Philippines
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Ukoy
The Ukoy are from Filipino mythology. They have human upper bodies with arms and legs replaced by eight to fifty octopus tentacles. They are incredibly strong and can swim as fast as a dolphin. They will kill any humans that approach their underwater cave homes, though they are not actively hostile. They are strong underwater but weak on land. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United States, Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2006.
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Poo
The Poo is a monster from the legends of the Waray people in the Philippines. They are a variation of Aswang that look like a normal person, and have no distinctions like wings or fangs. They are described as being similar to the Wakwak, but this can mean a number of different things across various cultures in the Philippines. They are thought to come out at the full moon. They will shout “poo” when still far from a house and say it again as they gets closer. By the fourth “poo” they will be inside the house. They will steal a child if that parents don’t wake up but will…
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Hayopan
The Hyaopan is a form of Aswang from the Philippines. Hayopan are known to settle in swampy areas and keep crocodiles as familiars. It is often interpreted as having no distinction from other Aswang other than them not actively hunting and instead using crocodiles to find prey. These crocodiles hunt and kill, and then bring the best pieces of meat back to their master. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United States, Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2006.
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Dila
The Dila is a bizarre creature from the folklore of the Philippines. They are described as sentient monstrous tongues. They move through the earth and emerge from the floorboards to lick exposed flesh. This causes the victim to become ill and they will die eventually if fed upon night after night. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United States, Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2006.
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Cafre
The Cafre is a creature from the Philippines. They resemble a boar with long tusks and black fur. They are significantly stronger and faster than normal boars. They can stand on two legs and understand human speech. They are relentless in hunting and tracking but are stupid and easy to trick. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Busaw
The Busaw are known from the Bagobos, Bukidnons, and Mandayas people of the Philippines. During the day, they look exactly like regular humans and are known to have normal lives and may even have farms. At night they take ogre-like forms with hooked claws, long tongues, and pointed teeth. Female Busaw are also thought to have a singular eye like a cyclops. They live in trees near cemeteries, in caves, or on isolated farms in the woods. They move through the night to search for human flesh to consume, most often digging up corpses rather than hunting living humans. Buried bodies can be protected from the Busaw if they are…
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Balbal
The Balbal is from the Tagbanua people of the Philippines. This creature is a form of Aswang known to eat corpses. They glide from rooftop to rooftop with membranous wings that stretch from their wrists to their ankles, similar to those of flying squirrels. They are human shaped with long hooked nails that they use to tear open thatched roofs. They snatch up corpses or sleeping people with a long powerful tongue. They often replace the corpses they take with banana stalk doubles. They can be frightened away by placing oil on a doorway. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland,…
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Alan
The Alan are creatures from the Tinguian people of the Philippines. They’re described as semi-supernatural humanoids with bird-like qualities. They are thought to have wings, as well as fingers and toes that point backward. It’s thought they live in the jungle and heavily wooded areas, sleeping by hanging upside down from the highest tree branches. Some also believe they have homes on the ground made from pure gold. They can be malevolent or mischievous but often benevolent, sometimes seen as helpers to mythical heroes. Citations: Rose, Carol. Giants Monsters and Dragons: An Encyclopedia Of Folklore Legend And Myth. United Kingdom, WW Norton, 2001.
