-like sirena is popular throughout the Philippine archipelago. All sirena appear as women with fish tails instead of legs. However, there are varying accounts about the appearance of the sirena. Some say they have seaweed-like hair, a pair of small holes in place of a...

The tambaloslos of Bicolano and Visayan folklore is a dark and hairy humanoid creature with a large mouth, thick protruding lips which cover its eyes when it laughs, and round eyes. Some say this creature is only two feet tall while others claim it’s tall but very skinny with long arms and legs...

The blood-sucking mandurugo of Philippine folklore use their beauty to attract and prey on men. In the olden days a mandurugo would get married to a healthy, plump youth to ensure a constant supply of blood every night. The tip of her hollow tongue tapers to a needle point and pierces the...