The 2017 television series “Tabi Po,” which is based on a graphic novel by Melvin Malonzo, can now be streamed for free.
“If you can’t get over aswangs, Filipino lower mythology, and Filipino komiks, this is definitely worth a watch. #SupportFilipinoKomiks,” an online user wrote.
“Tabi Po” tells the story of Elias (AJ Mulach), an aswang or a shape-shifting creature in Philippine mythology that feasts on human flesh. He was born from a tree during the country’s Spanish colonization.
Elias embarks on a journey with two older aswangs, Tasyo (Adrian Alandy) and Sabel (Phoebe Walker), in the quest to understand their true nature.
In the middle of a rising revolution, Elias was forced to confront his life struggles—his love for Salome (Jourdanne Castillo) against his hunger for flesh, the gap between him and Tasyo, the society’s stigma with aswangs, and his own inner demons.
The TV series also starred Polo Ravales as Boss Tomas, Lou Veloso as Tandang Tiago, Jeric Raval as Matanglawin, and Niño Muhlach as Alcalde.
Malonzo’s “Tabi Po” won Best Book of Graphic Literature in Filipino at the National Book Awards back in 2015. The first chapter of the komiks can be read here.
The TV series premiered on Oct. 27, 2017, and aired every Friday evening until Dec. 1, 2017.
Later on, the show was made available for free on Cignal Play application available on Android and iPhone.