In ancient times, people in the Philippine Island believed
that dark, mysterious, night living creatures exist. They were thought to cause
bad harvest, misfortunes, sickness and death. So great care was taken not to displease them.
Sadly, there are still those who believe in them, especially
from the countryside, and remote areas where the march of progress is a bit
slow.
However, in these times of computer age, such creatures were
fast being forgotten. Maximo B. Ramos; a scholar has classified these night
dark beings into twelve groups: Demons, Dragons, dwarves, elves, ghouls,
giants, mercreatures, ogres, vampires, werebeasts, viscera suckers and hexers.
The demons are tall, dark men or men-like creatures. Some
were large bodied and smokes giant cigars (Kapres) some had the head of horses
(Tikbalang) others could perform self-segmentations (Pugot). These demons can
take on various shapes such as carabaos, horses,
pigs or even a ball of fire or they can disappear at will. A
person who is frightened by these creatures goes insane. These creatures live
in huge trees with thick, oval leaves like the Calumpang tree or Balete tree.
Dragons are said to have combined images of other creatures
like snakes, fishes, crocodiles and bird-like. The legends told stories about
giant serpents (Marcupo), island size monster birds (Bawa) and the monstrous
Baconawa of the sea.
Dwarf and dwarf-like creatures are small and their features
are all out of proportions. They were said to have potent powers and at sunset,
they roam the countryside. Because they are invisible, people were extra
careful not to step on or brush off any of these supposed beings as not to rile
them. Dwarves like the "Nuno sa Punso" are said to release a
murderous curse at their oppressors.
Elves are handsome and beautiful beings said to have
albino-like characteristics. Some of these creatures turn ugly after they
married a hapless victim. Elves are said to live in trees and they forbid the
climbing and cutting off their tree home. They are said to retaliate by
releasing powerful hexes at the trespassers. Some elves are said to communicate
with people by whistles and making prank jokes and stealing food.
Ghouls (Aswang) are animal-like with curved nails that they
use to dig the grave. They are also notorious snatchers of living people, especially
children and they also victimize old ailing people. Because of what they do,
ghouls are terribly smelly. And fire, garlic, loud talking, sharp bamboo poles
and copper knives scare them away.
Giants in Philippine folklore seldom hurt people. They were
even legends about them helping farmers and fishermen. They are said to live in
crude houses, and were said to be very stupid.
Ogres are man-eating giants said to live in crude houses.
These creatures are extremely ugly and can change into beasts.
Mandurugo are Philippine vampires who seduce a victim and
gives him a kiss. This "kiss" is actually a blood sucking were the
fiend uses her pointed tongue to bore hole inside the victim's mouth where she
can suck blood.
The self-segmenting viscera suckers (Mananangal) are said to
be the flying variety of the land ghoul (Aswang). They eat the unborn fetus,
the internal organs and the phlegm of tuberculosis sufferers. These looked like
ordinary women by day, but at night, they sprout giant bat wings and separate
their lower half, to fly out in search of victims.
Hexers are like Voodoo Witches. They have small wax or straw
dolls of their victims that they prick needle with. Another type of hexer, called
the Mamalarang (Mambabarang) uses hard- shelled insects to enter the body of
the victim with excoriating pain.
The "Kataw" are Philippine mermaids said to abduct
young boys where they can play with in their undersea domain. They will give
their victim trick questions and if they heard the wrong answer, they will
drown their said victim. If they heard the right answer, they will keep him
alive.
