Tuesday, March 17, 2015

SIYOKOY


                  Siyokoy are mermen, sea creatures that have a human form and scaled bodies. The Siyokoy is the male counterpart of the Sirena. The lower extremities of a Philippine merman can either be a fishtail or scaled legs and webbed feet. They could also have long, green tentacles. They drown mortals for food. Siyokoys have gill slits, are colored brown or green, and have scaly skin, comparable to that of a fish.


(October 2013 https://sites.google.com/site/catmonanonsabako/tradition/customs-and-beliefs/folklore)

References, Attributions and Further Reading:
           Philippine mythical creatures – Wikipedia
           Philippine Myths & Legends: Manananggal – FFE Magazine
           File:Manananggal.jpg From Wikimedia Commons 
•https://www.academia.edu/37262886/Supernatural_Creatures_in_Philippine_Folklore

SIRENA


  Sirena is a mermaid, a sea creature with a human upper body and a fish tail instead of lower extremities. They attract fishermen and tourists. Sirenas are reportedly often seen ashore by fishermen, especially in the towns bordering the Pacific Ocean.



(October 2013 https://sites.google.com/site/catmonanonsabako/tradition/customs-and-beliefs/folklore)

References:
           Philippine mythical creatures – Wikipedia


SARIMANOK

                Sarimanok

A Sarimanok is a magical, mythical bird who brings good luck to anyone who is able to catch it. A Sarimanok known as Magaul is associated with the legend of Malakas and Maganda. Magaul was the Sarimanok bird that pecked the bamboo from where Malakas and Maganda were born from.

Malakas and Maganda (Strong One and Beautiful One) are Filipino version of Adam and Eve. Magaul is a mythical king who became a bird. He was believed to have caused the seas and the skies to fight against each other. The clash between the seas and skies resulted to the formation of the Philippine islands.



(October 2013 https://sites.google.com/site/catmonanonsabako/tradition/customs-and-beliefs/folklore)

References, Attributions and Further Reading:
           Philippine mythical creatures – Wikipedia
•https://www.academia.edu/37262886/Supernatural_Creatures_in_Philippine_Folklore

DUWENDE


  Duwende are goblins, hobgoblins, elves or dwarfs. They are little creatures who can provide good fortune or bad fate to humans. In the Philippines, duwendes frequently live in houses, in trees, underground, termite like mound or hill, and in rural areas. They are known to be either good or mischievous, depending on how homeowners treat them. They usually come out at 12 noon for an hour and during the night. Catmonanon always mutter words ("tabi", "moagi mi", “tabi, mangihi ko”) asking them to excuse themselves for bothering the Duwendes. Some Filipinos would leave food on the floor, so that the duwende residing (or guarding) the house would not be angry with them. They also take your things, and laugh at you when you try to find it. They give it back when they feel like it, or when you tell them to please give it back.



(October 2013 https://sites.google.com/site/catmonanonsabako/tradition/customs-and-beliefs/folklore)

References, Attributions and Further Reading:
           Philippine mythical creatures – Wikipedia
           Philippine Myths & Legends: Manananggal – FFE Magazine
           File:Manananggal.jpg From Wikimedia Commons 
•https://www.academia.edu/37262886/Supernatural_Creatures_in_Philippine_Folklore

MULTO

       Multo is the Tagalog word for ghost. It comes from the Spanish word muerto, meaning “dead”. Multo are spirits of the deceased that remain in the living world to handle unfinished business, seek revenge, or search for a means to communicate with their loved ones. A multo may also be seeking a replacement so that it can live again.

Multo are not necessarily considered ‘bad’ spirits. In fact, most Multo are harmless; their interaction is limited to turning lights on and off or causing strange noises in the house. However, some Multo are malignant spirits that can cause harm. There are also Multo that haunt certain places, such as old buildings or churches. Common themes in ghost legends include the White Lady, the headless priest and the phantom hitchhiker.



(October 2013 https://sites.google.com/site/catmonanonsabako/tradition/customs-and-beliefs/folklore)

References, Attributions and Further Reading:
           Philippine mythical creatures – Wikipedia
           Philippine Myths & Legends: Manananggal – FFE Magazine
           File:Manananggal.jpg From Wikimedia Commons 
•https://www.academia.edu/37262886/Supernatural_Creatures_in_Philippine_Folklore

TIYANAK

           Tiyanak is another popular name in the Philippine folklore. Also known as impakto, it is a baby who died before receiving baptism rites. After its death, it goes into the Limbo, a certain place in Hell where unbaptized dead people fall into, and then transforms into an evil spirit. It returns to the mortal world as a goblin or a vampire-like creature, bound to eat living victims. A tiyanak can also be the offspring of a mortal woman and a demon, or an aborted fetus which comes to take vengeance on its mother.

Tiyanaks are mostly found in forests. Upon seeing a human, a tiyanak transforms into what appears to be normal baby. When the unwary person comes near to comfort the child, it then changes back into its true form. It develops sharp claws and fangs, and attacks its victim. The tiyanaks are thought to have the same vulnerability as the aswangs.

There are many versions of tiyanaks. In Mindoro, tiyanaks have the ability to fly, still in the form of a baby. In Pampanga, they are described as small, nut-brown people who float on air, rather than walk on ground.



(October 2013 https://sites.google.com/site/catmonanonsabako/tradition/customs-and-beliefs/folklore)

References, Attributions and Further Reading:
           Philippine mythical creatures – Wikipedia
           Philippine Myths & Legends: Manananggal – FFE Magazine
           File:Manananggal.jpg From Wikimedia Commons 
•https://www.academia.edu/37262886/Supernatural_Creatures_in_Philippine_Folklore

MANANANGGAL


  Manananggal is a special type of aswang who has the ability to fly after separating itself from the lower half of its body. It resembles the Western vampire in being an evil, man-eating monster or witch. Its name is taken from the Filipino word “tanggal” which means “to separate” or “to remove.” Most manananggals, like most aswangs, are females. It appears in human form during the day. At night, it finds an isolated place where she will leave her lower torso. It separates itself by will and its upper body flies, using bat-like wings, to hunt for victims.

Like other aswangs, the manananggal feeds on babies and fetuses from a mother’s womb. It uses its proboscis or long tongue to penetrate the woman’s navel and suck the blood from the unborn child. At other times, she seduces men with her beauty and lures them to a desolate place where she will eat him alive. She usually feasts on the insides like the heart, stomach, and liver.

The mananggal can be killed by sunlight if she remains in her monster form. This is why she must unite with her lower half before dawn. Hence, in order to destroy the manananggal, one must find her other half which she left behind. Salt, ash, or garlic must then be put on the exposed flesh since the creature is vulnerable to these items. This will prevent her from being combined again, and so when day breaks, she will be destroyed.



(October 2013 https://sites.google.com/site/catmonanonsabako/tradition/customs-and-beliefs/folklore)

References, Attributions and Further Reading:
           Philippine mythical creatures – Wikipedia
           Philippine Myths & Legends: Manananggal – FFE Magazine
           File:Manananggal.jpg From Wikimedia Commons 
•https://www.academia.edu/37262886/Supernatural_Creatures_in_Philippine_Folklore


AGTA







       Agta  is the Cebuano equivalent of bigfoot from the West. It is a tree demon with more human characteristics. It is described as a dirty, dark giant (around 7 to 9 ft tall) who hides and lives within and atop large trees, particularly old trees such as balete (or banyan), acacia, or mango trees. This creature loves to smoke huge rolls of cigars or tobaccos. Unlike other supernatural beings, the agta does not harm human; instead, it is a “friendly” creature who loves to fool around. It may make contact with people to offer friendship, or if it is attracted to a woman. It also play pranks to people and scares away little children playing at night. It is said that if you are stuck in a place and keep going around in circles, a agta must have been playing with you. To escape the spell, you must wear your shirt inside-out.



(October 2013 https://sites.google.com/site/catmonanonsabako/tradition/customs-and-beliefs/folklore)

References, Attributions and Further Reading:
           Philippine mythical creatures – Wikipedia
           Philippine Myths & Legends: Manananggal – FFE Magazine
           File:Manananggal.jpg From Wikimedia Commons 
•https://www.academia.edu/37262886/Supernatural_Creatures_in_Philippine_Folklore