Manananggal

The manananggal is a female creature with a long, slender tongue, bat-like wings, and a preference for feasting on the internal organs of sleeping victims. It is a self-segmenting vampire monster that has intestines that dangle. The manananggal is considered one type of aswang, which is a Filipino term for a demon, ghoul, or witch. These supernatural beings have been mentioned in Spanish texts dating back to 1582, but it is likely that indigenous Philippine folklore already included stories of this creature before the arrival of the Spanish. The manananggal is a particularly unique type of aswang because it detaches its upper body from its lower torso. It flies in the night with wings resembling those of a bat, while during the day, it appears as an ordinary, beautiful woman. The manananggal possesses the ability to conceal its monstrous form and maintain normal relationships, even getting married. However, at night, its arms transform into wings, its torso separates, and it takes flight in search of human victims. The manananggal uses its long, thread-like tongue to enter the bodies of its victims through openings such as windows, roofs, ears, nose, mouth, or abdomen, feeding on disgusting substances like phlegm, as well as organs like livers, lungs, intestines, hearts, and even fetuses. Pregnant women are believed to be prime targets. To prevent the manananggal from reverting to its human form, one can sprinkle ashes, vinegar, spices, garlic, or salt onto its lower body stump, thus preventing it from becoming whole again. Therefore, the manananggal takes great care to hide its lower body while hunting, as it must rejoin its torso before daybreak to survive. Banana groves are said to be effective hiding places, possibly because the trunks resemble human legs.

The origin tale of the manananggal is equally peculiar. A woman undergoes a transformation into a manananggal if she consumes a baby black chicken that has developed in the throat of an older manananggal. However, there exists a method to "cure" a newly transformed manananggal - by extracting the baby chick from her stomach before it reaches maturity. Allegedly, this can be achieved by suspending the woman upside down from a tree and subjecting her to physical abuse and fumigation, or by violently swinging her until she regurgitates the bird... which, honestly, is also quite horrifying. If it is too late for these remedies and it becomes necessary to eliminate the manananggal, but its lower torso cannot be found for seasoning, a sharp bamboo spear can always be employed. Some aspects of the rationale behind these characteristics remain enigmatic, but I do possess a few conjectures. By designating pregnant women and unborn children as the ideal prey, unexpected pregnancy complications, including miscarriages, could be attributed to a monstrous entity. As for the elongated tongue, it could potentially draw inspiration from the significant mosquito population in the Philippines, although these are merely minor facets of this overall peculiarity.

After the Spanish colonization of the Philippines in 1521, there was a noticeable increase in the prevalence of a violent female creature known as the viscera-sucker. Prior to the Spanish influence, the Filipino culture recognized both male and female familial lines, practicing bilateral kinship and inheritance. Divorce was socially acceptable and could be initiated by either party. Additionally, women in ancient Filipino societies held significant social roles, serving as shaman priestesses, mediums, healers, and presiding over ancestral offerings and ceremonies. They possessed the ability to predict the future through nature signs and dream interpretations. Furthermore, they were the custodians of historical knowledge, passing down cultural myths that influenced moral values. Women also played vital roles as herbalists and midwives, contributing greatly to society. However, Spanish colonialism brought about significant changes in indigenous religious practices, as well as the roles of women and sexuality. While pre-colonial Filipino cultures did not emphasize chastity for any gender, extramarital relationships were regarded as improper for women. With the introduction and enforcement of Christianity by the Spanish, non-marital sexual relationships were increasingly discouraged and procreation was promoted as the primary purpose of sexuality. Consequently, the perception of women underwent a transformation, as the midwives, herbalists, and shamans were discredited and labeled as witches, stripping them of their sexual, social, and religious power. This was the backdrop for the emergence of the manananggal.

Consider the following reframed content: Consider the intriguing concept of a female monster that poses a threat to unborn babies and exhibits a complete reversal of the principles associated with midwifery. It can even be argued that these creatures detach their upper bodies to separate themselves from their reproductive organs. Scholars suggest that the impact of the manananggal extends beyond folklore, possibly influencing architectural choices. The fear of these monsters in rural areas may have prompted changes in home construction, such as the addition of steep roofs and strategically placed windows to deter their perching. Social habits may also have been affected, with children sleeping in the center of the room or between their parents for protection against the manananggal's long tongue. Additionally, the consumption of balut, a boiled fertilized duck egg, may have been influenced by this fear. The precise origin of balut consumption in the Philippines remains uncertain due to the destruction of indigenous writings during Spanish conquest. However, certain eating practices associated with balut could be explained by the manananggal. A study conducted in 2002 revealed that while many respondents enjoyed eating balut, they experienced disgust at the idea of consuming the embryo, particularly if they saw the chick. Could this aversion be linked to the manananggal's taboo nature, as it not only devours children but also the unborn? Some individuals even equate eating balut to becoming an aswang, another term for manananggal. It is worth noting that the manananggal, along with other aswang, are believed to be repelled by salt and spices. Balut is commonly consumed with pepper, vinegar with chilis, salt, or other spices, potentially serving as an unconscious means of warding off the negative associations with these monsters that prey on the unborn. It is fascinating to consider how this may connect to the creation of these creatures, which supposedly involves swallowing a young bird.