Kapre

Kapre
Gender	Male
Region	Philippines

Kapre (related to the Agta in the Visayan dialect) is a Philippine mythical creature that could be characterized as a tree demon, but with more human characteristics. It is described as being a tall (7 to 9 ft), brown, hairy male with a beard. Kapres are normally described as smoking a big tobacco pipe, whose strong smell would attract human attention. The term kapre comes from the Arabic "kaffir", meaning a non-believer in Islam. The early Arabs and the Moors used it to refer to the non-Muslim Dravidians who were dark-skinned. The term was later brought to the Philippines by the Spanish who had previous contact with the Moors. Some historians speculate that the legend was propagated by the Spanish to prevent Filipinos from assisting any escaped African slaves.

Natural habitat and attire

Kapres are said to dwell in big trees like acacias, mangoes, bamboo and banyan (known in the Philippines as balete). It is also mostly seen sitting under those trees. The Kapre is said to wear the indigenous Northern Philippine loincloth known as bahag, and according to some, often wears a belt which gives the kapre the ability to be invisible to humans. In some versions, the kapre is supposed to hold a magical white stone, a little smaller in size than a quail egg. Should any person happen to obtain this stone, the kapre could grant wishes.

Special Kapre / Irene E.

Kapres are most commonly males but there is one instance wherein a female version of the Kapre. This "special" Kapre was called Irene E. because it also resembled the grown up version of an undin, hence called Irene E. Irene E. it thought to be a modern female version of the kapre since it not only smokes tabaco, it also loves to drink coffee while doing so. Unlike most kapres Irene E. does not make friends with humans. She merely toys with them and likes to make them do her bidding by promissing that she will grant them a wish. She does not grant any wishes even if you are able to get her white stone. She loves to tricks humans, for women she tells them that if they swallom the white stone and chant an incantation, they will be able to gain magical powers. Those who do so do not get anypowers, the white stone gets stuck in their throat, becomes an adams apple and that girl becomes a zombading (a shemale zombie). For men, she tricks them by saying that her white stone is an agimat that if fed to their loved one, that person would fall for them forever. Sadly the men who follow her bidding turn into zombies after their loved ones become zombadings.

Behavior

Kapres are not necessarily considered to be evil, unlike the manananggal. Kapres may make contact with people to offer friendship, or if it is attracted to a woman. If a Kapre befriends any human, especially because of love, the Kapre will consistently follow its "love interest" throughout life. Also, if one is a friend of the Kapre then that person has the ability to see it and if they were to sit on it then any other person could see it.

Kapres are also said to play pranks on people, frequently making travelers become disoriented and lose their way in the mountains or in the woods. They are also believe to have the ability to confuse people even in their own familiar surroundings; for instance, someone who forgets that they are in their own garden or home is said to have been tricked by a Kapre. Reports of experiencing Kapre enchantment include that of witnessing rustling tree branches, even if the wind is not strong. Some more examples would be hearing loud laughter coming from an unseen being, witnessing lots of smoke from the top of a tree, seeing big fiery eyes during night time from a tree, as well as actually seeing a Kapre walking in forested areas. It is also believed that abundant fireflies in woody areas are the embers from the Kapre's lit tobacco pipe.

See also

• Aswang
• Manananggal
• Ghosts in Filipino culture
• Tikbalang

Additional reading

• Cruz, Neal (2008-10-31), "As I See It:Philippine mythological monsters", Philippine Daily Inquirer