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