Usapang Tiktik at iba pang aswang.

I was browsing through a fan page for online sellers at FB (yes tambay ako dun) when one co-seller posted and asked if we believe in Tik-tik.

Well most of us did. And she did mention na they were hearing sounds na ganoon daw. We even asked if it was loud or soft na. Tiktik's location can be estimated through the volume of the sound it makes. Sabi ng mga matatanda, kung malakas- malayo ang tiktik at kung mahina- nasa paligid lang daw. She said that it was a mix of both. 

What is a tiktik?

It is believed to be an aswang that victimizes pregnant women and gravely sick people. They have long really thin tongues that can slip through the tiniest holes. When a woman is sleeping, it will let it's tongue slither and eat the baby inside the womb. The mother will also die in the process. For the sick people, I am not sure on how they die.

We immediately adviced her to do some superstitious beliefs that might save her if in case it was a tiktik nga:

1. Magsaboy ng asin sa labas, sa bubong at magtabi sa pagtulog. Ayaw ng Aswang sa asin. Nalulusaw sila at nasusugatan. (Scatter rock salt at your yard, roof and keep it handy. Aswangs hate salt. It burns them and wounds them)

2. Magtakip ng itim na tela sa tiyan o magsuot ng itim na shirt. Para daw hindi makita o matukoy ng aswang ang movement ng bata sa loob ng tiyan. (Cover your tummy with black cloth or wear a black shirt to make the baby's movement undetected by the tiktik.)

3. Magkaroon ng Buntot Page, isang latigo at isang halaman. Takot ang lahat ng aswang sa mga ganito. Ung latigo kasi pag nahampas sila hindi gagaling ang sugat nila pag yun ang ginamit. Ung halaman naman pag nakatanim hindi sila makakalapit. (Make sure to have a Stingray's tail (dried) and a plant by the same name. Available at Quiapo by the street vendors near the church. It is believed that when any aswang is lashed by the said tail, it's wounds would not heal. For the plant, if it is planted on the yard aswangs would be afraid to come near your house)

4. Kung Katoliko ka, subukan mong bumili ng Medal ni St. Benedict. Sinasabi na iwas sa masasamang espiritu, sa magnanakaw at ginagamit para mawala ang sapi. Basahin niyo ang storya ng buhay niya para malaman niyo kung bakit. Pede ring isabit sa pintuan ng bahay o negosyo at sa kaha ng pera.  (If you are a Catholic. Try buying St. Benedict's Medal (available at St. Paul's at SM Malls, etc) It is said to keep evil spirits away, anti- theft and is used for exorcism. You can check his life story to know why. You can also hang it above the entrance of the house or a business place or place it inside the cash register or cash box.)

5. Murahin at sigawan niyo pag pakiramdam niyo nasa paligid sila. Ayaw nila sa ingay kung kaya't mapapansin niyo na sa mga kwento na kadalasan sa liblib na lugar sila nakatira. Ayaw din nilang magsalita mashado pag anyong tao sila. DAW. Pwede ring magpatugtog na malakas. (You can scream, shout and curse them if you feel that something is lurking around. According to stories, they hate noise that's why they usually live in deep secluded places and said that once they take the human form, the rarely communicate with other people. You can also play loud music to scare them away.)

6. Maglagay daw ng bala ng baril sa bintana. (Place a bullet by the window)

7. Wag iiwan ang buntis, bata o yung may malubhang sakit na mag-isa lang sa bahay o kwarto lalo na pag gabi. (Don't leave pregnant women, children and those with grave illnesses alone in the house or in a room, especially at night)

8. Bawang. Sikat na panlaban sa aswang. Magtabi lang kasama ng Asin. (Garlic. A very famous aswang repellant. Keep it handy with the salt.)

9. Ang sabi ng iba langis daw. Pag kumulo o umapaw daw yun malapit lang daw ang aswang. Siguro parang warning lang. (Some say keep oil in a bottle. If it boils or overflows, the aswang is very near. It maybe used as a warning device. But I'm not sure with this one.)

10. Huwag matutulog sa tabi ng bintana. Mas madali para sa aswang o tiktik na biktimahin ka. (Don't stay or sleep next to the window. It will be easier for the aswang to victimize you.)

11. At higit sa lahat mag-dasal. Kahit ano pa ang relihiyon mo, magiging matatag at wag mawalan ng pananampalataya. (And most important of all, pray. Whatever religion you are from, be brave and don't loose faith.)