The Aswang Phenomenon

I absolutely love vampire history and folklore, so when I heard of the upcoming film titled The Aswang Phenomenon I let out a little squeal of joy. The Filipino aswang is one of my many favorite vampire species because it has such a rich history. There are so many different versions of the aswang myth (you can find one here) and it’s all so fascinating. But, the most interesting thing about this vampire is that it continues to be feared even today. Unlike other vampire folktales and legends, the story of the aswang has not been lost to time, in the hearts of many in the Philippines this vampire still exists. That’s incredible.

The Aswang Phenomenon is a documentary coming soon to DVD that delves into the history of the aswang and tries to discover why people still fear it even now.

The official description:

“What would happen if a country of 97 million people were taught at a young age that the boogie man was real? In the Philippines, this isn’t far from the truth. Over the last 400 years, the aswang has come to represent everything that is vile, disgusting and evil in Philippine society. It has become the most controversial, and popular, creature in Philippine Mythology and is the main subject in hundreds of movies, television programs, comics, and books. The aswang can appear in many forms- a young woman, a witch, a large black pig or dog, a corpse stealing ghoul, or the Manananggal a self segmenting beast with a long hollow tongue that will feed on the fetus of pregnant woman. Where did this word come from? Why are there so many different types of aswang? Why are they predominantly women? And why is the small Visayan province of Capiz suspected as their home? Jordan Clark (Bangkok Girl) sets out to find the answers. His journey explores folk stories in pre-Spanish Philippines – re-created in animated sequences by Denver Jackson. He uncovers historical tales of social control and black propaganda by Spanish Colonizers, the Catholic Church, the Philippine Administration, and even the CIA – who all used the stories of aswang for their own agenda. The Aswang Phenomenon is the first in-depth documentary regarding the aswang myth – discovering where manifestations of the creature came from and how they evolved and embedded themselves in Filipino society. Learn how Filipinos have been transformed by the myth and are now evolving the aswang to fit into their developing cultural identity. Understanding where the aswang came from is the first step in taking away its power and the fear it creates. Special Features: Feature Length Docu-Movie ;Aswang: A Journey into Myth; the first 3 issues of Tobie Abad’s Diliman komik. English subtitles.”

For more information on The Aswang Phenomenon check out its official website HERE.

This is definitely a film I am interested in watching, it sounds amazing (I’m such a folklore geek). What do you guys think?

– Moonlight

By Moonlight

Moonlight (aka Amanda) loves to write about, read about and learn about everything pertaining to vampires. You will most likely find her huddled over a book of vampire folklore with coffee in hand. Touch her coffee and she may bite you (and not in the fun way).

6 comments

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  6. How wonderful! The Aswang is such an interesting beast. It’s about time someone takes the time to study it’s history.

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