Filipino Folklore: Tiyanak

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By Katie Manuel

While the tiyanak disguises itself as a newborn baby to unsuspecting adults, the reality is much more horrifying. The tiyanak is a Filipino mythological creature that lies in wait in deserted, vacant spaces, targeting adults that come across it and striking upon first contact. Their true forms are often characterized by their striking, blood-red eyes and razor-sharp teeth and claws. Many sources also state that tiyanaks are also known for their dangerously-sharp wit. Other countries in Southeast Asia have their own versions of the tiyanak, in which the tiyanak is borne from the children of mothers who have passed away during childbirth. In many Filipino versions of their tales, the tiyanak is more specifically created from children that passed away before baptism.

In variations of the tiyanak stories from Mindanao, the tiyanak are not the deceased young of human mothers, but are instead the children of another mythological being – the matiyanak, another dangerous creature resentful of her pregnancy, thus notorious for attacking men specifically. 

To this day, stories of the tiyanak are often used by elders and parents to warn younger generations of the dangers of venturing out into unknown spaces on their own. They are also widely represented in contemporary films and movies, representing their longstanding presence in Filipino societies.