Diwata

Diwata

 Description
Diwata,engkantada(from Spanish: encantada, "enchantress, charmed") or engkanto(from Spanish: encanto, "spell, incantation, charm") are fairies, nymphs, goddesses or enchanted persons who are believed to guard natural creations such as forests, seas, mountains, land and air. Diwatas are said to reside in large trees, such as acasia and balete. They are the guardian sprits of nature, bringing blessings or curses upon those who do good or harm to the forests and mountains. One famous diwata is  Maria Makiling guardian of Mount Makiling in Laguna province. Engkanto (sometimes spelled Encanto) is an umbrella term for most supernatural beings. The common connotation is that they are fairies who reside primarily in the forests and the sea. They can also be called encantado (male) or encantada (female).

Characteristics
Although there are numerous and varied accounts as to what they should look like, a general trend may be observed in that they are normally human in appearance—beautiful and seemingly ageless at that—save for some distinct characteristics. This may take the form of not having a philtrum or having continuously smooth and supple skin that somehow resemble fingernails, without any wrinkled parts as in the elbows and knees. They also tend to be fairer than average, as pale skin has been associated with the supernatural even during pre-colonial times (for example, the "white lady" belief is prevalent in the East and Southeast Asian regions), though the characteristics of having nose bridges and blonde hair are suspiciously colonial in nature.

Duwende

Duwende

Description
Duwende are goblins, hobgoblins, elves or dwarfs,They are little creatures who can provide good fortune or bad fate to humans. In the Philippines, duwendes frequently live in houses, in trees, underground, termite like mound or hill, and in rural areas. They are known to be either good or mischievous, depending on how homeowners treat them. They usually come out at 12 noon for an hour and during the night. Filipinos always mutter words ("tabi-tabi po" or "bari-bari apo ma ka ilabas kami apo") asking them to excuse themselves for bothering the Duwendes. Filipinos would leave food on the floor, so that the duwende residing (or guarding) the house would not be angry with them.They also take your things,and laugh at you when you try to find it.They give it back when they feel like it,or when you tell them to please give it back.

Stories
was born and raised in the Philippines. We moved to the U.S. when I was 11-years old. This story took place in the Philippines when I was 7-years old. I can recall some of the stuff that happened to me, but not to the fullest. My uncle retold the story again to me later on when I got a little older. And then from time to time when we have family gatherings, someone in my family would re-tell the story again as it was a bit mind boggling!

The story started when my Dad and I went to visit his sister, my Aunt and my cousins in the province. My Aunt has 3-children; one is my age and the other two are a couple of years older than I was. When we got to their house, I remember my Aunt and cousins came running out of the house to greet us with such joy and excitement.

After the initial visiting, my cousins and I went outside to play Hide & Seek. My older cousin was the seeker while everyone else hid. My Aunt's house was out in the woods. Her house was surrounded by mountains and trees after trees and tall grasses.

There's this belief in the Philippines that most Duwende's [Dwarfs] lives in the forest or a place where there's lots of trees. And if you cross their path, without saying "Tabi-Tabi Po Nuno" (MEANING: Pardon or Excuse me little people) they will cast you a bad spell. It all depends on the Duwende you came across with. Some are nice and some are evil. If you cross an evil Duwende, he/she can cast a death wish on you, some can give you warts all over your body and make you ugly and hideous, so people will be disgusted of you and don't want to be around you.

Back to playing Hide & Seek. My cousin was the seeker and everyone hid. I wanted to hide where my cousin couldn't find me. So I saw this VERY BIG tree, what seemed to be like a hundred year old tree. Around it, I found a little hole and that’s where I hid. Without thinking and forgetting what my elders told me about Duwende’s, I forgot to say what we're supposed to say and hid a long time in the tree. After what seemed to be forever hiding, I came out of the hole and went back to where my cousins were. They said that they have given up looking for me, since they didn't find me anywhere.

That evening before dinner, I started not feeling too good. I remember the shivers, the many trips to the bathroom vomiting and after that I can honestly say that I don't remember what else happened. But my Dad and Aunt told me that I was practically in a comma for 3-days. They said that in some cases, I was hallucinating. I would sweat heavily, laughed, cried and sometimes I talk to someone in front of me as if someone was there. But there was no one there. They even took me to a local hospital, but the Doctors couldn't tell my family what was wrong with me.

So my Aunt asked her kids what we did outside. My cousins told my Dad and Aunt, that all we did was played Hide & Seek. They said that I was gone a long time and that they couldn't find where I hid. My Dad and Aunt then knew that maybe I was a victim on an evil Duwende. They took me to an Albularyo (Witch Doctor) to find out what was wrong with me. As my Dad explained to me, he said that as soon as they brought me inside the Witch Doctor's house, the Witch Doctor knew that I was being played or something evil was in my presence.

The Witch Doctor lit a candle. Took a tub and poured about an inch or two of water in it. Then she mixed a few drops of some special oil that comes from a plant with the water. While chanting in some weird language, she took the lit candle and poured the melted wax in the tub with the water and oil. As she poured the wax, a figure started to form. My Uncle said that the melted wax on the water formed a huge tree with the hole. Inside the hole was a human (which was supposed to be me) and around me was about 4 or 5 Duwende's. Some where just standing there staring at me and some looked like they were throwing something at me.

So the Witch Doctor had advised my family to take me back where that big tree was and to say "Tabi-tabi po Nuno" and bring some fruits for offerings. That same day, my Dad and Aunt took me to the tree and excused me from any wrong doings and brought with them plenty of fruits. All I remember was waking up the next day without any recollections of what had happened to me!

Encounters with Duwende

by:MJ

This story took place in the Philippines when I was 7-years old. I can recall some of the stuff that happened to me, but not to the fullest. My uncle retold the story again to me later on when I got a little older. And then from time to time when we have family gatherings, someone in my family would re-tell the story again as it was a bit mind boggling!

The story started when my Dad and I went to visit his sister, my Aunt and my cousins in the province somewhere in bulacan. My Aunt has 3-children; one is my age and the other two are a couple of years older than I was. When we got to their house, I remembered sobrang excited ng tita ko to welcome me.

Later on my cousins and I went outside to play Hide & Seek. My older cousin was the seeker while everyone else hid. My Aunt's house was out in the woods. Her house was surrounded by mountains and trees after trees and tall grasses. Sobrang presko talaga at wala kang maaamoy na usok ng sasakyan.

There's this belief in the Philippines that most Duwende's [Dwarfs] lives in the forest or a place where there's lots of trees. And if you cross their path, without saying "Tabi-Tabi Po Nuno" (MEANING: Pardon or Excuse me little people) they will cast you a bad spell. It all depends on the Duwende you came across with. Some are nice and some are evil. White duwended known as nice and Black duwende known as evil.

Back to playing Hide & Seek. My cousin was the seeker and everyone hid. I wanted to hide where my cousin couldn't find me. So I saw this VERY BIG tree, what seemed to be like a hundred year old tree. Around it, I found a little hole and that’s where I hid. Without thinking and forgetting what my elders told me about Duwende’s, I forgot to say what we're supposed to say and hid a long time in the tree. After what seemed to be forever hiding, I came out of the hole and went back to where my cousins were. They said that they have given up looking for me, since they didn't find me anywhere.

That evening before dinner, I started not feeling too good. I remember the shake, the many trips to the bathroom vomiting and after that I can honestly say that I don't remember what else happened. But my Dad and Aunt told me that I was practically in a comma for 3-days.
Akala nila mamamatay na ako. They said that in some cases, I was hallucinating. I would sweat heavily, laughed, cried and sometimes I talk to someone in front of me as if someone was there. But there was no one there. They even took me to a local hospital, but the Doctors couldn't tell my family what was wrong with me.

Until a neighbor of my tita, aling cely told them to call a “albularyo”. Then suddenly an aold woman came, she just look at me at lit a candle. Took a tub and poured about an inch or two of water in it. Then she mixed a few drops of some special oil that comes from a plant with the water. While chanting in some weird language, she took the lit candle and poured the melted wax in the tub with the water and oil. As she poured the wax, a figure started to form. My Uncle said that the melted wax on the water formed a huge tree with the hole. Inside the hole was a human (which was supposed to be me) and around me was about 4 or 5 Duwende's. Some where just standing there staring at me and some looked like they were throwing something at me.

The albularyo advise my family to take me back where that big tree was and to say "Tabi-tabi po Nuno" and bring some fruits for offerings. That same day, my Dad and Aunt took me to the tree and excused me from any wrong doings and brought with them plenty of fruits. All I remember was waking up the next day without any recollections of what had happened to me..

Kapre

Kapre

Description

is a Philippine mythical creature that could be characterized as a tree demon, but with more human characteristics. It is described as being a tall (7 to 9 ft), brown, hairy male with a beard. Kapres are normally described as smoking a big tobacco pipe, whose strong smell would attract human attention. The term kapre comes from the Arabic "kaffir", meaning a non-believer in Islam. The early Arabs and the Moors used it to refer to the non-Muslim Dravidians who were dark-skinned. The term was later brought to the Philippines by the Spanish who had previous contact with the Moors. Some historians speculate that the legend was propagated by the Spanish to prevent Filipinos from assisting any escaped African slaves.
Natural habitat and Attire

Kapres are said to dwell in big trees like acacias, mangoes, bamboo and banyan (known in the Philippines as balete). It is also mostly seen sitting under those trees. The Kapre is said to wear the indigenous Northern Philippine loincloth known as bahag and according to some, often wears a belt which gives the kapre the ability to be invisible to humans. In some versions, the kapre is supposed to hold a magical white stone, a little smaller in size than a quail egg. Should any person happen to obtain this stone, the kapre could grant wishes

 Stories
In the apartment where I used to live, townhouse Apartment, my room was located at the left side of the house. I have one big window, outside there's one big old tree. When you look outside you will see other houses but the old tree blocked most of the views. I choose that room because of that tree because I like the smell of the green leaves and hearing singing birds in the morning.

One night it all changed into something I never anticipated. I was preparing myself to sleep when I have this thought of closing the window that night. I always want the window open because I like the cold fresh air but since I'm already enjoying the comfort of my bed I just ignored the feeling and closed my eyes. A few minutes later as I was just starting to fall asleep I heard a weird voice, it is like someone clearing its throat, and it was very lucid and eerie.

I was alarmed, asked myself "What is that? A dog? There's no dog in this compound (not allowed) and the voice was too big for a dog, a horse? Who will bring a horse to an apartment? It's not possible, oh maybe something from the neighbor? Then what kind of sound would it be?"... Don't know what to think. It woke my veins and blood up so I listened very carefully if I will hear it again. Then there it goes, it's like a short deep hum of an old big person this time, (I can't really explain the exact sound of it) but still deep voice of something really big. I'm all alone in my room and I was stunned.

I still try to make a sense out of it, thinking oh maybe it is just something. But the third time was more terrifying for it became louder and closer to my window. My bed was located at the middle of the window where I can easily peep at that big tree and moon whenever I like... It's a bad idea after all. Too terrified to glance at whatever it is so I just cover myself with my blanket frozen until I fall asleep.

The next morning I told my sister and friends (close neighbors) about it because I want to know if they also heard something like that. They all said it's the "Kapre" who lives in that big tree. There was a time Ryl my friend, was at the laundry room when she smell a tobacco smoke coming from that tree. The laundry room was an open area at the back of every apartment where the tenant could place and dry their clothes from direct sunlight it doesn't have elevated walls so you could easily see the tree. She thought who would light dead grasses in this time of night? She immediately left the room when she remembers the big tree.

Since then I keep my windows closed before it gets dark... A few months later the big old tree was cut down. I don't know if I will believe about Kapre but the voice really scared my whole being.

For those who's not familiar with Kapre:

Kapre is a creature that could be characterized as a tree demon, but with more human characteristics. It is described as being a tall (7 to 9 ft), brown, hairy male with a beard. Kapres are normally described as smoking a big tobacco pipe, whose strong smell would attract human attention. 

My Kapre Experience
by:Mr X

This story happened when I was in my elementary level. It was on summer vacation then and me and my siblings always spend our vacation at may titas house in Project 2, Quezon City if hindi din lang kami uuwi ng province, my parents would love us to expel sa house ng tita ko na sister ng father ko.

I dont know how to describe the whole place but there was a big tree beside of the house itself as in parang naka-sandal yung tree sa bahay. Everytime we stayed there, our room was located at the left side of the house which is nasa tabi ng window yung tree that when you look outside you will see other houses but the old tree blocked most of the views.

When you go outside of the house makikita mo yung malaking playground sa tabi ng tree which doon kami naglalaro, doon na din nagsasampay ng damit yung maid and if ever there is party doon na din ginagawa ang party.

One night it all changed into something I never anticipated. I was preparing myself to sleep, nasa kabilang room pa mga sister ko at pinsan watching a cartoon movie. My tita and Tito was not yet home that time dahil umattend sila ng party, and the maid naman nasa room na nya. I didnt noticed that naka wide open pala yung window infront of the tree. Bigla itong kumalabog as in "blag" talaga...nagulat ako pero hindi naman ako natakot lalo na at naririnig ko naman mga boses ng cousin ko at sister na nag-sisigawan and some neighbors outside, then medyo windy pa sa labas. When I have this thought of closing the window that night...mejo parang natakot naman ako so i went to the room of the maids and ask the yaya to close it for me.

Then she came over, when she is about to close it, we both heard some puffing...
just like puffing of a person who is smoking. We just look at each other but didn’t talk about it. I guess nag-papalakasan ng loob. She still continues to close the window. Then she goes back to her room and I lay down in our bed. That time am still alone in the room. A few minutes later as I was just starting to fall asleep I heard a weird voice, a voice of a big man who is like coughing or saying “ehhurrmmm” it is like someone clearing its throat, and it was very lucid and creepy, then again I heard the puffing. What is very frightening now is he is topping outside of the window!! As if someone is knocking! But who is it? Nasa 2nd floor kaya ang room namin!

The lights in the room was already off, and the curtain of the window is not that thick so you can still spot the shadow outside especially if there were lights outside or if the moon is very shining/clear or if its full moon, you can see any shadow outside of the window. The creepy noise is getting louder and louder that i couldn't take it anymore I quickly stand from bed and there...there i saw the shadow of the big hand!!!! can you guyz imagine that??? shadow of the hand not only a hand but a BIG HAND! and a shadow of a fur around the hand, imagine that!! The gigantic hand was topping or something like knocking outside the window... I was stunned!

..I really Don't know what to do that time, sa sobrang takot ko napaihi na ako sa underwear ko, I swear I experienced that! and i couldnt even shout to call everybody in the house! It woke my veins and blood up. Nakatitig lang ako sa shadow, hindi ako maka-galaw. Naninigas na ako...and i fainted...i duno what happened..



The next morning, when i woke up, nasa harap ko lahat sila, may tita and cousins and sisters...mataas na pala lagnat ko..then kinuwento ko nangyari. My tita knew about the "kapre" pero she didn’t mind me at all, kibitz-balikat lang at hindi manlang nakitaan ng takot, my tita knew about the kapre pero tinatago nya ito sa mga anak nya dahil nga matatakot mga ito.. but because of what happened to me sympre nalaman na din ng mga cousins ko, and because i told them about it.

One more thing, marami na din palang experience yung mga maid at tita ko but they not minding it at all. Esp yung maid naman eh galing ng probinsya at talagang nakakita sya ng mga hindi nakikita ng normal na tao. There was a time that the maid was at the laundry room when she smell a tobacco smoke coming from that tree. The laundry room was an open area at the back of every apartment where the tenant could place and dry their clothes from direct sunlight it doesn't have elevated walls so you could easily see the tree. She thought who would light dead grasses in this time of night?

The following month my tita find a new place for them.

For those who's not familiar with Kapre:

Kapre is a creature that could be characterized as a tree demon, but with more human characteristics. It is described as being a tall (7 to 9 ft), brown, hairy male with a beard. Kapres are normally described as smoking a big tobacco pipe, whose strong smell would attract human attention.

Tiyanak

Tiyanak

 

Description

Tiyanak or impakto are babies who died before receiving baptism rites. After death, they go to a place known as Limbo, a chamber of Hell where unbaptized dead people fall into, and 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 the aborted fetus, which comes to life 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, that's when the Tiyanak changes back to its true form and eats its prey.

Origin

There are various stories on how tiyanaks came to being. The Mandaya people of Mindanao claim that the tiyanak is the spirit of a child whose mother died before giving birth. This caused it to be "born in the ground", thus gaining its current state. A similar supernatural creature in Malay folklore is the Pontianak, which was a woman who died before giving birth.
With the Spanish conquest colonization of the Philippines in the 16th century, the tiyanak myth was integrated into Christianity. The tiyanak in the Christian version were supposedly the souls of infants that died before being baptized. In modern-day Philippines, this definition has extended to that of aborted fetuses that returned from death to seek revenge on those who deprived it of life.

Bungisngis

Image of Bungisngis

Description
Bungisngis is a one-eyed giant. This Philippine folklore giant lives in forest and woods. It is a happy and a playful cyclops. It is also commonly known as 'Mahentoy' in the northern part of Davao.

The Bungisngis has a humanoid shape. It has large teeth which are always showing, and its upper lip covers its face when it is thrown back. Two long tusks project from the side of its mouth. The giant only has one eye, which is found in the middle of its forehead, but this is compensated by its strong sense of hearing. It has also displays unusual strength. In the Filipino tale "The Three Friends - The Monkey, The Dog and The Carabao, The giant is able to lift the carabao and throw it with such force that it ends knee-deep in the ground. However, despite its strength, the bungisngis is easily outwitted and quickly panics. In the tale of the Three Friends, Monkey's tricks led him to his death.

Aswang Rampant in Capiz

Aswang Rampant in Capiz

 Aswang

Description of aswang

Sometimes aswang is the generic term applied to all types of mythological creatures, ghosts, manananggals, tiktik, tikbalang and monsters. Though the aswang is often confused with manananggal, they are different creatures. There are also characteristics and features that the Aswang also varies from Filipino to Filipino. Aswang comes from the dreams of sex.

Superstitions

Aside from entertainment value, mothers are said to tell their children stories about aswangs to keep them off the streets and keep them home at night. Similar to Count Dracula of Transylvania in Vampire stories, the most popular characters are the clan of Teñente/ Tenyente/ Tiniente Gimo, in Dueñas, Iloilo.

Stories on close encounter with aswang

I have numerous experiences with ghosts or whatever they might be but this one I would never forget. It happened when I moved up to Calamba from Paranaque due to my new job location. I rented a penthouse; it's on the rooftop on a two story building apartment. I'm living with my girlfriend and in the first weeks we began to experience strange things, at first we tried to hold these from each other but then began to discuss them among ourselves. I told her at times I would hear a male voice whistling in a merry tone or some people (a female) conversing in the middle of the afternoons which to my surprise she hears them too. She then told me she would catch at time in the corner of her eyes a silhouette rushing through the door which I do also encounter.

Her elder sister one time visited and stayed with us and during the first day she said she sense something in the house but told us it was guarding the house or we and we need not to be afraid. She told us these even we don't tell her any stories of it.

Now, the worst one, we are experiencing this scratching, something like crawling or walking in our roof, at time we would hear thuds. I already have hints it's an ASWANG, I was so angry at it that I would curse at it when when we heard the sounds.

I got 2 handguns with me a.38 and.45, a samurai and a number of knives which I collected. I would get out of the house armed and with a flashlight and threw stones on our roof, ready to shoot anything that comes off of it.

It was one night my spitz dog which I tied to the backdoor was crying in the middle of the night and I knew it's starting again. Slowly with all the lights off I approached the backdoor and I heard the only sound that I cannot decide what kind or where it was coming from. It was somewhat coming afar, it says Kaaaak! Kaaak, sounds like a bird or what ever that is scaring the hell out of my dog. I was told that the aswang sounds afar when it is near you.

My dog was really scared with her body pressed against the backdoor crying. I was just waiting for the doorknob to turn and I'm really going to blow this aswang away if it intends to go through my backdoor so I click on the hammer of my gun and got into a position. Suddenly the sound stops. Probably heard the gun-clicking, my eyes were all over the place, looking the window direction or any. It was dark and I don't if he already managed to slip in the house.

I let out a curse for the aswang to hear seconds later there was nothing. Soon I was back in the bed and we heard rattling on our roof and again with my gun and a knife, my girlfriend along with me we went out of the house. I'd say past 12 midnight maybe and checked out our roof. I told her to throw garlic's and salt in the roof and around the house especially on the doors path. It was then that it all stops for months.

It was then we are sitting outside the house enjoying the moon that night when she notices something flying, flapping it's wings at points it to me, to my surprise I cannot make something to what I see, brown in color maybe the size of a dog some 100 meters away maybe and my girlfriend and just look at each other and we both agree its no big bird or bat it is, it was flying slow and I'm totally sure its now owl too, I've seen owls they don't get that big nor fly that way.

Today I sleep with my guns and knives beside me, I was told to wet the bullets with my saliva to have them penetrate these beings the same way I did with my samurai and knives sharpness. Who knows I maybe the first one to kill some of things or whatever they maybe.

My first encounter with Aswang

By:stranger


I have numerous experiences with ghosts or whatever they might be but this one I would never forget. It happened when I moved up to Calamba from Paranaque due to my new job location.

I rented a penthouse; it's on the rooftop on a two story building apartment. I'm living with my girlfriend and in the first weeks we began to experience strange things, at first we tried to hold these from each other but then began to discuss them among ourselves. I told her at times I would hear a male voice whistling in a merry tone or some people (a female) conversing in the middle of the afternoons which to my surprise she hears them too. She then told me she would catch at time in the corner of her eyes a silhouette rushing through the door which I do also encounter.

Her elder sister one time visited and stayed with us and during the first day she said she sense something in the house but told us it was guarding the house or we and we need not to be afraid. She told us these even we don't tell her any stories of it.

Now, the worst one, we are experiencing this scratching, something like crawling or walking in our roof, at time we would hear thuds. I already have hints it's an ASWANG, I was so angry at it that I would curse at it when when we heard the sounds.

I got 2 handguns with me a.38 and.45, a samurai and a number of knives which I collected. I would get out of the house armed and with a flashlight and threw stones on our roof, ready to shoot anything that comes off of it.

It was one night my spitz dog which I tied to the backdoor was crying in the middle of the night and I knew it's starting again. Slowly with all the lights off I approached the backdoor and I heard the only sound that I cannot decide what kind or where it was coming from. It was somewhat coming afar, it says Kaaaak! Kaaak, sounds like a bird or what ever that is scaring the hell out of my dog. I was told that the aswang sounds afar when it is near you.

My dog was really scared with her body pressed against the backdoor crying. I was just waiting for the doorknob to turn and I'm really going to blow this aswang away if it intends to go through my backdoor so I click on the hammer of my gun and got into a position. Suddenly the sound stops. Probably heard the gun-clicking, my eyes were all over the place, looking the window direction or any. It was dark and I don't if he already managed to slip in the house.

I let out a curse for the aswang to hear seconds later there was nothing. Soon I was back in the bed and we heard rattling on our roof and again with my gun and a knife, my girlfriend along with me we went out of the house. I'd say past 12 midnight maybe and checked out our roof. I told her to throw garlic's and salt in the roof and around the house especially on the doors path. It was then that it all stops for months.

It was then we are sitting outside the house enjoying the moon that night when she notices something flying, flapping it's wings at points it to me, to my surprise I cannot make something to what I see, brown in color maybe the size of a dog some 100 meters away maybe and my girlfriend and just look at each other and we both agree its no big bird or bat it is, it was flying slow and I'm totally sure its now owl too, I've seen owls they don't get that big nor fly that way.

Today I sleep with my guns and knives beside me, I was told to wet the bullets with my saliva to have them penetrate these beings the same way I did with my samurai and knives sharpness. Who knows I maybe the first one to kill some of things or whatever they maybe

Nuno Sa Punso Pictures | Pictures of Philippine Mythical Creatures | Nuno

Nuno sa Punso


Nuno sa Punso
Would you like a cup of tea, with me
Here under a shade of mango trees
Within the comfort zone of a wooden fence?
Would you like a taste of bread, I made?
It's bibingka pie I baked today
Wrapped in banana leaves from a plantation, there;
Over the hedge and far beyond
stretch my masters' farm where I belong
Combed by the passing wind of love

I guard this land. 

 Description of this creature

 Nuno sa Punso, it is said that they show themselves to kids. It was also said that they were turned into fierce dieties to make Filipinos hate their own gods and to put an end to polytheistic belief.
So I'm wondering, perhaps in the pre-Spanish Colonialism, Nunos were friendly, kind dwarves who guards the farms and sometimes would allow kids to spend some time with them for a cup of good old ginger tea. 

Stories of close encounter  

During hot summer afternoons when I was a boy, I used to enjoy hiking to the stream near our home. Usually there would be a farmer nearby plowing his little rice field with his big carabao (water bufallo). I noticed that he would always be careful to avoid plowing the several large anthills on his rice field, but could not be certain why.

Still on his way to Ilocos Norte, Juan decided he needed to rest under a balete tree to escape that afternoon's harsh and hot sun. Haphazardly, he had chanced upon what looked to be like an ant or termite hill, except it was about four times larger. Out of the corner of his eye, a little old man with a flowing white beard and a walking cane emerged from one of the hills, and smiled at him.

Juan quickly recollected what was told to him as a story when he was but a young boy. In the old days during rice harvest time, barrio farmers would be careful to pay homage or "rent" to the dwendes (dwarfs) that were said to own all the land there is. The rent that was taken was usually boiled white chicken and rice cakes. Usually the food is put in the fields or under trees after sunset. The food must be free from salt, spices or any kind of seasoning. The rice must be boiled for the dwendes have few teeth.

Juan recognized that the shirtless little man before him was what was called the Nuno sa Punso. Nuno sa Punso was a very old bearded man as short as a boy of three, but with comparatively large joints, belly, head, eyes, nose and mouth. He usually lived underground, under caves and anthills, which is how he got his name; nuno sa punso means "old man under the anthill." Usually, nuno sa punso napped on the anthill at noon, and preferred that farmers not plow the ground with tractors, fearing that the tractors would ruin his anthill home.

Nuno sa punso was a relatively harmless dwende and mostly hid himself as Juan remembered. That is until its anthill home somehow got plowed accidentally or unless rent wasn't provided. Sometimes, nuno sa punso visited people's yards after sunset, so it would also be unwise to inadvertently blind nuno with the dust that is swept from a yard or floor then. Otherwise, nuno sa punso would pinch an unlucky traveler's skin, which subsequently became blue, or pull the toes and make them twice as long. Nuno could also give scabies, fever or chills, or worse cast an evil spell.

"Excuse me, sir. I almost did not see you, please let me pass so I don't step on you accidentally." Juan exclaimed.

Juan still had the white chicken and rice that Enting's folk had provided to him. He gathered some wood nearby and created a small fire to cook the white chicken. He took some water from a nearby stream and emptied his water tin can to cook the rice. He subsequently offered this to nuno sa punso.

Nuno sa punso thanked Juan for his offerings, and offered him some on some dangers ahead on the road. Because of Juan's respect for him, nuno sa punso also provided Juan with a whole roasted piglet, enough food to last him for a good week!