You think you’re brave? Try meeting these folks in the place we’ve prescribed. Alone, yes on your own.
#10: NUNO SA PUNSO
Careful you don’t level anthills or mounds as you may unknowingly piss off these small creatures living inside. The nunosapunso resembles those of the Western dwarves and reportedly belong to two kinds: the bad and the good.
However, if you have inadvertently irked them, these creatures might cause harm to befall on you which could manifest in your legs bloating.
Endemic to: mounds
#9: KAPRE
A hairy beast with fiery glowing eyes inhabiting big, old trees, the Kapreis out to scare the hell out of you. Seeing one would be enough to make even the bravest of souls take flight.
It could also take an abandoned house as its home. Don’t worry about not noticing one as this guy is a notorious chain smoker and is usually seen sporting a cigar that never burns out.
If you have enough brave, ask the big guy where he bought his cigar.
Endemic to: big, old trees
#8: MANGKUKULAM
This is the voodoo artist in Philippine folklore. And has been depicted as an instrument of revenge using the tip of her needle and a doll to inject pain into her victims. The degree of suffering for the chosen unfortunate person could range from pain that goes away to vicious cases of maiming and torturing – if not death. Having creatures of all sorts, from worms to roaches, to come out of a poor victim is also a specialty of the ‘mangkukulam’.
What makes this A-lister a scary phenom is the ‘mangkukulam’ is a real person who is torture-for-hire and has mastered her craft, unlike most of the foul creatures listed here. Curiously, for each region in the Philippines there seems to be a distinct ‘mangkukulam’ waiting to be hired.
Endemic to: most mountainous neighborhood
#7: TIYANAK
A vampire in the form of a harmless baby, the tiyanak will lure you to its aide by giving out cries much like a hapless infant looking for a mama. Only it’s does not feed on milk but of human blood. Said to be common on thick forests, the creature is the bedeviled reincarnation of an abandoned baby which should include those aborted by their own mothers.
Apparently, evil spirits possess the child by eating its innards, disturbing the living in the process as they have not been given due respect while alive.
Endemic to: big, old trees
#6: TIKBALANG
Much like the American werewolf the Tikbalang is a combination of man and animal. Only thing is its other portion is not of a wolf but of a horse.
Perhaps a close relative of the Kapre, you’ll be warned of the presence of this foul creature as it smells of tobacco. Good thing folklore doesn’t assign bloodlust on the Tikbalang. Instead, this naughty creature gets its kicks from playing tricks on people by leading them away of their paths for instance.
Endemic to: big, old trees
#5:SIRENA AND SIYOKOY
Philippines answer to the mermaid and merman of the Western world, the Sirena and Siyokoy are a combination of human and fish that inhabit the oceans. These naughty creatures are wont to lure people and lead them to the ocean never to return to land.
The theory is these creatures feed on humans as a revenge for all the abuse humans have given the fish-world.
Endemic to: ocean
#4:ASWANG
A shape-shifter the aswang is a cold-blooded killer who could take the form of a seductive young lady or a harmless child. And in their most vicious form transform into a voracious beast such as a big, bad wolf.
This creature of the night hunts humans and would enjoy making a meal out of your innards. Yes, this is the Count Dracula equivalent in the archipelago.
Endemic to: nighttime
#3:WAK-WAK
Perhaps an allusion to uwak, this is a bird-like creature that comes out in the cover of darkness looking for prey. Also it could be another form of the Ungo or vampire much like Count Dracula turns from bat to human seamlessly.
The problem with this hunter is it feeds on human, which invariably should include you.
Endemic to: big, old trees
#2: SIGBIN
This dog-like creature which also resembles that of an adult kangaroo is said to suck blood by of all means using its shadow. Really nasty imagination for a character borne of Pinoy mind.
What is most outstanding about the feared sigbin is it walks backward and roams in the dark of the night. Poor creature!
Endemic to: dead of the night
#1: MANANANGGAL
For sheer character, the half-bodied flying monster that is the Manananggal must be the scariest.
But on another take this creature purportedly of a lady must be truly ‘kaawaawa’. Imagine flying with but half your body, blood must be dripping off your demi-self. Must be the reason why this one’s wanting to suck the blood out of poor humans as she has lost so much flying around with her other half laying low in some bushes somewhere.
Though the character appears to be of the utmost scary level, I pity the creature if she truly existed. Thanks to her magic potion, she can separate two parts of her body without any pain whatsoever. Given such prowess a manananggal would be a good study under the microscope.
Endemic to: old towns, barrios in mountainous regions
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