The Hunted Werebeast of Malolos

by:Francisca Lyn U. Bancud, 2023

One late night, a young man from Malolos, Bulacan, was out with his pals. He was raised on the outskirts of the town, close to a vast plain. Then, things were very different back then, there were no lampposts illuminating the country roads at night, and electricity was only available to the wealthy. It's quite dangerous to go alone after dark because most of the landscapes are either covered in tall talahib or agricultural fields. Only the most courageous people venture outside after dusk.

These young people were on the lookout for something while also trying their mettle. An elderly farmer was returning home from tuba with friends a few weeks ago at a late hour. When he attempted to flee, he claims a big black figure suddenly crossed the road in front of him. He says that the creature then attacked him, but he was able to escape.

The residents of the neighborhood had a variety of responses to the old farmer's tale, but fear predominated.The boys remained up late to capture the beast and show the elderly farmer that he was correct. They were talking quietly when the young man noticed a large, dark shadow standing still on the road.

All four of his pals went screaming toward the shadowy figure after he warned them about the monstrosity. They pursued the monster, which fled and in the moonlight resembled a hairy four-legged mammal. The gang split up as the beast left the road, but the young man followed it until he surrounded it.

The young man gasped, unable to believe he had caught up with it. He had no idea what he was about to learn. They were talking quietly when the young man noticed a large, dark shadow standing still on the road. All four of his pals went screaming toward the shadowy figure after he warned them about the monstrosity. They pursued the monster, which fled and in the moonlight resembled a hairy four-legged mammal. The gang split up as the beast left the road, but the young man followed it until he surrounded it. The young man gasped, unable to believe he had caught up with it. He had no idea what he was about to learn.

He was so certain that he could fight the animal head-on with just his bare hands as they chased it. But as he drew nearer, it became obvious that leaving the beast alone was a terrible mistake.

The thing was surrounded by a demonic aura, and a repulsive odor followed it. He noticed that the beast was enormous and stood as tall as his shoulders. The beast turned to face its pursuers without a route to follow, and the young guy saw red flashing eyes like live coals. It was a large, shaggy dog that was prepared to battle.

The boy recalled his lolo telling him about an aswang that could transform into a large, black pig or dog. When fighting one, a man should be armed with a buntot page, a fire-hardened bolo cooled in holy water, or a pointed bamboo pole since it has the strength of ten men. The young man fled for his life out of fear. He and his friends made it out of their pursuit alive. Never hunt an aswang without any tools or weapons, they advise others, as the tides between the predator and the prey can quickly shift.

Reference:

• https://www.thepinoywarrior.com/2012/10/werebeasts-in-philippines.html?fbclid=IwAR3ajFBMT MYUnaFPmBJbNFPPiwxCJc_nkoiMgzzQaCPxCnVaXbkmVqy0g2I