CEBU, Philippines - While it can be argued that cryptozoologists are constantly busy in the search for Bigfoot, the chupacabra and the Loch Ness Monster, in no way does it mean that a blind eye has been turned to the Visayas Region's population of mythological creatures.
From the Philippines' version of the merman to the Pearl of the Orient's answer to the Harpy, here are four local mythological creatures who each have their own place in the roster of cryptids.
Wakwak
Generally associated with another cryptid known as the manananggal, the wakwak is often described as a creature that snatches human prey at night, feeding on their hearts.
Described as a large vampiric bird-like creature, the wakwak is often illustrated as a gigantic bird with equally large talons and bat-like wings, though other descriptions would peg them as vampire shape shifters that could easily change form at will.
Other descriptions of the wakwak would define them as the familiars of witches - as the "pets" of witches - with the sound of their wing flaps perceived as the detectable warning signs of their presence.
Okoy (siokoy)
Often described as mermen, the okoy or siyokoy is widely viewed as the male version of the sirena.
Unlike the sirena though, the okoy is generally illustrated as green-skinned humanoids with webbed hands and fin-like protrusions all over the body, a physical generalization that stands as a contrast to the more human-like descriptions of the sirena.
The difference between okoys and sirena also includes where they are told to be found, with okoy stories noting that they can be found in freshwater and saltwater bodies, while sirenas are mostly revealed as saltwater cryptids.
Sigbin
Described to walk backwards with its head positioned between its hind legs, the sigbin is arguably the most notorious of local cryptids, given the varied physical descriptions it has been associated with.
Argued to look like a large dog with large ears and a whip-like tail, the sigbin is also contested to look either like a hornless goat, a llama or a kangaroo, just as it is also believed to have the ability to become invisible.
Said to only prowl at night during Holy Week, stories of individuals owning a sigbin are known to be, much like the tales of witches them keeping wakwaks as pets.
Though widely accepted as a mythological creature, questions regarding the actual existence of the creature have been raised, mostly caused by the potential discovery of a new carnivore specie in the Indonesian side of Borneo in 2003.
Called the "cat-fox", a night camera propped by the WWF in the Kayan Mentarang National Park managed to capture footage of a cat-like mammal whose hind legs are longer than its front legs.
Though no actual "cat-fox" has been captured, its "discovery" has led to theories and postulates revolving around the possibility that the sigbin and "cat-fox" may just be related.
Tambaloslos
As a local cryptid, the tambaloslos is mostly heard about in the Visayas and Mindanao regions, described as humanoid creatures with overly large heads and mouths.
Said to prowl in forests and jungles, an encounter with a tambaloslos generally involves getting lost in one's way, even if one is well acquainted with a forest's paths and byways.
This "confusion" in finding one's way is attributed to be part of the tambaloslos' supernatural nature, apart from its sinister intentions and gaping jaws.