TIYANAK

           Some mythical creatures have their origin in tradition and tales from the distant past. However, each culture is associated with a multitude of interesting and odd creatures; many of these beings are humanoids. One of these legendary humanoids is the tiyanak. Demon babies, geez the thought of it creeps the hell out of me. I love babies, but seeing them with sharp teeth and hideous features, well that is way too different from what I expect.

            It is said and believed that tiyanaks are from aborted fetuses from a mother’s womb and are very vengeful creatures giving them birth, offspring from a woman and a demon or babies who died before receiving baptism. After death, they go to a place known as Limbo, a chamber of hell which unbaptized dead people fall into and are transformed into evil spirits.

            However, the true origin of Tiyanak came from the Malaysian creature, Pontianak or Mantianak – a female viscera. Pontianak is the mother who died while pregnant, Tianak is the ghost of the child, not the mother herself.

            With the Spanish colonization of the Philippines in the 16th century, the tiyanak myth was integrated into Christianity. The tiyanak in the Christian version were supposedly the souls of infants that died before being baptized. In modern-day Philippines, this definition has extended to that of aborted fetuses that returned from death to seek revenge on those who deprived them of life.

            These babies are known to live in forests. During the day a tiyanak might appear to be an ordinary baby. By night, however, it grows sharp teeth, long fingernails, and black and hairy skin. They are similar to that of changelings, or a demon spirit in the form of a child. Usually, aswangs use them as substitutes for the children they snatched away as victims. In some instances, it is said that once given the chance to suck milk from the breast of a mother, the tiyanak will drain all her blood.

            When hunting humans, they transform into what looks like a normal baby. They cry in the jungle to attract unwary travelers. When the person notices the tiyanak and comes near to take a look at it, it changes back to its true form and eats its prey. They are also depicted for their malevolent delight in leading travelers astray and I abducting children.

            Like the aswangs, tiyanaks can be classified into two types: The Mantianak, described as a baby with a long beard. Pregnant women who hear its cries end up miscarrying and Muntianak, a baby who died in the womb. Lives in the forest and terrorizes people.

            In local belief, various countermeasures are supposedly effective against the tiyanak. Those that were led astray by the creature's cries are believed to be able to break the enchantment by turning their clothes inside out. The tiyanak finds the method humorous enough to let go of the traveler and go back to the jungles. Loud noises such as a New Year's celebration are also thought to be enough to drive the tiyanak away from the vicinity. Objects believed to repel Aswang, like garlic and the rosary, are also commonly believed to be effective against the tiyanak. You can kill this monster by means of any pointed instruments, more specifically pointed metal made of silver.