Scary Filipino Legends

Whether you observe All Saints' Day or the evening before best known as Halloween (All-Hallows-Even), we wanted to share a bonus post on some Filipino legends that gave, and still give, us the creeps!

Multo

The Tagalog term for a ghost is multo (derived from the Spanish word muerte, meaning dead). The multo is the soul of a dead person that has returned to finish an incomplete task, take revenge, or because of an improper burial or an unusually violent death or suicide. The ghost may be seeking a replacement so that it can live again.

Grace-Sonia's multo musings: The very thought of the multo being around would freak me and my brother out!!! A ghost-like creature with missing limbs (either no arms or legs) that would float around to come "get you" (whatever that meant!) in the middle of the night.

Aswang

The aswang has to be one of the most famous of the Filipino scary legends, described as a cross between a vampire, a witch, or a werewolf. Aswangs are shape shifters - human by day and an animal (dog, a pig, a bat, a cat, a snake, etc.) by night. In many regions, they're known as giant bloodthirsty dogs or flying creatures of the night. The thought of an aswang roaming around as a stray animal usually kept kids inside and even adults on their guard.

Michelle's aswang musings: My mom would tell me if I was bad, she'd throw me out to my grandpa's field and feed me to the aswang.

Tikbalang

Tikbalangs said to live in the mountains or forests of the Philippines, have the head and limbs of a horse, and the body of a human. Tikbalangs scare or get travelers lost, and to some, have the the ability to shape shift into a traveler's relative or close friend who asks them to follow it into the woods to make them even more lost. When mad (and a tikbalang get mad pretty easily), a tikbalang can stomp you to death. Travelers can protect themselves from the tikbalang by wearing their shirt inside out and asking the tikbalang out loud for a safety passage.

Bev's tikbalang musings: As a kid, I remember being out a little too late and it would start getting dark. Imagine having to walk by a huge tree, the ones with humungo roots where creepy things can jump out of, and flipping my shirt inside out and asking the tikbalang out loud to leave me alone because I was good and going home.

Duwende

A duwende is a small human-like creature, closely resembling a gnome, who live in forest-y areas. There are said to be two types of duwendes: duwende puti/"white" who bring good luck and duwende itim/"black" who like to play pranks on humans. Duwendes usually keep to themselves and only interact with humans when their homes are messed with. The best way to avoid pissing off a duwende is to say “tabi-tabi po” or "excuse me" aloud before going into their space.

Grace-Sonia's duwende musings: During camping trips, my mother told us it was important to apologize to the duwende before doing your thing out in the woods. I knew the duwende as little trolls who lived out in the forest. If you did not apologize, the duwende with their magical powers, can bring you bad luck. No one wants bad luck on a camping trip.

White Lady

The White Lady is a female ghost known to some as a long-haired woman in a white dress, with her face usually hidden. The most famous white lady story is the White Lady of Balete Drive, in Quezon City, Philippines. According to legend, she was raped and killed by Japanese soldiers during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II. While not purposefully hurtful, she's been known to cause fatal car accidents for those who see her walking along the road or in the back seat. Some also say that she has no face or a face covered in blood.

Michelle's white lady musings: My friends would always talk about her wandering around scaring kids.

Manananggal

The manananggal is described as a beautiful woman, capable of severing its upper torso in order to fly into the night with huge bat-like wings, while leaving its lower body standing where it left it. Using its extremely long tongue, the manananggal sucks the fetuses from a pregnant woman's belly. To kill a manananggal, one has to find the lower body and spread salt, garlic, or ashes on the open wound. That prevents the two halves from joining and transforming back to human form when daylight breaks.

Bev's manananggal musings: I remember sleepless nights spent watching out for manananggals. I got scared and thought that they might mistake our house for a pregnant woman's and hang from our roof, then snatch me up with their long tongue.