Sigbin

Sigbin is a reference from Filipino folklore which refers to an occult creature believed to be part of mythical folklore. The concept of Sigbin is most prevalent in the Central and Southern regions of the Philippines and has rendered immense fear among locals and children due to its infamously creepy attributes. This folkloric entity is often compared to the Chupacabra due to its tendency to suck the blood of its prey. It is believed that the Sigbin appears at night and metamorphosizes back into a harmless creature during daytime.

The Sigbin, like many mythical creatures from the Philippines, is inextricably enmeshed with superstitious beliefs and is often used to instill fear and encourage obedience among children. Despite the corporal differences, the folklore surrounding Sigbin echoes similar sentiments found in tales about ghosts, witches, and other supernaturalThe term "supernatural" refers to stories or narra More creatures prevalent across global mythologies. The stories about Sigbin have been passed down through generations and play an essential role in the Filipino cultures where it looms large in the collective psyche.

This creature is often described as a nocturnal, carnivorous beast, with a body like a goat, possessing large ears, long limbs, and a tail. It is said to walk backwards with its head lowered between its legs, a characteristic that only increases its terrifying reputation. The folklore tales bless this beast with an extraordinary talent to become invisible to prey and other potential threats. This unique attribute allows the Sigbin to hunt and gather food with complete stealth and deception.

The scope of this creature’s horror does not terminate in its physical traits and talents. The most terrifying aspect of Sigbin’s folklore is its preference for dining on children, whose hearts and livers it devours. Given the gruesome and horrific nature of these stories, it is unsurprising that parents often used them as warnings to encourage good behavior and discourage disobedience among their children.

Despite the widespread fear surrounding this creature, a specific group of people known as The Sigbinan believes that capturing and taming a Sigbin brings wealth and fortune. They also put forth an outrageous claim that bottles filled with Sigbin’s captured shadows can be sold to the devil.

Over time, the tales about Sigbin have morphed and diverged into different versions and interpretations. Yet, what remains constant is their ability to instil fear that continues to captivate audiences’ attention, and give them food for thought about cultural values and societal norms. The Sigbin exemplifies the power of folklore in navigating social relationships and human behaviors and thus still dominates the native Philippine folklore landscape today.