No one goes to the field near San Garde , especially when there’s rain.
The town surrounding the field was notorious for criminal gangs and the violence that usually brings, so the field became a zone where the gangs would settle their scores. There were many bloody incidents that happened in those years, but one in particular stands out: A story of two lovers doomed by their greed.
It isn’t a long story, the boy was a drunk and an addict who didn’t want to leave the life he was living. The girl was no better, she only cared for money and all the things it could buy for her. They decided to steal from the girl’s uncle, who was the head of one of the gangs. The motto of that gang was ‘no mercy for an enemy’, which was unfortunate for the young couple. The townspeople say that you can still see their blood on the rocks by the river.
But what’s interesting about their story is what happens after. The next day when the sun rose and the first beam of sunlight touched the blood of the lovers, a light appeared. That light grew bigger and bigger until it became a ball of fire that shone in a multicolored blaze.
A week later, the girl’s uncle and his associates were at the field again to teach another unfortunate soul what happens when you steal from them. This time, before they could get their guns out they found something waiting for them. The enraged ball of flame lunged at the uncle, setting him on fire before turning on the rest of the gang members.
The man who was to be another victim was saved, for the moment, but he ran as fast as he could away from the screams and the smell of burning flesh. They say he moved far away from San Garde, and who could blame him?
The fields are mostly empty now. Sometimes there are teenagers that dare each other to go by the river and find the rocks covered in the couple’s blood. But no one goes there when it rains. The townspeople say that the Santilmo isn’t through seeking its revenge. They also say it isn’t the only one there.
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Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Story inspired by Santilmo description in The Myths of the Philippines (Undergraduate Thesis). Gaverza. 2015.
Santilmo (Ilonggo) Illustration and Watercolor by Nightmaresyrup
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