In Philippine mythology, a siyokoy (also syokoy or siokoy) is an aquatic humanoid creature often described as having scales, webbed limbs, and fins.
While siyokoy are often likened to the Western mermaid due to the Philippines' colonial history, its name suggests a Chinese origin.
This is highly plausible given Chinese records of indigenous polities in what is now the Philippines dates to at least 982 AD,[1][2][3] several centuries before Europe’s Age of Discovery.
Unlike traditional mermaids with fish tails, the Syokoy has human-like legs, allowing it to move both in water and on land.
Often described as lurking in the depths of the ocean or lakes, the Syokoy is feared for its strength and malevolent nature, symbolizing the dangers hidden in deep waters.