Wak Wak

Wak Wak

Description
The Wakwak is a vampiric, bird-like creature in Philippine mythology or said to be a witch. It is said to snatch humans at night as prey, similar to the Mananaggal and the Ekek in rural areas of the Philippines, due to its ability to fly. The difference between the Mananggal and the Wakwak is that Wakwak cannot separate its torso from its body while the Manananggal can. Some believe it is also a form a vampire takes. Other people contend that a "Wakwak" is a Philippine night bird belonging to a witch.
The sound of a Wakwak is usually associated with the presence of an Unglu (vampire) or Ungo (ghost or monster). It is also believed that this monster is called "Wakwak" due to this sound it makes when it flaps its wings while flying. When one hears the Wakwak, it is looking for possible victims. If the sound of the Wakwak is loud, it means it is far from you. Otherwise, it is near and worse yet, it is about to attack. It slashes and mutilates its victims and feeds on their hearts.

The Wakwak is often described by old folks to have long sharp talons and a pair of wings similar to those of a bat. It uses its talons or claws to slash its victims and to get their heart. Many say that its wings are also sharp as a knife.
The sound that a tiki, tike or teke (Common House Gecko) makes usually at night when out of sight was discovered by an American who spent much time in the Philippines to be the source of the sound everyone was saying was a "Wakwak".

Siyokoy

Siyokoy

Description

Siyokoy are mermen, sea creatures that have a human form and scaled bodies. The Siyokoy is the male counterpart of the Sirena. The lower extremities of a Philippine merman can either be a fishtail or scaled legs and webbed feet. They could also have long, green tentacles. They drown mortals for food. Siyokoys have gill slits, are colored brown or green, and have scaly skin, comparable to that of a fish.
Legends of merfolk occur in almost every sea-faring culture, tales of alluring mermaids possessing deceptive beauty, mighty mermen summoning destructive storms, and diminutive merchildren holding their own amid the dangers of the ocean. Some accounts portray merfolk as hostile, some beguiling, some helpful to humans, some ready to kill. The term for these ocean dwellers comes from the Old English word mere, meaning sea, but the siyoykoy don’t make an appearance in any European culture–they come from the Asian-influenced Philippine Islands.

Appearance: With unattractive features, more fish-like than humanoid, the siyokoy might hold the dubious honor of being the most hideous mermen. The scales covering their entire bodies range in color from brown to green, and gill slits positioned in various places enable them to breathe underwater. Their upper bodies vaguely resemble the form of a man, tapering down to the tail of a fish or scale-encrusted legs with webbed feet. Various legends depict them with powerful green tentacles, fins, webbed hands, claws, or other unusual appendages.

Sirena

Sirena

Description
Sirena is a mermaid, a sea creature with a human upper body and a fish tail instead of lower extremities. They attract fishermen and tourists.Sirenas are reportedly often seen ashore by fishermen, especially in the towns bordering the Pacific Ocean.

Romanian, Portuguese and Philippine the word for mermaid is respectively Sirena, Sirène, Sirena, Syrena, Sirenă, Sereia and Sirena and that in biology the Sirenia comprise an order of fully aquatic mammals that includes the dugong and manatee, add to the visual confusion, so that Sirens are even represented as mermaids. However, "the sirens, though they sing to mariners, are not sea-maidens," Harrison had cautioned; "they dwell on an island in a flowery meadow." In the Philippine mythology, the Sirena is a mythological aquatic creature with the head and torso of human female and the tail of a fish. The male version of a Sirena is called a Sireno. Sometimes it is also paired with Siyokoy. The Sirena is an engkanto which is classified as one of the Bantay Tubig or the guardians of water. In addition to the Sirena, other examples of Bantay Tubig are Sireno, Siyokoy,Kataw and Ugkoy. Bantay Tubig are part fish, part human water-dwelling engkantos which are the Filipino counterpart of the English merfolk.
It is also said that the Sirena has a very beautiful and enchanting voice that can attract and hypnotize males, especially fishermen. A Sirena would sometimes sing to sailors and enchant them, distracting them from their work and causing them to walk off the deck or cause shipwrecks. They would sing with enchanting voices while hiding among the rocks by the shore. When the men hear their song they are hypnotized and the Sirena can abduct them. Some old folk traditions claim that the Sirena carry its victims under the sea and offer them to their water deities. Other stories claim that the Sirena squeezes the life out of drowning men while trying to rescue them.
A malevolent Sirena may tease and attract human males with their spellbinding songs; but reports of Sirena grabbing the seemingly hypnotized humans and drowning them or taking them under water may only be isolated cases. Either the tempted human had tried to chase the Sirena deep into the water until he drowned or he had a heart attack upon seeing such an engkanto and plunged literally into the water to his death.

Manananggal

Manananggal

Description
Manananggal is an aswang that can fly after separating itself from the lower half of its body. It eats babies and fetuses from a mothers womb. It eats babies by means of passing their long tongue through a small hole from the roof of a house. The sharp end of the tongue touches the mother's navel to suck the blood of the fetus or unborn child. This creature's name was derived from the Filipino word, tanggal, which means "to separate" because of the manananggal's ability to separate itself from its lower body.
A manananggal can also be a sorceress that visits villages and barrios. To feed, the self-segmenter chooses an isolated place where she will leave her lower torso while she hunts at night. When she separates from her lower torso, she then gains her ability to fly. She then goes off in search of houses where pregnant women reside. Upon choosing a suitable victim, the Manananggal alights on the house and inserts her tongue through the roof. The tongue is long, hollow and extremely flexible. She uses it to puncture the womb of the sleeping woman and to suck out the fetus. At other times, she seduces men with her beauty and lures them to a private place before eating them alive. She usually eats the insides, like the heart, stomach or the liver. Sunlight is deadly to the Manananggal when she is in her monstrous form. Should her two halves still be separate with the coming of dawn, she will be destroyed. According to legend, to destroy the Manananggal, one should search for the lower torso that she leaves behind during her nightly hunts. Salt, ash, and/or garlic should then be placed on the exposed flesh, preventing the monster from combining again and leaving it vulnerable to sunlight. Small containers of salt, ash and raw rice, and the smell of burning rubber are said to deter the Manananggal from approaching one's house.

Stories of close encounter with the manananggal
To the rest of the world, this may sound more like fiction. But to Filipinos in any part of the world, this is a common story. One that is a known fact and one that is treated with both reverence and fear. This story happened to my mom when she went on a vacation in Cotabato City with relatives as a child.

It was a quiet moonlit night and to anybody who's used to life in the big city, a peaceful night like this one is indeed a sight to behold. The moon seemed especially bright tonight without the blinding lights of the city. I couldn't keep my eyes off the moon! I feel like I was staring at it for the first time.

I don't know how long I was admiring its beauty when suddenly; I saw a dark speck that was slowly becoming larger and larger. I went closer to the window to have a better look. What I saw next was something I will never forget all my life!

I saw an old woman and she was flying with huge bat wings! She only had the upper half of her body and she had flaming red eyes and mouth, long crooked hands and pointed fingernails. Her skin was dark as the night itself. It was the most horrifying thing I have ever seen!

She was coming towards the window and fast! I could only think of my younger brothers, how she would definitely devour us if she got to us! I mustered the remaining courage I had and I locked the thick glass windows and curtains.

I heard her shriek as she segued around our house. I stayed still, trying my best not to make a sound and listened to the deafening sound of her huge wings. It felt like forever! Then all of a sudden, she was gone. I didn't close my eyes until I saw the sun shining. It was then that I realized that no matter how advanced society has become, there are still places and entities you should never mess with.

You may all think that this is just fiction, but let me reassure you that this is 100% factual. I will do my best to tell you more stories like this one. Hope you enjoyed this.

Anggitay

Anggitay

Description
Anggitay is a creature with an upper body of a female human and of a horse from waist down. They were the Philippine counterpart for the centauride, the female centaurs. They are also believed to be the female counterpart of Tikbalang.
Sometimes, they are illustrated to have a single horn in the middle of their forehead just like a unicorn. They were usually said to be attracted to precious gemstones, and jewelries.
It is believed to be that the Anggitay usually appears when it rains although the sky is clear.

Tikbalang

Tikbalang

Description

Tikbalang (also written as Tigbalang, Tigbalan, or Tikbalan) is a creature of Philippine folklore said to lurk in the mountains and forests of the Philippines. It is generally described as a tall, bony humanoid creature with disproportionately long limbs, to the point that its knees reach above its head when it squats down. It has the head and feet of an animal, most commonly a horse. It is sometimes believed to be a transformation of an aborted fetus which has been sent to earth from limbo.

Superstitions
Tikbalangs (some provinces) are said to scare travelers and lead them astray. Tikbalangs play tricks on travelers such that they keep on returning to an arbitrary path no matter how far he goes or where he turns. Supposedly this is counteracted by wearing one's shirt inside out. Another countermeasure is to ask permission out loud to pass by or, not to produce too much noise while in the woods in order not to offend or disturb the tikbalang.
A superstition popular with the Tagalog of Rizal Province is that Tikbalangs are benevolent guardians of elemental kingdoms. They are usually found standing at the foot of large trees looking around for anyone who dare to bestow malignancy on their kingdom's territory.
A common saying has it that rain from a clear sky means Kinasal na si Irene.(Filipino, "a tikbalang is getting married".) This was most likely derived from a similar Spanish proverb that claimed a witch was getting married when there was rain on a sunny day.
According to traditional folklore, the tikbalang can also transform itself into human form or turn invisible to humans. They like to lead travelers astray.
Tikbalang are generally associated with dark, sparsely populated, foliage-overgrown areas, with legends variously identifying their abode as being beneath bridges, in Bamboo or Banana groves, and atop Kalumpang or Balete trees.

Stories of close Encounter with the Tikbalang
Couple of people who had tikbalang stories. One of them is my father. When he was a teener living in Antique he mentioned one particular night when two of his brothers were quarreling and socking each other outside their hut after a late evening drizzle. You can hear shouts and a dull thud here and there. After sometime, their mother broke up the fight and asked them to sleep away their tempers and change their clothes for the night. The two grudgingly obliged. A few hours later, there were dull thuds all over again, this time however, the sound shifted from one side of the house to the other. Father said the last time he checked, both his elder brothers were fast asleep, tired from their fisticuffs earlier. Who or what could be making the sound outside? He tried to sneak out of the back door to check but his mother, who was still awake and sitting near the window, stopped him and told him nonchalantly that he should stay inside as "there's a tikbalang outside". He obeyed and made sure that everyone was inside at the time. My father was the 7th of nine siblings by the way, and everyone except for himself and my grandma was fast asleep already.

Still the dull thud-thud-thud continued, one at a time on each side of the house. He describe the sound as akin to the sound of the heavy pestle used for separating the rice chaff from the grain. He was forbidden even to sneak a peak at the window so he can only imagine what it looked like. Apart from the dull thuds, there was no other sound to hear except the stridulation of crickets and cicadas. He fell asleep to the sound of the "tikbalang" jumping like crazy outside.

The next morning he woke up to find that their neighbors and relatives were all milling around a strange sight: huge hoof impressions, each the size of ripe coconut littered each side of the house. the impressions came in pairs and overlapped each other. Each mark was several inches deep and filled with rainwater from last night's drizzle. No one owned a horse in the barrio and not even a thoroughbred bronco can make impressions that big. It's clearly not a buffalo's since the hoof is not cloven in the middle. Whatever made those impressions would be immensely bigger and heftier than a carabao or a horse judging from the depth and size of the impressions. The fact that the impressions came in pairs suggest a bipedal creature left those marks. Granting that this thing had legs proportionate to a horse and the torso of a human relative to its legs, it could've easily scraped the ceiling at around 10-15 feet tall.

Unfortunately, no one had a camera at the time. Which was understandable considering that the area was so poor at the time some students had to walk unshod to and from school just to make their precious "bakya" last longer. Umbrellas were expensive and were almost unknown so if it rained, people used banana leaves instead. The blessings of Tesla's electricity still hasn't reached those parts yet (this was in the early 60's).

What was the tikbalang's business jumping over the roof at those late hours? What it did was similar to the Filipino chidren's game called "Luksong Tinik" lit. "Jumping Thorns" but its motives were never known. Tikbalangs have been known to be playful and mischievous so it's anybody's guess.

Mambabarang

Mambabarang

Description
Mambabarang (summoner) is a witch who uses insects and spirits to enter the body of any person they hate.A Mambabarang is a kind of a mangkukulam. Mambabarangs are ordinary human beings with black magic who torture and later kill their victims by infesting their bodies with insects. They are different from Mangkukulams - the latter only inflict pain or illness. Mambabarangs use a strand of hair from their chosen victim and tie it to the bugs or worms which they will use as a medium. When they prick the bug, the victim immediately experiences the intended effect.

Ekek

Ekek

Desctription
In Philippine mythology, Ekek (or Ek Ek) are creatures who are bird-like humans. They are winged-humans who search for victims at night. They hunger for flesh and blood. They are usually described by old folks as flying creatures that look like the Manananggal but are unable to divide or split their body. Apart from the Manananggal, they are also associated to the Wak Wak because of some similar characteristics. The only difference between a Wak Wak and Ekek is that Ekek has a bill like birds whereas the Wak Wak has none.
The Ekek can transform into a huge bird/bat at night and prowls. Similar to the Manananggal, the Ekek looks for sleeping pregnant women. Then it extends a very long proboscis into the womb and kills the fetus by draining its blood. It is said that while this is taking place, a "ek-ek-ek" sound is often heard. The Ekek fools people into thinking it is far by producing a faint sound when it is actually near.

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!