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Non-European Vampires Part II
Philippines
Aswang
My research uncovers another vampire, or more so, a demonic creature thought to be a vampire from the Philippines. The name of this demon is the Aswang, pronounced OZ-Wung, not ASS-Wang as it is commonly, and mistakenly called. There are many different accounts of the characteristics and behaviors of the Aswang so I will do my best to separate and include all of them. The most consistent detail is that the Aswang is the most dreaded of all of the supernatural beings in the region.
It is believed that the Aswang is a powerful, human, shape shifter and where some accounts claim that they take the form of large animals such as pigs, dogs, horses, and caribou, others say that they can take on the form of inanimate objects as well. They are always black in color and usually form into something extraordinarily large. The most common description of the actual Aswang is that of an ugly, old woman with wild, unkempt hair, bloodshot eyes, long, sharp fingernails, and a very long, black tongue. Different accounts say that the Aswang can fly but list different methods by which this is achieved. One states that the Aswang has holes beneath its armpits, which secrete oils that enable flight, while others say that only the head and intestines take to the air, leaving the sleeping body of the being behind.
During the day, the Aswang blends into normal life and may even hold a job like the average person. They are said to refrain from victimizing their neighbors and can be found out if they are seen standing upside down. Another way to spot an Aswang is to look into their eyes. If you see you reflection and it is upside down, you have come face to face with an Aswang. It is recommended not to look away but to try to stare the afflicted person down. Claims state that they will usually turn away after a short time but to look away first is to submit and you will be lost forever to the Aswang. A third method of detection involves the use of oils that have been blessed in a special, arcane ritual that can only be performed on Good Friday. The oil will boil when an Aswang is in the area and will continue to do so until they are gone. As a warning, one should never attempt to grab a dangling cobweb when moving around at night.
The Aswang is known to roam in areas near the homes of the sick or homes of pregnant women. People are warned not to sleep with their stomachs facing up as it makes it easier for the Aswang to steal their internal organs. When a victim is caught awake, the Aswang will secrete an odor, which paralyzes its prey. They will then make a replica of the victim from a pile of sticks, talahib grass, rice or banana stalks. When the replica is complete, the Aswang will send it back to the home of the victim and it will become sick and die. Stolen, the real person is then taken back to the Aswang’s lair, killed, and eaten. Aswangs are said to be very fond of eating a person’s liver, but are usually known for eating the internal organs from the heart down. It is also said that their main preference is to eat unborn babies, which are removed from the mother’s womb with their long tongues.
A common mistake made in translation calls the Aswang a sorcerer. Since a sorcerer acts of his or her own free will and it is believed that the Aswang is afflicted with a sickness that makes them unable to control their own actions, this is erroneous. A person becomes an Aswang when another Aswang blows its breath down the back of their neck. Unlike other vampiric afflictions, the Aswang can be cured. Native healers known as mananambal can force the Aswang to drink special potions that will cause the demon to be expelled. It is said that the victim will vomit many strange things, some of them being cited as eggs and whole birds.
Many people living in the Philippines today claim that the Aswang is still seen. There are even those who claim to live next door to one.
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