Aswang
Also known as: Tik-Tik, Wak-Wak
The Philippines' most feared shapeshifter hides as your neighbor by day and hunts as a beast by night.
Pre-colonial Filipino oral tradition
Philippines, nationwide but especially Visayas
Varies by form, human-sized by day
Predatory, deceptive
Deeply embedded in living cultural belief
The Lore
The aswang is the most prevalent and feared supernatural creature in Filipino folklore, found in nearly every regional tradition across the archipelago. By day, it appears as a quiet, unassuming person. By night, it transforms into a dog, pig, bat, or other animal to hunt. The aswang is particularly associated with a long, thread-like tongue used to feed on sleeping victims. Entire communities in rural Philippines maintain specific countermeasures, including garlic, salt, vinegar, and the tail of a stingray.
Body Type
Folklore Origin
Media Appearances
- Trese (Netflix animated series)
- Aswang (2011 documentary)
- Grimm (TV series)
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