Manananggal (The Viscera Sucker)

​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.

A Flying Manananggal (credit:Alex Paman)

The manananggal is also known by many names like “abat” in East Visayas, “aswang na lupad” (flying aswang) in Bicol, “boruka” (corrupted form of witch) in Ilocos, and “mangalok” in Palawan.
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It is believed that manananggals reside in the jungles by day. They sleep all day by throwing their arms over a branch of a tree and cover their faces with their hair. Others on the other hand live in isolated huts deep in the words. However, most manananggals reside in normal human communities and even marry men.

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.

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