Lecture Notes: Cases of Scratching and Aswang

Incident and Context

• Investigated cases of scratching allegedly caused by an aswang in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.
• Victim: Carla (not her real name) who was attacked at their boarding house.
• Carla was with Daisy (not her real name) who provided testimony about the incident.

Details of the Incident

• Carla woke up at dawn with wounds on her legs and hands.
• A co-board mate, Jenny (not her real name), was suspected to be the cause of the scratches, but it was discovered that she was asleep at the time of the incident.
• Theory that the aswang has the ability to shape-shift.

Testimonies of Other Victims

• Daisy's mother: Also experienced scratches from an aswang, which caused severe bleeding.
• Dodong: Encountered a suspicious woman a few days before he was attacked by the alleged aswang.
• Emily: Met an aswang while administering medicine to her sick child.

Community Reaction and Belief

• According to residents, there is one family suspected to be aswang, but they were not at home when visited.
• Albularyo: Provides advice for protection against aswang, such as using salt and cotton.
• It is also mentioned that the presence of an aswang may be indicated by cooking oil.

Expert Analysis and Opinion

• Medical examination: Linear pattern of wounds possibly caused by grazing against pointed objects.
• Importance of consulting a doctor for wounds that do not heal.

Official Report

• No official report or police blotter recorded about the aswang attack.

Cultural Aspect

• Spanish documents include reports about aswang recorded in early Spanish-Tagalog dictionaries.
• Aswang: Long part of folklore and belief even before the Spaniards arrived.

Conclusion

• Although there are many stories and testimonies, these remain folklore without strong evidence.

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