Philippines: "The Pearl Of the East" as it was called is rich in culture and heart taking beautious sceneries, but there's one more thing in the Philippines that every Filipinos have heard, and most have believe.. the paranormal.

Philippine culture is rich in fables, and tales, and there's one more thing Filipinos love to talk about with in a family or friend gathering, even on an afternoon or after dinner, these are stories of kapre's, nuno sa punso, white lady, aswang, diwata, at kung ano ano pang mga pangyayari.

These paranormal sighting stories are very well known across Philippines, mostly on provinces from those who 've actually experienced it and seen it. I'm sure you also have them or believe them in your own country, it just these beings have probably have a different names in your country.

What is a:

Kapre: A kapre is a giant who is mostly seen sitting on bamboo trees scaring passers-by on their way. It is also mostly seen puffing a tabako or ciggar. Kapre's have hairy bodies. I haven't seen one myself but I won't wait to see one to believe, stories I've heard, I think is enough to say that these creatures maybe really exists.

Nuno sa punso:  Nuno also called duwende, or dwarf in English, but Americans call them gnomes. Punso is what Filipino call the nuno's personal dwelling space. Punso is a mounted, little hill like usually seen beside trees. Nuno's are the guardians of buried treasures underneath the earth and it says they can choose a good heart to which they can give the the treasure. Also there is a belief that there is always something or someone to be sacrifice as an exchange for such treasures. Filipinos usually says "tabi-tabi po apo," when they pass by a punso or these little hills. "tabi-tabi po apo" literally means "excuse me great one/ great ancestor," sometimes I would here my mom follow this phrase with "please excuse me on my way since you can see me but I can't see you." It is believe that if you step on an unseen,small being such as a nuno or gnome, one should have an offering of rice to where you have probably step onto these beings and say you are sorry to undo their wrath of harming you.

White Lady: The name says it. A white lady is a lady usually seen wearing white gowns or white dress walking or crossing roads, sometimes have seen floating on air. Reports of sightings from Magandang Gabi Bayan, a Philippine night news, by Filipinos who have experienced seeing them, also includes that these ladies will hitch a ride from drivers and it will then suddenly vanish when they reach their destinations such as an old tree or a balete tree.

Balete Tree: The magic tree, or I can say "the tree of the unknown," since balete trees are associated with all these beings. This trees are believe to be inhabited by one or most of these beings, also it serves as a portal for them from their own worlds to ours. Sometimes diwata's or fairies are also associated with these trees. If you see a balete tree with many fireflies at night, it is said that that tree is inhabited.

Aswang: is similar to vampires, in a sense that they need blood to live. They leave their lower part of hteir body (from waist below) and find their victims flying at night (from waist to head.) It is said that to kill an aswang one has to find their lower body that they left while hunting and scatter salts in it before the sun dawn or before they get back. By putting salts in theri lower, they can't get back to it and reattach it, and they will die as the sun shines on them on the dawn. They transfrom into animals such as a big dog or a bird at night specially during new moon or fullmoon. They also love pregnant women, they can always sense a pregnant woman and stories from preggy women's says that these creatures has the ability to stick their long, yarn like tongue from the pregnant's womans' roof to the woman's tummy in her bedroom to abduct the baby.

Diwata: Or fairies, are associated with the nature or the woodland. Stories I can recall about diwata's are people hearing angelic, so beautiful song from a lady at night while everyone on the neighborhood are sleeping. They mostly invite human's to their world through crossing or entering a tree. It is also a belief that if a fairy or any other being invited you to eat their foods specially black colored foods, you won't have the chance to get back, and that their is a difference in there, such as a hundred earth years could only be just a day in their time.

Kulam: Or withcraft is also widely known and believe in the Philippines. Kulam is more believe and viewed as evil in such a way that it is used for revenge, and envious people. Kulam in the Philippines is more of a hereditary, pass from a grandmother or mother to child.

Anting-anting: Or talisman's or also so popular. It is said that Holy Week is hte perfect time to make a Talisman Hunting, since talisman's are so powerful during this time. Peebles is one kind of anting-anting that one can acquire from a banana blossom. One should have a pure heart to deserve such power. Stories of anting-anting's powers ranges from strength, invisibililty, has the power to fight diseases, and heal and so on. Your great grandmother, or your grandmother could have one of these anting-anting, since they are usually the one who have possess such powerful talisman's.

Agimat: Agimat or amulet is synonymous to talisman's in such a way that both have a certain power. The difference is that, agimat or amulets are made of metals, and talisman's or anting-anting are those acquired from nature or animals.

These aren't just made up stories, Filipinos all around Philippines knows about this, of course there are those who don't believe, but many believe that these beings exists.  I'm sure you've heard experiences such as these from your lola and lolo (grandma and grandpa), from your uncle, tita, or from someone who have actually seen or experienced one.