“The seventh was called magtatangal, and his purpose was to show himself at night to many persons, without his head or entrails. In such wise the devil walked about and carried, or pretended to carry, his head to different places; and, in the morning, returned it to his body—remaining, as before, alive. This seems to me to be a fable, although the natives affirm that they have seen it, because the devil probably caused them so to believe. This occurred in Catanduanes. “Fr. Juan de Plasencia, (1589)

Manananggal: Mythical Philippines Creature

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The manananggal is a mythical creature from the Philippines known for its ability to detach its upper body from its lower half, sporting fangs and wings reminiscent of vampires. It’s often depicted as a terrifying, typically female entity that can separate itself, which is where its name, derived from the Tagalog word “tanggal” meaning “to remove” or “to separate,” comes from.

This gruesome being preys on sleeping, pregnant women, using a long tongue to extract fetuses’ hearts or the blood of sleeping victims. It also haunts newlyweds, couples in love, and sometimes newborns, with grooms-to-be being a favored target. To defeat it, one can sprinkle salt, smear garlic or ash on the standing lower torso, preventing it from rejoining the upper body.

This legend of the manananggal is prominent in the Visayan regions of the Philippines, particularly in provinces like Capiz, Iloilo, Bohol, and Antique. Like vampires and other creatures in Visayan folklore, manananggals are repelled by garlic, salt, and holy water. They also avoid daggers, light, vinegar, spices, and the stingray tail used as a whip. Similar folklore creatures can be found in neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia. Capiz Province is a hotspot for manananggal stories, much like other mythical creatures such as ghosts and aswangs. Some locals still believe in their existence despite modernization. Interestingly, manananggals share certain characteristics with Balkan folklore vampires, such as their aversion to garlic, salt, and vulnerability to sunlight.

These creatures are sometimes known as tik-tik due to the sound they make while flying. Folklore suggests that the quieter the sound, the closer the manananggal is to its victim, aiming to confuse them. The presence of black cats and crows, along with deformed faces or bodies in children, is believed to be signs of a tik-tik attack.