Filipinos who live in the rural areas believe in engkantos. The name engkanto is derived from the Spanish word 'encantar' which means "bewitched," "spellbound," or "enchanted." But they are known as tumao in Cagayan and Misamis, meno, in Iligan, panulay, in Siquijor and many others.
The term Visayans best describe the engkantos are said to be:
" dili ingon nato, dili ta parehas"
it means "people not like or similar to us."
MYSTERIOUS ENGKANTOS
Engkantos live in boulders, large rocks, or holes, mounds on the earth, or tress like the balete. But this is only to ordinary humans. If you are friends with an engkanto, you will be able to see that they actually live in splendid palaces and mansions. They only eat the best food, but with no salt.
Engkantos are beautiful and fair-skinned. But they are attracted to brown-skinned people, and are known to mingle with humans. And they are known to punish humans who refuse their love. They hate noise, but sometimes, they too, create much noise especially when they're having parties or feasts. They are whimsical and playful, they love playing tricks on humans like making them go astray in the forest, transformimg themselves into the likeness of friends or relatives to trick the mortal they mortal they have set their eyes on.
DREADFUL TRICKS
Engkantos are also said to be spirits of long dead ancestors, that's why people are afraid of them, and are particularly respectful when passing by their known habitats. Those whom they favor also suffer much. These people sometimes disappear for day without notice, become delirious, or mad. Engkantos can also inflict diseases like fevers, boils, and other skin diseases as a cause of their curse or "buyag." Sometimes, when people brush by them unknowingly, they slap those people's faces, or crack a rift in their skull. They punish those who disregard their affections by throwing stones, appearing in huge balls of fire, causing things to move, producing loud noises. They are unpredicatble, amoral, and capricious which makes truly dangerous.
FASCINATING ENGKANTOS
Even if engkantos are known to be unprdictable and mean, Filipinos still find them alluring and fascinating. Those who claim to have seen them say that engkantos are beautiful creatures with white skin, blonde hair and blue eyes... they exemplify the best features of the Spanish and Americans. Their homes are spendid, their furniture royal. Men and women are allured by their wealth and beauty. Besides, if they love a person, they will make that person rich. They are also known to be very generous. Some people claim to have had borrowed tableware from engkantos to be used in gatherings.
Shamans and witches visit their caves during Holy Thursday or Good Friday to coomune with them and acquire powers to heal sickness and combat evil spirits. So even if people are afraid of them, they still feel a deep-seated attraction to these strange, beautiful creatures and secretly wish that they were the the engkantos' special attention.