Tianak and Nuno Sa Punso

ASBURY COLLEGE INC.
ANDA, PANGASINAN 2405 PHILIPPINES
EL 112 – Mythology & Folklore

Discussion Paper
Topic: Tianak and Nuno sa Punso

Presented by: Rona Mae Cerdan
Presented to: Ma’am Sherilyn Nuesca
I. Objectives
At the end of the discussion the students will be able to:
 Define on what is tianak and nuno sa punso means
 Know the myths and legends of tianak and nuno sa punso
 Know the curse of nuno sa punso
 Know on how to cure the curse of nuno sa punso and;
 Know the originality of tianak and nuno sa punso.
II. Definition of Terms

Philippine folklore - refers to the traditional oral literature of the Filipino people.
Greek or Roman Mythologies - is both the body of and the study of myths from the
ancient Greeks and ancient Romans as they are used or transformed by cultural
reception.
Mythical creatures - are supernatural animals/beings/hybrids that don't exist in real life.
Mythical creatures originate from ancient mythologies, stories and folklore, and are
often present in books, tv, film and games. Relating to myth and legend, mythical
creatures often have metaphorical significance, supernatural abilities and unique
characteristics.
Tiyanak - is a vampiric creature in Philippine mythology that takes on the form of a
toddler or baby.
Nuno sa punso - A nuno sa punso ("old man of the mound"), or simply nuno ("old man"
or "grandparent" "ancestor"), is a dwarf-like nature spirit (anito) in Philippine mythology.
III. Introduction
Philippine folklore, unlike Greek or Roman mythologies, has not been organized
into a formal pantheon, does not generally contain long epics, nor has it been relegated
to history. To this day, Philippine myths still have an active role in the lives of rural
Filipinos. The countless myths circulating throughout the Filipino countryside contain a
large variety of mythical creatures. Although there is no scientific evidence for any of
these creatures, there is also no shortage in the rural parts of the Philippines of people
who believe firmly in their existence. This discrepancy is sometimes rationalized by the
explanation that only pure and good mortals are able to see these creatures.
IV. Discussion
Tianak and Nuno sa Punso
Tianak
The Tiyanak is a small humanoid monster in Philippine mythology which
pretends to be an innocent baby before attacking humans. Tiyanak is another mythical
creature in the Philippine Mythology, are babies who died before receiving baptism rites.
After death, they go to a place known as Limbo, a chamber of Hell where unbaptized
dead people fall into, and transformed into evil spirits. These phantasms return into the
mortal realm in the form of goblins to eat living victims. The tiyanak can also be the
offspring between a demon and a human.
The tiyanak can also be the offspring of a woman and a demon. It can also be
the aborted fetus, which comes to life to take revenge on its mother. Tiyanak are very
vengeful creatures. Most Tiyanaks are said to live in forests. If they see a human, they
transform into what looks like a normal baby. When the person notices the Tiyanak and
comes near to take a look at it, that's when the Tiyanak changes back to its true form
and eats its prey.
Myths & Legends

It disguises itself as a baby abandoned in the forest or in the field. It wails loudly
to attract a passerby and when picked up it sheds its disguise like a snake shedding its
old skin, revealing its true form, and kills the victim by biting and mauling.
Appearance
Described in Tagalog and Bicolano folklore as a small bald-headed goblin with
sharp teeth, pointed ears, bloodshot eyes, and disproportionate legs (the left leg is
shorter while the right one in unusually longer).
Origin
Various speculations on how Tiyanaks came to be range from babies born dead
in the forest to the Catholic-influenced unbaptized stillborn infants, and later extended to
vengeful murdered infants and aborted fetuses.
Belief in the Tiyanak may have originated from the Patianak of the Mandaya tribe
in Mindanao, when Islam started to spread north before the arrival of the Spanish.
Interestingly, it could also be possible that belief in the Tiyanak might have been
influenced if not introduced by Spanish missionaries, especially those from Mexico, who
were intent on converting the natives into Catholics. With the exception of the Tiyanak’s
ability to disguise itself as a baby, some striking similarities with the Chaneque (which
sounds similar to Tiyanak) from Aztec mythology suggest a possible link between the
two creatures.
Tiyanak Countermeasures
Though this legendary creature is deceitful in attacking its prey, one can bewilder the
creature and break loose from the enchantment of its cries by turning his clothes inside
out. The legend has it that Tiyanaks find this method laughable and would just leave the
victim.
Nuno sa Punso
The nuno sa punso ("old man of the mound") is a dwarf-like creature in Philippine
mythology which is believed to live in an anthill or termite mound. Its name literally
means "Ancestor/Grandparent living in the anthill."
Myths & Legends

The nuno is a goblin easily angered and will do harm to those who damage or
disturb his mound. If an invader destroys the nuno's home by kicking it, the offender's
foot will become swollen. Nuno sa punso are also believed to inhabit places such as
underneath large rocks, trees, riverbanks, caves, or a backyard.
It is described to be a small old man with a long beard, and differs from a
duwende or dwarf of Philippine folklore. A Nuno sa Punso stands more than 3 feet tall
and weighs about 36 pounds.
Cursed by the Nuno
It is also said that they have the ability to curse trespassers, curse like swelling or
pain on any part of the body, vomiting of blood, urinating black liquid, excessive hair
growth on the back.
In order for a nuno to successfully curse a person, the trespasser must come in
close proximity of the nuno. If the trespasser is within range, the Nuno can spit on any
part of the trespasser's body. The trespasser will then experience aches or soreness on
the affected part of the body, such as stomach pains, swollen genitals (after urinating on
the mound), or swollen feet (after kicking the mound).
Curing the Curse

There is a common belief that if modern medicine is unable to cure a particular
illness, the ailment may be due to a nuno's curse. The victim is brought to an albularyo,
a Philippine practitioner of traditional medicine. The albularyo will perform a ceremony
known as tawas. During this process, a piece of a candle is melted and the molten wax
poured onto a disc or spoon. The molten wax is in turn poured into water. The image
formed on the water will then be interpreted by the albularyo. The image aids in
determining the cause of the patient's illness and where the curse actually happened. In
order to be cured, the victim's family may be asked to provide an offering to the nuno
such as fruits or other food, drinks, or a material object. If the victim is still not healed
after the offering, it may be necessary to personally ask the nuno's forgiveness, which is
believed to be a wise measure, in order to prevent the permanent possession of the
victim by an evil spirit, which could later cause the victim to become insane.
Countermeasures
To avoid the wrath of a nuno sa Punso, children are reminded not to play outside
between noon and three o'clock in the afternoon. They are also asked by their parents
to come home before six o'clock in the evening. Children are also instructed avoid being
noisy at places where nuno are believed to dwell. Children are also warned to ask
permission or give fair notice before passing by such places inhabited by the nuno,
which is done by saying "tabi tabi po" (literally "please be on the side" or "please move
aside", that is, you tell the nuno to stand aside), or "please let me pass by" or "I mean
no harm as I pass through your territory, Old Man of the Mound".
It is also possible to kill the nuno by catching it and crushing its head between a
person's fingers or thighs. This will remove any spell cast by the nuno. But this method
is not often recommended because it could evoke the wrath of a nuno's friends and
relatives.
Legends also state that placing an obese or festively plump female on the side of
a road after midnight will attract the nuno out of hiding, thus allowing those afflicted to
seek their revenge on the goblin. The nuno has an odd affinity for large bodied
mammals of the opposite sex.
V. Conclusion
Myths and folklore make up a big part of our childhood and even our cultural
identity. Through folklore, we are given a glimpse of how our ancestors lived in simpler
times. Moreover, it helps us make sense of the mysteries of the world through a lens we
can uniquely call our own.
Our forefathers believed that deities inhabited our daily lives. There are
individuals in pre-historic Philippines who dedicated their lives in communing with
spirits. So much so, that even before traveling, farming, or hunting within the vicinity,
they would first ask permission from the spirits living nearby. Failing to do so would give
them misfortunes, which is how the phrase “tabi tabi po” would be born. They also
believed in entities living in trees and playful dwendes hiding artifacts or household
items.
Fortunately, a lot of our countrymen have been keeping our myths alive through
different means. By doing so, a big part of our culture is preserved and reincarnated into
versions that help the future generation keep in touch with their roots.
VI. Reference
https://mythus.fandom.com/wiki/Nuno_sa_Punso
https://mythus.fandom.com/wiki/Tiyanak
https://www.mythicalcreaturesguide.com/tiyanak/
https://mythus.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Philippine_creatures
https://www.twinkl.com.ph/teaching-wiki/mythical-creatures
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiyanak

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ASBURY COLLEGE INC.

ANDA, PANGASINAN 2405 PHILIPPINES

EL 112 – Mythology & Folklore

Topic: Tianak and Nuno sa Punso

II. Definition of Terms

Myths & Legends

Myths & Legends

Curing the Curse

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