Creatures of Midnight by Maximo Ramos (Non-Fiction/Reference)

This book is one of a series of six exploring the rich pantheon that is Filipino lowland mythology. This title is akin to the medieval bestiaries, filled with thrilling and scary black ink illustrations of viscera-suckers (such as the manananggal, tik-tik and their various regional brethren like the wak-wak), aswangs, and dwendes to match the equally terrifying descriptions of those creatures who have haunted the nightmares of local children and adults for ages.

Though this book has left me with countless sleepless nights since I first read it almost 14 years ago (and to this day I sleep with the lights on), the book gives me some pride to know that our own culture has a great wealth of creatures and folktales. -And the weird sense of satisfaction that we probably don't have to look to Western zombies and goblins to get our chills.

Professor Maximo Ramos has done us a great service compiling these local stories so that we may not forget how our own lands are filled with as much enchantment and lore as our neighbors' lands are.

Author : Maximo Ramos

Available at the Phoenix Publishing House