In the small sitio of Tinamnan Gabe, there is a deep cave next to the rice field of the late Capitan Colas Jumawan.
There were many stories about this cave, some would say that it was home to many enchanted creatures. At one o’ clock in the afternoon people would report that they saw three beautiful girls sitting on a rock just above the cave and, in a blink of an eye, they would disappear into the cave.
One day, the principal tenant of the rice field, a man named Eyo was called by someone on the opposite side of the rice field. Eyo ignored the calls, but they were insistent. He turned around and was shocked to see a handsome gentleman standing on the opposite side of the field.
The gentleman said, “We should go to Candanay because there is a big whale that was just caught.” Eyo replied that he could not go because he was very busy. The gentleman then disappeared, as if he was never there.
All the way in Candanay the whale was being portioned. The gentleman was there, getting his share as he was identified as a member of the crew of fishermen, much to the dismay of one of the actual crewman who had his share seemingly vanish.
The gentleman then went to the house of Eyo and related the story of how the true owner of the share got angry because no one could explain who had gotten his share. He invited Eyo to come to his house for supper, but Eyo declined.
The following morning, tenants of the rice field could see beautiful girls drying whale meat on a rock just above the cave.
Eyo couldn’t understand why the gentleman had taken such an interest in him. Surely there were other tenants in the field that he could go and bother, but the gentleman would not leave Eyo alone.
Day after day, the gentleman would invite Eyo to go with him on an excursion or ask him to share a meal, but Eyo would not go with the gentleman.
Eyo would hear the voice of his lola in the back of his head, “Do not go with the enchanted people, do not share a meal with them. You will be trapped forever in their realm.”
Eyo heeded his lola’s wise words and ignored the gentleman’s wishes. When he would see the three beautiful women near the front of the cave, he would avoid looking at them, for he knew that they were not as human as they seemed.
He would tell the other tenants about the gentleman, but they did not see him as Eyo did. Eyo began to think that he was cursed, and in a way he was. There are some enchanted beings that take interest in specific humans, for many, this would be a great blessing for the enchanted beings would give lavish gifts upon their chosen, but for others it was a terrible curse where the enchanted beings would toy with their victim until they got bored of their games.
Eyo considered himself lucky, the enchanted gentleman would leave him alone if he asked, but there was always that hint of fear deep in his heart.
What if they decided to stop playing?
What would happen then?
Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Adapted from The Legend of Tinamnan Gabe in Negros Oriental and Siquijor Island Legends, Beliefs and Folkways. Aldecoa-Rodriguez. 2000.
The Engkanto of Tinamnan Gabe Illustration by Armie Loraine Corpuz
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