Aswang

That evening, when Maria phoned her spouse, she shared with him Peter's remark about not having seen his children in a number of years.

"I've only been apart from you and our kids for a few months. I can't even fathom what it would feel like to go years without seeing you. He acted as though it was normal. I genuinely pity him."

"You are unaware of the dynamics of their relationship. I am certain there is pain that he is concealing from you."

It was quite intriguing.

Why had his children not visited him in such a long time? Could they have had a falling out? But what type of disagreement would result in abandoning your elderly father for good? Peter appeared to be a kind and gentle man, albeit a little eccentric. Maria wondered if it had something to do with his habit of locking himself in at night. Her curiosity was sparked. She had to find out.

That night, just like every other night, Maria assisted Peter in getting into bed. However, when she closed the door, she didn't fully secure all the locks. After waiting for a few hours to ensure Peter was asleep, she carefully removed each lock, taking a deep breath.

Slowly, she turned the doorknob and gently pushed the door open, allowing a sliver of light from the hallway to penetrate the darkness of the room. The light fell upon the bed, only to reveal that Peter was no longer there. Panic started to overtake Maria as she frantically searched under the covers and around the bed. It was then that she heard a soft breath coming from behind her.

With caution, Maria turned around to find herself face to face with a towering six-foot humanoid creature with slimy skin. The creature's hot breath brushed against her face as it motioned for her to come closer with its long, bony finger. Uncertain of the consequences of disobeying, Maria reluctantly moved closer to the being step by step. As she approached, the creature opened its jaw wide.

Meanwhile, in Capiz, Juan was returning home after a long shift when he entered through the unlocked door. Perplexed by this, he was greeted by a delightful aroma wafting from the kitchen. Following the scent, he discovered Maria cooking dinner.

Overjoyed to see her, he rushed to embrace her, but was taken aback by how thin she felt in his arms. Maria eagerly informed him that dinner was almost ready and gestured for him to take a seat at the table. Juan sat down and observed Maria as she cooked. Concerned, he asked her if everything was alright. Maria responded with a mouth full of food, explaining that she was tired and hungry from her journey. She then placed a large tray on the table and urged Juan to eat.

In an attempt to gather the children for the meal, Juan called out, but received no response. Puzzled, he turned to Maria and inquired about their whereabouts. Maria, with a mouth still filled with meat, muffledly replied, raising a bone from the tray

"They're right here."

Juan froze in disbelief. Without hesitation, he reached for his bolo knife and slashed Maria's face, leaving a deep gash from her brow to her cheek. As she shrieked in pain, he commanded her to leave and never return, labeling her a monster.

Maria fled from the house. It is said that she continues to haunt the town of Capiz at night, so one must be cautious of any woman bearing a slash across her face, as they may become her next meal. In Filipino folklore, various stories depict the different ways one can transform into an aswang.

In this particular narrative, Peter, a supernatural creature known as an aswang, transferred his curse to Maria. He accomplished this by opening his mouth and allowing the dark chick residing inside him to leap out of his abdomen and into hers.As a consequence of passing on his power, Peter not only lost his immortality but also perished shortly thereafter.

The tale of Maria Labo strikes a chord with Filipinos due to the fear it evokes. Many Filipinos find themselves in a similar situation, moving to another country in order to support their families. This often means being separated from their loved ones for extended periods, sometimes even indefinitely. The emotional strain of being away for such long durations is palpable. One is left uncertain as to whether their family members will return and, if they do, whether they will be the same individuals they were before. How would you cope if someone dear to you suddenly transformed into a monster?