a compilation of creatures in Philippine Mythology

2. ABAT
(Waray, Eastern Samar)
A Waray aswang who feeds on internal
organs. Big red bulging eyes, long and
bony fingers, and disheveled hair
Separates from the lower body. The
creature is claimed to seem as a
beautiful girl during the day and
marries an unsuspecting guy at night in
order to reside near human towns.

4. BALBAL
(Tagbunuwa, Palawan)
While a corpse is being buried, the
Tagbanua are terrified of a
legendary creature known as balbal,
which they believe comes from Moro
land. It flies through the air like
a squirrel. It has a manlike
appearance, with curved nails that
it uses to tear up the thatch
dwellings and a long tongue that it
stretches down to "lick up" the
victims."

6. CALANGET
(Gaddang)
A little earth spirit found in the
ground, such as a mound or in the
forests and fields. When responding
to the shaman's call, it makes a
zipping sound. Known as "the genuine
owner of the land." Those who
disturb its home are harmed.

8. DANAG
(Apayao)
The Isneg story "The Danag Spirits"
suggests the origins of vampirism in
the world. The danag are reported to
have planted taro "back in the day,"
clearing the fields with their human
neighbors. A woman's forefinger got
injured one day. A danag swallowed
the wound and, savoring the flavor
of blood, took out all her blood,
adding, "Human blood is sweet."

10. ENGKANTO
( Bicol )
An engkanto is any enchanted creature,
and like humans, they vary in
shape, attitude, and powers we may
never fully comprehend. They live
in our world and can see us, but
we are typically unable to see and
interact with them unless they
allow us to. An engkanto is an
enchanted creature that can take
on several forms. It could be a
dog, a cat, a beggar, or a lovely
woman. When it seeks to fascinate

12. FLAU
( Davao )
is the spirit of an unborn child
whose mother died in pregnancy.
Its cry is often heard at night,
and at times it attacks and
injures people.

14. GAWIGAWEN
( Abra )
A Tingguian mythical giant
with six heads. It wields a
spear and a head-axe the
size of half the sky.

16. HUKLUBAN
( Catanduanes )
another kind of witch, of greater
efficacy than the mangagauay.
Without the use of medicine, and by
simply saluting or raising the hand,
they killed whom they chose. But if
they desired to heal those whom they
had made ill by their charms, they
did so by using other charms.

18. IBINGAN
( Bicol )
A huge and venomous, many-horned red
serpent with a prominent crest on
its head and dorsal fin on its back.
In Bicolano folklore, it is said to
guard a cave occupied by water
spirits and sea maids. It stations
itself at the mouth of the said cave
and crushes intruders with its
powerful tail.

20. KAPRE
(Tagalog, Bicolano, Zambales)
Kapre is often used as an umbrella term.
It is believed to have replaced many
local names for similar beings. The
term kapre refers to a creature
described by Zambales informants as
…another black creature with the
power of changing its size from that
of a manikin to that of a giant of
the proportions of a church tower…
its glassy eyes large as plates. The
kapre lives in that favorite home of
lower mythical beings in the
Philippines—the balete — as well as
in other large trees.

22. LAMBANA
(Tagalogs)
This is what the early Tagalog people
called their idol shrines. Lambana
also had the same meaning as
larawan. This word was widely used
in the poems of the early
Tagalogs*. Modern interpretations
depict the lambana as a small fairy-
like creature living in the forest –
sometimes gruesome, and sometimes
benevolent.

24. MAMBABARANG
(Bicol)
The barang is a most feared form of
witchcraft. So feared, in fact, that
the people around which the witch
circulates have no choice but to
extend him due respect, if they do
not want to be recipients of his
dark art. But the more common
practice is through the use of
insects.

26. NUNO SA PUNSO
(Tagalogs)
Nuno sa punso (literally,
grandfather of the mound) are
also simply called nuno. It
lives inside a mound of earth,
sometimes mistaken to be
termites’ home, usually seen to
be slightly smaller than the
average dwende.

28. ORIOL
(Bicol)
Oriol is the fabulous snake daughter of Aswang,
who appears and disappears at will. Her
mission is to seduce men. Her beauty and
influence were irresistible. A thousand fables
were said about this snake- enchantress. Oriol
or Irago is the serpent daughter of aswang who
could transform herself into a seductive woman
or appearand disappear as she pleases. In
human form, she looks like a sweet, beautiful
maiden with an equally sweet and beautiful
voice. She has long, black, wavy, hair; and
white, smooth skin. In her other form, she is
a huge multi-colored serpent whose scales
glisten in the sun.

30. PUGOT
(Iloko, Pampanga)
The term pugot denotes either “the
black one,” “the decapitated one,”
or “one with hands cut off,” and
the creature is widely known by
that name in Northern and Central
Luzon, though less as a headless
being than as “a black being that
can assume varying sizes—from a
man tiny as a new-born babe to a
giant the size of a large acacia
tree,” a gigantic Negro