A kantanod is literally someone or something “who keeps watch.” The root word is tanod.
In one Tagalog version of Jose Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere, there is this passage:
Mabilis na kumalat ang balita sa lahat ng dako, lalo na sa umpukan ng mga kantanod at bugaw na totoong napakarami sa Kamaynilaan.
In folklore, a kantanod is a creature similar to the aswang.
The pregnant woman should not venture out alone at night if she does not want to expose herself to the aswang and the kantanod.
KAHULUGAN SA TAGALOG
kantanod: tambay
