Closed Philippine folklore: akop

[erwinc09]

In Tinguian folklore, Akop is an evil spirit who brings death to someone, especially a woman whose spouse just passed away. This spirit is said to have no body, only a head with long slimy arms and legs attached to it. Upon sensing that a man has died, Akop stalks the wake and when it gets the chance, it gives the widow a cold embrace and, thus, doom her to follow her husband to the grave. Such misfortune can only be averted if the spirit is kept away from the widow. This is done by hiding the widow behind a barricade of pillows in one corner during the three days the deceased husband’s body is kept in the house. When the wife sleeps, she must be covered with a fish net, so when Akop tries to reach for her, its long fingers will be entangled among the meshes. Another alternative is to cover the widow with a white blanket which she must wear as a bandoleer during the day until after the burial. The widow may also wear certain seeds which the spirit dislikes.

Reference:

Cole, Fay-Cooper. Traditions of the Tinguian: A Study in Philippine Folklore. Field Museum of Natural History, 1915