The Tikbalang is one of the most well-known creatures in Filipino folklore. It has the body of a human and the head of a horse, often being described to have unusually long limbs. They roam the forests and mountains, serving as an evil "guardian" of these spaces.
Travelers passing through forests are warned to stay respectful. The Tikbalang is said to play tricks on those who disturb its territory, like leading people astray or causing them to get lost in loops. Some say you can break the Tikbalang’s spell by turning your shirt inside out or asking it for permission to pass.
Another belief is if the sun is shining while it's raining, two Tikbalang are getting married. There are even stories about the Tikbalang falling in love with a mortal.
It is also believed that a Tikbalang can be tamed. Wrestling a Tikbalang and plucking its magic hair (of which there are only 3!) on its neck will grant the carrier control of the Tikbalang. Once tamed, the Tikbalang can be useful servants.
But why does the Tikbalang look like a half-horse humanoid if there are no horses in the Philippines?
It is widely believed that when the Spanish arrived on their horses, the Filipino people created stories of the evil Tikbalang. However, some writings predating their arrival tell tales of a Tikbalang (Tigbalang). Trade between the Philippine islands and mainland Asia could explain the horse visual, since Chinese traders rode horses. The introduction of Hinduism and its influences (such as the horse-headed deity Hayagriva) could have also brought such imagery to the Philippines.
Regardless of its origins, the Tikbalang lives on through our folklore as an evil creature of the land.