Demon of the Week 020

The Batibat or Bangungot is a vengeful demon found in Filipino culture, specifically in Ilocano folklore. The demons are said to have caused the fatal nocturnal disease called bangungot, also known as "Sudden Adult Death Syndrome".

A batibat typically takes the form of a giant, fat, old woman who resides in a tree. They usually come into contact with humans when the tree that they reside in is felled and processed for the construction of a home. This causes the batibat to migrate into holes found in the building's support posts or foundation. The batibat forbids humans from sleeping near the processed wood it supposedly occupies. When someone does fall asleep near it, the batibat transforms into its true form and attacks the person. It sits on the chest of its victim until he or she suffocates to death.

To ward off the batibat, one should "bite one's thumb or wiggle one's toes." In this way, the person will awaken from whatever nightmare is being induced by the batibat, and the victim may thusly prevent his or her own death.