The Wakwak
In the Philippines, a night creature is named for its call, 'wak-wak'. When the sound is loud, it's far away. When it grows soft, it's close.
What was reported
The wakwak is a creature of Philippine folklore, especially in the Visayas: a bird-like being, or a person who becomes one at night, with great wings and sharp claws. It's named after the sound of its wings or its call, 'wak-wak', heard flapping over the rooftops after dark.
Its most unsettling trait is how its sound works. A loud call means it's still far away. As it gets closer, the sound grows fainter, so when you can barely hear it, it's nearby.
Explanations offered
The wakwak is one of the many forms of the aswang in Philippine folklore. Folklorists link its call to night birds such as owls and nightjars, and see the stories as a way to keep children indoors after dark. The trick of a sound growing quieter as it approaches is also told of other spirits in the Philippines.
- When
- Told for generations
- Where
- The Visayas, Philippines
- Witnesses
- Philippine folklore
- 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.
More from Philippines