37: DARK HORSE | The Tikbalang: Half-Man, Half-Horse

The Gods Must Be Crazy: A Philippine Mythology Podcast

37: DARK HORSE | The Tikbalang: Half-Man, Half-Horse

How did a country with no indigenous horses end up with a mythical half-man half-horse cryptid as a central character in its mythology? In this episode, we discuss the Tikbalang, one of the major characters in Filipino mythology and horror pop culture. Find out why it is essential to know how to quickly flip your outfit in the middle of the forest, why it is important to practice riding that Bronco machine at your neighborhood bar, and why you should always ask permission every time you pass an ominous-looking tree.

Learn about the fascinating journey of the Tikbalang across the continent to find its unlikely roots in the Philippines and hear semi-modern accounts of people who have witnessed the Tikbalang themselves.

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The Gods Must Be Crazy is a podcast on Philippine Mythology hosted by friends Anama Dimapilis and Ice Lacsamana, avid mythology nerds and semi-professional gossips. Follow us over at @godsmustbecrazy.pod on Instagram and Facebook for more good stuff. We welcome any suggestions on future topics or episodes.

You can also find us on Youtube – Gods Must Be Crazy Podcast channel, where we post some of our episodes and interviews. For other inquiries, please email us at [email protected]

The intro and outro music is by Brian O’Reilly (@dendriform on Instagram).

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References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tikbalang

https://www.aswangproject.com/tikbalang/

https://letterboxd.com/film/once-upon-a-time-1987/