Aswang traditions in the Philippines

Record summary

Aswang is an umbrella term in Philippine folklore for several dangerous beings, including witches, corpse-eaters, blood drinkers, and shape-shifting nocturnal predators. Regional accounts may describe animal transformation, human disguise, or bodily separation, while contemporary films, podcasts, news reports, and political commentary continue to adapt the term. The category is important for comparing colonial classification, local taxonomy, and modern fear narratives. Researchers must identify the island, language, and subtype involved because “aswang” does not denote one standardized creature across the Philippines.