What is an aswang? This is a question that has continually resurfaced during my twenty years of studying the folklore and religious beliefs of the
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The truth about the ASWANG in Capiz
“People visiting these islands – foreigners, Spaniards, Americans – couldn’t explain this transforming person…” Perhaps the most famous creature in Philippine Folklore is the aswang
Read moreEtymology of ASWANG: Where did the word come from?
Back in 2006 when I began preliminary work on THE ASWANG PHENOMENON documentary, I had 5 main questions I was trying to answer. What is an
Read moreTeniente Gimo, Aswang: Crippling Superstition or Brilliant Tactic?
You’ve heard the stories of how the CIA used the aswang lore as part of their psywar operations against the Hukbalahap Rebellion in the Philippines.
Read moreFrom Babaylan to Aswang?
The study of Philippine Folklore and Mythology is an arduous task. However, it is something that I have dedicated the last 10 years of my
Read moreAswang Lore: Transferring the Black Chick
“In your research, what did you find out about the supposed black chick that people swallow to become an aswang? Erik Matti used it in
Read moreAswang Urban Legends: Maria Labo and Teniente Gimo
It was the early 90’s and it would still be a few more years before social media was introduced. The internet was exclusive to a handful of people but
Read moreBritish Filmmaker Searches for the ASWANG in New Documentary
Back in 2014 I received a Facebook message from British filmmaker, Matt Everett. He enthusiastically explained how he was making a documentary on the aswang
Read moreThe Aswang Phenomenon – A Documentary
In my opinion, The Aswang Phenomenon documentary is by far the most incisive and cerebral approach to the question of the Aswang’s origin. Unlike other
Read moreWhat is an ASWANG?
The Aswang is one of the more pervasive folkloric concepts in Philippine culture. In terms of popularity, it is the Philippine equivalent of the Western
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