In a recent exchange of emails with my sisters, two of them mentioned
this “aswang”, a label they had given
a grey-haired woman who used to own the huts on a beach which our family frequented
during our childhood days. I was amazed that I did not share this memory. I
certainly remembered the woman, but not that we had ever thought she was an aswang.
 |
Manananggal by hydeist17
(www.deviantart.com/art/
manananggal-87318427) |
According to Philippine folklore, aswangs are shape-shifters. They are humans by day but transform into
creatures (most often a dog) at night. They supposedly eat unborn fetuses and small
children, favoring livers and hearts. I have a feeling that my sisters confused
her with a manananggal, another
mythical creature who is a woman by day and transforms into a winged monster-like
creature at night. When darkness falls, her torso splits, allowing the upper half
to fly away and hunt humans.
