Creatures & Spirits • THE ASWANG PROJECT

This section contains legends, myths, and studies on the folkloric beings of the Philippine archipelago. These beings have been popularly classified as the “creatures of Philippine lower mythology.” In many cases, some of these beings are still living beliefs. Please use the site search function to look up specific folkloric beings and attributes.

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Check out our “Compendium Of Creatures & Mythical Beings From Philippine Folklore & Mythology”

Two sirea sit on ocean side rocks in a magical looking tropical background.

Sirena Stories, the Mythical Mermaid of the Philippines

January 9, 2016 Charity Beyer-Bagatsing Creatures & Spirits, Ilokano Mythology & Beliefs

The sirena or mermaid and the facts surrounding this mythical creature are of Spanish origin. Using the 160 volumes of the Beyer Ethnographic Series, I was amazed

Sculpture of the self segmenting manananggal. Its wings are very large and its body looks decayed.

The Manananggal and Wakwak

January 8, 2016 Pers Creatures & Spirits

The subject of countless movies here in the Philippines, the Manananggal and Wakwak are other types of evil creatures in the same league as the Aswang.

Origin of the Kapre, the cigar smoking giant from the Philippines

December 27, 2015 Jordan Clark Books & References, Creatures & Spirits

Last October, episode one of a new Philippine Mythology web-series was released online. It traced back the origins and evolution of the TIKBALANG (half-horse/ half-man creature)

Illustration of a Danag vampire which shows a woman in Cordillerian traditional clothing, with pointed ears, fangs, and is liking her arm as she stands in a taro field.

DANAG: The Birth of Vampirism in the Philippines

December 13, 2015 Jordan Clark Creatures & Spirits, Isneg Beliefs

You may have heard the tales of Lilith, known in vampire lore as the first vampire, the first succubus, the first temptress – the birth of vampirism.

Illustration of a horse like humanoid figure running through the forest with eyes glowing like flames.

TIKBALANG?

December 12, 2015 Pers Creatures & Spirits, Opinion

One of the most popular and enduring mythical creatures in Filipino lore. The tikbalang is said to be a half human, half horse creature in

What is an ASWANG?

December 2, 2015 Pers Creatures & Spirits, Opinion

The Aswang is one of the more pervasive folkloric concepts in Philippine culture. In terms of popularity, it is the Philippine equivalent of the Western

Sketch of a conquistador hanging on a rocky hill in the jungle for dear life while a gang of Maranhig (reanimated corpse in Philippine folklore) try to get a piece of him from below.

MARANHIG: Zombies of the Philippines

November 14, 2015 Pers Creatures & Spirits

If the West has zombies, here in the Philippines, there is what some locals from the Visayas call the Maranhig (also Amalanhig or Amaranhig), our

TIKBALANG: The Horse Demon – DOCUMENTARY

October 22, 2015 Jordan Clark Books & References, Creatures & Spirits

It’s Hallowe’en and that means the Philippine media will be releasing top 10 lists of scariest mythical creatures, infographics on where to find them, and

An illustration of 3 primitively dressed villagers stand near a fire in the middle of a forest while dozens of glowing humanoid figures move towards them.

ENGKANTOS Dwelling in the Philippines

July 20, 2015 Jade Martin Creatures & Spirits

An Engkanto, according to folklore, is an environmental spirit that has a human form. Engkantos occupy a space in the environment which is not openly accessible to us.

Drawing of three Huk rebels hung from a tree, bleeding from the neck from punctures by the CIA's psywar combat squad.

PSYWAR in the Philippines | ASWANG of the CIA

April 27, 2015 Jordan Clark Creatures & Spirits, Opinion

“To the superstitious, the Huk battleground was a haunted place filled with ghosts and eerie creatures.” ~Air Force Brigadier General Edward G. Lansdale The Hukbalahap