What's a PHILTRUM? / myLot

Philippines

August 17, 2026 6:33am CST

Didn't know there is such a term for that groove on our upper lip until I came across the word philtrum. Have you heard of it? Here's something funny that we all believed when we were kids. We have this mythical human-like creature we called "tumawo" that is said to live in large trees. They can sometimes be walking among us and the only way to identify if one is a "tumawo" is when we don't see any groove on his or her upper lip! We would check people's upper lip each and every single time then to know if they're humans or a mythical creature pretending to be one of us!

5 people like this

6 responses

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (386310)

• Rockingham, Australia

That's a funny myth! I said to someone on here just recently that there seems to be a name for every little thing. I think it might have been you I said it to when you put up the 'tittle' discussion.

1 person likes this

Toni

@toniganzon (79253)

• Philippines

Yes you did.

Jimbo45

@Ineeddentures (43859)

•

11h

I must admit that ai had never heard of this at all Toni A gap in my knowledge But now that gap is filled

1 person likes this

Toni

@toniganzon (79253)

• Philippines

Gald i was able to fill that gap!

Amber

@AmbiePam (125082)

• United States

22h

That’s an interesting one.

1 person likes this

Toni

@toniganzon (79253)

• Philippines

13h

Right.

1 person likes this

Jeff Moffitt

@moffittjc (129479)

• Gainesville, Florida

19h

That’s a very interesting story with the mythical creatures! Did you ever find a tumawo? Lol I couldn’t remember the word, but I was aware there was a name for that part of our lips.

1 person likes this

Toni

@toniganzon (79253)

• Philippines

13h

Now you won't forget it maybe. And no, I haven't really found one!