The Manananggal is an aswang of Filipino mythology. Historical accounts were recorded by Spanish priests writing down the history and customs of the Tagalog people. The term Manananggal originated from the Tagalog root word "tangal" which means "to remove" or "to detach" and how the aswang detaches its lower body to reveal its true form.
It masquerades as a beautiful woman during the day but transforms into a blood-sucking monster at night. It has the ability to separate its upper and lower body, and can sprout bat wings from its back to fly in search of humans to suck their blood. It is said that the Manananggal preys on unborn fetuses in particular, using its proboscis-like tongue to open the wombs of pregnant women, wherein it will suck the fetus's blood, or devour it outright.
