Philippine Mythological Creature: Akop (Tingguian)

Akop is an evil being. He lacks a body but has a head and lengthy, slimy arms and legs.  He constantly visits the scene of death and tries to give the deceased's spouse a hug. If he is successful, death comes soon after. The widow is heavily protected by the wailers to thwart his schemes; she wears seeds that this creature detests and sleeps behind a fish net for added protection from his long fingers.

Overview

Based on the mythology of the Tingguian (or Itneg) people of Northern Luzon, the Philippines, the Akop is a frightening and enigmatic figure. Akop is a member of a class of lesser-known spirits that appear exclusively after sorrow and death, in contrast to more well-known figures like the kapre or aswang. Akop represents the age-old notion that death leaves the living emotionally and spiritually vulnerable, and is linked to mourning, funeral customs, and the spiritual dangers that accompany bereavement. Akop is a legendary character that warns of the perils that exist in transitional areas, such as those between death and life, grief and recovery.

Physical Characteristics

One of the most unique forms in Philippine mythology is that of the frightening Akop. He doesn't look human; instead, he's a jumbled thing without a torso at all. The only part of his hideous anatomy is a bloated head that is joined straight to lengthy, hideous arms. It is reported that these freakishly long, slimy limbs and legs crawl across dimly lit rooms or funeral areas in eerie silence.

His liminal, unfinished nature is reflected in this terrifying aspect, which is not merely intended to frighten. At wakes and rites, Akop, who lacks a central body, becomes more of a hint of a being—an incomplete specter that lurks in the shadows, preying on the dead and their loved ones. He is both real and spiritual, tangible but elusive, as seen by his ability to coil between rafters and fissures.

Family

Akop stands apart from other deities who are part of divine hierarchies or ancestral lineages.  He is neither derived from any great gods or goddesses nor a member of any pantheon.  Rather, he is better characterized as a funerary demon, possibly one of several, whose life revolves on decay and death.

According to some Tingguian stories, Akop works in concert with Ibwa, another death demon that eats the flesh of the deceased. Akop is attracted to the fatty liquids that flow off carcasses, but Ibwa eats the soft tissue and ears. Despite not being a family in the conventional sense, this somber alliance creates a conceptual connection based on the defilement of the deceased.

Other Names

Although Akop doesn't have any well-known aliases, his characteristics are remarkably similar to those of other Philippine legendary characters. In Waray folklore, for example, the term "Abat" describes a ghost that splits from its body and eats its internal organs. Conceptually identical to Akop, corpse-eating demons are referred to as pak-an or awok in several Visayan locales. In the meanwhile, strange forest creatures with reverse feet and ulterior intentions are the Alan of Tingguian legend.

Despite the fact that each of these creatures has a distinct function, they all represent societal fears related to death, decay, and the invisible forces that could haunt the bereaved. Even while his name is still exclusive to a certain cultural niche, these theme parallels imply that Akop is a part of a larger regional knowledge of funerary demons. 

Strength and Capabilities

Akop's threat stems from his silent, predatory presence during vulnerable emotional moments rather than from his physical might or paranormal exploits. The vulnerability of the bereaved, especially at funeral ceremonies, is the foundation of his abilities. In contrast to other mythological creatures that cause mayhem by using violence or storms, Akop sneaks into times of mourning, preying on grief and taking advantage of the spiritual void created by death.

His need to eat the fat that leaks from a body before it is buried is one of his most disturbing characteristics. He has a terrifyingly close relationship with the dead because of his disgusting appetite, which makes his abuse of the body extremely personal. Akop is inserted into the holy process of mourning and burial by consuming this fat, which is more than just a physical act; it is a spiritual defilement that halts the natural passage from life to death.

Targeting the grieving spouse is Akop's most dreaded behavior. It is thought that he stalks widows and tries to kill them by embracing them. If he is successful, the widow or widower is believed to pass away soon after, so his presence is not just a sign of grief but also a possible source of further deaths. He belongs to a special class of mythological creatures that prey on emotional ties and turn grief into peril because of this position.

The Tingguian people perform a number of protection rites to stave off Akop's quiet attacks.  Widows remain surrounded by mourners who serve as spiritual guards, wear seeds as amulets to ward off his presence, and sleep beneath fishing nets to trap his abnormally long arms. By assuring that no spirit, no matter how cunning, can take another life in the midst of the grief, these customs represent the community's collective attempt to safeguard the bereaved and maintain the purity of mourning.

Influence of the Modern Era

Akop's legacy endures in subtle yet significant ways in spite of his relative obscurity. The rites and anxieties he symbolizes are still prominent in Filipino burial customs, even though his story has not made it into popular culture.

For example, there are many superstitions associated with contemporary Filipino wakes, or lamay, that are thought to ward off spirits such as Akop. Ancient ideas about spirits penetrating mourning areas are the origin of customs like burning incense, covering mirrors, and putting salt around coffins. The protective gestures demonstrate Akop's indirect cultural longevity, even if most urban inhabitants may not precisely name him.

Additionally, Akop is quietly gaining popularity online. To inform and amuse, paranormal bloggers, folklore scholars, and digital storytellers are bringing these lesser-known ghosts back to life. Through characters like Akop, producers explore loss, dread, and the supernatural in a regional setting as they dive into obscure mythology on platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and podcasts.

Akop has influenced themes in graphic novels and short films that explore mourning as a means of spiritual disruption in independent horror circles. His disjointed body and subdued terror serve as ideal symbols for the psychological disarray brought on by loss. Akop is a terrifying yet culturally significant character that is only waiting to be rediscovered in contemporary storytelling that tends to go toward folklore horror.

Sources:

The Tinguian: Social, Religious, and Economic Life of a Philippine Tribe, Fay-Cooper Cole, 1922

The Aswang Project - https://www.aswangproject.com/creatures-mythical-beings-philippine-folklore-mythology/

MythLok - https://mythlok.com/akop/

Brian Valeza, Illustrator for Bukana: Gateway to the Sea of Skull made thru Artstation - https://www.artstation.com/artwork/kQwnqd

Philippine Mythological Creature: Wirwir (Apayao)

 

The Wirwir are wandering ghouls that hunt down corpses. Like a hermit crab, they typically live inside their victim to prevent other ghouls from stealing it.

Among the Apayao, there was a ghastly creature who "went everywhere spending his time looking for the dead." He exhumed human remains from cemeteries and lived off of them. The native priests appeased Wirwir out of fear that he might consume the dead. The home of Wirwir, a ghoulish Apayao creature, was reportedly discovered in a Mount Anay Forest and had "a cave full of valuable properties taken from the graves of dead persons."

Other than their infamous tenacity in pursuing the devouring of human flesh, little much is known about these horrific creatures. They are well-known from the mythology of the Apayao people of the Philippines' namesake Province, where it is sometimes claimed that local priests were compelled to appease the ghouls before burying new bodies because they were afraid the repulsive creatures would promptly dig them up again and devour them.

Source:

Elartwyne Estole - https://elartestole.artstation.com/projects/q9YlXP

Philippine Spirits - https://phspirits.com/wirwir/

Philippine Mythological Creature: Gisurab (Isneg)

The tale of Gisurab, a fire-possessing giant from the Isneg tribes, demonstrates that even beings of enormous size can exhibit kindness.  In the tale, hunters sought out Gisurab in the wild to request fire.  The giant supplies the hunters with fire to cook their food.  The story bears a likeness to that of Prometheus, the famous Titan who is reputed to have taken fire from heaven and bestowed it upon mortals.

The naked gigantic creature known as the Gisurab hunts both people and other animals.

Although he is incredibly enormous, his physique is human.  He has an excellent sense of smell and often wanders the woods shirtless.

The Gisurab hunt down deer and other wild animals in the forests, as well as people, using their acute sense of smell.  At home, he would hold the human and deer he had trapped and prepare them in his enormous cooking pot.  The Gisurab would sometimes engage in conversation with people and go hunting with them instead of attacking them.

Gisurab became a legend in this untamed yet gorgeous land.  His story is essential to Isneg culture since he was a giant with fire.  It presents the Isneg's perspective on giants, which is different from the typical "evil" one.

Source:

https://www.aswangproject.com/giants-philippine-mythology/

https://mythmuseum.weebly.com/gisurab.html

https://pinoymyths.com/gisurab-isneg-the-fire-possessing-giant/

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Ka029B courtesy of Ejay Paz

Philippine Mythological Creature: Lampong (Ilongot)

Lampong, a legendary figure, is deeply embedded in the cultural and environmental awareness of the Filipino people, revered as the guardian Anito of wild animals.  This legendary dwarf has the remarkable power to lead untamed deer and transform into a white deer with a radiant single eye.

More than just a legend, Lampong serves as an important cultural symbol in the Philippines. She embodies the ancestral wisdom passed down through generations, promoting a peaceful coexistence between people and nature. The deep-seated conviction that every action has repercussions is instilled by Filipino folklore, which stresses the necessity of treating the forest with the highest respect and thankfulness.

Lampong’s ability to transform into a white deer is a strong emblem of purity, innocence, and spiritual enlightenment. The singular, shining eye symbolizes wisdom and insight, reflecting Lampong’s esteemed position as a guide and protector. In addition, it is crucial to recognize the worldwide reverence associated with the white deer in various cultures around the world.  For instance, in Native American traditions, the white deer is viewed as a messenger from the spirit world, underscoring the deep importance of Lampong’s character.

Ilongot gnome Lampong has remarkable cross-eyed, bright yellow eyes and a height of only two feet. He wears a unique two-peaked cap and has a flowing white beard.  Although he may sometimes show a single eye and his form often resembles that of a deer while in his deer guise, his coat is always a brilliant snow-white.

It is noteworthy that although hunters can readily identify him, Lampong uses a distinctive approach to keep the deer he safeguards safe. He takes on the role of target, taking the hunters’ shots himself instead of allowing any damage to come to the deer. He can astonishingly rejuvenate himself and, in an unusual turn of events, bestows deadly illnesses upon the hunters as a means of deterrence.

Lampong is a key character in Ibanag folklore and is profoundly embedded in the cultural heritage of the Ibanag people, an ethnolinguistic group from Northeastern Luzon. As the guardian Anito of wild animals, Lampong is frequently depicted as a forest custodian tasked with guiding and protecting wild deer in their natural habitat.

Lampong’s legend is especially fascinating due to his extraordinary talent for metamorphosing into a white deer that possesses a single, radiant eye. This metamorphosis goes beyond a simple physical alteration; it represents his deep bond with nature and highlights his essential position as a guardian of wildlife.

The story of Lampong in the Ibanag culture goes beyond myth—it is a vital part of their cultural identity and belief system. The Ibanag people exhibit a steadfast respect for nature and the animal kingdom, a feeling realized in their veneration of Lampong.

His steadfast dedication to safeguarding the forest’s noble inhabitants earned him the revered titles of Deer Herder and Deer Guardian.

On an ill-starred day, the peace of the woods was broken when a band of hunters with powerful firearms invaded the forest.  Their target, to the detriment of hundreds of deer, was unmistakable.  With the hunters' progression, their armaments reverberated through the woods, taking the lives of innumerable deer.  Their unceasing chase ultimately brought them to a broad expanse filled with the elegant creatures.  Without hesitation, the hunters aimed their guns, prepared to continue their relentless onslaught.

Yet, in a moment of astonishing change, the forest observed an intense light and heard a loud roar coming from behind a nearby hill. A gigantic white stag with splendid golden antlers came out of the shadows. As the other deer fled, escaping the looming threat, it placed itself in front of the hunters. The hunters, without mercy, set their sights on the noble white deer and shot at it; to their first impression, it had succumbed to their attack.

With the intention of skinning it, the hunters approached the fallen deer, eager to claim their prize. To their amazement, the white deer, which was clearly not defeated, suddenly got to its feet. In a surprising turn of events, it launched an intense assault on the hunters, causing them to suffer from a deadly disease that would signal the demise of their reign of terror.

Although modernization has caused radical changes, the lasting Lampong legend still resonates with the Ibanag people. It acts as a lasting reminder of their cultural origins and the essential part they play in caring for their natural environment. The Lampong legend offers insight into the rich cultural tapestry of the Ibanag people. It underscores their unwavering dedication to maintaining the sanctity of nature and wildlife—an enduring principle that still aligns with modern sensibilities.

A fresh enthusiasm for Philippine mythology, featuring legendary characters such as Lampong, has surfaced in recent times. This revival can be attributed largely to the resolute endeavors of cultural aficionados dedicated to safeguarding indigenous stories and spreading them across various platforms, including literature, art, and digital formats.

He is referred to as lampong by the Ilokanos and the Ilongots ethnic groups.  He is an old man, short in stature, of the fields and woods.  Sein Blick ist lebhaft, und er trägt einen langen, spärlichen Bart. He tends to wild deer as a shepherd.  He transforms into a deer and remains motionless.  He is shot at by hunters, but they fail to hit him. The hunters attempt to shoot him, but the deer flee. After that, he becomes an old man again.  He strolls off from the hunters.

In Philippine folklore, particularly among the cultures of Northeastern Luzon, the Lampong is a mythical creature recognized as the guardian Anito of wild animals and a protector of deer. It is represented as a two-foot-tall dwarf with a white beard, who can change into a magnificent white deer with a single, bright eye.  The Lampong, by presenting itself as the white deer, diverts hunters' attention when they attempt to shoot at deer, thus enabling the real deer to flee.

The Lampong, an Ilonggot gnome, has the ability to turn into a white deer in order to safeguard real deer. Whenever a hunter passes by to take aim at one of the deer, the Lampong transforms into its deer form and gets shot in place of the real deer, which flee. The Lampong is shot six times, but he is impervious to the bullets, ensuring the deer remains safe from hunters.

In the distant past, a magnificent forest teemed with beautiful creatures, and at its helm were the deer. One day, hunters armed with large guns arrived in the forest and began to shoot the animals individually, but their main target was the deer. They murdered hundreds of them. One day, they stumbled upon a vast field teeming with deer. The hunters lifted their rifles and began firing, but suddenly a bright light flashed and a loud roar erupted from behind a hill. Out of nowhere, a gigantic white stag with golden antlers appeared and dashed in front of the hunters as the other deer escaped. All the hunters shot the white deer, and he appeared to be dead. However, at the moment they were going to skin him, he rose up and battled the hunters, ultimately giving each of them a deadly sickness. The white deer was actually Lampong himself. He ensured that none of the remaining deer were shot. For this reason, he was occasionally referred to as the Deer Herder or the Deer Guardian.

The Lampong, an Ilonggot gnome, stands about two feet tall and sports a long white beard. He wears a two-peaked cap and has bright yellow, cross-eyed eyes. He can sometimes be seen with one eye or is about the same size as deer, but his coat is always a beautiful snow-white in his deer form. Though hunters can see him with ease, he ensures that no deer is shot by allowing himself to be shot, reviving himself afterward and infecting the hunters with a deadly illness.

Sources:

https://www.aswangproject.com/lampong/

https://mythus.fandom.com/wiki/Lampong

https://mythlok.com/lampong/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eifLa5PNRxY&t=17s