Sirena (Philippine mythology)

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The Sirena is a mythological sea creature from Filipino culture. In some regions of the Philippines, particularly Bicol and Visayas, Sirenas are known as Magindara and portrayed as vicious mermaids. Like Sirens of Greek mythology, they have alluring and irresistible singing voices; unlike Sirens, who are portrayed as part woman and part bird, Sirenas are often described as mermaid-like creatures living under the sea. In Philippine mythology, the Sirena is a mythological aquatic creature with the head and torso of a human female and the tail of a fish.^[1] The Sirena is an Engkanto –' the Filipino counterpart of English mermaids.^[2] Engkantos are classified as one of the Bantay Tubig, (guardian of a body of water) a Filipino term for mythical guardians of the water. In addition to the Sirena, other examples of Bantay Tubig are Siyokoy, Kataw, and Ugkoy. The male version of a Sirena is called a Sireno. Sometimes, Sirena are paired with Siyokoy. A popular mermaid character in the Philippines is Dyesebel.