Tradition: Philippines Mythology
Alternative Names: Lagtaw
Category: Demon
Lagtaw is a tall, black demon with huge, fiery eyes. It hides within the knots of trees, remaining concealed until it emerges to frighten boys and girls.
“Латгав (Latgav).” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed September 12, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/latgav/en
Tradition: Mandaya Mythology, Philippine Mythology
Alternative names: Abak, Abaka
Category: Demon
Abacus is an evil demonic spirit in the folklore of the Mandaya people of Mindanao in the Philippines. The name Abak is given as a Latin spelling of Abaka, the name of the evil spirit in Mandaya folklore.
The figure is also recorded as the proper name of one of the deities of the Bagobo people. The surviving description identifies Abacus primarily as a malevolent supernatural spirit, but provides no further details about its appearance, behavior, or associated legends.
“Abak.” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed August 29, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/abak