MONSTERS, CRYPTIDS AND SUPERNATURAL CREATURES
BATIBAT
Bangungot
The Batibat is a vengeful demon or spirit from Ilocano folklore, with the Tagalog name for such a creature being known as a Bangungot. It takes on the form of a hideous and obese old hag, that resides within a particular tree. If that tree is ever felled or destroyed, it is effectively made homeless and will seek out vengeance upon those who are to blame. In many cases the felled tree is used as a support post for a home, so the Batibat will simply migrate in to whatever remains of its former home, often creeping down in to the hole in which the post has been set. If anyone foolish or unsuspecting makes the poor decision of sleeping near to this location, the Batibat will emerge from its hiding whilst they sleep and take on its true form. It will invade the dreams of the sleeper and cause waking nightmares, sleep paralysis and eventually death by suffocation as it sits upon the chest of its victim.
Physiology:
The Batibat is described as being a grotesque old hag with a body that is so obese and heavy, that not even the burliest of men would be able to shift her weight once she positions herself atop of their chest.
Etylmology:
The Batibat lends itself to the Ilocano word for nightmare, "batíbat" (or bangungot in Tagalog).
History:
The term “bangungot” is medically linked to SUNDS and has been a mystery throughout SE Asia for decades. It was reported on by the New York Times in 1981, where one of the possibilities was that victims were “frightened to death by nightmares”, when the bodies were examined and no cause of death was found.
Territory:
Philippines
Origination:
In folklore these grotesque creatures are blamed as the cause for the fatal nocturnal disease known as bangungot or *SUNDS (sudden unexplained nocturnal death syndrome). They are an Ilocano variation of a sleep demon or spirit, that appears constantly throughout global folklore, with other examples being the Mareridt from scandinavian folklore, the Mara from Slavic folklore, the Pesanta of Catalonian folklore or the Pisadeira from Brazilian folklore, as well as many others.
Nature:
The Batibat is a solitary, vengeful creature, that will focus her attention on those whom have wronged her. She is merciless and unforgiving, intent on making you suffer for your actions.
Modus Operandi:
The Batibat first toys with you by invading your dreams and feeding off of your phobias and paralysing you with fear. When she tires of the game she will sit upon your chest and kill you while you sleep. There is no option of a heroic battle as she is believed to be so heavy and large, that even the burliest of men would be suffocated under her mass.
Vulnerability:
To ward off the Batibat, a person should, it is said, wiggle their toes or if possible bit down hard on their thumb. This will cause the dreamer to wake from the nightmare induced by the creature.