Among the creatures from Western Visayas, the bagat is most peculiar.

The bagat are shapeshifters in the common nomenclature, changing between monstrous animals of huge proportions (mostly those of the domesticated variety) or other frightful apparitions such as floating candles or coffins.

They haunt lonely trails. It is not uncommon for them to be sighted when the moon is full or if it is completely dark after a light drizzle in the evening.

Normally, they are harmless, assuming the aforementioned form of domesticated animals. But one must not let their guard down as there are special considerations to note.

There are bagat that are pets of other supernatural creatures and if you cross these creatures then the bagat will have no choice but to retaliate for their masters.

What is common in most cases is that the bagat is very dangerous when harmed.

It is also said that some aswang take on one of the forms of a bagat. These are often encountered walking with their hair standing on end and their faces a terrifying sight, with the creature’s eyes staring ahead.

Now it has to be noted about bagat and aswang. In some cases, there are bagat that are aswang and in others there are aswang that take the form of the bagat. There is a strange relationship that I wish I had more time to study, but that will have to wait for a future time.

Those that encounter true bagat should know that they are prone to terrifying lone travelers. Some bagat may even chase or wrestle their scared quarry. If one is wrestled this way then the victim should bite the bagat’s thumb hard until it yields and begs to be freed.

There are also tales of discouraging the bagat by greeting them as if they were someone familiar. This presumably confuses the spirit, making it hard for it to react.

I have heard of a strange situation wherein a bagat took the form of a large dog and waylaid travelers walking its path at night. There were no casualties that I am aware of and eventually the bagat moved on, looking for another place to haunt.

Throughout all of this I still do not know what the true form of the bagat is, and I may never know as I leave for Mindanao this week.

Whatever happens I wish luck to those that encounter the bagat.

You never know what form it will take.

Pray it is a familiar one.

-From the notes of Mari Bas

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Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Story inspired by the Bagat description in  The Encyclopedia of Philippine Folk Beliefs and Customs Vol. 1 , F.R. Demetrio S.J., Xavier University, 1990

Bagat Illustration by Michael Sean B. Talavera
IG: @maykelshan
Deviantart: https://www.deviantart.com/isaneleach13

“It’s my turn! Gimme the crown!”

“No way! It looks better on me!”

The girls were being a handful again and it was getting on Lola Nena’s nerves. There was no reason for Aina and Alisa to be fighting this much over something as silly as being a princess.

“Give it back,” Alisa screamed, “the crown belongs to me!”
“No, fair is fair, now it’s my turn to be the princess, and I’m going to be the best princess ever!” Aina stuck her tongue out at Alisa and that just made her angrier.

“You can’t be the best princess, you don’t even know how to rule! You’re just gonna make your kingdom suck.” Alisa tried to tackle her sister, but she was too fast and Alisa stumbled through empty air.

“Now girls watch your language! We don’t say ‘sucks’ to each other,” said Lola Nena, trying to inject a measure of civility into the fight.

“It’s mine!” Aina deftly dodged her sister sending Alisa right into the path of a very expensive vase.

The crash could be heard throughout the house. The sisters didn’t even notice the chaos that they caused, continuing to play their game of catch the crown.
Lola Nena had enough.

“That’s it! Both of you to your room!” Lola Nena may have been old but she was fast. She snatched the crown from Aina’s head and grasped it tight. “If you two won’t behave then no one gets to be the princess.” And with that Lola Nena broke the crown in two.

There isn’t a word to describe the sound of two girl’s hearts breaking, but ‘crestfallen’ comes pretty close. The girls were disconsolate and Lola Nena would not budge. They cried all the way to their room, burying themselves in their sheets, trying to forget what had happened.

“This is all your fault stupid!” Alisa muffled scream forced its way through her blankets. “If it wasn’t for you one of us would still be the princess.”

“Ha shows what you know! You don’t need a crown to be a princess,” Aina said, haughtily.

“Stupid! How else will people know you’re royalty? The crown is a symbol of your power!” Alisa replied.

“A crown is just a crown; real royalty doesn’t need fancy jewelry. You just know what you are.”

Silence followed. Aina took this as a sign that she had won the argument and readied herself for sleep. It was so childish the way Alisa kept trying to get the crown. Even though they were twins Aina always thought that she was the more mature one, it paid to have been born five minutes earlier.

Aina switched off the lamp and put her blanket over her head, trying to get some sleep.

And outside the window a golden figure hovered.

He was half a man, with wings of gold, peering through the windows the human homes.

The hour was late and he was getting hungry. He had decided on a particularly mousey girl to be his dinner, but a noise in the distance interrupted his plans.

Curious, he flew towards the sound.

And he listened.

It had been decades since he had last taken a princess to be his prisoner. Not since…

Not since her.

He closed his eyes and thought to the past.

The storm gods were angry that day and rain battered an unnamed village by the coast. The people of the village tried to hide from the rain in their huts, but it was of no use. Waves, tripling in size, threatened to drown the villagers.
It seemed like there was nothing they could do, nothing until she walked out towards the rain.

She shouted to the heavens in a voice that not even gods could ignore.

“Spare this village and take me instead! I will be your servant!”

The winds carried her prayer and what else could he do but answer?

“Are you a god?” she asked.

“To some,” he answered.

“Will you spare my people from this storm?”

“In exchange for you? I will.”

He took her hand and with his power the storm ceased to be. They did not fly towards the heavens as she expected, instead diving to the bottom of the ocean. His home.

Their days were spent in story and song. She had a voice that would make angels flush with envy and her beauty was matched by her quick wit.

She told tales of far off lands, magical beasts and those that sought to tame them.

In time he felt comfortable enough that he took his true form, his human shape.

But all things come to an end. No matter how hard he tried to keep her alive, humans were fragile beings. The sands of time fell not in her favor and she was lost to dust.

He shook off the past and remembered that his prey was waiting.

He would have his princess.

“Wha—?” Aina rubbed her eyes and saw a large, golden bird knocking at her window.

She thought she was still dreaming and opened the window.

“Are you the princess?” the bird asked.

“I—-”

“No she’s not!” Alisa screamed. “I’m the only princess here!”

“Well, it is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, your majesty,” said the bird.

“Alisa, stay back.” Something wasn’t right, this didn’t feel like a dream. A spark traveled through Aina’s spine and lingered.

“See? Here’s someone that knows how to treat royalty!” Alisa sprang up from her bed and stood in front of the golden bird.

“Will you come with me to my palace, your majesty?”
“No Alisa! Don’t—-this isn’t——”

“Quiet! All my life all you do is stop me from doing things, I don’t care if you’re five minutes older, we’re still the same age and you can’t tell me how to live my life!”

“Alisa listen to me, this is dangerous—-”

“I don’t care, for once in my life I’m finally going to be treated the way I deserve.”

“And what is a princess without her crown?” From his wings the bird produced a tiara of glistening gold, enveloping the room in a soft glow.

“Yes, now we’re talking! Give it to me!”

“Alisa! Stop!”

But it was too late. The young girl greedily snatched the crown from the claws of the bird and before she knew it she was being carried away.

Aina tried to call for help. She told Lola Nena what had happened, but would you believe that a golden bird came out of nowhere and offered your granddaughter a crown?
Alisa’s picture was spread through social media and the newspapers. A sizable reward was put forward for information on her whereabouts, but they would never find her. They were looking in the wrong places.

And Aina?

She knew what monster took her sister and she prepared herself. Nothing was going to stop her from rescuing her twin. The years were hard for her, putting herself through the most physically demanding training and diving through books until she found what she was looking for.

Garuda.

She swore that she would find her sister.

But that’s a story for another time.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Garuda description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Garuda Illustration by Paul Medalla
FB: Apolonio Draws
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There are some warnings that go unheeded, and foolishness that is mistaken for bravery.

Take the small barrio of Dalupirit. Its winding trail filled with balete and ipil roots. One night a man refused the invitation of his friend to stay the night. “I have my bolo,” he thought. “Anyone who tries to stop me will have to think twice.”

In truth it was because his friend had the reputation of being an aswang. There were rumors of his deeds from all over the surrounding barrios, but the man kept quiet. He did not want to know if the stories were true.

Sam stares at her from across the bar and his heart skips a beat. Did she really smile at him?

His mind tries to go through all the possibilities: He talks to her and she turns him down, that was the most likely scenario. He talks to her and she finds out how boring he is, that was what he was afraid of, he was never the best conversationalist. He talks to her and he gets her number, that would be incredibly unlikely but fortune favors the bold.

Sam downs his liquid courage and prepares himself. “Do you come here often?” No, that was too cliché. “Do you play soccer, ‘cause you’re a keeper?” Too corny, she would probably walk away before he finished. “I can’t help but notice how beautiful you were from across the room.” Direct and straight to the point, maybe that will work.

He walks towards her and his mind draws a blank. She’s even lovelier up close. Sam stutters and his mind races to find words of any kind to start with, finally it settles with “Hello, I’m Sam.”

She smiles back and giggles. “That’s funny, my name’s Samantha. It’s nice to meet you.”

“You’re name’s also Sam? What a coincidence.” The inside of his head is a mess alternating between finding topics to talk about and thinking about how melodic her voice is.

“Do you mind keeping me company? I was supposed to meet my friends here but they aren’t coming so I’m just here all alone.” She smiles again and Sam is caught offguard.

“…sure, that’s no problem.” He gulps and hopes that he can do this. “Do you come here often?”

“Not really, I’m not into bars like this. I like any place with a dance floor. I was just here for a friend.”

“What happened to them?”

“Some emergency at home, now I’m all dressed up with nothing to do.”

“I’m sure we can find something you’re interested in.” Sam smiled, but in his head he was praying that line would work.

“What do you have in mind?” She asked.

“I know a place that you might be interested in. The dance floor’s pretty big and the DJ’s supposed to be amazing. I mean, if you don’t mind going with me.”

“Why not? Might as well salvage this night.” She takes his hand and his mind is filled with fireworks.

Tonight was a welcome surprise.

How did he end up here?

They went dancing, that much he knew. Maybe had one too many drinks. He remembered leaving his car at the club because he was too tipsy to drink, and now…

Now he was with a beautiful girl in her apartment. Their clothes were on the floor and their lips were locked.

He couldn’t believe this was happening to someone like him. He was at the bar to drown his sorrows after losing his job, he never expected to end up like this. Sadness could wait, now was his time to enjoy.

Sam pushed away all the doubts that usually plagued his mind, they were unwelcome in this moment.

He can feel the heat from her skin, and the warmth of her breath on his neck. He wanted to caress every crevice of her body. She dug her nails on his back, it may have hurt but there was too much adrenaline between them for him to notice.

He looked into her eyes and saw something, what was it? His mind brushed that thought away, he wanted to focus on what was happening.

He leaned back and basked in her beauty. This was real. This was the moment. This was all that mattered.

If he paid attention he would have noticed when her nails grew longer and her teeth became sharper.

Sam finished her midnight meal and put on her clothes.

It was another night of cleaning up, but at least she had a good meal out of it.

She still couldn’t believe her game still worked.

Men were so predictable.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Mandarangkal myths

Mandarangkal Illustration by Julius Arboleda

The full moon lends its light to the carnage.

Piles of human flesh strung across the plain like an abattoir, the crunch of bone and the screams of pain filled the air as the monster ravaged its way through my village.

Yet, we knew that in the next month it would have our worship. When the light of the full moon extends over our village shall it become a beneficent deity, watching over our crops like stoic sentinels.

I’m tired of this.

Why must we suffer with the whims of the moon? Why must I have to bury another member of my family and then ask blessings of their murderer? Why must I hear their screams every time I sleep, wondering what I could have done to save them?

In their “benevolent” form they appeared much like we do, but that does not fool me. I know their true nature, their one eye and their terrible fangs. They cannot hide behind their facade of peace only to bring war the next time the moon rears its next full face.

With the rise of the new moon I make a vow.

I will end this cycle of torment. I will raise arms against this confused god and bring it down to its knees.

I will.

I have lost too much to the terror, to the screams. Each night I can only see the face of my brother as he hung from the mouth of the tagamaling. His last scream will haunt me until the end of my time.

I am joined by the other hunters, each has lost a lover, a friend, a sibling or a parent to the maw of the mad god. Each has nothing left to lose. Not anymore.

So I write to you this letter, my beloved son.

Always keep yourself strong in the face of evil, and never compromise who and what you are to anyone.

Goodbye.

*The Tagamaling switches between beneficent deity and man-eating monster. It turns monstrous between the full moon and the new moon.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Tagamaling description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Tagamaling Illustration by Jowee Aguinaldo.

Part 4 Aura’s Revenge

This is all my fault.

Papa’s really worried now. Kuya hasn’t been back in almost a day and we don’t know where he is. Papa doesn’t know but I can hear him crying from mama’s room when he thinks no one’s around.

I have to help him. Ever since mama got hurt by that baby everything just went wrong, but I’m brave and I know I can find kuya. I asked everyone in the hospital if they saw my kuya, I even had his picture! One guard said she saw a boy that looked like my kuya walk outside the hospital.

I waited until papa was asleep then I ran outside of the hospital. The guard said that she saw him walk in the direction of the forest and I knew that’s where I had to go. I heard the adults talking about bad things happening in the trees, but kuya was there and I had to find him. I don’t want papa to be sad and I know mama will want to see him when she wakes up.

The forest is bigger than I thought it would be. It doesn’t help that it’s dark out. I don’t know how to find kuya but I’m sure if I keep walking I’ll see him eventually. I think I was about to find him but papa found me first! It was a big surprise.

He hugged me and said he was so worried when he couldn’t find me and that I shouldn’t run away. I told him that I wasn’t running away, and I was trying to find kuya. I said I was sorry that I made him sad but I need to help him out. I’m almost 8 and I’m big enough to help papa and kuya and mama.

Papa hugged me again but when stopped when we heard someone laughing. We looked behind us and we saw the guard that told me about kuya! She was wearing different clothes now, and her face got scarier! It looked like all her teeth were sharper. I think she was an Aswuu—Aswii—Aswang!

Her body started to move in a strange way, and it changed! Her teeth grew longer, her arms and legs changed and she looked like a giant pig. A giant scary pig.

Papa told me to run away. He said to go back to the hospital and find help! I was so scared! The giant pig was running after papa and I couldn’t do anything.

It’s all my fault.

I’m so useless.

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Story continued from the Siring’s Tale:

Siring

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Harimodon legends from Bicol

Harimodon Illustration by Leandro Geniston fromAklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

Watercolor by Mykee Concepcion
Tumblr: http://mykieconcepcion.tumblr.com/

Ek-Ek-Ek

The old woman hears the sound from her bedroom and her heart drops. “Please God not her.”, she whispers. She screams, and silently hopes that this can be enough to scare the creature away but she knows that her voice isn’t strong enough to reach her daughter’s bedroom.

Ek-Ek-EK

There’s not enough time to go to the kitchen to get a knife, it might be too late. She looks around her room and sees a pair of scissors. “Good enough.” she thinks. But there’s no time to think, not when this much is at stake. She runs out of her room with the scissors in her hand, praying that it may be enough.

Ek-EK-EK

She is close enough now. She screams again, louder than before, louder than anything she has ever screamed. It may be enough to wake up the others in the house, but she knows her daughter is alone in the room. She opens the door with the scissors in her hand.

EK-EK-EK

She stares down the beast. She sees its long, red tongue attached to her daughter’s womb and she remembers that dark stormy night when she first heard the sounds. When she lost her first baby. She vows that it will never hurt her family ever again.

EK-EK-EK

The old woman grasps the scissors in her hand and charges at her nightmare.

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Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Story inspired by the Ekek legends

Ekek Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
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Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
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