The Alan are deformed, winged spirits from the folklore of the Tinguian tribe in the Philippines. They are known for their uncanny ability to transform reproductive waste into human children, whom they raise as their own. Living near natural springs in opulent golden houses, the Alan embody a mysterious blend of the grotesque and the sublime.

Alan (legendary creature)

Amihan is a genderless deity depicted as a bird in Philippine mythology, celebrated as one of the first beings in the universe. It is renowned for saving the first humans and is intimately linked with the wind and air. Amihan embodies a gentle, protective nature, contrasting with its counterpart Habagat.

Amihan (mythology)

The Amomongo is a legendary, hairy, man-sized ape-like creature from Philippine folklore. It is known for its wild, violent nature and distinctive long, sharp nails. Living in caves near Mount Kanlaon in Negros Occidental, it has become a prominent figure in local tales and alleged attack accounts.

Amomongo

Angalo is a legendary creation giant from Ilocano mythology, believed to be the first man in pre-Hispanic Philippines. His colossal size allowed his head to reach the sky and his strides to span great distances. Through his mighty acts, he shaped the natural world, forming mountains, oceans, and celestial bodies.

Angalo

The Anggitay is a mythological being from Philippine folklore with the upper body of a female human and the lower body of a horse. Often depicted with a single horn on its forehead, it serves as the female counterpart to centaur-like creatures. Renowned for its attraction to precious gemstones, the Anggitay is said to hail from Santo Tomas, Batangas.

Anggitay

The aswang is a collective term for various shape-shifting evil creatures in Filipino folklore, known for their ability to transform between human and animal forms. They are widely feared for their predatory nature and malevolent intent. Often depicted as vampires, ghouls, and witches, these beings invert traditional Filipino values through their actions.

Aswang

The Bakunawa is a mythological serpent-dragon from Philippine folklore, known as the moon-eating dragon. It is believed to cause eclipses and trigger natural phenomena like earthquakes, rains, and winds. Its movements were integral to ancient Filipino rituals and geomantic calendrical systems.

Bakunawa

The Bal-Bal is an undead monster from Philippine mythology famed for stealing corpses and feeding exclusively on them. It deceives the living by leaving a banana tree trunk as a decoy in the coffin. Its fearsome appearance and grotesque habits make it one of the most dreaded entities in local folklore.

Bal-Bal

The Batibat is a vengeful, tree-dwelling female spirit from Filipino folklore that induces sleep paralysis and nightmares when its arboreal home is disturbed. It transforms into its true grotesque form to suffocate and terrorize sleepers. Traditional remedies involve biting one's thumb or wiggling one's toes to break the curse.

Batibat

The Berbalang is a ghoul-like creature in Filipino folklore renowned for its flesh-eating habits and supernatural flight. It preys on both corpses and living humans, instilling fear in local communities. Associated primarily with the rural regions of Mindanao, its eerie presence is woven into cautionary local legends.

Berbalang

The Berberoka is a fearsome swamp creature from northern Luzon in the Philippines. It lures unsuspecting victims by draining water from ponds, leaving fish dead on the land. When the water is suddenly released, its victims are overwhelmed and devoured.

Berberoka

Bungisngis is a one‐eyed giant from Philippine folklore known for its ceaseless laughter and formidable strength. It possesses distinctive features such as a single central eye, long tusks, and a wide, exposed set of teeth. Despite its might, it is easily deceived and prone to panic, which ultimately leads to its downfall in folk tales.

Bungisngis

The Busaw is a ghoul-like, undead creature from Filipino folklore that masquerades as an ordinary human by day. It is notorious for stealing corpses, transforming them into pigs, and preying on human flesh. Its presence in cemetery-adjacent regions serves as a grim warning against disturbing the dead.

Busaw

Dalaketnon are malevolent, elf-like engkanto from Philippine mythology. They are renowned for their noble appearance and supernatural charm despite their evil nature. Dwelling in mystical Dalakit trees, they serve as cautionary figures in Visayan folklore.

Dalaketnon

The Ekek is a fearsome, winged humanoid from Philippine mythology known for its night-time predation. It transforms into a huge bird or bat and uses a long proboscis to drain the blood of its victims, particularly targeting sleeping pregnant women. Its eerie 'ek-ek-ek' call and deceptive sound production heighten its malevolent presence.

Ekek

Engkanto are mythical environmental spirits from Filipino folklore, known for their enchanting presence and ability to appear in either human or bird form. They frequently serve as spirit guides and are deeply intertwined with natural landscapes. Their mysterious nature and ancestral connections continue to influence local traditions and superstitions.

Engkanto

The Kapre is a towering, dark-coloured, and hairy creature from Philippine mythology. It is renowned for its muscular build and distinctive strong body odour. Often seen perched on tree branches while smoking, the kapre remains an enigmatic figure in local folklore.

Kapre

The Kumakatok are a trio of mysterious, hooded figures from Philippine folklore known for knocking on doors at night and heralding death. Their presence is considered a dire omen that forewarns of impending demise. The group, comprising a young female, a middle-aged man, and an elderly man, is shrouded in mystery and fear.

Kumakatok

The Limokon is a mythological omen bird from Philippine folklore, celebrated for its striking green and white plumage accented by red feet and beak. Revered by indigenous groups across Mindanao and Luzon, its appearance is believed to foretell significant events. The term 'Limokon' is applied to various species of wild pigeons, merging natural beauty with mystical symbolism.

Limokon

The manananggal is a fearsome, vampiric creature from Filipino folklore known for its ability to detach its upper torso and take flight. With fangs and bat-like wings, it exudes a terrifying, otherworldly aura. Active at night, it preys on humans, embodying a dark and malevolent force.

Philippines Creatures