Summary
On the evening of February 7, 2023, two young girls in Talisay City, Cebu, Philippines, reportedly encountered a frightening figure on a neighbor's rooftop. The girls believed they had seen a Manananggal, a supernatural creature from Philippine folklore said to separate its upper body from its lower half and fly at night. Their terrified reactions alarmed residents of Barangay Dumlog, prompting a police investigation and widespread media attention. Although officers interviewed the witnesses and nearby residents, no evidence confirming the creature's presence was found. The identity of whatever the girls believed they saw remains unknown.
Additional Notes
The reported encounter occurred around 8:00 PM on February 7, 2023, in Sitio Mangga, Barangay Dumlog, Talisay City. According to police accounts published by local media, two young girls had visited a neighbor's home to access a Wi-Fi connection. While returning home, they reportedly noticed a strange figure on the roof of a nearby residence belonging to the Samson family. The girls became frightened, screaming and crying. In a television interview, the grandmother of one of the witnesses said her granddaughter had described a creature with claws and wings. Other reports described a dark figure resembling the Manananggal of Philippine folklore. The commotion attracted neighbors, and rumors quickly spread through the community. Police Lieutenant Colonel Randy Caballes confirmed that officers had received the report and that personnel from the Women and Children Protection Desk interviewed the two girls. Nearby residents gave differing accounts. One member of the Samson family reportedly heard a noise on the roof but initially assumed it was a cat. Another family member heard the children's cries but observed nothing unusual. Some residents claimed that similar sightings had occurred earlier in the area, including an alleged incident in late January. However, these additional claims were not independently verified. The disturbance became significant enough to attract regional television coverage. Children reportedly began returning home earlier, and local authorities urged residents not to spread unconfirmed stories. On February 10, Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas announced plans for stress debriefing and counseling for the two girls. Police reported finding no evidence of a Manananggal, and authorities considered ordinary explanations, including an animal or an intruder. The case remains an example of a reported cryptid encounter that triggered a genuine community response. What the witnesses actually observed was never conclusively identified in the published accounts. In Philippine folklore, the Manananggal is particularly feared for its ability to separate its upper body from its lower half, sprout enormous bat-like wings, and fly through the night in search of victims. According to traditional accounts, it especially targets sleeping people and pregnant women, using a long, flexible tongue to feed on blood or unborn children. By day, the creature is said to appear as an ordinary woman, making it almost impossible to recognize. Its severed lower body supposedly remains hidden while the upper half hunts, and the creature must reunite with it before sunrise. Some traditions claim that sprinkling salt, ash, or garlic on the abandoned lower half prevents the reunion and destroys the creature.
The Location Today
Sitio Mangga in Barangay Dumlog is a residential neighborhood in Talisay City, Cebu. The reported encounter took place on the roof of a private residence. No official visitor attraction or designated observation site is associated with the incident. Visitors should respect local residents' privacy and avoid entering private property.
- Environment
- Urban Area, Residential Area
- Time of Day
- Evening, approximately 8:00 PM
- Evidence Level
- Newspaper Report
- Visiting the Location
- Limited
- Ownership of the Location
- Private