Sarangay

Sarangay is a creature from Philippine folklore that resembles a minotaur, distinguished by precious gemstones attached to its ears. When Spanish colonizers first encountered these legends in the seventeenth century during their colonization of the Philippines, they immediately drew parallels to the Greek minotaur from classical mythology, interpreting the Sarangay through the lens of their own European cultural and mythological framework. However, the Sarangay represents a distinctly Filipino mythological tradition with its own unique characteristics. The creature is described as half bull—specifically a male water buffalo (carabao), the iconic beast of burden in Philippine agriculture rather than the European cattle associated with the Greek minotaur—and half man, combining human intelligence and form with bovine strength and ferocity.

According to Philippine folklore, Sarangay are fiercely protective guardians of their precious jewels, which are embedded in or attached to their ears and represent treasures of immense value. These creatures patrol their territories with relentless vigilance, and any would-be thieves who attempt to steal these gemstones face certain death, as the Sarangay show no mercy to those who covet their treasures. The legends emphasize that when a Sarangay becomes enraged—whether by trespassers, thieves, or other provocations—thick smoke issues dramatically from its nostrils, providing a visible warning of the creature's fury and imminent violent response. This detail adds to the creature's fearsome reputation and serves as a cautionary element in tales meant to discourage greed and respect for boundaries, whether territorial or moral, that should not be transgressed.