Aswang - a monster feared by people

Aswang is a monster in the provinces of the Philippines. A being feared by many, but why?  What makes them so scary. What makes the Filipinos believe in these creatures? Are they even real?

What is an Aswang?

An Aswang (or Asuwang) is a collective term for monsters who can shape-shift. It's usually a combination of a vampire, ghoul and witch/warlock. A being hunger for human flesh, especially for little children and babies. The name Aswang is derived from the Sanskrit word ''Asura'' which means Demon. It is also sometimes called Bal-bal or ghoul. A ghoul is a person who is morbidly interested in death or disaster or/and an evil spirit or phantom (for people who doesn't know what a ghoul is). 

Aswang stories and definition vary greatly from region to region and person to person. 

Examples of Aswangs 

Manananggal - The Manananggal is no doubt the most famous aswang. The name comes from the Tagalog word tanggal, which means to ''to remove'' or ''to separate''. In this case, ''one who separate itself''. The creature has no gender specific, but it's usually shown as a female.

At night, the person put some oil around his/her body. Huge bat-wings grows from its back. And then the creature separates its upper body from the lower. The legs (the lower body) stays on the ground, hidden in the bushes. While the monster searches for its victim to eat. If you can find the lower body and the predator who owns it, is still searching for its prey or eating. You can poor salt or vinegar on the lower body. When the Manananggal returns. He/she will not be able to be reattached with its lower body. So, he/she is stuck in his aswang form. The sun will burn the monster and kill it. 

Tik-Tik -  The Tik-Tik is an aswang who can stretch its tongue. A monster who can talk to chickens or some animal, asking for any pregnant woman. And shape shifting into some animal. The creature usually looks for a hole, where they can stick their tongue in. Then they stretch their tongue if they want, aiming for the belly button- then they stick in it and sucks the baby out. The mother dies in the process. When you hear the sound tik-tik, you know the creature is around. The louder it is, the further away. The lower the sound, the closer he/she is.

How to identify an Aswang

The ways to tell an aswang from a human are numerous. They will have bloodshot eyes because they are up all night, generally searching around for houses where wakes are being held so they can steal the body. 

If you consider the eyes of an aswang, your reflection will be upside down. You can also try looking at them while bending upside down to look at them between your legs. The aswang will look different while looking at them from this angle, revealing their identity.

Sometimes aswangs are also said not to have Philitrum. Some variations also say that they will walk wih backwards facing feed and have reversed toenails. 

My experience

To tell you the truth. I haven't encountered any aswang, I have never seen one. But, I have heard things and once dreamed about one. I once dreamed about an aswang called Maria labo. I used to scare of her when I was a little kid. She’s a shape-shifting monster who ate her own child (when she first turned into the monster she is now. And she is also rich). 

When I'm in Isulan, I sometimes hear the sound tik-tik. Also, this year, when I was in Isulan. Somewhere in the night, me and my cousins heard a loud noise. Like there was a person who jumped on the rooftop or a big bird stuck and trying to free itself by breaking a piece of the rooftop. 

Do you think they are real. Or of course they are just made up fable?
Aswang YT