March 9, 2024
In the Philippines, they say when you walk through a forest and you can find your way, it is said that you were led astray by a tikbalang.
A tikbalang is a Filipino mythical creature that is a half-man half-horse. Not to be mistaken like a centaur, a tikbalang has a human-like body and the head of a horse with long limbs. Their legs are also that of a horse.
Created using Medibang Paint Mobile
The Philippines has a vast variety of legendary and mythical creatures. Perhaps due to cultural differences between regions, the stories behind these mythical creatures have some differences as well. In some versions, Tikbalangs have horns. Probably the head looks more like a goat than a horse.
Cursed Creatures or Spirits of Nature
It is not clear where the tikbalangs came from. Even the folklore from different places seem to contradict each other.
Some say, they used to be humans punished for their evil deeds and
given the form of the tikbalang.
Some say they are the guardians of the forests.
There is also a story that says a tikbalang is a guardian of a powerful charm or anting-anting that falls from a banana bell (or banana blossom), locally known as puso ng saging (which translates to the heart of a banana in a full moon.
The legend says, that if one wants to claim ownership of the charm, he must stand under the banana bell at night with a full moon. At the stroke of midnight, the charm will fall in the form of a droplet from the banana bell. One must stand under the said banana bell and catch the droplet with his mouth. That droplet is said to give the one caught it supernatural powers.
However, to complete the ownership of the said charm, that person must first prove worthy of that charm by defeating the tikbalang who guards that charm.
Folklore and Superstitions
One common folklore is, that tikbalang will often play with travelers and lead them astray or make them travel in circles when they travel through the forests.
They say, to remedy this, travelers should wear their clothes inside out. By doing so, they will find the correct path.
It is also a common superstition, (which I find funny), that when it rains while the sun is glaring, they say a couple of tikbalangs are getting married.
AI generated image (bing.com/create)
Fun Fact
Here is what I found out while I was researching for a little more information about the tikbalang.
There were no horses before the Spaniards came to the Philippines. Although there were already stories about the tikbalang before that.
This is my entry for this week's ASEAN Hive Community Challenge, round 99, with the theme Local Legends and Myths. I have missed a lot of challenges from this community, I did not want to miss this one.
Check the announcement here.
@asean.hive/asean-hive-community-challenge-99-local-legendsmyths-with-ecency-prizes
Post No. 2024-17
Date Posted: March 9, 2024.
All Images used are mine unless otherwise indicated
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