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Berbalang

A Berbalang (also spelled Bërbalang, Barbalan, or Binalan) is a mythical creature found in the folklore of certain ethnic groups in the Philippines, particularly among the Lumad tribes of Mindanao and parts of the Visayas. It is often described as a ghoul or a vampiric being that preys on corpses.

Berbalangs are said to possess the ability to separate their spirit (kaluluwa) from their physical body during the night. While their body remains hidden, their spirit flies off to search for fresh corpses in cemeteries or to exhume recently buried bodies. They are believed to use their long tongues and sharp teeth to consume the flesh of the dead. Some accounts also describe them as capable of stealing the shadows of the living, causing illness or death.

Protection against Berbalangs is believed to be possible through various methods, including the use of specific amulets, rituals, and prayers. Salt is also sometimes used as a deterrent. The belief in Berbalangs is often intertwined with traditional indigenous beliefs about the spirit world and the respect for the dead. The Berbalang serves as a cautionary figure in these cultures, reinforcing the importance of proper burial rites and respectful treatment of the deceased. They are distinct from other vampiric or aswang-like creatures in Philippine folklore by their specific association with corpses and the separation of their spirit from their body.