Batibat [ba-ti-bat]
TYPE: DEMONYO | ORIGIN: ILOKO
TYPE: DEMONYO | ORIGIN: ILOKO
The Batibat lives in the holes of trees, and when the tree is cut down to be used as a post for a house, it continues to reside in the hole, inside the house of its potential victims. The Batibat attacks by straddling and suffocating the sleeping victim, pinning them down with its immense weight, causing them to have bangungot, a nightmare that causes one to die in their sleep. To free oneself from the Batibat, a victim must wake themself by biting their thumb or wiggling their big toe.
Death by food delivery. The Batibat, a demon, attacks by straddling and suffocating the sleeping residents, pinning them down with its immense weight, causing the victim to have bangungot, a nightmare that causes one to die in their sleep.
The Amazing Beasts of Philippine Mythology
Tobias-Papa, May (text)
Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang Ink) (illus.)
Flores, Liza (Art Direction.)
Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd., [2024].
Text in English and Filipino ISBN 978-0-8048-5667-6
Tobias-Papa, May (text)
Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang Ink) (illus.)
Flores, Liza (Art Direction.)
Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd., [2024].
Text in English and Filipino ISBN 978-0-8048-5667-6
Selected for the International Youth Library Foundation "White Raven" list of 2024 — Recommended children's books from around the world.
As its title suggests, this bilingual treasure serves as an introduction to an array of creepy creatures from Philippine mythology. Presented in alphabetical order, with each beast being featured on a double-page spread, the list includes beings such as the child-devouring »Boroka«, the beautiful but deceitful merpeople »Catao«, the corpse-stealing »Ebwa«, the thieving »Siring«, and many more. Whereas May Tobias-Papa’s short descriptive texts stick to the most important features, typical behaviour, as well as preferred victims of the mythical lot, the mostly double-page illustrations in different styles and media, ranging from watercolour, paper collage, and plasticine, to digital artwork, give face and form to the demons, ghosts, ogres, werebeasts, etc. This quasi-encyclopaedia is not only a very amusing read for young and old; being created by 29 illustrators, all members of the prestigious Ang INK Artists Collective, it also showcases the crème de la crème of current Philippine illustration. (Age: 8+) [CS]
