Philippine Mythology • THE ASWANG PROJECT

Mythology and beliefs from the various cultures of the Philippines. Please use the menu or search function to search for a specific ethnolinguistic group or deity.

Visayan Folklore | The Great Battle of Mythical Creatures

January 26, 2017 Jordan Clark Central Visayas Mythologies & Beliefs, Visayan Mythologies & Beliefs

Buwayas from Mindanao, fierce Tikbalangs from Luzon, savage Sigbins from Negros and Bohol, hundreds of Unglocs from Panay and Leyte, and great Wak Waks and other

Tungkung Langit & Alunsina | The ‘Other’ Visayan Creation Story

December 30, 2016 Jordan Clark Panay Bukidnon Beliefs, Western Visayas Mythologies & Beliefs

Who the heck are Tungkung Langit and Alunsina? I received an interesting question from someone the other day. “Good day! I’m a bit confused, the

PUGOT: Evolution of the Headless Filipino Ghoul

November 20, 2016 Jordan Clark Creatures & Spirits, Ilokano Mythology & Beliefs

Among the Ilocanos and Pampangos, the Pugot was a nocturnal spirit, usually in the form of a gigantic negro figure, terrifying, but not particularly harmful.

Illustration of a dwarf-like being, long beard, and plain earth toned clothing. He sits on a mound of dirt.

Nuno sa Punso: The Mound Dweller

November 12, 2016 John Patrick Ogalesco Creatures & Spirits, Tagalog Mythology & Folk Beliefs

Have you ever wondered why children are often reminded by their parents and older relatives to say “tabi tabi po” whenever they walk near anthills

The head of a giant is seen with a huge grin, tusks instead of incisors, and one eye is set above where a nose should be.

BUNGISNGIS: Origin of the Philippine Cyclops

November 8, 2016 Jordan Clark Creatures & Spirits, Tagalog Mythology & Folk Beliefs

A Cyclops, in Greek mythology and later Roman mythology, was a member of a primordial race of giants, each with a single eye in the

The cyclopean head of a giant is peeking over the top of a large mountain range.

CYCLOPEAN GIANTS: Ang-ngalo and Aran, the Creators | Ilocos, Philippines

November 6, 2016 Jordan Clark Ilokano Mythology & Beliefs

With the possible exception of Lam-ang and Kannoyan, hero and heroine or the Ilocano epic, perhaps there are no more famous characters in Ilocano saga

SANTONILYO and the Syncretization of Santo Niño

September 10, 2016 Jordan Clark Central Visayas Mythologies & Beliefs

The child deity Santonilyo is considered the “god of graces” within the ancient Visayan pantheon. It has always fascinated me, not just because of it’s

A side view of an Igorot man. He is slightly hunched over and only wearing a bahag (loin cloth). The way it is tied makes it appear that he has an eight inch tail coming from above his buttock.

IKUGAN: Tales of Tailed Men in the Philippines

September 4, 2016 Daniel De Guzman Creatures & Spirits, Manobo Beleifs, Opinion

The fateful meeting of “civilized” and primitive factions in the world during the Age of Discovery forced an escalation of the Western ideals of progression. Among the lands that

Tanghalang Pilipino's stage production of the Ibalong. Handyong stand at the front with bolo raised high above his head. All sorts of costumed beasts lurk behind him.

Ibálong: Bicol’s Incredible 60 Stanza Folk Epic

September 3, 2016 Jordan Clark Bikolano Mythology

Last week we featured articles for seven creatures in Philippine Mythology. Two of them were beings from the Ibálong Epic, so I thought it would

Illustration of a giant serpent dwarfing the mountain range it is emerging from. The moon is held in its mouth.

LAHO, the other moon-eating serpent of Tagalog Mythology

September 1, 2016 Karl Gaverza Creatures & Spirits, Tagalog Mythology & Folk Beliefs

‘Laho’ means eclipse, ‘naglaho’ means to swallow without a trace. It is the Tagalog name for the serpent that swallows the moon, corresponding to other moon-eater