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From mountain phantom to horse-headed trickster: the tikbalang's centuries-long evolution. Written by Glenn Junsay Pansensoy  ·  Culture  ·  13 min read The Tikbalang: A Historical Documentary Article | Poetic Codes The Tikbalang: A Historical Documentary Article 📅 April 1, 2025 ✍️ By Glenn Pansensoy 🔗 poetic-codes.pages.dev Introduction In the forests, mountains, and lonely rural roads of the Philippines, generations of Filipinos have spoken of a creature that watches from the shadows: the tikbalang. Often described as a tall, bony humanoid with the head of a horse, long limbs, powerful hooves, and a mane of coarse hair, the tikbalang has become one of the most recognizable beings in Philippine folklore. It is a creature of fear, mischief, and mystery—said to lead travelers astray, inhabit anc...

From anito to aswang: how Filipino spirits survived colonialism and faith. Written by Glenn Junsay Pansensoy  ·  Culture  ·  9 min read Spirits, Monsters, and Sacred Worlds: Philippine Supernatural Belief | Poetic Coded Spirits, Monsters, and Sacred Worlds: A Historical Look at Philippine Supernatural Belief 📅 April 2025 ✍️ By Glenn Pansensoy 🔗 poetic-coded.pages.dev The supernatural beliefs of the Philippines form one of Southeast Asia’s most enduring cultural traditions. Long before Spanish colonization, Filipino communities understood the world as inhabited by unseen powers: ancestral spirits, nature guardians, deities, and dangerous beings that moved between the human and spirit realms. These beliefs did not disappear with the arrival of Christianity; instead, they adapted, merged with Catholic pract...

Filipinos work hard yet survive on low wages and brutal commutes. Written by Glenn Junsay Pansensoy  ·  Local Politics  ·  14 min read Why Filipinos Feel Left Behind: Wages, Commutes, and the Cost of Survival Why Filipinos Feel Left Behind: Wages, Commutes, and the Cost of Survival By Glenn · October 31, 2026 Many Filipinos who travel to neighboring countries come home with a painful realization: the Philippines is falling behind in the everyday conditions that shape people’s lives. In Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, and other parts of Asia, they see higher salaries, more reliable public transportation, cleaner streets, better urban planning, and economies tha...