Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang

In the 1950s, Corazon, a woman rumored to have been a prostitute during the Second World War, struggles to conceive a child with her devoted husband Daniel while being shunned by neighbors in the village of Magdalena. She becomes pregnant after following advice from a faith healer but gives birth to a stillborn baby, shattering her religious faith, driving her insane and setting her off on a vicious killing spree of village children at night, starting with her devouring the remains of her child. She vanishes into the forest to Daniel’s anguish and becomes feral, developing enhanced physical abilities.

After Corazon is identified and wounded by one of the villagers after a failed attack, they confront Daniel and demand that he find Corazon. Daniel refuses to believe his wife’s involvement, admitting to his friend Naldo that he once saw their abusive landlord Matias and his henchmen on their way to kill a fellow villager in a similar manner. Corazon later attacks Nene, a girl who had befriended her, but lets her go when the latter reminds her of her past. Recovering part of her humanity, she despairs of her state and that of Daniel, whom she discreetly approaches at times.

As the villagers prepare to rise against Matias, Corazon, attracted by the crying sounds of Matias’ daughter Lisa, breaks into his house and kills her. Distraught, Matias shoots Corazon as she escapes and runs into the village carrying her dead child, convincing everyone of Corazon’s culpability. Matias, his men and the villagers accost Daniel and burn down his house. In retaliation, Daniel kills Matias before fleeing, while a wounded Corazon is spotted by the villagers and also flees. The couple run into each other in the forest. Corazon tells Daniel to leave, citing her condition, but Daniel professes her continued love, sharing a kiss before she flees. Naldo confronts Daniel for his refusal to capture Corazon, but lets him go to reunite with her as they escape into the woods. Naldo narrates that both Corazon, now referred to as an aswang, and Daniel were never seen again, but are believed to be lurking around, while lamenting how they were driven into their predicament by the inhumanity of the times.

Last Updated: September 25, 2025 at 23:44