Netflix Trese: Every Supernatural Creature Explained
11. Xa Mul And Jiangshi
Somewhat lumped together with the Aswang that served them their meals, the Xa-Mul in episode 1 are based primarily on a belief from the Isneg/Isnag people of the Apayao province, of a spirit that eats people whole without crushing them between their teeth.
Though that is the name given at least to their tophat-wearing leader, the Xa-Mul in the show don't seem to follow the exact myth. Indeed their designs, in contrast with the human-like, transforming Aswang, seems to emphasise their enormous jaws and teeth.
Many of the man-eating tribes seem to be allies in other parts of the series, with the Xa-Mul seen standing alongside the Aswang and Manananggal nearer to the end of the series in a flashback. Xa-Mul were also seen among the dead when Anton Trese retrieves a young Alex from her hiding place.
A surprise creature seen at the very end of the series in a post-credits scene is the Jiangshi, a Chinese hopping vampire that is a reanimated corpse of Chinese folklore. They're most easily identifiable by the talisman hanging in front of their face and their Qing dynasty garb.
This may be a reference to Trese's subtle but present Chinese-Filipino roots.