Mt. Apo's Venado Lake

Mount Apo is the highiest mountain in the Philippines, with an altitude of 2,954 metres (9,692 ft). It is located between Davao City and Davao del Sur province in Region XI and Cotabato province in Region XII. The name Apo means ancestor.

There is a lake at the foot of the said mountain which they called the Lake Venado. The name came from a Spanish word Venado which means deer. Locals call it linaw (clear) because of its crystal-clear water that reflects the mountain. Many people would say that the lake is enchanted, that an engkanto (fairy) or some kind of entity was living there.

This simple small lake not only gives a breath-taking picture scene to mountain climbers but was also believed to take lives of these innocent hikers. Well, it is true that almost every year people die there for some reason. The lake is the favorite camping site by people who come there. Some of them dare to take a deep on it.

In April, 2007, a group of mountain climbers set-up there camp beside the lake. One of them died after swimming in the lake. Many minutes later, his companions don't know where the climber go. Their leader didn't thought of him going to swim on the placid and inviting lake. The local government of Davao City strictly prohibited campers and/or mountain climbers to swim on it. Minutes later they heard someone calling for help. They ran straightly to the lake and found the hiker was drowning. They attempted to rescue him but they failed. The hiker was no where to be found, he drowned deep the lake.

Because of his vanishment, urban legends rose. Local tribesmen warned tourists about the said fairy living in the lake.

His co-climbers reported him to the authorities. However, he was not found for many days. For his long disappearance, rescuers speculated that he was already dead. Days later, he was finally found, dead.

Aside of the reported incident, there were other people who were reported missing in the Lake Venado. Some of them still missing until now.

Experts thought of possible reasons of death. It can be caused by physical accident or natural disaster, but for locals, its not the reason why. They are blaming the entity living there. No one can say it's not true because there's no proof to question its validity.

A local leader suggested that tourists or hikers should undergo first for a prayer ceremony in respect to the engkanto living there. The ceremony is called Pamaas. Elder indigenous people perform the ritual to placate the mountain God Apo Sandawa, before they start climbing. The tribe leader of Sitio Sayaban was convinced that the many spirits living on the mountain were disturbed from their peace and demanded a sacrifice to remind the local population and visitors that they do exist.

San Juan, La Union Ghosts

[This past few days, I've been very busy with too many things, including my studies. That's why I can't search any other exciting and interesting urban legends in the Philippines, and post them here. Well, now I'm back. It's Christmas vacation. Perhaps, I will have a lot of time on focusing my favorite pastime.]

This urban legend have been famous for decades. Maybe some of you knew this one.

The town of San Juan, in the province of La Union, west of Luzon, is a fishing before the coming of Americans. It has a number of ghost legends, including a headless nun, smoking faceless man and a mysterious smiling white lady at the old tower. Most tales are said to have originated around this time and handed down to generations. It’s still a quiet town, but pompous cottages and mansions have popped along its shores.

Here's the ghost legends in the said province:

It was said that the nun was killed and beheaded by the Japanese in the old Hispanic convent, and her convent burned down. Till now the convent is still standing. If someone passes the ruins of the covenant on a full moon at midnight, an eerie bell tolls, signalling the approach of the nun from behind. First, you will feel a cool, creepy breeze. Then wavy long hair brushing against the nape. Looking behind, the victim would discover the spooky tale for himself.

Until the present day, the nun is still haunting the old ruins. No one knows why she's still there, but perhaps she wants to avenge her death.

The white lady is said to appear at midnight in the ruins of an old watch tower that dates to pre-Hispanic times, and is particularly likely to be seen by handsome young men.

It was peculiar, "a ghost who only appears on handsome brave youths". I wanted to laugh at it. Well, for those bored individual young man there, if you wanted to know if you're handsome, the only place you can go and find the answer out is in the Bell Tower in La Union. If she will appear, then you're definitely handsome. However, if you'll tell anybody about her appearance on you, no one will likely to believe. I wonder why she laughs????

Another myth is about the smoking faceless man.

Before the war, (perhaps the WWII) youths were used to smoke cigars in an abandoned man-hole at midnight. Once, a stranger came, face overshadowed by a straw hat, asking for light. When they lent a lit cigar, the man looked up to light his, showing a spine-chilling blank where a face should have been. The faceless man allegedly still shows up, though rarely, because he prefers unbranded, native tobacco to imported ones. Who could be that faceless pal???

[Taken from a Website:]

In 1582, San Juan was proclaimed a mission station under the authority of the Augustian Order, as recorded by the Nueva Segovia Bi-centennial souvenir booklet dated April 25, 1587. By 1586 the town had become the center of the parish, and was renamed San Juan by the Augustian Fathers after the Catholic Patron Saint of San Juan Bautista. The town boasted an Augustinian convent and a population of 6,000. Its first priest was Friar Agustin Niño. The center of the parish was subsequently transferred to Bauang, with San Juan sometimes being an out-station (visita) of Bauang and sometimes of Bacnotan. In 1707 the Church of St. John the Baptist was constructed at San Juan. In 1772, the mission station was placed under the authority of the Dominican Order. In 1807, San Juan was established as a parish in its own right. Pindangan Ruins this is the home of the headless stabbed priest whose sole ghost prowls at night, either carrying his severed head or searching for his head. Some report hearing his head calling out for his body to find it. Many say EVP's happen here all the time and the wind is known to whisper strange malediction to those that disrespect the location. Pasatsat is word rooted on the Pangasinense word satsat, meaning "to stab". Pasatsats are ghosts of people who died or were killed in the Second World War. Coffins during the time were so expensive, so the families of the dead wrapped the corpses in reed mats or icamen. The dead were buried in places other than cemeteries because tomb robberies were rampant during that era of extreme poverty. These ghosts usually show up in solitary paths and block passersby. To get rid of such a ghost, one needs to stab (hence pasatsat) the reed mat and unravel it, but doing so will show no presence of a corpse, although the mat will emit a noxious odor, much like that of putrid flesh. In 1898 during the latter days of the Philippine Revolution, the whole of San Juan was razed to the ground by a great fire. Many ghost from this period are said to roam the streets. The town of San Juan, La Union has a considerable amount of ghost encounters, sightings and many many paranormal monsters and legends, including a headless nun and a smiling white lady at the old tower. Another strange ghost is that of Devil Cigar Man or as many call him just the Devilman. In the months just before the war, young men from the town would all go around an abandoned man-hole, there they would smoke cigars and speak of the goings on of the day then one night at midnight something strange occurred. Once, a stranger came appearing strangely with his his long well combed black slicked and straight and braided beard is his most striking feature for his face is always overshadowed by a large brimmed straw hat, he came to them asking for light. When they lent a lit cigar, the man looked up to light his, showing a spine-chilling blank where a face should have been. The faceless Devil man allegedly still shows up, because he prefers unbranded, native tobacco to imported ones. And if you don't give him a light he will drag you straight to hell are strike you deaf and dumb on the spot. Another strange haunted tale is about finding the the Devilman's large brimmed straw hat. If by chance you see a straw hat of or hat of any type of hat or head gear on the side of the road by no means touch it. Because if you dare to do os of God forbid to put it on your head. To do so will bring you straight to hell. The tale of the strange ghost nun that was beheaded by the Japanese, and her convent burned down is a very weird ghost story. If someone passes the ruins of the covenant on a full moon at midnight, an eerie ghost bell tolls this is the signaling of the approach of the nun's ghost. One of the many tales tells that the old historical ruins of a Spanish convent were burned by the Japanese and a pious chaste nun was beheaded as an example for all to see. The old ruins of the covenant still stand. On some nights when an unfortunate person happens to pass by on a full moon at midnight, some spectral bell would toll from the netherworld. It supposedly signals the approach of the ghost nun who will slowly creep up on you from behind. They say she is looking for the man who killed her or his descendents to take her exacting revenge. Many say several daring people have died from fright others driven mad when being touched by her on the left shoulder. The white lady another ghosts not to be confused with the ghost nun or the Balete Drive specter, is said to appear at midnight in the ruins of an old watch tower that dates to pre-Hispanic times, and is particularly likely to be seen by many individuals. In recent times, she is often called the laughing white lady is said to have been showing herself periodically in the old historical ruins. The ghosts of this woman is said to appear often and her disguised appearance is said to be very frightening for she has no eyes. Only gaping sockets which glow with an erie spooky ghost light. Many report they hear her maniacal ghostly laughter and would rather run the see her eyeless ghosts. One of the hitchhiker stories tells of three boys who pick up a girl near a cemetery and take her to a party. this is very similar to the tales of Resurrection Mary in Chicago USA. On the way back, the girl complains of the cold and borrows a jacket. The girl disappears near the cemetery, and the boys find the jacket neatly folded on the headstone of her grave. Or that of a freshly dug up grave where the body has been pulled from the earth and partially eaten. Many believe her to be a real ghoul like creature. A ghoul is a folkloric monster associated with graveyards and consuming human flesh, often classified as undead. In another story, a male hitchhiker asks to be taken to a given address. When they arrive, the hitchhiker has disappeared, but it turns out that he used to live at that address and this is the anniversary of her death. Stories tell that this young disfigured man appears as if he was just in some terrible accident with blood on his clothes.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Juan,_La_Union
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghosts_in_Filipino_culture
http://www.philippinesinsider.com/myths-folklore-superstition/ghost-myths-of-san-juan-la-union/
http://www.hauntedamericatours.com/ghosthunting/phillipines.php

Cantilan's Malitangtang Bridge

About

  The Malitangtang Bridge, in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur, is said to be the home of many unknown beings. Well, its just an urban legend.

  Actually, even those person who had been there once, give respect to the bridge for unknown reason. When you see it personally, you'll just think it was a simple bridge, but behind the innocence of the structure, there lies the stories of the unknown. Some people are scared passing through the bridge. They are worried of what might suddenly appear in front of them.

  Engkantos are very mysterious being. They will curse you once you done something unpleasing for them. They are unpredictable! You'll find them beautiful as you see them, but they're actually wearing a mask hiding something.

  Malitangtang Bridge is far different to Biringan City in terms of engkanto manifestations. Although the two are similar in some aspects - example: being the passage way to another world, Malitangtang Bridge is real and you can even set foot on the place, unlike Biringan which is completely invisible.

Stories

[From an Interview:]

Umaga ng oras na iyon, halos wala pang liwanag sa kalangitan. Naisipan ni Mang Narding (hindi niya tunay na pangalan) na ibyahe na ang jeep niya sa rutang galing Cantilan papuntang Parang. Habang binabaybay niya ang daan, nagkaroon siya ng apat na pasahero. Normal pa naman noong hindi pa nila nadadaanan o nararating ang Malitangtang Bridge. Yung iba sa mga pasahero ay natulog muna, yung iba naman ay nakatingin lamang sa labas ng bintana.   Patuloy sa pagmamaneho si Mang Narding ng may bigla siyang napansing misteryoso sa mga pasahero. Sa oras na iyon, lumagpas na sila sa tulay ng Malitangtang. Napansin niyang parang may dumagdag sa mga pasahero niya, ni hindi nga siya tumigil para magpasakay ng isang tao. Basta na lang may dumagdag na isa.   Lima na ang kanyang mga pasahero sa jeep noong oras na iyon. Hindi siya kumibo, marahil dahil sa kaba at takot. Tinitingnan niya kung sino ang dumagdag sa kanila. Habang inisa-isa niya ng tingin ang kanyang mga pasahero, napansin niya ang isang magandang babae. Maputi at mahaba ang buhok. Tinitigan niya ang babaeng ito, ngunit sa kanyang pagtitig, may nahalata siyang isang bagay. Wala siyang guhit sa ilalim ng ilong. Hindi lang siya kumibo kahit pinagpapawisan na siya sa takot. Biglang nagsalita ang babae, "Manong, ibaba niyo na lang ako sa isang tabi." Tinuro ng babae ang lugar na pagbababaan niya. Noong makababa na siya, sinilip ni Mang Narding ang babae kung saan siya pumunta, ngunit hindi niya ito nakita na. Humarurot na siya ng takbo ng jeep.

It was morning, the sunlight in the sky is still unseen. Mang Narding (not his real name) decided to begin his trip with his jeepney routing from Cantilan to Parang. He had four passengers at that time. At the beginning, when they hadn't passed and arrived at the Malitangtang bridge yet, everything was normal. Some of his passengers were sleeping, while the others were looking outside the window.   While Mang Narding drive continuously, he suddenly noticed - there's something unusual to his passengers. They had passed through the Malitangtang Bridge that time. He also noticed that there was someone added to his passengers, it was strange, he didn't even stop to fetch someone. It just added up suddenly to them.   He had five passengers in his jeep that time. He didn't say something, perhaps because of fear. He look at them to figure out who was added. While gazing at his passengers, observing one-by-one, he noticed a beautiful girl. Fair-skinned and has long hair. He stared at her, but as he look at her, he noticed one thing. She had no philtrum. He just didn't utter something even he was perspiring because of terror. Then, the girl suddenly talked, Sir, let me go down in one side. She pointed the place where she wanted to go down. Mang Narding look at her when she got off, but he saw no one. So he drove the jeepney faster.

[From an Interview:]

Mayroong magkakaibigang nakasakay sa motor. Galing sila sa Silop (isang swimming pool resort) at pauwi na sila sa Cantilan. Habang binabaybay nila ang Malitangtang Bridge, may nasagasaan silang isang matandang lalaki. Ni hindi nila nakitang may isang tao sa harap nila. Waring biglang may lumitaw sa harap nila mismo. Tumigil sila para saklolohan ang matanda, ngunit laking gulat nila. Tumayo ito na parang walang nangyari, naglinis lang ng kanyang damit sa mga alikabok na dumikit.   "Lolo, baka gusto niyo pong dalhin namin kayo sa ospital? Para mapacheck-up ka namin." Sabi nang isa habang inaalalayan ang matanda.   "Wag na mga iho. Hindi kasi kayo nagdahan-dahan eh." Sabi na matanda.   Naglakad ang matanda patungo sa isang bahay. Sinundan nila ng tingin. Ngunit sa awa na rin, pinuntahan nila ang bahay para alukin ang matandang magpaospital. Pagdating sa bahay, nagulat sila ng tanungin ang may bahay kung naroon ang matanda. Ang sinagot lang sa kanila, walang matanda roon.   Kumaripas sila ng takbo patungo sa motor nila, at diretsong umuwi.   There is another story similar to these, but they said it was an old lady, not an old man.

[From an Interview:]

Noong nagkakabit ng linya ng kuryente ang grupo ng isang engineer, napanaginipan niyang sinabihan siyang wag niyang itutuloy sa lugar nila dahil madadaanan ang kanilang lugar. Dapat ay ilihis nila ito ng ibang direksyon. Ngunit hindi siya nakinig, ipinagpatuloy nila ang kanilang balak na direksyon. Kinaumagahan, nadatnan na lang nila ang isang buong pulupot ng kuryente na nakapulupot sa isang poste ng kuryente. Imposible iyon na gawin ng isang tao, dahil ang wire ng kuryente ay kasing laki ng braso ng isang tao. At sa sobrang haba at bigat niyon, paanong napulupot niya iyong mag-isa. Marahil kagagawan iyon ng mga engkanto roon. Dahil doon, pagkatapos nilang tanggalin ang pagkapulupot, nilipat nila ng direksyon ang linya ng kuryente.   pang kwento ay tungkol sa pag-aayos ng tulay. Napanaginipan naman ng in-charge na engineer kung paano dapat ito gawin. Sabi sa panaginip ng engineer, dapat taasan ang tulay para hindi sumanggi ang barko nila, sa tuwing dadaan sila sa ilog.

Other Infos

  The mountain near the Malitangtang Bridge is said to be the dwelling place of the engkantos (not the bridge itself) who only appear on the bridge. Some people saw cocoa trees on the top of the mountain. No one owns those plants. So who planted those trees? No body knows. I remember the story of Maria Cacao in this one.

  Another strange thing connected to the bridge is the river under it. It was said that the river was endless. No one knows the end as well as the starting point.

Source:
Contributed by Mr. Christopher Azarcon-Luga

Mercedita - An Engkanto of Binangonan, Rizal

Stories

[Taken from a social networking site [1]:]

Mag-ingat, baka mapag laruan ka ni Mercedita! Pag sapit ng ala-sais ng gabi ay huwag na daw paghuntahan si Mercedita, dahil naririnig niya ang usapan at maaring sumagot siya. Kung hindi ka pa takot, kukwentuhan kita. Si Mercedita ang sinasabing engkantada sa kweba sa Batasin, sakop ng Wawa, Libis. Napakalinaw ng tubig sa parteng ito ng Laguna de Bay, kaya paboritong labahan ng kababaihan. Pag may dalagang naglalaba ay may kasamang manliligaw na binata. Tulad ng eksenang napapanood sa penikula nina Vilma Santos at Edgar Mortiz, kung hindi mo na inabot ang panahon nina Carmen Rosales at Rogelio de la Rosa. At si Mercedita ay nagpapakita sa mga lalaking lumalapit sa kweba. Sa di kalayuan sa kweba daw natagpuan ang labi ng dalawang binata mula sa kilalang angkan na nalunod sa Lawa nuong Dekada 60’s. Ang ipinagtataka ng marami ay kabataan at atleta ang nasawi, sanay na lumangoy sa Lawa. Ang bulong -bulungan ay dinala daw ni Mercedita ang magkaibigan sa kanyang daigdig. Sa mga hindi maniniwala sa engkanto, itinuturong dahilan ang maghapong pagbabasketball ng mga nasawi at ang posibilidad na pinulikat sila at naghatakan palalim sa Lawa. Mapaglaro daw si Mercedita. Parang napagti-tripan ang taong napapadpad sa kanyang lugar. Hindi pa malimot ng mag-asawang taga-Calumpang kung paano ang kanilang bangka ay umikot-ikot lang sa lawa, isang umagang isinama nila ang sipuning anak upang makasagap ng sariwang hangin. Sa kanilang pagkabahala, itinaas ng Tatay ang bata at nakiusap sa engkantada na hayaan na silang makadaong sa lupa, alang-alang sa batang nuon ay nag-iiyak sa takot. Sa isang iglap umusad ang bangka, at iyon ang pinakamabilis na pagsagwang ginawa ng ama sa kanyang buong buhay. May mga basketbolistang taga-Maynila na naglaro sa Rizal Cement Company, kabilang na ang asawa ng nuo’y sikat na telebisyon talk host. Apat silang nagkayayaang mamangka sa Lawa. Ganoon na lamang ang kanilang panghihilakbot dahil mula sa Wawa hanggang sa makadaong sa RCCI Compound, ay inabot sila ng walong oras! Sa paikot-ikot ng kanilang bangka at marahil sa gutom na rin, parang hilong talilong ang mga atleta na pamula nuon ay isinumpang hindi na babalik pa sa Binangonan. May kwento na si Mercedita daw ay may mortal na kasintahan, isang albularyo na binigyan ng engkantada ng kapangyarihang makapagpagaling ng maysakit. May kumontra naman na propaganda daw lang ng manggagamot iyon upang simikat ang kanyang paghahagod, pagtatawas at iba pang paraan ng pagtataboy ng karamdaman at masamang espiritu sa katawan. May sabi-sabi rin na si Mercedita ay kadaupang palad ng isang banyagang pari na naging Kura Paroko ng Binangonan. May lihim na lagusan daw sa likod ng altar kung saan sinusundo at inihahatid ni Mercedita ang pari kapag tinawag niyang mag-misa ito sa kanilang daigdig. Ang mga engkantong kasama ni Mercedita ay umaahon daw dito sa bayan at namimili sa palengke. Kapag malingaw ang nariring o ingay ng salitaang hindi mawari, hudyat na may taga ibang daigdig sa tabi-tabi. Kapag nakakita ng babaeng pantay ang nguso, o walang linyang parang kanal mula sa ilong hanggang sa labi, iyon ay kasama ni Mercedita. Sa mga hindi naniniwala, at laging humahanap ng paliwanag, binangit nila na tutuo ngang may bahay na bato sa Batasin at marahil ito ang sinasabing kweba. Pag-aari ng dayuhang pamilya na ang negosyo ay ospital at paaralan sa Maynila, ang bahay na bato ay naging tirahan ng isang kaanak na pinanawan ng bait. Inilayo sa lipunan sa kung ano mang pampamilyang dahilan. At marahil, ang paghahabi ng kwentong engkanto ang babala upang huwag lapitan ang bahay na ngayon ay abandonado na at kinatatakutan. Ang matatanda ay may paraan upang pigilan ang likas na pagka-makilot at pagka-gala ng bata. Ang panakot: may engkanto sa tabing dagat, may nuno sa punso sa bukid, may kapre sa kaingin pag gabi. Katulad ng sinasabing lihim na lagusan sa likod ng altar. Ayon sa kaibigang nuon ay sakristan ay paraan ng taong simbahan upang huwag nilang inumin ang alak ng pari patago duon sa likod ng altar. Si Mercedita ay isang walang katapusang kwento na manganganak pa ng maraming kabanata mula sa malikhaing isip at malagong dila. by: CKH Chef july 6, 2010 CKH Chef July 6, 2010

Beware, Mercedita may play on you! As 6 o'clock in the evening, never talk about Mercedita, because she may hear your conversation and she may answer you. If you are still not feared, then I tell you more story. Mercedita was the said engkantada of the cave in Batisan, part of Wawa, Libis. The water here in this part of Laguna de Bay is very clear, thus became the favorite laundry place of women. When there is a maiden washing clothes, she is accompanied with her suitor. Just like the scene in Vilma Santos and Edgar Mortiz's movie, if you weren't born yet at the time of Carmen Rosales and Rogelio de la Rosa. And Mercedita appears on men who went near the cave. Not far from the cave, they found the two bodies of young men, from a well-known family, who were drowned in the lake last Dekada 60's (1960's). The mysterious thing people thought was, the two are both young and athletes, both were skilled in swimming on lakes. According to the stories, Mercedita brought the two to her world. While to those who didn't believe, the said cause was the over playing of basketball and the possibility of having cramps which leads them to pull each other deeper unto the lake. They said, Mercedita is playful. As if, those who passes or walks through the place will be played at. A married couple from Calumapng can't forget the time how there boat just moved riduculously round at the lake, one morning when they brought with them their catarrhing child to breathe some fresh air. Of there fear, the father raised his child and pleaded to the engkantada to let them go offshore, for the sake of the child which that time was crying of fright. In just an instant, the boat moved, and it was the fastest rowing the father had done on his entire life. There were basketball players from Manila who played at Rizal Cement Company, one of them is the husband of a popular television talk show host. Four of them persuade each other to go boating on the lake. However, they were frightened because, from Wawa to the RCCI Compound, they spent almost 8 hours before they got off the lake! Of there boat being uncontrolled, and also because of hunger, the athletes got dizzy which started on that time, they pledged not to go back in Binangonan anymore. There was a story that Mercedita got a mortal suitor, an albularyo which the engkantada gifted the power of healing diseases. But there are others saying that it was just his propaganda to be famous in his massage, tawas and other treatments of driving away sickness and bad spirits in the body. There was another rumored story that Mercedita was a companion of a foreign priests which became the parish priest of Binangonan. There was a clandestine passage behind the altar where Mercedita fetch for a mass on their world, and accompanies him to that passage when he goes home. The engkanto friends of Mercedita sometimes go offshore going to the village and buys in the market. If you hear some kind of noise or words you can't understand, it symbolizes that there are unknown beings somewhere. If you see a woman who don't possess a philtrum, she may be Mercedita's companion. To those who don't believe, and always seek explanations, the said stone house in Batasin is true, which perhaps the cave they are talking about. It was owned by a foreign family, whose businesses in Manila are hospital and a school. They once lived in that house but they became insane, and they were hidden in public for some family reason. And, maybe, the creation of engkanto story is a warning not to go near the stone housev - now, abandoned and frightening. Elders knew ways on how to avoid children's being mischievousness and rovingness. Scary warnings: there is an engkanto on the seashore, there is a nuno sa punso in the field, there is a kapre at night. To the said clandestine passage behind the altar, according to a sakristan friend, was just the church's way to warn people not to drink the wine of the priest secretly behind the altar. Mercedita was one of the infinite story which becomes wider to many chapters as time passes by, from playful minds and transmission of tongues. by: CKH Chef july 6, 2010 CKH Chef July 6, 2010

Sources:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=130693470302612

Biringan City

Have you heard of a city of wonder, which appear and vanish at the same time?

About

This story was featured in the GMA Channel 7, Mel & Joey, hosted by Mel Tiangco and Joey de Leon. According to them, this city appears to be somewhat a kind of portal from and going to the other world.

Anyway . . .

In the Province of Samar, the Philippines, the mention of “Biringan” evokes awe, fear, intrigue, knocking on wood and innumerable signs of the Cross.

What is Biringan? It is reportedly an undefined location somewhere between Calbayog City and Catarman, Northern Samar, where a mythic city(ies) of indescribable grandeur is/are said to exist, unvisited by ordinary mortals, known only by magnificent folk stories that refuse to die despite the advent of television and the internet. Other reports extend its area to as far south as San Jorge, Samar.

Biringan’s “now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t” quality indicates it is not of the usual land and water terrain in which we live in. It seems to exist in a different dimension, which explains why its boundaries can overlap with known towns and cities of Samar island. On moonless nights, seafarers aplenty have reported seeing a dazzling city of light. In a few minutes, though, the manifestation is no longer visible. Obviously, Biringan is not likely to be shown on any map or atlas. But specialized (infrared, ultraviolet, etc.) satellite mapping photography have reportedly turned up a shining area in the reported general location of Biringan.

They say Biringan is the legendary home of the encantos (enchanted ones) and half-encanto, half-human progeny. The encantos are most likely elementals, as old as the mountains and rivers in the area. They are apparently shapechangers because they have been reported to appear in whatever form they wish, human or not. But in human form, their distinguishing characteristic is the lack of the philtrum, the indentation below the nose and above the upper lip.

Legends

The Portal Portals to and from an ethereal city. There are places in the island of Samar that have been described thus. There’s one story of a bus plying the night route from Catbalogan City to Tacloban City. Somewhere halfway, when the bus had been emptied of its passengers, the driver and conductor stopped to pick up two young lady passengers. Their stated destination was quite off the main route but the driver consented because the two had offered triple the usual fare. When the two mysterious passengers had alighted, and the driver turned the bus around to get back on the highway. But, to his utter bewilderment, he could no longer distinguish the dirt road they had taken just moments ago. Conceding that they were lost, they decided to spend the night at that very spot. At dawn the next day, they were confounded when they found themselves and the bus at a desolate mountain top. A large tow truck had to be sent through rough mountain trails just to bring the bus back to civilization. Then there’s the story of a bus that somehow lost its way and the driver stopped to pass the night at some sort of depot. When he and his passengers woke up the next morning they were in themiddle of a clump or bamboos with no roads anywhere around them that would have brought them where they were. Perhaps the most classic example of these gateways involved two motorcycle riders riding tandem on one bike. They were traveling the highway at night from (Western) Samar to Eastern Samar. It was around nine o-clock in the evening and they were negotiating the foggy, winding passes halfway to Borongan, Eastern Samar. The night air was chilly and only their motorcycle headlights split the dark ahead. The deafening silence was only punctuated by the occasional chirping of insects. Suddenly, as they rounded a sharp curve, they were suddenly engulfed in a bedlam of sound! It was as if they had entered a very busy freeway, invisible to them but its sound assaulted their ears. Shrill air horns blared from every direction and sudden gusts of wind rocked their motorcycle as if huge trailer trucks were passing them by on all sides. The driver tried his very best to keep the motorcycle handlebar steady. It was only after they had round the next curve that the noise suddenly died down and the night air was deathly still once more. Still, these two motorcycle riders and scores of other highways travelers will never forget their encounters with Biringan’s portals.

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Supernatural Abductions Supernatural abductions. Quite seemingly out of this world, but reportedly true. Some of the most persistent incidents related to the Biringan phenomenon involve the “relocation” of humans from the mortal world to Biringan. What happens is, whenever a Biringan inhabitant takes fancy on a mortal (usually a fair maiden or attractive lad), he or she is taken away from the mortal world by was of bugkot (a Visayan vernacular term). The transition usually takes the form of sudden “death” (i.e., accidents, fatal illness lasting a few hours at most, sudden disappearance from any physical location). In reality, the mortal never really dies but his/her consciousness or spirit is taken by the Biringan entity. The anguished kin of the victim are left with the “lifeless body” where in fact it is not the actual cadaver but a log or similar physical object configured to look and feel like a real lifeless human body. All the while, the victim now resides in Biringan as the wife, husband, or servant of the supernatural being which took her away. I once knew of a very beautiful lady in Catbalogan City in the province of Samar in the Philippines who was separated from her husband and had three good-looking kids. One day, in the mid-Seventies, the car she was driving suddenly turned turtle on the highway near San Jorge, Samar causing her sudden untimely “demise”. The bereaved family held a decent wake for her and had her body properly buried. Until the present, however, there are persistent recurring reports of this lady being seen in the reported location of Biringan City and she is reportedly now queen of the encantos who live there. No wonder a portion of the population of the city are half-encantos, half-human. It is these progeny who are reportedly fond of frequenting places where mortals abound for relaxation and entertainment (i.e. parks, beaches, nightspots). This is a direct result of all the cases of supernatural abductions

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Equipment for an Invisible City Heavy equipment for an invisible city? Uncanny but true. In the Sixties, Tacloban City in the province of Leyte, the Philippines was the commercial hub of the Eastern Visayas region. It was the natural port of call of passenger and cargo ships plying the Visayas-Manila route. Who could ever imagine that manifestations of Biringan’s existence would take physical form? One particular incident which is still word-of-mouth to this day involved the arrival of a large lot of first-class heavy equipment from the United States. The shipment consisted of bulldozers, graders, payloaders and hauler trucks. Post officials were astounded when they examined the freight documents and discovered the entire consignment listed the destination as Biringan City. Since the fabled city’s reputation had spread far and wide in the Eastern Visayas region, people were in a tumult of speculation as to who will claim the equipment. Following prescribed port rules, the heavy equipment were unloaded and neatly parked in the concrete confines of the Tacloban port under heavy guard. Months passed and still no one came to claim the shipment. The elements were taking their toll on the equipment. Conflicting reports have it that the entire lot was either sent back to the shipper or hauled to the junkyard. Was this a matter of mistaken port of delivery of heavy equipment for an invisible city?

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The Japanese Venture Into Biringan Territory In the late Eighties through the Nineties, the Japanese ventured into Biringan territory. They conducted rural development work focused on the town of San Jorge, Western Samar. The implementing agency was the Japanese International cooperation Agency (JICA). The entire Samareño population was perplexed as to why the Japanese would concentrate on San Jorge when there were a lot more towns in the province which needed the development work more. To implement the project, the Japanese brought in tons of equipment (vehicles and machinery) and Japanese engineers and field personnel descended on San Jorge in full force. One story involved a team of Japanese who went into the forest accompanied by a Filipino guide. Inexplicably, the guide lost track of the terrain. The Japanese promptly whipped out a very detailed satellite-generated map of the area and the team immediately found its bearings again. A related report had it that infrared, ultraviolet, or similar satellite pictures of the area kept registering a shimmering effect right on the location where the JICA was concentrated. This led to further reports that an enormous deposit of uranium is embedded deep in the bowels of the earth beneath that particular area. Others speculate that a mother lode of gold has been detected in the area. The thickest deposits are reportedly under the San Jorge area with the ends tapering as far a San Juanico Strait to the South and the San Bernardino Strait to the North. Could there be a connection to the reported location of Biringan in the area? In Philippine folklore, elementals supposedly guard vast treasures hidden deep in the forests or deep underground. Nevertheless, the Japanese left the area without any tangible results of their “rural development” work. That ended the Japanese Venture Into Biringan Territory.

Conclusion

What really is Biringan? Is it a city or kingdom existing in a parallel dimension with ours? Do these two dimensions interpenetrate at times, causing the meeting of inhabitants from ours with encantos? Does this explain the ethereal now-you-see-it, now-you don’t quality of Biringan and its denizens?

To this day, Biringan remains a mysterious part of Philippine folklore (actually still an urban legend). In addition, everyday stories of encounters with Biringan’s residents continue to be told. If these had simply been figments of the imagination, these stories would have died down a long time ago, what with the advent of 100+ channels cable television and the Internet. Still, fresh stories continue to crop up.

Stories such as spirit possession by Biringan’s encantos over ten school children just because their school Principal unwittingly made a bonfire next to the large balete tree in their school yard. How was the poor teacher to know that the huge tree looming large near the old school building was the abode of a Biringanon? And that she had unknowingly injured the youngest child of the invisible occupants of the tree abode?

Even modern-day kids in the Philippines, well-versed on the Japanese animé sagas of the new century, still believe in the existence of the legendary kingdom of Biringan. This is an undeniable fact. Despite all the terror attacks, all the coup rumors, the hunger, the droughts, the floods, and everything, only one thing remains unshaken by it all … Biringan.

Source:

http://supernaturalstories.blogspot.com