iloilo urban legend

some people in iloilo believe in the story of "Maria Labu" the famous "aswang" in the Visayas. I was laughing when old folks would scare away the naughty children by the aswangs story...

well as for me i never knew about that famous aswang whatsoever of how it all began...

i found an article who talks about her...


Posted May 08.02
Filipino Villagers Alarmed By Tales Of Supernatural Creature[Original headline: 'Aswang' tales alarm Capicenos]
ROXAS CITY -- Despite that we are now in the computer age, many people still believe in the existence of supernatural creatures, like the "aswang."
An "aswang" is said to be a human being who is capable of separating the upper half of his body from the lower half, so that its upper half can fly on grown wings. It is said to relish on the flesh of fetuses in the womb of mothers but will eat any human flesh.
Capiz province is well known as a "haven of witches" (which this writer does not believe in) not only in Western Visayas but also in Manila.
Amidst these "aswang" tales, folks here, especially children, no longer go out of their homes after 7 o'clock in the evening for fear of being attacked by "aswangs" and similar supernatural creatures.
This developed after the residents of Barangay Tanza Gua, Panay, Capiz reportedly saw an "aswang" on top a bamboo tree wearing white dress on red eyes last Saturday evening.
Reportedly, upon seeing the said witch, the residents call for police assistance from the police outpost a few meters away from the bamboo where the "aswang" was seen.
The Roxas City Fire Truck also responded on the intent to spray water on the reported witch. It was also learned that several residents brought "bangkaw", a bamboo spear, and other bamboo-made weapons to kill said "aswang". However, the residents failed to see the "aswang" even as they watched for it until the following morning.
The "aswang" tales started some time in January, this year in Negros Occidental about a female overseas contract worker (OCW) who worked abroad as a nurse. She was said to have "inherited" her being "aswang" from her employer abroad.
The OCW, according to reports, when she came home, slaughtered her only child and cooked it to become "adodo." When her husband, who is a policeman, arrived home, he was reportedly shocked to learn that their child was already cooked by his wife.
The husband reportedly got a bolo and hacked his wife on the face. From then on, the "aswang" was called "Maria Labu" because of her hacked wound on the face.
After this reported incident, there were reports of "aswang" attack in Estancia, Iloilo; then going in Pilar, Pres. Roxas, Pontevedra, Dumalag, Brgy. Locugan, Bgry. Milibili and the latest was Brgy. Tanza Gua, all in Roxas City. From there, "Mari Labu" was reported to be victimizing folks in Kabangkalan, Negros Occidental.
• Story originally published by: Sun Star, Iloilo / Philippines Joel E. Capundan - May 10.02
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