Folklore stories are always part of Filipino life and culture. We grew up hearing stories about aswang, tikbalang, dwende and other mystical creatures believed to live among us. Others have swore to have seen one of these creatures and swore to their existence. I am skeptical about these stories but growing up hearing them retold countless times makes one beleive they’re true. Last week we visited San Carlos City, Negros Occidental and were fortunate enough to visit three sites said to be enchanted and inhabited by mystical beings. Whether you believe in them or not, it’s up to you.
Enchanted Rock
Off to a dirt road in Brgy. Prosperidad, San Carlos City, a traveler will not miss a big rock right in the middle of a forked-road separating the road to the left going to Canlaon City, Oriental Negros from the road to the right going to Brgy. Codcod, San Carlos City.
A San Carlos City staff shares an anecdote about the rock. When the road was being cleared, two bulldozers malfunctioned in the process of destroying the rock. The workers, fearing that they will bear the brunt of whatever is in the rock tried talking to it.
“Forgive us but it was the Engineer who ordered us to do this,” the workers said while hammering the rock. When the Engineer learned about this, he got angry at his workers and spoke to the rock saying, “It was the Mayor who ordered me to do this.” When the Mayor learned about what the Engineer spoke to the rock, he got angry and ordered that the rock be left as is. I don’t know how true this story is but there is the rock to prove that somehow it survived.
Enchanted Camachile Tree
The shortest route going to San Carlos City is the road via Don Salvador Benedicto. This road network was constructed where there used to be lush green forests. The roads cut through mountains and on mountainsides creating zigzag roads akin to those going to Baguio City.
Nearing San Carlos City, you will find a camachile tree (local name kamunsil) right in the middle of the road. A Filipino would easily understand why that tree was not cut down during road construction. It must be enchanted and inhabited by mystical creatures and no person was brave enough to dare cut down the tree lest they earn the ire of its residents.
Enchanted Balete Tree
This is the second time that I’ve been to Sipaway Island and the second time to see the century old Balete Tree at Brgy. San Juan. Our tricycle driver/guide told us that no unexplained incidents related to the Balete Tree were noted in recent years like it used to decades ago.
The tree is inside San Juan Elementary School and enclosed in a fence so that the children and other visitors would not be able to disturb it. As if this is not warming enough, a notice was posted on it supposedly from the Balete King, to add drama to it.
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Interesting. Pero wla pa ko di ya nakakadto haw. or tulog ko sg nagabyahe.
Jinoes last blog post..Broke Back
If you’ve been to Dumaguete, there’s an enchanted tree somewhere in a municipality a few miles before Dumaguete proper that was once featured in a Magandang Gabi Bayan Halloween special. You know, the one with all the ghost stories. Hehe. Sadya hadlukahay mag-agi kami dira na part especially kung gab-i kami ga byahe.
The 1st story reminds me about the story of why a stretch of highway from Iloilo to Roxas remains unfinished to this day. I’m not sure if the stories are true pero it’s eerily similar.
@Jinoe – you mean the kamunsil? basi tuod gakatulog ka paglabay nyo. hehehe
@Tikalon – I don’t know if you mean that road in Pototan. It’s right after a bridge. They say it’s enchanted that’s why even if it has been fixed several times it always get destroyed.
PromdiBloggers last blog post..Bigfoot or Bigfool?
nabantayan ko gd na ang kamunsil. namian ko na sa puno kay daw in the middle of the road gd, daw kanami picturan. i never thought na it’s rumored as enchanted that’s why it’s just there, smack in the middle. hehe.
kaiths last blog post..Sweet Dreams
I believe in such things… even though I live in urban places, I have had my share.
@Mouse-Thanks for dropping by. I haven’t experience anything paranormal and I rather not. Hehehe
like what sort of unexplained incidents were related to Balete tree? just curious.
during my recent visit to the province, i went to the mountain with a bunch of people for tree planting. when we were finished, we met some locals nearby and asked us if we asked permission from the invisible people? i said, no, because i don’t believe in it. they didn’t like my answer..hehe
Belles last blog post..Winter Gardening in Arizona Mountains
@Belle – Stories like people getting sick of illness which doctors could not explain if they tried destroying these Balete trees.
Hehe I can only imagine his reaction. Most people in the province still believe in those beings. I think they would be happy since you’re planting trees. If invisible people really existed in the mountains how come illegal logging is still rampant?