Tikbalang

The tikbalang is a creature from Filipino folklore, a spirit of the forests and mountains that inhabits the solitary places of the archipelago, especially the crossroads of the paths, the large trees and the bamboo plantations. Of pre-Hispanic root, it survived the Christianization of the islands, which assimilated it in part to the demonic, although it retained its character as a mischievous trickster rather than an evil being. Its defining trait is its mixed nature of man and horse: it is described as a tall and lean being with equine head and legs. The belief in the tikbalang, very much alive especially in rural areas, is part of the rich repertoire of supernatural beings of the Philippines, along with the aswang, the kapre or the tiyanak.

The tikbalang is represented as a humanoid figure of great stature and long, thin limbs, with a horse's head, mane and hooves, capable of squatting until it appears small or standing above the trees. Its most characteristic power is that of disorienting walkers: it makes nocturnal travelers go around and around without advancing, lost on the same stretch of road for hours. Tradition offers remedies against this spell, such as putting clothes on inside out to break the enchantment, or asking permission when passing through its territory. It is said that three hairs or gold spikes grow in its mane, and that whoever manages to pull one out can subdue it and turn it into a servant. Great strength, prodigious leaps and the ability to appear and vanish are also attributed to it.

The tikbalang embodies the fear and respect that Filipino folklore professes to liminal spaces (the crossroads, the thresholds between the human world and the thicket) and to the untamed forces of nature. As a deceiver that confuses and leads astray, it belongs to the broad family of the mischievous forest spirits present in many cultures. Against it and other beings the anting-anting are employed, the protective amulets of Filipino tradition, and various ritual formulas. The three golden hairs of its mane, which grant power over it, are the most celebrated folkloric motif of the creature. The tikbalang remains very present in Filipino popular culture, in cinema, literature and horror stories, as one of the most recognizable monsters of the country.