SPIRITS OF THE ARCHIPELAGO

A not-so-brief introduction to Filipino folklore:

1 Kapre - tree demon with glowing eyes who smokes a leg-sized cigar
2 Malakat - false beast in Visayan folklore, literally 'the walker'
3 Mangaring - a cannibal spirit in Palawan
4 Umalgo - Ifugao sun god
5 Lam-ang - Ilocano superhero
6 kirtti mukha - an aquatic mammal ('glory face') in Maranao myth
7 Mandurugo - a bloodsucker in Tagalog folklore
8 Wigan - Ifugao sky god
9 mameleu - malevolent serpents believed in by Hiligaynons
10 Ikapati - kind-hearted goddess of cultivated land
11 muntianak - underground dwellers belied to exist by Bagobos
12 Kalag - corpse-eater in Sugbuhanon folklore
13 Mannamay - hexer in Iloko myth
14 Manama - creator of many things in Manuvu mythology
15 wakwak - Visayan self-segmenter
16 Mangalok - a self-segmenter in Cuyonon folklore
17 minokawa - fierce birdlike false reptiles believed in by Bagobos
18 patiyanak - ground dwellers believed to exist by Tagalogs
19 Maknongan - Ifugao supreme being
20 mambubuno - fishlike female in Sambal folklore
21 ragit-ragit - tree-dwelling false Caucasoids
22 Mayari - goddess of the moon in the court of Bathala
23 Hanan - charming sister of Mayari, a morning goddess
24 Ugkoy - fishlike male in Visayan myth
25 engkantos - invisible rice-field dwellers who inflict suffering on humans
26 kutong lupa - underground dwellers ('earth lice') believed in by Tagalogs
27 Tagamaling - Manobo god who watches over crops
28 Mariang Makiling - legendary lovely maiden of Los Banos
29 Amkolyog - Ifugao earthquake god
30 Lumauig - high deity invoked to bless gathered grain
31 Omacaan / Tarabusao / Ta-awi - huge cannibals in Maranao folkore
32 Angngalo / Aran - harmless husband and wife giants in Iloco folklore
33 Sumurutan - captain of the ship of the dead in Tagbanwa belief
34 Tafangan - Manobo harvest god
35 Sitan - the evil-minded god, chief deity of Kasanaan
36 Magreked - warmth-giving deity, prayed to when ill
37 lagtaw - nightmare-inducing creatures among the Tausug
38 Kalasokus - god whose task is to turn rice yellow
39 sinan pado - nightmare-inducing Ilocano creature in priest form
40 Kakadian - Manobo rice goddess
41 Anitun tabu - fickle-minded wind and rain goddess
42 Talahiang - nightmare-inducing creature among the Yakan
43 Kabunyan - sky gods from whom the Ifugaos are descended
44 Gungay - harmless giant of Apayao folklore
45 busao - corpse-thieves among the T'boli
46 Barangan - a male sorcerer in Bicol folklore
47 Mangindusa / Bugawasin - high-ranking husband and wife deities
48 aswang - vampire-style creature, often accompanied by black herons
49 Mangkukulam - hexer in Pampanga folklore
50 Iki - self-segmenting Isavian scout whose call is a one second crescendo 'krrrr'

Source: Dictionary of Filipino Culture and Values (TD Andres, Giraffe Books)