What Is an Aswang?

5 Fun (and Freaky) Facts About the OG Filipino Monster

If you grew up hearing creepy stories from your lola or cousins back in the province, you probably know about the Aswang — the shapeshifting, blood-sucking, baby-hunting creature that haunts Filipino folklore.

But let’s be real — the Aswang isn’t just one monster. It’s like a whole category of nightmare fuel. And it’s lowkey one of the coolest (and scariest) things about our mythology.

At Hot Tropiks, we’re all about sharing these stories — the weird ones, the forgotten ones, the ones that make you go “wait, WHAT?” So here’s a quick breakdown of why the Aswang is that monster.

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1. The Aswang Can Be Anyone

Your neighbor? That nice tita who always has suman? A random tricycle driver? Yup. Could be an Aswang.
They live normal lives during the day, but at night? They transform into animals — dogs, pigs, birds — whatever helps them sneak around. Some even become beautiful women to lure in their prey.

Basically, it’s giving: trust no one energy.

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2. It’s Not Just One Monster

"Aswang" is kinda like the Filipino version of “all the scary stuff.” It’s an umbrella term.

You got:

• Vampires with long tongues that slurp blood
• Ghouls that eat dead bodies
• Bruhas who curse people with oils and spells
• Manananggals — flying torsos that leave their legs at home and go flying around at night looking for victims

Like, this is the Filipino horror cinematic universe before Marvel was even a thing.

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3. Tik-Tik and Wak-Wak Sounds = Get Out

Some Aswangs make these creepy noises — like tik-tik or wak-wak. But here’s the weird part:
The louder the sound, the farther they are.
The quieter it gets? The closer they are to you.

Which honestly makes no sense… but also makes it 10x scarier. Like, silence?? No thanks.

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4. Stingray Tails > Garlic

Yeah, garlic works. Salt too. But the real OG anti-Aswang tool?
Buntot pagi — aka dried stingray tail.
People used to hang them above doors or use them as whips to fight off monsters. Still kinda metal.

Imagine being in a horror movie with a stingray tail in one hand and suka in the other. That’s Filipino survival mode.

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5. The U.S. Military Used the Aswang to Push Fear

Okay so this part is less fun and more messed up:
During the early 1900s, when the U.S. military was occupying the Philippines, there were reports of them using Aswang stories as psychological warfare — especially in rural areas where resistance was strong.

There’s even a wild story where they faked an Aswang attack to scare off rebels. Like... they literally drained a body of blood and spread rumors it was an Aswang kill. 

So yeah — even the Americans twisted the myth to control people. The Aswang isn’t just a monster. It’s also a tool of fear, power, and manipulation. That’s horror and history.

 

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Want more stories like this?

• Trese (Netflix, 2021)
  Aswangs appear as shapeshifting criminals running part of Manila’s supernatural underworld. They show up right in Episode 1, and their portrayal blends traditional myth with modern city horror.
• Grimm – Season 3, Episode 14 “Mommy Dearest” (2014)
  A rare Western TV appearance: this episode features an Aswang attacking a pregnant woman, tying directly into Filipino folklore. The show includes Tagalog and Filipino characters.
• Tiktik & Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles (2012 & 2014)
  This two-part Filipino horror-action series follows a man defending his home from invading Aswangs. The sequel introduces new types, like the “Kubot,” expanding the Aswang mythos into a cinematic universe.
• Shake, Rattle & Roll II – Segment “Aswang” (1990)
  In this horror anthology, a girl visits a remote barrio and discovers the whole town is full of Aswangs. It’s one of the first major movie portrayals in Philippine pop culture.
• Tabi Po (TV5 series, 2017)
  Based on the graphic novel by Mervin Malonzo, this live-action series follows a young Aswang during the Spanish colonial period. It’s a bloody, poetic take on Aswang identity and survival.

Check out our Filipino mythology collection or follow us @hot.tropiks for daily drops on culture, folklore, and Filipino creativity.

 

About Hot Tropiks

Hot Tropiks is the leading distributor of Filipino komiks, children’s lit, and cultural content in the U.S. We bring bold stories from the Philippine tropics to the world — from mythology and monsters to art, design, and indie storytelling.

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