Why is Panay Island, comprising the provinces of Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, and Capiz—especially Capiz—the home of the Aswang myth?


Turns out the answer is more medical than demonological.


Studies made by Pinoy doctors from as far back as the 1970s identified a debilitating neurological disorder called X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism (XDP) endemic in Panay. One recent case study of a person suffering from XDP published in the Philippine Medical Association Journal puts the disorder in a cultural context: 


“Dubbed as the Panay dystonia, or Lubag in the native tongue which means “musically out of sync”, X-linked dystonia parkinsonism was popularly known as the ‘aswang of Panay’. In 1975, the existence of a severe and progressive movement disorder called XDP was discovered, which is a form of Parkinson’s with dystonic features. In 1978, an independent study by the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital, pointed to a physical aberration that is believed to explain the aswang myth and the reason why the province of Capiz is singled out in all the folklores.”


Its symptoms were also described: “Symptoms begin as focal dystonia…commonly manifesting as twisting or dragging a foot, repeated jaw opening and closing, abnormal turning of the neck.” Other symptoms include uncontrollable tremors or shaking of the limbs, tongue tremor, excessive salivation and difficulty in speaking due to the muscle contraction in all parts of the body.


The disorder also runs in the family, as it is genetically passed down generations. One can already imagine that the disorder goes far back into Panay’s history, and that those who suffered (which are all men, by the way—women act as carriers of the gene disorder) must have been seen as being possessed of evil—men whose bodies twisted and writhed, neck twisted, and tongues lashing out dripping with saliva. 



One particular online blog, created by a man who suffered from Panay Dystonia and whose family carries the gene disorder to this day, describes the suffering this way:


“When a person has a fit, he salivates and spins like a top, extends his tongue,  much like being possessed by demons.   The victims usually hide their predicament from their neighbors out of shame and embarrassment.  They avoid going out of their houses during daytime because they misconstrue their condition as a curse from God.  They only come out at night when people are usually inside their homes. With poor visibility at night coupled with the general fear of the unknown, their neighbors oftentimes confuse them as malevolent creatures from the dark side.”


The myth is false, but the medical condition is real, and one that needs to be addressed. Unfortunately, there is no cure for it yet. 


“There is no known definitive treatment for X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism to date. However, in the Filipino community, it is imperative that a rare disease like this be recognized, especially since it is hypothesized to be endemic in the Panay Island in the Philippines. In addition, it is important to be recognized in the primary care setting as the dystonia is associated with the aswang myth, a part of the Philippine folklore and has been passed on from generations to generations,” says the PMA Journal case study.  


How does one suffer from Panay Dystonia? Watch this video: