Tikbalang
Also known as: Tigbalang, Tigbalan
A towering horse-headed giant that leads travelers in circles through the Philippine wilderness.
Pre-colonial Filipino tradition
Philippines, Luzon and Visayas
2-3 meters tall
Mischievous, territorial
Active in Filipino folklore and pop culture
The Lore
The tikbalang is a creature from Filipino folklore depicted as a tall, bony humanoid with the head and hooves of a horse and disproportionately long limbs. It lurks in mountains, forests, and bamboo groves, where it causes travelers to lose their way by making them walk in circles. The traditional countermeasure is to wear your shirt inside out. Some accounts say that plucking the three golden hairs from its mane will make it your servant. The tikbalang is one of the Philippines' most recognizable folkloric beings.
Body Type
Folklore Origin
Media Appearances
- Trese (Netflix animated series)
- Dayo (2008 animated film)
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