I don't want to meet an aswang. I bet many don't want to either. Walking alone at night on a dark "eskinita" then suddenly an aswang appears scenario is something that doesn't happen very often especially nowadays in the metropolitan cities. Aside from the fact that we are talking on "mythological" terms here, there's no proof that aswangs exists. So what's the point of this? Its a nice to know. After all, no one said that aswangs don't exist. No one has proof...yet.
So what do you do when you happen to meet an aswang? Read on and find out.
First of all don't be too jumpy that what you saw is an aswang already. Keep your presence of mind. You're not even sure of what you saw, yet. Don't go offensive and attack immediately unless you know what you're doing and you're like a supernatural creature hunter. The best way to go is to avoid. Like what martial arts gurus teach, confrontation is the last resort. In the first place, traveling alone is such a bad idea. Always travel in pairs or groups, especially during late at night.
The brave Filipinos of the past travel alone, but they always bring with them a bolo or a knife.
Aswangs are said to be afraid of sharp and pointed metal objects as any wound inflicted could be fatal to them. Even sharpened bamboo poles are enough to give them a scare. Presently, you could get arrested for carrying deadly weapons if you bring a big bolo around and you cannot enter train stations or malls so you have to take it out of the equation. I don't know any alternatives if you're planning to carry something around so please don't ask me. But on second thought, maybe you can bring scissors instead.
Since its gonna make you look violent when you bring sharp objects around, try a different approach. An
aswang is afraid of spices and salt. I never found out why, but they are said to hate these. Packets of salt are available at popular fast food chains in the country so its not embarrassing to bring these around. When someone asks why you're bringing salt all the time, you can always say for emergency use and they'll stop pestering you thinking the emergency you mean is tasteless food emergency. I won't ask you to bring onions or garlic in your bags or pockets. They drive away
aswang but they drive away people too.
It is good that water bottles and lighters have been invented already because
aswangs are afraid of water and fire. There's water in a bottle on almost every store and its easy to carry around, so this won't be a problem. I'm assuming that they're afraid of water because it may wash off the
special oils they smear their bodies thus losing their supernatural powers. The could also be the reason why the
aswangs are afraid of fire. Since they're covered in oil, and oil catches fire easily, its a deadly hazard. They too, are vulnerable to fire, so when confronted by one, try showing off your cigarette lighter. In the old days, a
lampara or a
gasera can do the job for you.
As what's mentioned on my previous article about
aswang, there are different types. There are those who eat dead people and those who eat the much warmer ones. No need to worry about those who scavenge dead people, they're mostly invisible or not very sociable. Its the other type that's a threat. They prowl or fly around looking for victims like small animals, children and pregnant women who are more vulnerable. If there's a pregnant woman at the house and your roof is still nipa or something organic, beware of threadlike things hanging from the ceiling, it might be the tongue of the
aswang. Cutting it off is a good idea since it looks bad having something hanging from the ceiling and it will make the
aswang die too.
After all that you've read, you should be pretty confident that an encounter with an
aswang won't be horrifying. But you have to know that
aswangs are very shy, and avoids being seen or noticed. If you encounter one, chances are they'd be the first one to flee.
