Netflix’s new animated series takes place in Manila, Philippines, where we follow Alexandra Trese as she upholds the peace and rules set forth between the mystical creatures of Philippine mythology and the humans. 

Netflix’s Trese is an adaptation of the Filipino comic series by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo. This anime clearly shows the dedication to faithfully interpreting the source material, including the art style and Filipino folklore. Some comic book fans may feel that the anime featured a lighter theme and the main plot was not as developed as in the comics. However, many anime fans will appreciate the fact that it avoided episodic storytelling.

Six episodes have already been made for the anime adaptation. They take the majority of the stories from the comic series and combine them with fluid storytelling that includes flashbacks not present in the comic books. (Diazepam)

The Trese Story

Alexandra Trese is Trese’s companion. Alexandra Trese was a Babaylan warlord who inherited her Lakan title from Anton Trese. Captain Guerrero, a Philippine police officer, calls her often to assist in solving supernatural-related crimes.

With her twin bodyguards: the “Kambal sigbins” and a little help from her information broker: the “nuno sa manhole,” she goes from crime scene to crime scene encountering the occasional dead ghost and vampiric creature. We discover that she was working under the supervision of a supernatural crime syndicate, solving minor problems until everything ties together.

You can see the differences in the Trese manga series as this anime series ties together all three volumes into overlapping story lines that bring the story to life.

Trailer of Trese from Netflix

English, Filipino, Japanese

You can watch the brand new series in Filipino, Japanese, and English dubbing. Shay Mitchell portrayed Alexandra Trese in the English Version. Lou Diamond Phillips, Dante Basco, and Nicole Scherzinger played the main antagonists, respectively. 

The Filipino dub would hit closer to home for the Filipino fans as the characters wouldn’t have an American accent when saying Filipino terms. Liza Soberano voiced Alexandra Trese.

The Japanese dub is, I have to say, my favorite of all the series. Because of the experienced voice actors, the Japanese version has a different tone and delivery. Taking the lead for Alexandra Trese is Ryoko Shiraishi; with a lot of anime experience under her belt, she gave the character the heavy tone I would expect from reading Budjette and KaJo’s award-winning Trese comics.

Although the spells and the names of the supernatural folklore are spot-on in the Filipino dubbing, the English and Japanese versions also did a great job calling the mythical creatures by their Filipino names, rather than just labeling them the generic “demon” or “ogre.”

Filipino Mythological Creatures and Folklore in Trese

Before we begin to explore the Philippine folklore or the mythical creatures in Trese we will need to briefly define what the Philippines is. The Philippines is an archipelago with more than 7,000 islands. It lies in Southeast Asia, bordering the western portion of the Pacific Sea. This makes it an ideal hub for Asian merchants long before Europe circumnavigated this globe.

The natives were polytheistic before Spain invaded and took over the archipelago. The natives believed in fairies, forest spirits and other elements, much like Japan and China. The archipelago has many myths and legends. The Trese series brings together the most popular Filipino folklore and the noir genre.

Nuno sa punso 

“Nuno” or “ninuno” is simply an ancestor or old man in Filipino. Punso is a mound. Nuno-sa punso roughly translated means “an old man on the mound”. Nuno sapunso is believed to be a nature spirit, who takes on the form of an elderly dwarf. According to legend, they live in dirt mounds such as termite or anthill mounds. These nunos are known to be territorial and quick to get angry. It is important to get permission from the nuno before you cut down trees or clear a field. This will prevent them from retaliating or becoming angry.

In Trese, we see nuno taken out of the forest and placed in an urban setting where he inhabits the underground by way of manholes instead of mounds, so it’s just right to call him Nuno sa Manhole. Nuno, in this story, is Alexandra Trese’s information broker as she serves her supernatural detective function.

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Duwende

Duwende may be compared to the Japanese Tengus or hobgoblins. Legend has it that these tiny creatures used to live in forests, but humans have encroached on their territory and built communities. Duwende learned to live in houses, yards and along roads and paths. They can be mischievous and would steal from unsuspecting people just to have fun. They can also bring luck and big opportunities to those they favor. They are often blamed in certain regions for the disappearance of children and adults.

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In Trese, we see a duwende that aided an actress’s rise to fame while sacrificing a few things along the way.

Laman Lupa

The laman lupa in Filipino mythology refers to any creature of earth elementals. Laman lupa would also include the duwende and nuno. Trese sees laman-lupa as either mud or earth golems, which the nuno summons for protection.

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White Lady

In Filipino folklore, the white lady myth is a ghost or soul that represents a woman who has not completed her business. These ghosts are often clad in long, black hair and pale faces. Does that sound familiar? In appearance, it may look similar to a Yuki-onna. The white lady, even though it appears similar, is thought to be a vengeful spirit that seeks revenge or a companion in certain regions.

Balete Drive is home to the most prominent Filipino white lady. Many accidents were reported to have occurred on this street. According to some accounts, a white lady would flag down taxis in the middle of the night and ride with you. She would then either kill you or disappear from your seat. We see this white lady in Trese, but we don’t see her in action; rather, we see her as just a victim to a bigger scheme that is taking place in the series.

Santelmo

Santelmo represents the remaining soul of a soul still working on its unfinished business in the realms of the living. It can be described as a ball or ball of fire, or light. Sometimes, they seek revenge, help, and retribution. They can be known to lead people to the right places or chase them down. Trese sees santelmo in a way that aids him in difficult situations. Trese can simply call her GSM phone to reach Trese. The phone number used actually has a meaning: it’s the date of the great Binondo Fire in Manila.

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Tikbalang

Tikbalang is a mythical horse that is humanoid. Some parts say they measure two meters high, while others claim they stand fifteen meters high. According to some legends they can cause unusual weather conditions. Some legends also claim they guard the gates to another realm. Some depictions show humanoid horses which stand on their hind legs. Other depictions remind us of Mezu from Japanese folklore.

Trese is the story of a Tikbalang, a huge Tikbalang, who was chief of a tribe and whose son was just two meters tall. He drag racing on Manila streets, destroying cars, and kidnapping helpless ladies.

Sigbin

The Sigbins can take on the appearance of giant dogs. Some places believe that the Sigbins can be considered familiars with demons and witches. Trese describes the sigbins as loyal assistants to Alexandra and recognize her as their master. These creatures are very similar to the inugami of Japanese folklore.

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Tiyanak

According to Filipino folklore, vampiric infants can be heard crying like babies in order to lure unknowing people. Babies are harmless; after all, they can’t hurt you, right? The tiyanak transforms and attacks infants when they are picked up. According to legend, these creatures may be the result of stillborn babies or babies who were not baptized before they died.

Trese was home to the tiyanak, an abandoned baby searching for its mother. According to folklore, the appearance of the is only a baby. It is believed that only the tiyanaks’ true form could be seen by those who were already eaten by it. The tiyanak was depicted as a spider-like creature that can climb up walls and attack unsuspecting victims.

Aswang

Aswang is the general name for flesh-eating monsters and demons. According to some, the aswang are ancient clans that have passed on their demonic powers to future generations. Some aswang have the ability to spread their supernatural abilities, while others inherit them. Trese is home to many varieties of aswang from the Mananangal to the ghoullike. 

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Diwata

Diwata, nature spirits, are often known to be caretakers for nature. If you compare Faes to the Major Kami of Japanese folklore, then they can be considered western cultures. Diwata are used to describe forests, rivers and mountains as well as hills and other natural phenomena. We don’t see a lot of the diwata in Trese except for a short glimpse in the council meeting.

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Kapre

Legend has it that the Kapre is an enormous tree giant who smokes his tobacco under the branches of trees. According to legend, Kapres live in large trees such as acacias and bamboo. You can often see it sitting under these trees. They can be smelled miles away because of their foul odor. According to legend, they have a belt that can make them invisible to humans and a small stone that anyone who steals it from the kapre will have their wish granted. We only see a few of these creatures in Trese.

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Mermaid, Kataw and Siyokoy

Siyokoy and Sirena are the Filipino folklore equivalents of merpeople. Half fish, half-human creatures that are always female, the sirena and kataw are said to be able to drag fishermen and swimmers to the bottom. According to other stories, the sirena would either lead fishermen or give them a bounty harvest. Siyokoy are reptile-like fish creatures that look humanoid and are often depicted as evil. They attack fishermen and swimmers at sea, but also go onshore to kidnap those living close to the ocean. Trese only shows the Kataw, while siyokoy can be seen in just a few frames.

Engkanto

Engkanto, or nature spirits, resemble the elves in western cultures and the minor kami in Japan. According to Filipino folklore, the engkanto can be found living in a forest, river or lake, as well as a mountain or other natural area. They are thought to be protective and will entice or kidnap any person who might harm their territory. Some stories claim that the engkanto disguised themselves as humans in order to recruit human partners. Others describe hikers being led astray, followed by nature spirits for months and taunted. They are also known to possess elemental attributes, which allow them to command wind, water and lightning. Trese shows the elemental engkanto through wind spirits or lightning spirits. Dante Basco is the English dub.

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Tabi-tabi po

This one isn’t a creature, but a superstitious belief in the Philippines. Tabi tabi po, which roughly means “excuse me” (or make way in a polite way), can be translated as: This is the universal way to ask permission or passage from any mythical creature in Philippine folklore. We often hear it in Trese.

Kulam

Kulam, another superstition, could be translated to curse or voodoo. A kulam can only be used on the guilty. Therefore, a kulam that is applied to a wrongfully convicted person would not have any effect. Some kulams are done with dolls, and some are done with hair and photographs, and the effects would vary depending on the “Mangkukulam” or witch that would do the kulam. Some alter the movement, while others slowly rot away muscles and cause hair loss. It all depends on the imagination of each mangkukulam.

Balete

Balete trees hold a special place in Filipino folklore. The balete tree is known around the world as a strangler fig. It encircles living trees and gradually kills them by cutting off their vital nutrients. Balete is believed to be home to many supernatural creatures, such as tikbalang and diwata, according to Filipino folklore. They are sometimes called the gateway to the realms of the engkanto in some areas. It is also known for being the best place to practice witchcraft and other rituals. A few Philippine Baletes are over 1,000 years old. They have more than one chamber in their trunks from centuries past. Trese is home to a balete-related ritual. Balete drive is also home to the white lady. This street is also home to other supernatural happenings due to the fact that it was once populated entirely by balete tree trees.

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Babaylan

Babaylan, the shamans of pre-colonial Philippines were called Babaylan. They were believed to have the ability to communicate, appease spirits and gods, as well as asking magical creatures like the sigbins for their assistance. Babaylan were labeled witches during the Spanish era. These babaylan, who were also shamans, were said to have been skilled warriors on Panay Island in the Philippines. Babaylan attacked Spanish settlements in the middle of the night using blades and engkanto, sigbin or kapre.

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Final Thoughts

Here’s what we know so far about Trese and its folklore. Although it’s not clear if this would be a crime anime, a detective anime, a horror anime, or even deserve to be called an anime, it’s a great watch for the story arc, animation, and folklore. Are there any Filipino folklores missing in Trese? Are you sure this is worthy of being called an anime? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. But don’t forget to watch it first before you pass judgment. Enjoy!