By: Channel Marie Imperial



Ever since I could remember, our parents or other older people loved to scare us with stories about ghosts and mythical creatures. Perhaps their main reason is to make us behave and do what they will, and I think they were pretty successful in doing so.



Now that I am an adult, I really don’t blame them. We, as kids, were just too rowdy and capable of destroying a house if being left alone without supervision.



Don’t you remember the time when your mom said, “Uli na sa balay sa dili pa mag ala sais kay kan-on ka og ungo!” (Get home before 6 PM or else a monster will eat you!)



So I have made a list of 10 horrifying mythical creatures that scared the hell of me as a kid, in no particular order.



1. Tambaloslos



When I had my vacation in Bohol as a kid, my grandmother used to tell me not to go out on the woods alone because I might see a Tambaloslos. I asked her what in the world is a Tambaloslos and she told me that it’s an “ungo” or mythical creature that looks like a person but has an uncanny and enormous smile that could reach its ears.



True enough, I made some rendition of how the “ungo” could possibly look like in my imagination. It seemed funny to me at first but after grasping the whole image of the creature, I was horrified. Why would a Tambaloslos smile to me that way?



According to hunospuno of Devian Art, a Tambaloslos is a mythical creature that is mostly heard in the Visayas and Mindanao Region. It usually shows itself if you are in the woods.



It has an overly large head and an overly big smile. It is said that when you see one, you will get lost. A way to combat this is to undress your clothes and wear them again inside out so you can pass through the mouth of the Tambaloslos.



The moral that a Tambaloslos teaches us is to never walk alone in the woods. Period.



2. Duwende



“Ayaw tamaki ang balay sa duwende kay tagaan ka nila og sakit!” (Referring to a termite mound: “Don’t step on the house of the dwarf or else, they will inflict a disease on you!”)



I have heard this and other similar warnings from my parents, grandparents, relatives and other elders. It is a big no no to step on termite mounds because they serve as the homes or kingdom of dwarves. We were even warned not to urinate on them as kids too.



And since then, I would take great lengths not to even see a termite mound, just to prevent myself from accidentally stepping or urinating on them. In case I see one, I would run as fast as I can and go to a place where there are many people. While running, I would imagine a small creature sitting on the mound while looking deviously at me.



According to Wikipedia, duwendes are small creatures that are capable of providing good or bad fortune to humans. Aside from termite mounds, they sometimes live in trees, hills, or even houses. They come out at noon and at night.



The infamous line “tabi-tabi” (Visayan) or “tabi-tabi po” (Tagalog) is our effort from us Filipinos not to displease or bother the dwarves, especially when we urinate outside.



Some Filipinos leave food and place them on the floor so that the dwarf residing in the house will not get angry. When they feel mischievous, they tend to hide your things and return them once they feel like it or when you plead to them.



Duwendes are even featured in some local newspapers like The Sunstar for having a son with a female human.



3. Okoy



Just when you are starting to enjoy your swim at the beach, your parents would say, ”Ayaw adto sa lawom kay birahon ka og okoy!” (Don’t go to the deep part of the sea because a merman will grab you!)



Perhaps in an effort to lessen their burden of acting as your lifeguard, they’d scare the nuts out of you.



Wikipedia describes them as creatures from the sea that has a human form and scaly body. It is the male counterpart of a Sirena or mermaid. The lower part of their body could be webbed feet, scaly legs, or a fishtail like that of a mermaid. They are said to drown humans for food.



4. Sigbin



“Ayaw na laag kung gabii na kay makakita ka og sigbin!” (Don’t go out if it’s already evening because you will see a Sigbin!)



First, there’s the Tambaloslos then now, there’s a sigbin? I haven’t even seen a fairy! Which creature should scare me first Mama? I am so confused.



Sigbin, as described in Wikipedia, is a creature that suck human blood from their shadows at night. They walk backwards and their head is lower than their hind legs. They can sometimes be invisible to humans.



They look like a goat without horns, with ears that are very large, and tail that can be used like a whip.



There are talks that Sigbin could be an animal that is related to the kangaroo.



5. Wak Wak



“Hala ka! Gabii na. Dagiton dyud ka sa Wak Wak kung mag sige pa ka og laag”. (Lo. It’s already evening. A Wakwak might seize you.)



Wait a minute Mama. I haven’t seen a Tambaloslos nor a Sigbin. A Wak Wak is going to seize me now? You gotta be kidding me.



As taken from John U. Wolff’s definition of Wak Wak in his “A Dictionary of Cebuano Visaya,” a Wak Wak is a bird that comes out only at night, with a distinct call that sounds like its name. Its call signifies the presence of an “ungo” or vampire.

Image courtesy of Philippine Mythical Creatures



Santilmo image courtesy of Philippine Mythical Creatures



6. Santilmo



“Kung laagan kaayo ka sa gabii, makasugat ka og santilmo”. (When you go out at night, you might come across a santilmo.)



I have heard my classmates tell me that they have seen a santilmo and they frequently described it as a ball of fire that runs after them and scares the hell out of them. It was when I reached the fifth grade when I realized that what my classmates saw was St. Elmo’s fire.



It is described by Unexplained Mysteries as an apparition that takes on the appearance of a flame that are believed to be spirits of the dead and tend to lead the people who see them astray.

That manananggal is in for a sweet treat tonight! (image courtesy of Delicious Goosebumps)



That manananggal is in for a sweet treat tonight! (image courtesy of Delicious Goosebumps)



7. Manananggal



“Nagbutang dyud og daghan na asin akong bana sa tanan namong bintana og nagbitay og daghan na ahos para dili daw makasulod ang manananggal sa amo”. (My husband placed a lot of salt on our windows and hang lots of garlic so that the Manananggal cannot enter our house.)



I was laughing so hard when I heard my friend saying it. She even told me that her husband did it while she was asleep and was awakened by the strong smell of the garlic. She was still pregnant when her husband lovingly did it for her.



Perhaps the husband of my friend was just being cautious and protective because Manananggals are known to devour on the fetus’ heart or suck blood of a sleeping pregnant woman through their long proboscis-like tongue, as Wikipedia would describe it.



They are also capable of severing its torso from the rest of its body and fly away to search for victims. The lower body is left until the flying torso returns before sunrise.



Salt and garlic, as prepared by the husband of my friend, is said to be fatal to the  Manananggal.

DeivCalviz version of a White Lady



DeivCalviz version of a White Lady



8. White Lady



Wikipedia describes a white lady as female ghost associated with legend of a tragedy in a local area. There are stories about them all over the world.



When I was still in elementary, I would make it a point not to stay in a classroom all by myself. Who knows? A white lady might appear to me. A lot of my classmates say that our school used to be a cemetery and that our school is super haunted.



In one instance, our whole building was startled when allegedly, one of our schoolmate saw a white lady in the comfort room. Everybody got out of our classrooms in the middle of the day. I loved that moment because we all got out and all lecture stopped.



A disadvantage happened  though. Every time I wanted to pee and there’s no one who can go with me, I’d do my business as fast as I could so that the white lady can’t catch up with me and haunt me while I’m peeing.



My classmates spread rumors or gossip that white ladies are harmless while the black ones are evil. Whichever one will show up to me first, it will surely be freaky. I’m not looking forward to that moment though. Perhaps you can.

Do not disturb the kapre! (image courtesy of Shadowness)



Do not disturb the kapre! (image courtesy of Shadowness)

You definitely don’t want to mess with these mythical creatures



9. Kapre



When I was still working as a nurse in a government hospital, I had a friend who has a “third eye.” I enjoyed working with her, especially on graveyard shifts because she would tell me her personal horrifying and scary experiences. Aside from ghosts that show up on her every once in a while, she could also see Kapres living on trees.



Kapres were described by my friend as gigantic. They puff huge cigars and live on trees. Filipino folklore described them this way as well.



Although kapres are considered by the majority as harmless, their hugeness is a warning that trees should be respected because they serve as their humble abode. They are also sometimes called Agta in the Visayas.



I’m not sure if I won’t be terrified to see a smoky forest at night though. It might be the Kapre puffing his smoke.

Engcanto Image courtesy of Astigtxt



Engcanto Image courtesy of Astigtxt



10. Engkanto



It is fun to explore the forest but our parents or grandparents would not advice us to do it alone or make lots of noises because we might displease an engkanto who lives nearby.



They are said to have similar features as humans except for the lack of philtrum.



They can inflict pain and harm if displeased. They are also rumored to have love interests on humans and kidnap people too. Just take an amulet or anting-anting to keep you away from them.



Although they look like Caucasians, I am not interested to meet them in the forest. It is said that they live with nature.



Now that I have shown you my list, which one of these mythical creatures scare you the most?