Among aswangs and other beings, Part 1

Just last week, a friend jokingly advised me to write about him teasing me as an aswang, given that I hail from Dueñas, the birthplace of Teniente Gimó. “Of course,” I replied in jest. This prompted me to write today about aswang, focusing on literary works that feature them and other mythical creatures.

The Philippines is not lacking in folklore and mythology. In fact, we are rich, given the numerous ethnolinguistic groups that each have their own unique cultures and stories. When fellow readers claim that we lack books and other literary works featuring these creatures, I want to disagree. Thus, let me share to you some works that you may be interested to read soon.

One of my favorites is Mervin Malonzo’s graphic novel Tabi Po. It is a fast read, which makes it easy to appreciate in one sitting, yet it does not make it any less engaging. As someone who enjoys aswang stories, I particularly appreciate the way the novel offers interesting takes on familiar Filipino folklore. It does not merely repeat what readers may already know about these creatures; it also explores how the word “aswang” came to be, adding another intriguing dimension to the story.

At first, it may seem like another origin story, but Malonzo gives the aswang unfamiliar characteristics while changing, or even discarding, some common beliefs about the creature. The characters’ names—Elias, Pepe, Tasyo, and Isagani, among others—also make interesting references to one of the most important novels in Philippine literature.

Set during the Spanish colonial period, the story explores themes that remain relevant today – liberation from abusive powers, strong female characters, love, and sacrifice. This National Book Award-winning graphic novel is a great read for anyone looking for something distinctly Filipino.

Another memorable work for me is May Tiktik sa Bubong, May Sigbin sa Silong: Antolohiya, edited by Allan N. Derain. Written in Filipino, the anthology presents different depictions and interpretations of the aswang, particularly the manananggal, across various literary genres.

What makes the collection interesting is that it does not intend to frighten its readers. Instead, it presents these creatures as beings capable of emotions and experiences that are surprisingly human. Through pieces ranging from fictional scientific research to monologues, the book offers unusual perspectives on creatures that have terrified many of us since childhood.

I have read several stories and books about the aswang and other mythical creatures, but this collection stands out for me because of how seriously it treats its subject while still being creative. A 2018 National Book Award winner, it gives one of our most familiar nightmares a fresh and distinctly Filipino treatment.

Edgar Samar’s Janus Silang series of books is another standout. The story follows Janus Silang, an ordinary teenager obsessed with TALA (Terra Anima Legion of Anitos), a popular internet-café role-playing game in which players battle creatures from Filipino lore.

The plot takes a tragic turn when a tournament ends with players across the country mysteriously dying after reaching a certain level. Janus is the sole survivor, and this tragedy thrusts him into a terrifying reality where the monsters from the digital game—including the ancient and menacing Tiyanak—exist in the real world. Within the specific universe Janus Silang series, the Tiyanak is not an aswang. It is actually the master creator of the aswang.

To stop the absolute destruction of his family and the world, Janus must travel to Kalibutan, the spirit realm, and find Tala, the goddess twin of the Tiyanak. Tala holds the key to preventing the catastrophe.

Aside from the tyanak and aswang, Samar also featured in the series of books the The Manananggal, a major focus of Book 3; The Mambabarang, which has an ongoing blood feud against the Manananggal; the Bungisngis, Berberoka, the Sigbin, the Dambuhalang Sarangay (The Monstrous Bull), the Fairy of the Seven Lakes, among others. These creatures gradually appear in each level of the game.

The first three books received the National Book Award from 2015 to 2017.

These are just three of the many Filipino works that feature the aswang and other creatures from our folklore. We really do not lack stories about our own mythical creatures. Many of them are already there; we just need to read and talk about them more. There are still several literary works I want to share, so I will continue this discussion in Part Two of this column next week. This time, I will bring the discussion closer to home and talk about some works from Iloilo. You see, if we are going to talk about aswang, Iloilo certainly has its share of stories.

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Michael Caesar C. Tubal teaches language, literature, and pedagogy in tertiary education. During his free time, if he is not teaching, reading, or writing, he watches past episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race or joins the book clubs in Iloilo City.