Day 1 – Aswang
Depending where in the Philippines you are, ‘Aswang’ can mean many different things.
They can be:
Bloodsucking vampires or cannibals – In some beliefs such as for the Karay-a in Panay Bukidnon, ‘Aswang’ are warriors who have eaten human flesh.
Self-segmenters – In some parts of Eastern Visayas, Quezon Province and other areas ‘Manananggal’ and ‘Aswang’ are synonymous. ‘Manananggal’ refer to creatures that can split in half and fly, usually eating the innards of their victims.
Shapeshifters – Some ‘Aswang’ can turn into dogs, cats, black pigs, birds.
Witches – They can cause illness to people from afar as well as other magic like turning corpses into other objects.
Corpse Eaters – Some descriptions have ‘Aswang’ as exclusively eaters of dead bodies.
As well as any combination of those above!
Day 2 – Idaemonon
It lives underground and pokes its fingers through the ground every 6am and 6pm. When it decides to come out of the ground, it tends to hide some of your things.
Day 3 – Manla-awla-aw
The manla-awla-aw is a spirit that is often seen observing people from behind anthills.
Day 4 – Bangkilan
Bangkil is “Fang” in Cuyonon. Bangkilan is someone who has a noticable fang. Bangkilan also refers to aswang that are wild boars with big fangs.
Day 5 – Kogang
Kogang is a buso, a type of harmful spirit believed in by the Bagobos. It is zoomorphic (taking the shape of various animals).
Day 6 – Sali-maong
The Sali-maong is like a goat in terms of size. One can ride on it and it walks backwards. Its front legs are smaller and shorter; its hind legs are bigger and longer. It kills when it bites and is kept in a house unfrequented by others. One can also command this to kill his enemies.
Day 7 – Amamanhig
The Amamanhig is a corpse that returns to life. One becomes an amamanhig if you die with unpaid debts. Can be tricked into being buried. Will not go to its rest in the grave until its debts have been settled.
Day 8 – Borogan
Borogan was a Moro man who was rebuffed by a Palawan woman, Atola, who would only marry a man of her own tribe. He disppeared for years apparently serving the ‘god of the deep’ (possibly Neguno, the god of sharks). Because of this he became eternal and took Atola away from her family and disappeared into the sea. It is said that on dark nights travelers can hear the sobs of Atola’s family in Tinangisan.
Day 9 – Catalina
Catalina has mysterious powers, among them is that she an walk on water. Has a beehive and when she speaks bees flow from the hive to the ground, the bees then change into little, black men with long sharp spears. The daughter of a tuba seller, she chased a sigbin off of Mt. Dalugdug. She is worshipped by some people of Dumaguete, who leave offerings in Mt. Daulgdug.
Day 10 – Akop
He has a head, long slimy arms and legs, but no body. An evil spirit. He always frequents the place of death, and seeks to embrace the spouse of the deceased. Should he succeed, death follows quickly. To defeat his plans, the widow is closely guarded by the wailers; she also sleeps under a fish net as an additional protection against his long fingers, and she wears seeds which are disliked by this being.
Day 11 – Laksasa
The term is derived from the Hindu Rakshasa. Laksasas are bloodthirsty and they have insatiable sensual appetites, perhaps as a sublimation for drinking blood and eating human flesh when they are in human form
Day 12 – The Bird of Mount Gurayn
The Bird of Mount Gurayn is a singular avian creature with seven heads. The Bird of Mount Gurayn is a terrible beast.It cares only for its hunger and destructive urges. In order to sate its need for prey, it must travel farther and farthereach season. Therefore, it can be placated by offerings of food
Day 13 – Bingil
If a sangasang (shrine) was not erected at a new site settled by these cultivators, it was said that a bingil would appear- a person covered with old wounds and pus, and smelling like rotten flesh, with his tongue hanging out, like a severed head. Illness or death would plague the settlement until a shrine was erected. The bingil could only be propitiated by a headhunt or a large animal sacrifice and a chase (dagdag) in which all the village residents took part.
Day 14 – Lagtaw
To the people of Sulu, it is called lagtaw. It is tall, black, and big like other evil spirits. Its large eyes are like fire. Its nose and ears are large. It lives in great big trees. Its legs are like ship masts. It lives inside a tree hole. It leaves its hole at night. Then it goes out to frighten boys and girls. If one can get hold of the feet of a lagtaw he will become very intelligent.
Day 15 – Allawig
The allawig, also known as silew-silew (‘lighter’), is a ball of fire moving across open fields or through wooded areas at night. Unlike fire, it ignites nothing it touches. It is commonly red but may be blue, green, orange, or yellow. Unlike a real flame, too, it is round rather than peaked. It may burn bright or just flicker. One under its spell follows it and is then led round and round until he falls down in exhaustion. The creature may also lead a man into a mudhole or swamp where he can drown. One under the spell of the allawig should take off his clothes and put them on inside out. The creature will then leave and he will find his way home, which may prove to be just around the corner after all.
Day 16 – Ximbanonan
A spirit who revives the recently deceased if he wishes to help. He is also helpful to the reapers during the rice harvesting.
Day 17 – Mamam
A gigantic creature with a large mouth and an even larger belly. It devours anything it gets a hold of. It is large enough to devour a house. It is insatiable and will eat anything.
Day 18 – Mameleu
A sea serpent, its body is as large as a carabao and is thirty fathoms long. It has two torchlike eyes that gleam like fire. Its head as large as a carabao’s with two white horns and long tusks and teeth. It has plate sized scales that are hard and resistant.
Day 19 – Nagbuagan
Certain evil spirits who know only destruction.
Day 20 – Ngio-ngio
Ngio-ngio are said to be sorcerers that take the form of birds. The name of its song is also called Ngio-ngio.
Day 21 – Omakaan
Omakaan ss a giant made of river leeches. If slashed in two, it divides itself and becomes two Omaka-an. Can be killed by not slashing it fully. Attracted by flame. Was slashed in two by Radia Solaiman and eventually killed him. It is said that the islets Nisa and Balut were once clumps of earth thrown at each other by these two.
Day 22 – Panya’en
Mystical entities that control certain wild trees, such as the providers of pollen for the bees, the providers of resins and medicine as well as different animal species. Said to possess human consciousness and have the ability to establish meaningful interaction with humans.
Day 23 – Pugot
Can take several forms: A cat with firey eyes, a sinister dog that gradually increases in size or a black giant (18 meters). The Pugot sometimes smokes giant cigars. Existed on earth before humans. Also worship the gods of the Kapampangan pantheon. Acts like humans.
Day 24 – Punong
A monstrous frog with one eye and three throats. A creature from Bicolandia.
Day 25 – Tingohan
Comes from the word ‘tingo’ which means ‘big, sharp teeth, it is a creature with lots of big, sharp, pointed teeth. Stays in the dark. Children are scared that they might find a tingohan when playing hide and seek at night.
Day 26 – Rioa-rioa
A hideous and malevolent being that hangs upside down like a long pendulum with his mouth to the earth. It devours the men that his servant Tabankak presents to him.
Day 27 — Garuda
The Garuda is a half-man, half-bird with a golden body, white face and red wings. It can fly and is gigantic. It is the enemy of serpents but can be reasoned with/flattered. With a keen sense of smell, it can transform into a full human shape or a full bird shape.
Day 28 – Pating na Pakpakan
Flying sharks.
Day 29 – Darantan
An evil anito who inhabits rivers and who causes drowning.
Day 30 – Rabut
A half man- half beast that has eyebrows so thick they protrude from its face. Its huge chin is tucked in like that of a lizard. Has huge pointed ears that droop down. Its voice is so loud and raspy it sounds like thunder. Can turn his enemies into stone and can do this to any within its vision at will. Can fly.
Day 31 – Bakunawa
The Bakunawa is a serpent or dragon that is believed to eat the sun or moon during an eclipse. It is kept at bay by loud noise and music. It seeks to possess all 7 moons by swallowing them. The Bakunawa already swallowed 6 moons, but was stopped by the god Bathala from eating the last one.
