The sirena is a Philippine mythological creature that has captured the interest of Filipinos mostly by the young generation. Such fondness for these enchanting beings may be triggered by the depiction of Filipino TV programs of them having charming qualities that are out of this world.  

Influence of the sirena (local name for mermaid) is widespread. Filipino mermaid TV series like “Mutya” (2011) “Aryana” (2012) and “Dyesebel” (2014) aired on local television and local movies about them are greatly enjoyed by families like “My Fairy Tail Love Story” (a romantic comedy/musical film about a spoiled brat cursed to be a mermaid). Even big establishments like Starbucks use mermaid themes in their advertising campaigns like the popular Starbucks mermaid tumbler.

The kapre is a tree-dwelling creature in Philippine mythology. They are invisible to normal people and because they can't be seen, they enjoy playing tricks and confusing people who happen to wander off near their dwelling places. This is why Filipinos living in rural areas suspect Kapres to be the culprit whenever someone suddenly lost track of his trails in the woods or in the mountains without a logical reason. 

What Do Kapres Really Look Like?

Although invisible, the kapre is believed to appear as a male tree giant with thick black hair covering his body. It also has a beard. A kapre only wear a loincloth or bahag and possesses an enchanted belt that makes them invincible to the human eye. On the other hand, other accounts mention that kapres appear naked or have leaves covering their private parts.

​The manananggal is one of the most famous mythological creatures in the Philippines. "Manananggal" is a Tagalog word, which literally means "one who detaches" and so it is also called "the self-segmenting one." This creature can detach its upper body from its lower limbs after undergoing a gruesome transformation. The upper body grows wings, which is uses to fly around and look for its prey.

How Does One Becomes a Manananggal?

The origin of the manananggal blood line varies. One account says that a black chick is living inside a manananggal. This chick must be passed on from one person to another (usually a relative of the manananggal) by swallowing it when the manananggal is no longer strong enough to feed. This chick is said to be living in the pit of the creature's stomach.

A manananggal usually starts out as a regular human, but the chick that is passed on to her devours her own entrails while keeping her alive. Because of this, the person then begins to crave for human flesh and eventually transforms into these hideous man-eating creatures. Unknowingly, manananggals are often seen as women.