The Pugot ("decapitated one") is a mythical fiend that is found in the folklore of the

Ilocos The Ilocos Region (; ; ), designated as Region I, is an administrative region of the Philippines. Located in the northwestern section of Luzon, it is bordered by the Cordillera Administrative Region to the east, the Cagayan Valley to the northe ...

region of the Philippines. It can assume various shapes such as hogs, dogs or even as humans. However, it usually appears as a black, big headless being. The creature usually resides in dark places or deserted houses. However, they especially like living in trees such as the ''duhat'' (''

Eugenia cumini ''Syzygium cumini'', commonly known as Malabar plum, Java plum, black plum, jamun, jaman, jambul, or jambolan, is an evergreen tropical tree in the flowering plant family Myrtaceae, and favored for its fruit, timber, and ornamental value. It is ...

''), ''santol'' (''

Sandoricum koetjape ''Sandoricum koetjape'', the santol, sentul, setun or cotton fruit, is a tropical fruit native to maritime Southeast Asia. Origin and distribution The santol is native to Malesia and New Guinea. It has been introduced to Indochina, Sri Lanka, In ...

''), and

tamarind Tamarind (''Tamarindus indica'') is a Legume, leguminous tree bearing edible fruit that is indigenous to tropical Africa and naturalized in Asia. The genus ''Tamarindus'' is monotypic taxon, monotypic, meaning that it contains only this spe ...

. Aside from its

shapeshifting In mythology, folklore and speculative fiction, shapeshifting is the ability to physically transform oneself through unnatural means. The idea of shapeshifting is found in the oldest forms of totemism and shamanism, as well as the oldest existen ...

abilities, the ''pugot'' can also move at great speeds, feeding on snakes and insects that it finds among the trees. It feeds by thrusting food through its neck stump. Although terrifying, the ''pugot'' is otherwise relatively harmless. However, the creature is fond of women's underwear and steals them while they are being dried on a clothesline. The ''pugot'' is also found in the

Ifugao Ifugao, officially the Province of Ifugao (; ), is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Lagawe and it borders Benguet to the west, Mountain Province to the north, Isabela t ...

myth "Tulud Nimputul: The Self-Beheaded" where he appears to the human hero. He was fed by the hero with chopped chicken meat that was mixed with blood.

References

{{Asia-myth-stub Philippine demons