 |
DIO has declared that this article has stopped in time, and any or all information on it may be outdated. Help improve this article by checking and updating its info wherever necessary And now time resumes! |
 |
Harley Quinn thinks that this article looks kinda boring, eh? Why not put some categories there to spice it up? Help by adding new categories to the article! |
Bal-Bal are undead monsters found in Filipino folklore. Creatures similar to archetypical ghouls in concept, they are beings known to steal corpses from both funerals and gravesites to feed on.
History[]
Bal-Bal have keen senses of smell, and are attracted to the scent of dead human bodies. Upon finding a corpse, they will tear apart the body with their sharp claws and teeth, all before consuming the ripped-apart carcass. Due to the fact they exclusively eat this carrion, Bal-Bal are said to have a foul odor to them.
Like many folkore monsters, variants of Bal-Bal exist depending on region or even individual storytellers. Some Bal-Bal are depicted with inhuman tongues that can stretch out and capture corpses from afar, while others say Bal-Bal are able to sense sickness in people and will stalk them, waiting for them to die so they can consume their remains.
One of the more disturbing tales of Bal-Bal state that while they prefer to eat corpses, they may actively pursue a living victim if they are called on at night. As such, calling directly to the Bal-Bal is an immensely foolish proposition, especially if done during the hours of a full moon.
To ward off Bal-Bal, varied methods could be used. Often, loud sounds and lights would scare them away. However, other tricks came to form regarding the corpses themselves, such as properly disposing of the body or sealing it inside a banana tree's trunk before putting it in their coffin. As such, it is likely Bal-Bal came to form as a way to teach others to properly bury their dead, as flawed disposals spread disease and attract scavengers.
In some traditional stories, the Bal-Bal is associated with gliding and clinging onto rooftops, making it as possible cryptid. However, most view the Bal-Bal as a purely folkloric creature.
Gallery[]
