The Manananggal

When we talk about the manananggal, we sometimes say that it is a type of aswang, as if they are the same mythical creature, but unlike the aswang who is a shape shifter, a manananggal is more of a self-segmenter. 

The word manananggal came from the Tagalog word tanggal = to separate, therefore a manananggal is a someone who can separate itself from its body. Speaking of being a self-segmented, most manananggal is typically depicted as female that divides itself at the level of the torso. The manananggal's upper body starts to grow giant bat-like wings, leaving its lower torso on the ground and its upper torso flying off to hunt their human prey. However, some sources say that there are those manananggal whose head is the one that get detached. Others don’t have wings, but instead it is their intestines that serve as coiled springs in which the creature can hop quite very high.

Interestingly, there are folklore creatures in some neighboring South-East Asian countries that resembles the Manananggal. There’s the Indonesia’s Penenggalan, the Krasue of Thailand, Ap of Cambodia, and the Kasu of Laos which are a lot like the Manananggal in appearance. 

Unlike the aswang, who are ghouls or corpse eater, a mananaggal is a vicera sucker and is known to eat fetuses and the phlegm of people suffering from tuberculosis. Using an elongated proboscis-like tongue, they suck the hearts of fetuses, or the phlegm of someone who is sleeping. It can also eat human adults and enjoys devouring human organs and entrails. It only attacks at night, when everyone is already sleeping. The manananggal makes a small hole from the roof and slowly lowers its tongue to touch the womb. Its tongue is said to be hollow, fine, and sharp like that of a needle. It uses its tongue to suck out fetuses, organs, and entrails of its victims.

To be a manananggal, a ritual must be performed, and a certain oil and a black chicken egg are also important. The oil is applied all over the body. She should rub the oil from the ritual onto her body while reciting the chant and finally, she must keep the  black egg in her armpit until it disappears. The manananggal usually starts out human, but the black egg will hatch inside the body where it will devour the person's own entrails while keeping her alive. Because of this, she will begin to crave for human flesh, and eventually transforms into these hideous man-eating creature.

Garlic, salts, daggers made of lead, a stingray’s tail and bamboo poles are said to repel a manananggal, or you can cut its tongue, but it will not kill it. The only way to destroy this night creature is to prevent it from reuniting with its lower torso until sunrise arrives. So in any manananggal attack,  it is advisable to look where the creature have hidden its lower body and when you found it, pour some ash on it. This will prevent the upper half of the creature to attach itself and when the morning comes and the manananggal is still not attached on its lower half, it will die.