Manananggal

The manananggal is a mythical creature from the Philippines, specifically the western provinces of Antique, Capiz and Iloilo that applies a strange oil onto its body which allows it to separate its torso from its legs.  In doing this the creature will sprout wings and fly off in search of its prey leaving its legs behind.  The creature is often seen as female and described as hideous. 

They are best known for preying on sleeping women most of which are pregnant and babies.  The creature lands on the roof and places its flexible elongated tongue through a hole in the roof; the point at the end of its tongue pierces the victim to suck the blood and hearts from women and babies.  If the woman is pregnant then the creature will pierce the woman’s womb to suck out the foetus.  The manananggal also preys on men.  To do this she takes on the form of a beautiful woman and lures them to a private place where she then eats there innards such as the heart, intestines, stomach and liver.

As its legs are left behind while it hunts for prey, the legs become vulnerable.  It is thought that if somebody sprinkles salt, ash or garlic onto the exposed flesh of the severed legs then the manananggal can no longer reattach itself and will die when the sun comes up.  They are said to avoid sunlight, spices and vinegar, daggers and the tail of a stingray.  People still strongly believe that the manananggal stalks the skies at night looking for its prey.