The Filipina Ghosts Who Refused to Rest

We all grew up fearing some form of Filipina ghosts, from the White Lady of Balete Drive to the aswang hiding in the trees. Their tales are passed down from generation to generation, reinforcing the notion that they are evil. But here’s the thing: what if they were never meant to scare us? What if they were just simple women trying to be heard?

Should We Heed Their Warnings?

For generations, ghost stories have been used to warn young girls how to behave. Not a day goes by that you don’t hear something like “Huwag kang magpagabi,” “Huwag kang sumagot sa lalaki,” or “Huwag kang pasaway.” 

It’s clear that women who disobeyed these warnings were punished. Those who stood out suffered the same fate—those who loved too freely or spoke too loudly became the villains of their own stories.

The Truth Behind the Myth

But when we look closer, these Filipina ghosts tell a different story. 

The White Lady wasn’t evil; she was a victim of violence whom no one avenged. The manananggal wasn’t a demon; she just took control of her body in a world that feared her power. Even the restless women in films like Segunda Mano or Eerie weren’t villains. They were silenced but refused to stay silent.

Horror as a Mirror

When you think about it, horror has always reflected society’s deepest fears. And during a time when women were expected to be obedient and self-sacrificing, ghost stories became a way to express their anger and injustice. 

So in turn, these Filipina ghosts were the aftermath when silence became unbearable.

READ: Capiz Aswang: The Reality Behind the Terrifying Myth

Today, more storytellers and filmmakers are reclaiming these characters. But instead of painting them as threats, they depict them as symbols of resistance. Because in this day and age, Filipina ghosts refuse to rest and, in turn, remind us that the injustices they represent—the violence, silencing, and inequality—still persist.