In the villages of the Philippines, especially in the Visayas region, families lock their doors at night not just against human intruders but against the Aswang—a category of shape-shifting creatures that represent the Philippines' most feared monsters. By day they appear as ordinary neighbors; by night they transform into predatory horrors.
Types of Aswang
The term Aswang encompasses several distinct creatures:
- Manananggal: A creature that separates its upper torso to fly, trailing intestines
- Tik-tik/Wak-wak: Named for their sounds, these hunt from rooftops
- Vampire Aswang: Blood-drinking variants
- Ghoul Aswang: Corpse-eaters that replace bodies with banana trunks
Behavior
Aswang typically:
- Live as normal humans during the day
- Transform at night to hunt
- Target pregnant women and children especially
- Use a long, thread-like tongue to feed
- Can be inherited through family lines
The manananggal is particularly feared for its ability to send its upper body flying while its lower half remains hidden.
Identification and Protection
Aswang can be identified by:
- Reflection appearing inverted in their eyes
- Aversion to garlic, salt, and religious items
- Fear of the tail of a stingray (buntot pagi)
- Their distinctive “tik-tik” or “wak-wak” sounds
A manananggal can be destroyed by finding and salting its lower half while it's separated.
Related Creatures
The Aswang has parallels with Eastern European vampires, Japanese shape-shifting spirits, and Mesoamerican bloodsuckers.
