🕯️ Traditions Philippine folklore: aswang sa kalibonan

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The hairy aswang sa kalibonan (literally, “aswang of the forest”), a.k.a. aswang panlibonan, ungong panlibonan, aswang sa talon, of the Visayan forests is an ancient aswang with a tongue that can stretch to great lengths and a foul-smelling long hair which it uses to strangle and suffocate victims. It lives away from human habitations and resides deep in the jungle. From time to time, when it wants to taste human flesh, it lurks in the outskirts and ambushes anyone who happens to pass by. It may also show itself bent over on the forest floor to a person before attacking. It can render a person unconscious by stuffing the victim’s mouth and nose with its long, wire-like hair – the stench of which can make anyone faint. Also, it may lie in wait underwater in a river or a stream and drown the person who takes a dip near it. It keeps a flock of black chicks which it gives to people who wish to become aswang. The smell of a certain stink bug known in Hiligaynon as tsangaw is associated with the aswang sa kalibonan’s presence.