ASWANG - FILIPINO MYTH SUPERNATURAL CREATURES SERIES

What is the origin of ASWANG!!!

Aswangs are the most feared mythical creature by the Filipinos. They are Filipino ghouls and shapeshifters. They are human-like by day but transform into monsters at night.

They can change from human to an animal form like bat, bird, pig, cat, or black dog. The transformation can happen through their own will or through the use of foul concocted oil.

They also have the ability to steal cadavers secretly and replace them with the trunk of a banana tree carved in the cadaver’s likeness.

Aswangs wait by the roadsides, preying upon unsuspecting travelers. Some attacks houses to feed on sleeping people. It is said that human liver and heart are their favorite parts.

Aswangs prefer pregnant women who are about to give birth. They love human fetus that they have developed the ability to track down pregnant women by the scent of their unborn child.

Upon finding the house of a pregnant mother, the aswang positions itself on the roof and digs a hole through which it drops its long thin tongue to enter the woman’s womb and feast on the fetus.

Since aswangs can take on a human image, it is hard to detect them in a crowd. However, there are many superstitions on how to deal with them.

Firstly, it is said that you can determine if another human being is an aswang if you see your own reflection in their eyes as upside down. Also, the presence of an aswang can be revealed by a using a bottle of special oil extracted from boiled and decanted coconut meat mixed with certain plant stems.

When an aswang comes around, the oil will boil and will continue until the aswang has departed. Further, aswangs are afraid of salt, ginger, garlic, rosary, stingray’s tails (buntot pagi) and shiny, sterling silver sword, and so these items can be used as defense weapons against them.

These creatures cannot heal themselves, so an injury acquired as an aswang will remain when they revert back to human form.

The myth of Aswang is popular in the Visayas, particularly in the provinces of Capiz, Antique and Iloilo. The aswang is also known as wakwak, tiktik, bal-bal, soc-soc, and yanggaw.

CAMP JOHN HAY - TOURIST DESTINATION TUTORIALS

What's in Camp John Hey? How to get and where to stay in Camp John Hay?


Named after American President Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary of war, this green space south of the Botanical Gardens used to be a rest and recreational facility for employees of the United States military and Department of Defense.

During World War II the property was used by the Japanese as a concentration camp for American and British soldiers. In 1991 Camp John Hay was turned over to the Philippine government for development into an upmarket country club, with hotels (including The Mansion), a golf course (T074/444-2131, Wwww.cjhhotels.com), private mountain lodges and sundry restaurants and clubhouses.

The expansive, undulating grounds have some nice walks through the pine trees and are also ideal for jogging. Jeepneys can’t enter the park itself, so it’s best to get a taxi from the city centre (P50). If you don’t have a particular destination in mind then ask to be dropped at the entrance to the Historical Core.

Here you can buy a ticket (P50) to see the Bell Amphitheatre, the Ambassador’s Residence (which is still US-owned) and the site where General Yamashita formally surrendered to US forces. At weekends, Filipino families congregate close to the entrance to the Historical Core to enjoy picnics away from the city centre’s traffic.

Also close by is the Tree Top Adventure (daily 8am–5pm; Wwww.treetop adventuresubic.com), where you can try a zip line (P200–300) and abseiling (P150), or join guided walks. If you need something to eat, try the friendly Chocolate de Batirol near the entrance to the golf club.

Alternatively head over to the Mile Hi Center where you will find duty-free outlet stores, several restaurants, a hotel and a handy ATM.

EUGENE TORRE - THE FILIPINO MATTERS TRIBUTE

EUGENE TORRE - FIRST GRANDMASTER OF ASIA
EUGENE TORRE - THE GREATEST FILIPINO CHESS PLAYER


Eugene Torre is Asia’s first Chess Grandmaster who hailed from Iloilo. He started playing chess at the tender age of six. In a brood of ten, he never ran out of chess buddies in the family. His older brothers, who were then better players, gave him a run for his money.

His grandfather Eugenio, for whom he was named after, was an oido (unorthodox) player which afforded the young Eugene the intuition and instinct to create unconventional and unpredictable moves. His father provided him the books.

When his father saw his potential of excelling as a chess player, he wrote a family edict that no one can send the young Eugene to an errand so that he can concetrate his time on improving his game. In his primary years in school, Eugene was already winning chess tournaments.

At 16, he held the title of the Philippine Junior and Adult Champion, eventually seeing action in the Chess Olympiad in Germany. He holds the world record for playing Board One in 17 Olympiad appearances. He got his Chess Grand Master title in 1974 in France, where he led Team Philippines to 11th place finish.

Holding a career record of 4 decades of action in world chess Olympiads, Torre has accumulated 86 wins, 111 draws, and 29 losses in 236 games over a span of 19 years. In 1976, his international fame became more pronounced when he defeated then reigning world chess champion Anatoly Karpov.

He was also the confidante and best friend of the reclusive American GM Bobby Fischer, when he served as an official second in the 1992 Fischer-Boris Spassky rematch in Yugoslavia. He has played against world class grandmasters such as Gary Kasparov, Viktor Korchnoi, Viswanathan Anand, Lajos Portish and Ljubomir Ljubojevic, among others.

We take pride in Eugene Torre’s rare display of discipline and diligence to pursue his dream. At a young age, Eugene devoted his attention on the boards and honed his skills. His trailblazing conquest of the world chess inspired not only Filipinos, but also many Asians, who saw in him a role model.

In a sport dominated by Americans and Europeans, Eugene Torre overcame all odds and emerged victorious.