There are so many things to talk about San Carlos City that I believe a single post would not be enough. For this first installment, I would like to feature three sites in San Carlos City where people’s belief in folklore stories are manifested.
It’s common in Filipino culture to believe in the existence of entities from another dimension. This belief is not only limited to a personal level but also affects and manifests in a person’s job and in the way he deals with his environment.
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 the story was 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 mythical creatures and no person was brave enough to dare cut down the tree lest they earn the ire of its residents.
In the Philippines, the best way to spare a tree from road widening is for it to be known as inhabited by mythical beings.
Enchanted Balete Tree
In Sipaway Island, there’s a century old balete tree (strangler fig) inside the San Juan Elementary School. The tricycle driver we hired during one visit told us that no unexplained incidents related to the balete tree were noted in recent years unlike decades ago.
The balete tree was enclosed with a fence so that the children and other visitors would not be able to disturb it. As if this is not warning enough, a notice was posted on it supposedly from the Balete King, to add drama to it.
Balete trees in Philippine folklore are believed to be dwelling places of mythical creatures. Filipinos are generally afraid to come near a balete tree because they fear they might get sucked into it’s cavernous trunk by some supernatural being.
Well, I can say I have not only come near a balete but climbed it as well! It was a double success for me, I conquered my fear of heights and fear of the unknown.