Carlo Maghirang

Mar 26, 2024 | vogue.ph | Zoe de Leon |Lawrence Sumulong |Carlo Maghirang

For most Filipinos, the storied manananggal needs no introduction. The monster of local legend disguises herself as a beautiful woman in the day and transforms into a nightmarish winged creature of vampiric qualities at night. Some say she eats men. Some others caution pregnant women that her prey of choice is a fresh fetus. Most notably, a manananggal is unique in her ability to detach her upper torso from her lower half. Severed, she flies away to hunt for prey.