TRIVIA: Your kontra-aswang starter pack according to old beliefs

Strong, elusive, and possessing mystical powers. By theory, we mortals are no match against menacing aswangs and other supernatural elements that come our way.

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However, traditional shamans handed out some nuggets of tricks and weapons to help us stand toe to toe against these undesirable creatures.

Of course, believing in the supernatural is purely subjective and depends entirely on a person's beliefs and background. Different strokes for different folks, as the saying goes.

This is pretty much the same when it comes to these so-called anti-aswang weapons. Some of us might believe it, while others are just not into the idea.

However, keep in mind that some people living in rural areas do keep these items handy just in case the inevitable happens. Here are just some of them…

Bawang (garlic)

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The theory here is that aswangs hate the smell of garlic and would rather exit than deal with its scent. Traditionally, homeowners hang garlic on door entrances to discourage aswangs from making a move.

Buntot ng pagi (stingray tail)

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A stingray's tail can be used as a whip to keep aswangs at bay. Some people believe that a stingray tail's poisonous properties are painful to these supernatural elements.

Salt

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Killing a manananggal is easier said than done. To kill it, you need to bring the battle to the ground. The first order of business is to locate the manananggal's lower half. Next is to sprinkle or dump a mountain of salt on the severed body part and wait for it to dissolve or disintegrate instantly. There's no study yet confirming whether rock salt works better than iodized salt in this case. We're sure both work just fine.

Vinegar

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Aswangs seemed to have an aversion to kitchen essentials. It is said that they find vinegar appalling and won't be caught dead near it. By that, maybe it's a good idea to put vinegar in a spray bottle for this purpose alone.

Bolo

Source: Wikipedia

Killing aswangs with a kitchen knife just won't cut. Apparently, creatures from the dark side are vulnerable to the power of the bolo or jungle knife. For best results, it is recommended to whack aswangs at the back to ensure their defeat. Fighting aswangs with bolo of course needs a bit of skill, focus, and tremendous guts to get the job done. Good luck, anyway.

Bamboo spears

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Making a weapon out of bamboo means cutting and sharpening it to produce sharp, pointy spears. The goal is to spear the aswang and hit vital organs. That only adds to the pressure, but a good, steady aim will do the trick. Just make sure you have enough sticks to throw in case you miss your target.

Holy water

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Some experts believe that holy water and other religious items don't work as well against aswangs. However, having these at your disposal can still do a lot of help. Religious items, after all, can help boost your faith, making you appear strong in the eyes of opportunistic aswangs.