The TAMBALOSOS/ TAMBALUSLOS/ TAMBALUSLUS is one of those rare Philippine beings that everyone seems to know about, yet is conspicuously missing from most documentation on the subject of folkloric beings. There is no mention I know of in the important work of Ramos, Eugenio, Demetrio and Jocano. It is also missing in more recent publishings such as “101 Kalinga-Gilalas Na Nilalang” and the two “Alejandro Pardo” offerings. So what is keeping this being from the formal texts on Philippine lore? It likely has a lot to do with the grossly enlarged features of the Tambaluslos – mainly its smile, scrotum, or penis.
Confusing regional differences and misunderstandings of this being came to a head during the 2014 Mythos Kan Albay Parade of Higantes during the Daragang Magayon Festival. The towering effigy of a skinny dark-skinned creature with an enlarged phallus sparked the age-old debate over the boundary between art and pornography. Since there is no formal documentation on the being, debates were fueled with accusations that the Tambaluslos’ giant, erect penis was being displayed with no cultural basis. Others continued that the artists were mistaken and that the Tambaluslos only presented a giant smile. Another commented, “This is being taken out of context. The “creature” is Tambaluslus, mythological being prominent in Bicol lore. It being the star of the higantes parade is understandable due to the artist’s rendition of it’s oversized phallus, which is where the misunderstanding begins. Tambaluslus has an oversized scrotum, rather than this gigantic penis we see in the parades.”
Well, they are all kind of correct. Let’s take a look at the regional differences that are available courtesy of Karl Gaverza from The Spirits of the Philippine Archipelago.
CEBU
Overly large head and a freakish grin. Has a scary, evil laugh. Makes people who walk through the forest lost. The more lost its victim is the harder it laughs. If you put your clothes inside out the tambaloslos finds it so funny it will laugh so hard it will cover its eyes with its enormous upper lip, giving the victim a chance to escape.
Tambaloslos is a slang word in the Cebuano language. It is used to mean a useless or an inept male. It is seldom used to refer to a woman. It is a vulgar word and is not used in polite or formal conversation. Occasionally people say it to elicit a humorous effect. The suffix “loslos “is a slang term for the male genitalia.
“Tambaloslos kang daku!” is a saying in Cebuano that is similar to “You’re such a dimwit!”.
BIKOL
It got its name from the long, wrinkled penis and dangling testicles which dangles to the ground (luslus).
An awkward, lanky, wrinkled black creature, it has long, thin, wobbly legs, hooves and big joints. It has long, thin arms and fingers and a mane like that of a horse that went all the way down from the head to the buttocks. It has wide protruding lips that covers its face when it laughs.
The Tambaluslus hides under trees on moonlit nights and loves to chase people who are lost in the woods.
‘luslus’ which means ‘loose and hanging’.
Also from Bikol:
A tall humanoid creature. Generally black in complexion, it has long and thin legs with big joints, hooves, long thin arms and fingers, and a mane that runs from the back of the head down to its buttocks. It also has wide protruding lips like an ape. Another strange feature of this creature are its long wrinkled penis and loose testicles which dangle near the ground.
The Tambaluslos chases people who wander in the woods. The only way to escape it is to take off your clothes and wear them upside-down. The creature finds this act very hilarious and it will laugh so much that its wide lips would cover its face, therefore preventing it from seeing the victim who in turn will have ample time to escape.
BIKOL, BISAYA, MINDANAO
from ‘luslos’ or to have an erection
Takes women into secluded areas. To escape ones must turn their clothes inside out so that the tambaloslos can see their breast, this will make the tambaloslos erect so much that its genitals will cover its vision.
So which description is correct? Well, all of them are. As far as the Daragang Magayon Festival is concerned, the Albay Public Information Office, in its report about the parade, stood by the portrayal of the the effigy. It described the the tambaluslos as “an awkward, lanky, wrinkled black creature, that has long, thin, wobbly legs, hooves and big joints and punished by Gugurang (Bikolano supreme deity) by enlarging its phallus to gargantuan proportions for its promiscuity.”
I have to commend the Daragang Magayon Festival for supporting this representation and not backing down to modern society’s addiction to being offended. Daragang Magayon Festival put the freedom of expression of the artists and heritage above all else. I don’t know if the Tambalulos and its giant phallus still parade down the streets of Albay every April, but I hope it does. After all, despite all decolonization movements, if folkloric creatures – no matter what their endowment – still bring a feeling of shame and accusations of stupidity, the Spanish have truly succeeded in stripping the Philippines of an important part of its cultural heritage.
And yes, I do see the hypocrisy in pixelating the cover photo for this article. If I didn’t, Facebook would lose their mind.
SOURCES:
The Spirits of the Philippine Archipelago
Tambaluslos effigy: art or porn?, Albayanos debate,
ALSO READ: CULTURE & TRADITION: Phalluses and Phallic Symbols of the Philippines
Jordan Clark is a Canadian born descendant of Scottish immigrants living on the homelands of the Lekwungen speaking peoples. His interest in Philippine myth and folklore began in 2004. Finding it difficult to track down resources on the topic, he founded The Aswang Project in 2006. Shortly after, he embarked on a 5 year journey, along with producing partner Cheryl Anne del Rosario, to make the 2011 feature length documentary THE ASWANG PHENOMENON – an exploration of the aswang myth and its effects on Philippine society. In 2015 he directed “The Creatures of Philippine Mythology” web-series, which features 3 folkloric beings from the Philippines – the TIKBALANG, KAPRE and BAKUNAWA. Episodes are available to watch on YouTube. Jordan recently oversaw the editing for the English language release of Ferdinand Blumentritt’s DICCIONARIO MITOLÓGICO DE FILIPINAS (Dictionary of Philippine Mythology) and is working on two more releases with fellow creators scheduled for release later this year. When his nose isn’t in a book, he spends time with his amazing Filipina wife of 20 years and their smart and wonderful teenaged daughter.
