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Posted February 14, 2011 by Norby Ela in Books
 
 

DAN MATUTINA’s TRESE Art & Philippine Folklore Creatures

In the Trese site: Dan Matutina, a Filipno artist, was commissioned to illustrate Filipino folklore creatures for ROGUE Magazine‘s October issue last year. The creatures Tikbalang, Manananggal, Dwende, Kapre, Tiyanak and the Sirena. But, first, here’s Matutina’s depiction of Tan & Baldisimo’s Trese


and it uses its long tongue to feed on human blood and flesh (usually that of unborn babies). Before the sun rises and they imitate the cry of an infant to catch the attention of passersby. When picked up and would sometimes look for friendship with mortals by their sheer beauty and enchanting singing voices. Some say that they pull humans to the water and offer them to ocean deities; some accounts said they just love to distract humans while working (th DUWENDE. They are goblins or dwarfs who can either provide good fortune or bad fate to humans. They are often thought as mischievous little beings who love to play tricks on humans. Usually especially when there is a full moon her upper body detaches from her lower body; it utters a special demonic prayer and applies some kind of oil on all of its body parts before the ‘detachment’. Bat-like wings sprout out from its back i.e. shipwrecks) it goes back to where it left its lower body and attaches itself again KAPRE. This mythical creature is often considered as a tree demon with human-like characteristics. Often described as giant-like and hairy Kapres are not particularly evil. They just love playing pranks on people making them return to the place where they are trying to get away from. There are some superstitions stating that tikbalangs are guardians of the forests MANANANGGAL. Literally means “one that removes”. This creature is usually an attractive woman by day. At night or of those who died with their mothers during childbirth people mutter “tabi-tabi po” to excuse themselves whenever passing by supposed homes of duwendes (usually small mounds of earth or trees) so as not to disturb them. ready to blend in with the human crowd for another day SIRENA. Philippine version of mermaids. They love hypnotizing people the tianak would revert to its true form and attack the victim. They also play pranks on people. Some sources say that tiyanaks are the souls of unborn children who were killed in an abortion TIKBALANG. Usually depicted as a very tall creature with a head of a horse tikbalangs are famous for leading travelers astray by scaring them. They play tricks on humans TIYANAK. Tianaks are evil creatures taking the form of babies in order to lure unwary travelers to their trap. They frequent forests and woods usually fishermen wearing loincloths (or bahag) and smoking tobaccos

Norby Ela

 
Now residing in San Diego, CA, I strive to work in art and further grow FlipGeeks around the world.