PAGCALIWAGAN, Angelika D.

BA Behavioral Sciences

REFLECTION PAPER: “The Aswang Phenomenon”

In the Philippine culture, about 80% of the provincial population believe in the concept of
“​Aswangs​”. Although in reality, not many are truly aware of where the concept of ​Aswangs ​originated
from and its definition for us is really quite ambiguous. Us, Filipinos, just know intrinsically. Such is
because we are culturally taught through our different social interactions when we were children and as
we were growing up. The mark of “Aswangs” continue in our literature, folklore, film, dramas, historical
texts and more.
Jordan Clark, in his interest with the subject matter decided to further explore the nature of
aswangs. He was first intrigued when he encountered a film, “Aswang”, in 1994 by Wrye Martin and
Barry Polterman. Then he went to the Philippines to create his own film. As a foreigner, he understood
that his film was lacking something that Filipinos could truly relate to. He then decided to try to
understand with a culturally relative point of view. His findings not only helped him understand the
Philippine society and culture, it also aided us, Filipinos, to come to better comprehension of our own
culture and ourselves.
In a raw definition, aswangs ​are perceived to be a creature with the ability to transform and
shapeshift. Moreover, they eat and cause harm to human beings. Some might even say that the existence
of ​aswangs have a relation to the moon. Some of the commonly heard types of ​aswang ​are the tik tik or
wak wak, which have quite a long tongue so as to eat the babies and even the fetus in a pregnant woman.
Another is the sigbin, which is kind of like weredog, half human and half dog. It can be observed how the
word, ​aswang, has no strict boundaries. Its definition is amorphous, ambiguous, and unknown but it all
depends on a person’s own perspective and interpretation.
Often our ideas of what the ​aswang truly is, is formed through socialization. As the idea is
passed down from generation to generation, we can’t help to admit that it is possible since the people who
relay the idea are adults who we respect and of course have experiences. Moreover, as children we were
taught that they roam the streets at night but in reality these are just what adults say in order to keep
children restrained behave. Especially, since in the Philippines there are many aspins roaming the street so
a person might perceive that these dogs could possibly be a ​sigbin or an ​aswang disguised as a dog. It is
important to take note that Filipino children have a collective mentality, wherein if one child believes
something others could possibly take in this belief as well. At times, we may also look at such a
phenomena as unreal but our imagination may influence our minds to think they are real when we’re in a
dark and scary situation since it also plays on the western phobia of being alone. Moreover, we cannot
deny that our initial concepts of ​aswang would often depict a woman or even an old woman with long
hair and glaring eyes. It seems as though we have stereotypes even when dealing with ​aswangs.
The word ​aswang ​was said to be from the Filipino words, ​asin ​and bawang​, which are two things
that are used to ward off evil and such. Although, Philippine Folklore has a different version. It was said
to have came about from the legend of the Bicol Gods, Gugurang and Asuang, who lived in Mt. Mayon
and Mt. Malinao. A similar concept was from Panay, wherein there were two spirits, Asuang and agurang,
who both have strong powers during daytime (Agurang) and nighttime (Asuang). The concept of ​aswang
was said to be inherent in our country even before the start of our colonization but the idea of ​aswangs
was made worse by our colonizers for they manipulated it to hold power over the Filipinos and gain their
favor.
When the Spaniards were able to take dominion over the Philippines, they did not fail to spread
Christianity even though there are of course some regions that they were unable to take control of. To
maintain this power, the Spaniards manipulated the minds of Filipinos. They played them based on their
fears and connected it with the concept of Christianity. Since Catholic Friars hold the most power during
that time, using the concept of local evil, they attached to it the idea of the devil. By doing so, they made
the idea of ​aswang truly more horrifying. It was said that after the Miltonian Battle, the battle between
Lucifer and Michael, there were fence sitters, those who neither chose to follow the devil nor God. God
​ he Christians had a way of thinking that transforms what
punished them and turned them into ​aswangs. T
they do not know and do not understand as something that is unchristian and therefore, evil.
Women in the pre-Spanish period are said to have a level of sexal freedom and power.
Contradicting such showed a level of sexism present. The story of the manananggal is one that symbolizes
women and the challenge they faced. The manananggal is able to separate her waist down from her upper
body. This image is presented by Catholics as it shows an imagery of woman wherein they take away
their reproductive half and desexualize women who went against their Catholic views.
In the past, there were many female babaylans in the Philippines. They helped cure the sick and
share prophecies. It was also said that they do this by asking for guidance from agurang. During this time,
modern medicine was on the rise and as a way to gain clients many spread gossip that babaylans were in
fact witches or aswangs. Another case that attacks femininity is the issue of upheavals in Capiz and other
places. These upheavals were commonly led by women who attacked at night. So in order to discourage
people to join them, the Spaniards spread rumors that they were evil and performed magic. So it can be
understood how the idea of babaylans as healers and midwife turned into them being baby eaters or
manananggal. We’re well aware as to how there are now more male babaylans than females. Such actions
and manipulations show how the Spaniard managed to convert a strong matriarchal society and gain
power for themselves.
Moreover, the concept of aswangs were also used to discourage people from leaving the
settlement for it would weaken the number of defenders and appearance of strength. Similar to how the
Spaniards utilize this idea, the government imitate this in order to overthrow a rebellion. The Hukbalahap
Rebellion led an uprising in Central Luzon. What the government did was hang a couple of human bodies
onto the threes and allowed them to bleed to death so that the people will become fearful of those residing
in the mountains. In Duenas, Iloilo, a rumor spread that Teniente Gimo, was an aswang who used his
powers to help the weak but also an evil who consumes human beings. Although, there are also those who
said that this was spread in order to keep the Japanese out of the province.
The concept of ​Aswangs truly had a huge negative impact to the Philippine society as crimes
came to a rise due to people’s irrational fear and morality seemed to have dropped. Many cases wherein
people murder a woman or even a child just because they assume that they’re an ​aswang have been
reported and posted as headlines of newspapers. There are even misconceptions like if you have a flat
portion above your upper lip then people will assume that you are one. Such cases are forms and sources
of discrimination especially since many human traits are caused by our genes and heredity. Such is the
case for those with X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism.
You may wonder why Capiz is seen as the Aswang Capital of Philippines but issues concerning
here are rooted from misunderstandings of people. In the past, about 500 cases of XDP were traced to
Panay, Capiz. This disease is characterized by rigid muscle movements and shaking. One might imagine
how scary this could be for a person who is unaware of the disease. Thus, in the past it is possible that
they mistake this symptoms as a sign of witchcraft and evil. Moreover, misunderstanding other mental
health diseases could also have influenced such thinking. It is truly painful to even think how many
people have been affected by such misconceptions and ignorance.
Aswangs are ostracized because they feed on the people’s fears. They are deemed as pure evil but
quite powerful. Now, these are everything that our society wants to deny. This represents the dark side of
our society. This is what they manipulate as something that one can purge and blame for all the negative
things. Moreover, it’s a propaganda for fear. It’s an umbrella representation for everything evil and vile in
the Philippines. Often, we even use it as a symbolism for corrupt politicians in the country. The lack of
documentation, regional incorporations, and even artistic freedom influences us to understand it in
different ways but we have to see it as it truly is. Society may keep on denying this evil but it always finds
a way to come out.
 Aswangs are deemed as evil creatures but we must use see it as an educational tool. More than
conceptions of evil, it shows power and fear and is a thread to the historical timeline of our beloved
country. We have to keep in mind that even horror stories show some kind of poetic truth about ourselves.
Too much belief in such may cause us to be ignorant but too much reliance on science and logic may
cause us to be arrogant. It is therefore our duty to find balance in understanding our culture and society.