The Aswang
In the Philippines, a shape-shifter of the night is said to be ordinary by day, and one province has long tried to shake off its link to the legend.
What was reported
The aswang is a shape-shifting creature of Philippine folklore, said to look like an ordinary person by day and to take animal form by night, such as a dog, pig or large bird. It's said to prey on the sick and on pregnant women, and stories describe a 'tik-tik' sound that grows quieter as it comes closer.
Aswang stories are told throughout the Philippines, but the province of Capiz, on Panay, became so associated with them that local officials and residents have long worked to counter the label.
Explanations offered
Some historians think Spanish missionaries encouraged aswang stories to discredit traditional healers. The legend also offered explanations for illness and death, especially of mothers and babies. In the 1950s, US and Philippine military officers reportedly used aswang beliefs in psychological warfare against rebels.
- When
- Told for centuries
- Where
- Capiz, Panay, Philippines
- Witnesses
- Philippine tradition
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.