MANILA, Philippines — Actor Markki Stroem wore Philippine folklore creature "Tikbalang" for his national costume in the Mister Universe 2024 pageant.
In his Instagram account, Markki posted photos of him wearing a bahag designed by Patrick Isorena as he matched his outfit with gold horse head, gold arm and wrist cuffs and wings shaped in trees.
"In Philippine folklore, the TIKBALANG is said to lurk in the rainforests of the Philippines," he captioned the post.
"It is a half-human, half-horse, with a head and hooves of a horse. Tikbalangs scare travelers, lead them astray and play tricks on them to get lost forever in the Philippine rainforests that they inhabit," he added.
Markki said that his version of Tikbalang aims to protect the environment.
"In this multiverse, MY version of the Tikbalang has joined forces with mother nature to take down illegal loggers and land grabbers. Joining forces to protect our magnificent ecosystems and save our environment," he said.
Mister Universe 2024's coronation night is set today, December 23.
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