A nuno sa punso ("old man of the mound"), or simply nuno ("old man" or "grandparent" "ancestor"), is a dwarf-like nature spirit (anito) in Philippine mythology. It is believed to live in an anthill or termite mound, hence its name, literally 'Ancestor/Grandparent living in the anthill'. Description "The "nono" are the spirits of the ancestors. When a tree is to be felled, or a piece of virgin ground broken, or on many other occasions, permission is asked of the nono, in order to avoid the misfortune that would come from angering it. The nuno is described to be a small old man with a long beard, but differs from a duwende or dwarf of Philippine folklore. The duwende is a playful hobgoblin who shows himself to children, while the nuno is a goblin easily angered that will do harm to those who damage or disturb his mound, and will seek retribution, for example by causing the foot of someone who kicked his mound to become swollen. Nuno sa punso are also believed to inhabit places such as underneath large rocks, trees, riverbanks, caves, or a backyard. Magical abilities Nunos have the ability to curse trespassers. A curse may include the following: Swelling or pain on any part of the body Vomiting of blood Urinating black liquid Excessive hair growth on the back In order for a nuno to successfully curse a person, the trespasser must be in close proximity to the nuno. If the trespasser is within range, the Nuno can spit on any part of the trespasser's body. The trespasser will then experience aches or soreness on the affected part of the body, such as stomach pains, swollen genitals (after urinating on the mound), or swollen feet (after kicking the mound). Countering nuno curses It is a common belief in the Philippines that if modern medicine is unable to cure a particular illness, the ailment may be due to a nunos curse. The victim is brought to an albularyo, a Philippine practitioner of traditional medicine. The albularyo will perform a type of divination known as pagtatawas. During this ritual, a burning piece of alum (tawas) or a candle is melted and poured onto a disc or spoon. The molten matter is then dribbled over a basin of water, allowing the alum or wax to cool and form shapes on the water's surface. These will then be interpreted by the