Different supernatural beliefs are held by Filipinos. Many people still think that mythical animals exist among us, even in these modern times. This can be linked to the old folk stories they heard as children or to the Filipinos' imaginative thinking and storytelling skills.

Some creatures are regarded by the villagers as being on par with gods and goddesses, serving as their divine protectors and providers. From the other perspective, some are perceived as villains who bring forth bad luck and misery. Learn more about some of them as we highlight some popular Filipino mythical beings!

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Creatures of the Soil

Agta: It has been depicted as a supernaturally large guy with a dark complexion who lives in cliffs, trees, or abandoned homes. They are regarded as kind spirits that live in trees and don't hurt people; instead, they observe and keep watch from their homes.

Alan: The Tinguian tribe of the Philippines' folklore has the deformed spirits known as the Alan. Their hands and feet point backward, they have wings, and they can fly.

Amalanhig: In Visayan mythology, notably among Hiligaynon-speaking populations, are creatures known as amalanhig. They are Aswangs who failed to transmit their monstrosity, which caused them to emerge from their graves and bite the necks of humans.

Amomongo: According to Philippine tradition, the Amomongo is a large, hairy ape with long nails that resembles a man. The Hiligaynon word amó, which means monkey or ape, is possibly the source of the name.

Anggitay: It is a monster with the lower body and legs of a horse from the waist down and the upper body of a female human. They served as the centauride, or female centaurs, counterparts in the Philippines. They are also said to be the Tikbalang's female counterparts.

Bal-Bal: A Bal-Bal is an undead creature from Philippine mythology that snatches bodies from graves or funerals and consumes them. It has a keen sense of smell for the remains of dead people. Additionally, it has teeth and claws that are strong enough to rend the dead's clothing. It only consumes corpses, hence its breath is terrible.

Batibat: In Ilocano folklore, there is a vengeful monster known as the Batibat. Bangungot is the name of the monster in Tagalog legend. The batibat manifests as a grotesquely obese, ancient female spirit that lives in trees.

Berbalang: The Berbalangs are ghoulish legendary beings in the Filipino culture that are said to eat human flesh. They obtain their food by removing bodies from cemeteries or by employing flying and other magical abilities to hunt living people. They are connected to the Mindanao culture of the small villages.

Bungisngis: In Philippine folklore, Bungisngis is a behemoth with just one eye. This monster is said to reside in Orion, Bataan, Meluz, and Cebu, and is always said to be laughing. The Cebuano word ngisi, which means to giggle, is the source of the term Bungingis' literal meaning.

Busaw: Legendary creature known as Busaw is similar to humans in appearance, behavior, and farming of root crops. However, as people are its preferred source of food, numerous human skeletons are lying around its home. A corpse and ghoul thief, the Busaw.

Dalaketnon: In Philippine folklore, a race of creatures known as Dalaketnons resembles elves. They were regarded by Visayans as being dashing and lovely animals that resembled prehistoric Philippine aristocrats and monarchs.

Diwata: Large trees like balete and acacia are supposed to be where the diwata live. They are the protector spirits of nature, bestowing blessings or curses on anyone who benefit or harm the mountains and woods. One such well-known Diwata is Maria Makiling, the protector of Laguna province's Mount Makiling.

Dwende: The duwende is far less terrifying than the manananggal, but much more mischievous. These beings are referred to as goblins, elves, or dwarves in Filipino culture. They are small in stature, frequently aged or withered, and have colorful beards and headgear.

Kapre: In Philippine tradition, the kapre is a towering, dark-colored, hairy, and powerful creature that could be compared to a tree giant. Additionally, kapres are rumored to perch in tree branches and smoke while having a very powerful body odor.

Mambabarang: The Bisayan equivalent of a sorceress or sorcerer, the Mambabarang, employs spirits and parasites to enter the bodies of anyone they despise. Mambabarang is a common person who uses black magic and tortures their victims before killing them by inhabiting their bodies with pests.

Mangkukulam: A mangkukulam, literally translated as "a practitioner of kulam," is a type of Filipino witch.

Multo: The multo is a symbol for practically everything eerie, from poltergeists to exceedingly vengeful specters seeking to steal your life from your body to the spirits of our loved ones, poltergeists.

Nuno sa punso: A dwarf-like nature spirit (anito) known as a nuno sa punso, sometimes known as an old man of the mound, or simply referred to as an "old man," appears in Philippine mythology. Its name, which translates to "Ancestor residing in the anthill," comes from the idea that it dwells in an anthill or insect mound.

Pugot: It is a fictitious demon that appears in the mythology of the Philippines' Ilocos region. It can take on a variety of forms, including dogs, hogs, and even humans. It typically manifests as a huge, headless black creature, though. The species typically live in abandoned homes or gloomy areas.

Santelmo: In Philippine mythology and folklore, a santelmo is a particular kind of fire spirit that hypnotizes people.

Sarangay: Half bull, or more particularly, half male water buffalo, is how Sarangay is described. Folklore holds that the monsters guard their gems and that any would-be thieves will be ruthlessly dispatched. It was reported that a Sarangay's nostrils would start to smoke when it was angry.

Sigbin: According to Philippine folklore, this creature emerges at night to draw blood from the shadows of victims. It is reported to have the capacity to blend in with other animals, especially people, and to move backward with its head dropped between its rear legs.

Tikbalang: It is a tall, skeletal humanoid with horse-like hooves and limbs that are so disproportionally long that when it squats down, its knees are over its head. In some depictions, it is a transformed aborted fetus that has been sent from limbo to earth.

Tiyanak: In Philippine folklore, there is a vampire that resembles a young child or infant. Although there are many different kinds, it usually resembles a newborn baby and screams in the forest to draw in naive tourists.

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Creatures of the Water

Berberoka: The inhabitants of Abra, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte have a belief in and apprehension of a swamp monster known as Berberoka. It draws in victims by draining a pond of all water until the fish are lying lifeless on the ground. The Berberoka discharges all the water as they come to pick up the marine animals, then devours them while they try to keep afloat.

Kataw: One of the merpeople in Philippine mythology is the Kataw. In the Visayan culture, Katau was seen as having superior status to other marine creatures, such as Sireno, Sirena, and Siyokoy. The Kataws is thought to be the current monarchs of the Bantay Tubig kingdom.

Sirena: The Sirena is a mythical aquatic creature from Philippine folklore that has a human female's head, torso, and tail. The Filipino title for these legendary water protectors is Bantay Tubig, and engkantos are one of them.

Siyokoy: They are mythical beings from Philippine folklore that belonged to Bantay Tubig (merfolk). They are frequently shown as green-skinned exoskeletons with scales, fins, and webbed limbs.

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Creatures of the Air

Bakunawa: It is a dragon that resembles a serpent in Philippine folklore. It is thought to be the reason for wind, rain, eclipses, and earthquakes. The ancient Filipinos used the motions of the Bakunawa as a geomantic system model and as a part of their Babylon shamanic ceremonies.

Garuda: The bird of the god Vishnu, which could be an eagle or a kite. The sun is likened to a bird in the Rigveda as it soars over the air, and an eagle brings the delicious soma plant from heaven.

Manananggal: Manananggal is a long-forgotten mythical creature in the Philippines. Its wings and fangs give it a vampire-like look, and it separates from the bottom section of the body.

Manaul: The Code of Kalantiaw, a sacred text from the island of Panay, referred to a Manaul bird. This paper stipulates that killing this bird carries a death sentence. It is strongly believed that the mythology surrounding the aforementioned Manaul was created during the Confederation of Madja's rule.

Minokawa: In Philippine folklore, a large, dragon-like bird is called a minokawa. To explain why eclipses occur, early humans thought this creature was so large that it could swallow or completely hide the sun.

Sarimanok: The fabled bird has emerged as the unmistakable emblem of Maranao art. It is portrayed as a bird carrying a fish in its beak, with colorful feathers and a tail made of feathers. It is thought to be a lucky charm.

Tigmamanukan: The Tigmamanukan was regarded by the Tagalog people as an auspicious or omen bird in Philippine mythology. Although many different lizards and birds were thought to exhibit omen-like actions, special attention was dedicated to the tigmamanukan.

Wakwak: In Philippine legend, a bird-like vampire creature called the Wakwak exists. Similar to the Ekek and the Manananggal in the rural Philippines, it is rumored to kidnap humans at night as prey.

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