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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 4 2009, 3:05 PM EDT | Ravenite | 13 words added, 13 words deleted |
| Jun 4 2009, 2:05 PM EDT | newgimpsuit | 15 words added, 15 words deleted |
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Aswang
An AsswangAswang (or Asuwang) is a ghoul in Filipino folklore. The myth of the asswangaswang is popular in the Western Visayan regions such as Capiz, Iloilo and Antique. The trademark or major feature of AsswangsAswangs which distinguish them from other Filipino mythological creatures is their propensity to replace stolen cadavers with the trunk of a banana tree carved in the cadaver's likeness. They are also said to like to eat small children. Their favorite body parts are the liver and heart. Other local names, especially in Capiz are tik-tik and wak-wak.Asswang,Aswang, at times, is also a generic term applied to all types of mythological creatures, ghosts, manananggals, witches, shapeshifters, lycanth and monsters. AsswangAswang is often interchanged with manananggal, but they are different. There are also characteristics and features that the AsswangAswang also varies from Filipino to Filipino.They usually live near the mountains and they never go in to cities
The myth of the AsswangAswang is popular in the Visayan region of the Philippines, specially in the western provinces of Capiz, Iloilo Antique. Aside from entertainment value, mothers are said to tell their children AsswangAswang stories to keep them off the streets and keep them home at night. Similar to Count Vlad III Dracula of Transylvania in Vampire stories, the most popular characters are the clan of Teñente/ Tenyente/ Tiniente Gimo of the town of Dueñas, Iloilo.
Appearance and activities
An asswangaswang is a regular townsperson by day and prefer an occupation related to meat, such as butchery or making sausages.AsswangsAswangs have an ageless appearance and a quiet, shy and elusive manner. They can be distinguished from humans by two signs. One is the bloodshot eyes from staying up all night looking for opportunities to sneak into houses where funeral wakes are being held, and stealing the dead bodies.
According to the elderly, the AsswangAswang can also transform from human to animal and animal to human. The AsswangAswang can disguise him/herself as a pig, dog or a black bird. Supposedly if a person looks at them in the eyes, the reflection would appear inverted. During their nocturnal activities, they walk with their feet facing backwards and toenails reversed.
One type is the tik-tik which transforms into a huge bird/bat at night and prowls. The tik-tik looks for a pregnant person. Then extends a very long proboscis into the womb and licks the baby to kill it. While performing, a 'tik-tik' sound is heard.
In some stories, the tik-tik is an asswang's familiar, said to confuse people by its 'tik-tik' sound. If the asswangaswang is near, the sound would be faint so that people hearing it would think that the asswang is still far away.
The term wak-wak or wuk-wuk is frequently used for the same creature in the Cebu region. The legends of the wak-wak and tik-tik are much the same, but the wak-wak is specifically supposed to change into its birdlike form by leaving behind its lower body, much like the Manananggal, another Philippine vampire. The cry of a night bird which makes a "wuk-wuk-wuk" sound is believed to be the call of this monster and is feared by superstitious villagers. As with the call of the tik-tik, the wak-wak is believed able to make its cry sound distant when the creature is near.
