Eerie, Eerier, Eeriest

The Eerie Legend Of Aswang

I was born in Capiz, an amazing place blessed with friendly, hospitable people, a breathtaking coastline so rich with sea life that it became the Seafood Capital of the Philippines, of green mountains and rice fields that stretches as far as the eye can see.  Sadly, it also has an eerie curse that time and time again continues to haunt the mind and imagination of so many. Most famous of them are the “Aswangs or Mananaggal,” a normal looking human by day, a scary creature by night. It is said that on full moon, it develops sharp fangs and claws, very much like Vampires, a huge pair of bat-like wings and when it is ready to take flight, its body cuts into half along the waistline. The upper body flies in search for a living flesh to eat while the lower body stays to the ground.

When prowling hungry at night, they create an unmistakable blood curdling sound that makes one’s hair stand all over. Females creates the “Tik-tik” sound while males the “Wak-wak” sound. It is believed that the fainter the sound, the closer they are. When it’s eerie silent, they are either behind you or hovering above. Either way, the next event is so gruesome that to this day, it is a part of the local’s nightmare that through the years mellowed down but still lurking. Just waiting, watching, still…then when you think they were but stories of the old…boo! And they resurface again.

Eerie Halloween Of 2013

From midnight of October 31st to about 03:30 in the afternoon, the clouds around Houston was dark gray with strong winds and rain. Some Outdoor Trick or Treating events were cancelled. About 04:15 P.M., the sky was all so clear and blue. A Halloween miracle? My wife said, “Those kids must be praying so hard for the rain to stop.” Perhaps they did and I bet their parents did too. Before I went to work at about 06:40 P.M., the sky was glowing in a beautiful mixture of vibrant red and orange. Like the clouds were on fire. A mixture of spectacular wonder of nature and an eerie phenomenon knowing it was the night of the supernatural, unnatural and the unknown.

Eerie Runs In The Family

Trying to scare Mr. Turkey but looks like it’s not working. Hmm…what scares a turkey? Anyone?

My son and his cousins are the sweetest, kindest, most innocent and angelic kids I ever known but artistic creativity and adventurous imagination runs in their genes. Yours truly together with my friends during my Senior and Junior year in Nursing hosted a Horror Booth that to this day, is still vividly remembered by all who witnessed it. How scary? One of our teachers fainted. One girl started screaming as soon as she entered and still screaming when she stormed the exit door. Another went in laughing thinking it was all a joke and went out crying. Was it because someone pulled her hair? I’m not sure on that one. I’ve yet to verify with our class historian. One classmate tied several live, moving eels on a head piece to look like he’s medusa, took out his false front teeth, turned a flashlight beaming towards his dead-life face. He then lied down inside a real coffin he rented from a local funeral house and every time someone passed by, he springs out to startle and scare. Yes, he was so effective, I heard a few guys screamed next to their girlfriends. Oops, right? He was just one of the crowd drawers. The living zombies, “Aswangs,” and ghosts are hiding at every corner. It was a fun, hilarious, crazy eerie event that is unsurpassed in my school. That was 18 years ago.

Earie

The little boy who won the most scariest costume during a friend’s daughter 1st Birthday Party during Halloween week. Yep, all were in costume and all were present except me. Ain’t that horrible?

It’s amazing how a blurry picture plus a black and white effect changes an ordinary picture into something spooky and creepy.

Eerier

Meet the cousins. Without the make-up, they are the cutest, most adorable nephews and nieces. For a moment, I had goose bumps when I first looked at their pictures. Great make-up plus good acting, a perfect scare. Definitely I’d answer, “Treat,” when they ask, “Trick or Treat?” What about you? You might be braver than me.

Eeriest

This to me this is the scariest of the cousins in terms of make-up, facial expression, costume and special effects. If I didn’t recognize them, I’d run…fast! Oops, can’t find the exit. Help!

At the end of the day, all these were for clean fun. When the make-up is washed off and the costumes back in the creaky old wooden chest, the little angels are back bringing joy, laughter, love and light around them.

Dragon Ninja went Trick or Treating in Kemah Boardwalk and met the dancing Zombies. They danced Michael Jackson’s Thriller so well that the audience can’t stop applauding. These Zombies rock and knows how to party!

I would like to think that these are but a product of imagination. Just like Vampires, Werewolves and Witches in the America and other countries whose stories have originated and thrived through the ages. I believed the scariest of all, whether it’s day or night are humans like you and me whose personal evil and demons they can no longer control. To prove my point, all we have to do is turn the news channel, read the paper headlines, Google current events or simply check the Yahoo news. More than ever we need to be vigilant. We need to work as one community against evil forces of different shape, forms and social status in our society. We need to work harder to keep our world safer for our children. To pray harder like never before. To fight for what is good, just and what brings light and hope for all.

I apologize if this post is kind of scary in itself but sometimes being scared can be a good thing because it makes us aware of what lurks in our midst and help us find ways to prevent them.

Thanks for braving up reading this post. I was a bit spooked trying to recall some of the “Aswang” stories I heard growing up and two occasions I actually heard the “Tik-tik” sound. One, when I had a new baby sister and the other when me and my friends foolishly ventured in an isolated dam surrounded by giant old bamboos on a full moon. I wanted to believe they were made by a local night bird. A big, hungry local night bird. There goes my wild imagination again.

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