On a particular Friday night, I was drinking with a co-worker at a bar when I saw a movie being broadcasted there. Somewhat drunk, I couldn't help but tell my friend, Tom, who grew up in the US, that I was deathly afraid of going outside at night when I was a child after seeing the content of the movie.
"Oh? And why is that?" he asked, a little curious.
I told him it was because I grew up hearing stories about the "aswang," a creature in folklore with a taste for human flesh, especially that of children and unborn babies. It was believed that the aswangs have supernatural powers – flight and shape-shifting just among them. And being a kid and all, I shivered at the thought of these mythical man-eating creatures.
"Ah, the aswang," Tom exclaimed with realization. "I've heard of them. So you grew up listening to stories about these creatures?"
I slightly nodded at Tom, affirming his conjuncture. I also told him that my grandmother once says that, "If you're still out when the sun already sets, then the aswang will swoop at you from the sky."
"Your grandmother got quite the sense of humor," he laughed after hearing what I'd said.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, I tried to justify myself and told Tom it was not just me; even my siblings and cousins were afraid of going out at night when they were younger because they kept hearing stories of the aswang. There was even a time when adults were wary of going out at night because rumors of the aswangs leaving the provinces for the cities spread out of nowhere.
"Something like that happened?" Tom grew interested in my story and urged me to continue. "Tell me more."
Seeing my friend's interest, I felt like I was able to save my dignity, and I proceeded to tell him the story.
I told him that during the late 90s when I was still a primary student, rumors, or rather, stories about the aswangs leaving the provinces for the cities, started to become very popular. These stories became so popular that TV and radio stations nationwide started running news about the aswangs. And not long after, the rumors that aswangs roaming the city streets became a fad.
Being a kid during the height of the fad, I took these rumors very seriously. And it's not just me; every kid I knew thought the stories were true. Moreover, as one would expect, my grandmother and mother, sweet as they were, took advantage of these rumors to discipline me and my siblings and ensure that we were back home before sunset.
"I heard there were sightings of the aswangs in our barangay, so make sure to go home early," I remembered my mother saying once.
"I believed there were two or three of them," my grandmother chimed, fueling the fire.
Of course, nothing like that happened, but being young and impressionable, we took our grandmother and mother's words as the truth.
Even at the playground and school, I would be afraid of being alone, terrified that I might meet an aswang disguised as a regular person, a dog, or a cat. I mean, aswangs can supposedly shape-shift and all.
Long story short, I was suspicious of everyone and everything then.
Eventually, though, the fad died out, and rumors of the aswang roaming the city streets faded with it not long after. However, although the stories died, the popularity of the aswangs didn't. On the contrary, the aswang has cemented itself in pop culture, not that they were unpopular even before the rumors began.
After the story, I noticed Tom holding his stomach, straining to hide his laughter. Slightly offended, I asked him if the story was really that funny.
"My bad, my bad," Tom quickly apologized. "I mean, you're always so serious at work. I didn't expect you to have such a side too."
Trying to defend myself, I told him I was just a kid back then, and children tend to believe what adults tell them easily.
Anyway, I continued and told him that it was only after becoming an adult did I become less afraid of the aswang. I say "less afraid" because, even now, I'm still a little fearful of these creatures despite knowing that they are not real.
"Well, I guess that's what growing up while hearing stories of the aswangs would do to a person," Tom nodded in understanding.
Explaining further, I told Tom that the aswang stories from my childhood had made me into a more observant person. For example, as a kid, I will never speak to strangers. And when walking alone on an alleyway or street, I would be wary of my surroundings. Being careful and observant was especially useful, considering that there were areas in the city where crime rates were high.
There's actually a time a few years back where I was almost mugged by two men while I was walking at an alleyway during the night. Fortunately, I noticed them early and ran as fast as I could to a building with two security guards guarding the entrance. That was one of the most terrifying experience of my life.
"Whoa! I didn't expect that part, "Tom exclaimed, seemingly impressed. "Good thing you're observant, or things might have ended badly for you."
I agreed with Tom. That was really a close call. Fortunately, luck was on my side that night.
"By the way, want to hear a story from my childhood?" Tom asked. "Since you told me something interesting, I think it's only fair to reciprocate."
Hearing this, I readily agreed to Tom's proposal as I was curious about what his life was like living growing up in the US. Not long after, boisterous laughter can be heard from our table.