In the Philippines, an engkanto is a creature of mystical and supernatural nature, often humanoid or initially human, and acquiring abilities and qualities outside the norm of reality and possibility. A lot of these engkantos are hybrids of humans and animals, generally thought-of to be spirits of the dead inhabiting the bodies of animals which lead to the hybridization. (This could be part one of a series, I'm not really sure yet.)
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A key for those of you who can't let go of the international nomenclature for the creatures:
Tikbalang (Centaur), Sireno (Merman), Wakwak (Harpy)
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