Most Filipinos still believe in supernatural creatures
although we're already in the Internet Age, not to mention high-tech robots and space ships.
Even non-believers still get fascinated with these otherworldly beings, or fear them instinctively. Where does the aversion come from?
Remember when our elders would tell stories about the aswang, duwende, kapre, tikbalang, tiyanak, and other Pinoy monsters? Or scare kids into obedience with threats like, "Matulog ka na, kukunin ka ng aswang!"
In the spirit of Halloween, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked some celebrities about their favorite (most feared) supernatural beings. Believe it or not, they, too, are afraid even by just imagining these monsters.
Tikbalang
DENNIS TRILLO may not be afraid of spiders; in fact, he even considers the giant spider in Gagambino his friend. But what would make the young actor jump out of his pajamas at night?
"Takot ako sa tikbalang saka sa shape shifters," said Dennis. "Akala mo minsan, siya yung kausap mo tapos mamaya makikita mo siya nandun sa labas, yung parang ginaya yung anyo niya. Yung doppelganger. Wala pa naman akong experience na ganun. Puro kuwento lang ng kaibigan pero kung sa akin nangyari yun, baka himatayin ako sa takot."
Tikbalang is a half-human, half-horse creature that smells awful. Our ancestors believed that they usually hide in trees and bushes to mislead innocent travelers with magical pranks. These tricks make travelers keep on returning to the same path no matter how far they go or where they turn. Turning one's shirt inside-out can counteract the spell, so say the elders.
Dennis also mentioned one form of aswang, a false beast. This one can take the form of humans, dogs, and cats or anything that it sees before hunting for prey. It usually tears its victims into pieces with its fangs, tusks, or horns.
Dennis must have been a naughty little boy to be familiar with more than one mythical monster.
VHONG NAVARRO also said that he does not want to see a tikbalang. He explained, "Parang iba ang hitsura noon. 'Yong kapre parang okay pa kasi mayroon naman tayong matatangkad na tao. Pero tikbalang, 'yong ang nakakatakot.
Like Dennis and Vhong, CANDY PANGILINAN fears the tikbalang because of its scary form. She said, "White lady nakakatakot din pala, pero parang wala lang 'yon. Ang tikbalang, nakakatakot ang hitsura."
White Lady
My Only U actress TONI GONZAGA wouldn't want the white lady crossing her path. "Kasi hindi ba 'yon naman, palagi ang [kasama] sa mga ghost stories. Takot na takot ako kapag nakakikita ako sa madilim tapos may maputi," she said.
The white lady is a common ghost not only in the Philippines but in other countries as well. She's usually described as a woman with long black hair and wearing a long white gown. She's suspended in the air, and that's scary!
In local movies, she is often a woman who died tragically or suffered some trauma in life. She appears in the real world to seek help from humans in solving the mystery of her death.
Tiktik
Comedian JOHN "SWEET" LAPUS, who is part of the cast of Spooftacular, said he's afraid to see a tiktik (screeching goblin). His funny explanation was, "Yong tiktik, di ba parang ibon daw ‘yon na malaki na kumakain daw ng buntis atsaka ng mga bata. E, natatakot ako kasi baka kainin ako dahil mukha akong bata. That's all thank you."
Folktales say the tiktik usually preys on a pregnant woman's fetus. It attacks during the night by hopping onto the roof of the victim's house. It stretches its very long tongue down to rip into the womb of the sleeping mother and devours her fetus.
Tiyanak
TV host-singer IYA VILLANIA said that the tiyanak is the most frightening Pinoy Monster for her. "Tiyanak, yung baby [na nagta-transform into a monster], kasi babies are supposed to be really cute and innocent. Siguro dahil na rin kay Chuck [the demonic doll who kills people] kaya ako natatakot."
As Iya said, tiyanaks are monsters who disguise themselves as innocent, adorable babies. After fooling their victims, they attack and eat them alive. In the '80s, this supernatural being gained popularity because of Janice de Belen's movie Tiyanak. Hence, the popular movie line, "Ang anak ni Janice!"
Bampira
Unlike folks who'd never go near this bat-like blood-sucking creature, YASMIEN KURDI takes a different attitude. After reading the book Twilight by Stehenie Meyer, Yas disabused herself of the conventional fear.
She told PEP, "Dati po kasi takot ako sa vampires. Kaso nabasa ko po 'yong Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, at Breaking Dawn—na-love ko na tuloy sila at di na ako takot."
Who wouldn't fall in love with a vampire? According to folklore, he/she may be handsome or gorgeous, even if the skin looks anemic. In movies, the vampire usually attracts the opposite sex and once a victim has been lured, he/she sucks the person's blood to death with a tenacious bite, a pretend-kiss, on the neck.
There are other famous Pinoy monsters that are believed to cause misfortune, especially in rural areas. Some of these are the manananggal, the most popular type of aswang that can split itself at the waist, so that while the lower body stays put, the upper part flies around to wreak havoc; kapre, a harmless giant usually seen on top of a tree smoking a cigar that never burns out; and duwende or dwarf, which is of two types—duwendeng itim and duwendeng puti.
Whether these creatures really exist in our world, or are just a part of Pinoy imagination, they're here to stay, at least to make horror movies worthy of your scream.