kapre

{{Infobox mythical creature

| image =

| name = Kapre

| Grouping = Tree creature

| Similar_entities = Agta

}}

In Philippine mythology, the kapre is a creature that may be described as a tree giant or ape like, being a tall ({{convert|7-9|ft|abbr=on}}), dark-coloured, hairy,{{cite book|last1=Jocano|first1=F. Landa|title=The Hiligaynon: An Ethnography of Family and Community Life in Western Bisayas Region|year=1983|publisher=Asian Center, University of the Philippines|pages=254|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DZEbAAAAIAAJ|access-date=May 23, 2017|language=en}} and muscular creature. Kapres are also said to have a very strong body odour and to sit in tree branches to smoke.{{Cite web|title=Kapre (The Tree Giant)|url=http://www.philippine-tales.com/7/post/2013/08/kapre.html|access-date=February 17, 2021|website=PHILIPPINE TALES {{!}} Anthology of Philippine Mythology and Folklore|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=March 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}

Origins

File:Carta Hydrographica y Chorographica de la Yslas Filipinas MANILA, 1734 - Detail, Cafres.jpg showing the slaves brought from East Africa, usually by the Portuguese, sold in Manila as "Cafres"]]

The term kapre comes from the Arabic kafir (Spanish cafre), meaning a non-believer in Arabic (usually referring to atheists/idolists). The term was later brought to the Philippines by the Spanish who had previous contact with the Moors, they used it to describe the indigenous Negrito ethnic groups with dark skin and features similar to Black Africans. This is also evident in the fact that a synonym for kapre is agtà, another name for the Aeta people. The modern mythical characterizations of the kapre evolved from formerly racially prejudiced portrayals of Negrito tribes by the lowland Christianized ethnic groups of the Philippines during the Spanish period.{{cite book|author= Michael L. Tan|title =Revisiting Usog, Pasma, Kulam|publisher =UP Press|year =2008|page=66|isbn =9789715425704|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=EktzHrfup1UC}}

The first attestation of the use of the term was chapri, by Antonio Pigafetta of the Magellan expedition. They were described by the people of Suluan to the Magellan crew as dark-skinned, tattooed, and wore barkcloth (except for chieftains who wore a cloth headdress of silk), and had weapons ornamented with gold and large shields.{{cite book |last=Nowell |first=C. E. |year=1962 |title=Magellan's Voyage Around the World |chapter=Antonio Pigafetta's account |location=Evanston |publisher=Northwestern University Press |oclc=347382 |hdl=2027/mdp.39015008001532 }}{{rp|150}}

The term cafre was also used for Papuan slaves brought to the Philippines by the Portuguese before slavery was abolished by Spain.{{cite book |last1=Blumentritt |first1=Ferdinand |title=List of the native tribes of the Philippines and of the languages spoken by them. By Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt. |date=1890 |url=https://quod.lib.umich.edu/p/philamer/AJZ8102.0001.001?rgn=main;view=toc}}

Natural habitat and attire

Kapres are said to dwell in big trees like acacias, mangoes, bamboo, and banyan (known in the Philippines as balete). It is also mostly seen sitting under those trees. The Kapre is said to wear the indigenous Northern Philippine loincloth known as bahag, and according to some, often wears a belt which gives the kapre the ability to be invisible to humans. In some versions, the kapre is supposed to hold a magical white stone, a little smaller in size than a quail egg. Should any person happen to obtain this stone, the kapre can grant wishes.

Behavior

Kapres are believed to be nocturnal and omnivorous.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} They are not necessarily considered to be evil. However, they may turn vengeful when the tree that they are inhabiting is cut down.{{cite journal|last1=Vicerra|first1=PM|last2=Javier|first2=JR|title=TABI-TABI PO: SITUATING THE NARRATIVE OF SUPERNATURAL IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PHILIPPINES COMMUNITY|journal=MANUSYA: Journal of Humanities|url=http://www.manusya.journals.chula.ac.th/files/essay/Tabi-Tabi_1-13.pdf|access-date=May 23, 2017}}

A Kapre may make contact with people to offer friendship, or if it is attracted to a woman. If a Kapre befriends a human, especially because of love, the Kapre will push them away because of his negative aura and still try to consistently follow its "love interest" throughout life. Also, if one is a friend of the Kapre, then that person will have the ability to see it and if they were to sit on it then any other person would be able to see the huge entity.{{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}

Kapres, also called agtà,{{Cite encyclopedia|title = kapri|last = Wolff|first = John U. |encyclopedia = A Dictionary of Cebuano Visayan|year = 1972 |url = http://seapdatapapers.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=seap&cc=seap&idno=seap085a&node=seap085a%3A11&view=image&seq=466&size=200|page=442|volume=1}} are said to play pranks on people,{{Cite encyclopedia|title = agtà|last = Wolff|first = John U. |encyclopedia = A Dictionary of Cebuano Visayan|year = 1972|url = http://seapdatapapers.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=seap&cc=seap&idno=seap085a&node=seap085a%3A11&view=image&seq=39&size=200|page=15|volume=1}} frequently making travelers become disoriented and lose their way in the mountains or in the woods. They are also believed to have the ability to confuse people even in their own familiar surroundings; for instance, someone who forgets that they are in their own garden or home is said to have been tricked by a Kapre. Reports of experiencing Kapre enchantment include that of witnessing rustling tree branches, even if the wind is not strong. Some more examples would be hearing loud laughter coming from an unseen being, witnessing much smoke from the top of a tree, seeing big red glaring eyes during night time from a tree, as well as actually seeing a Kapre walking in forested areas. It is also believed that abundant fireflies in woody areas are the embers from the Kapre's lit cigars or tobacco pipe.