Supernatural Creatures in Philippine Folklore A short list of the supernatural creatures in Philippine folklore… The scary stench of Halloween is now hanging in the air. Everywhere, we see faces of monsters, beasts, and other Halloween creatures. In the Philippines, it is a common belief that supernatural beings are working at large during this season. Their powers are greatest at this time, and hence, they are in their most evil facets. The Philippine folklore is rich with mythical and supernatural creatures. It is not as popular as those in Western cultures since it is mostly composed of fragmented tales of horror and wonder. Nevertheless, it has influenced the lives of Filipinos that certain customs are being practiced so to appease these beings and to prevent them from terrorizing people. So which supernatural creatures Filipinos are most afraid of? What are their equivalents to other cultures? And how evil are they? Many Filipino customs are influenced by their beliefs in various supernatural creatures. Say avoiding too much noise when near old trees so as not to disturb these unearthly beings, or beeping the vehicle when crossing bridges at nights as a permission from them. It may seem peculiar but these habits and more have become part of the way of life for many Filipinos, even for those living in the urban areas. Aswang Aswangs are the most feared mythical creature by the Filipinos. They are Filipino ghouls and shapeshifters. They are human-like by day but transform into monsters at night. They can change from human to an animal form like bat, bird, pig, cat, or black dog. The transformation can happen through their own will or through the use of foul concocted oil. They also have the ability to steal cadavers secretly and replace them with the trunk of a banana tree carved in the cadaver’s likeness. Aswangs wait by the roadsides, preying upon unsuspecting travelers. Some attacks houses to feed on sleeping people. It is said that human liver and heart are their favorite parts. Aswangs prefer pregnant women who are about to give birth. They love human fetus that they have developed the ability to track down pregnant women by the scent of their unborn child. Upon finding the house of a pregnant mother, the aswang positions itself on the roof and digs a hole through which it drops its long thin tongue to enter the woman’s womb and feast on the fetus.