NAME : MISSY L. SUELA COURSE/YR/SEC.

/ : BEED_2B
INSTRUCTOR : PAVE LOVE M. CABUNDOC SUBJECT : SOCIAL STUDIES

There is one urban legend here in our beloved Calbayog City which is called “Kapre” or
describe as “Ancient Giant”. Nung sinaunang panahon, yung Calbayog City ay hindi pa gaano
masyadong maunlad. Kakaunti lamang yung mga bahay, luma pa yung simbahan, at ang mga
kalsada ay hindi pa gaano kaganda. Madami ang malalaking puno nung araw, isang araw sa
isang lugar sa Calbayog City, merong matandang babae ang nag babantay sa kanyang mga apo
bandang hapon, na nag lalaro sa labas ng kanilang bakod, yung bahay nila ay simple lamang.
Bahay kubo kung tawagin, merong hardin sa likuran ng kanilang bahay at dun nag lalaro ang
mga bata. Sa kanilang bakod ay madami din yung malalaking puno kasi nga nung sinaunang
panahon ay yung mga puno ay sobrang damo at sobrang laki pa neto. Makalipas ang ilang saglit
ay tinawag na ni Nanay ang kanyang mga apo dahil pagabi na. Pina punta na ni nanay ang
kanyang mga apo sa silid ng kanilang bahay. Pumunta si Nanay sa labas ng kanilang bahay kung
saan sya nag luluto ng kanilang pag kain. At nag luto nan ga si nanay, at ng ilang minuto ang
nakalipas, si Nanay ay naka amoy ng usok nag sigarilyo galing sa mga puno sa tabi ng kanilang
bahay. Eto ay napansin ni nanay dahil wala naman silang kapit bahay na naninigarilyo at
kakaunti lamang ang kanilang mga kapit bahay at hindi mag ka dikit dikit ang kanilang pagitan
dahil nga madami pang puno nung panahon nun. Pag katapos ni Nanay mapansin yung amoy ng
usok ng sigarilyo ay nag taka muna sya, pero hinanda mona nya ang kanyang linuluto para
mapakain na ang kanyang mga apo. Pag katapos nyang ihaon ang pag kain para sa kanyang mga
apo, pumunta ulit si Nanay sa labas ng kanyang bahay o sa kanilang bakuran para tignan o
pagmasdan kung saan galing yung usok ng sigarilyo na naamoy nya kani kanina lamang. Na pa
tungaga si Nanay nung makita nya sa taas ng malaking puno na merong higanting tao na maitim,
mahaba yung buhok, at namumula yung mata. Si nanay ay napasigaw ngunit wala syang magawa
dahil nga wala silang masyadong kadikit na kapit bahay. Nalaman ni Nanay na yung usok ng
sigarilyo ay galing pala sa malaking tao na nag tatago sa itaas ng puno na kung tawagin ay
“KAPRE”. Ito palang mga kapre ay hindi nanankit ng mga tao, nais lamang ng kapre ay humingi
ng Tabako o yung kanilang nag sisilbing sigarilyo nung unang panahon, at si nanay ay napatulala
at maya maya ay na unawan nyang hindi naman dapat matakot sa nakita nya at nung nag hingi
ang Kapre ng Tabako ay agad nyang sinabi sa kapre na “Pasenya ngunit wala kaming ganyan
dahil hindi kami dito naningarilyo sa pamamahay naming, pakiusap wag mo akong saktan.” Ang
sabi ni Nanay. Maya maya lang sumagot ang kapre “Walang problema, ako ay mag babantay
lamang dito sa inyong kapaligiran basta’t wag nyo lang sirain ang aming tahanan (Ibig nya
ditong sabihin ang mga malalaking puno.) Dyan na nag tatapos ang aking kwento. Ngunit
nakakasama ng luob dahil unti unti ng nauubos ang mga puno na malalaki dito sa Calbayog dahil
nga ginagawa ng mga establisimento or kung ano pang pwedeng mapag kikitaan ng gobyerno.
Sa ngayon, ang kapre ay hindi na masyadong nababanggit dahil sa teknolohiya ngayon, at dahil
madami ng tao sa Calbayog City Proper.

Calbayog City, located in the province of Samar in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines,
has a rich history that dates back to pre-colonial times. It is said that the name "Calbayog" comes
from the ancient Samareño word "Kalbayug," which means "flowing water" or "rushing water."
This name reflects the city's geography, as it is surrounded by several rivers that flow into the
Samar Sea. Myths and folktales abound in Calbayog, passed down from generation to generation
as part of the oral tradition. One such story is the tale of the first inhabitants of the area, who
were said to have been led there by the god Magwayen. According to the legend, Magwayen was
a powerful deity who controlled the sea and the land, and he chose Calbayog as the site of his
sacred shrine. He brought with him a group of settlers, whom he taught how to farm and fish,
and he blessed the land with abundance and prosperity. Another popular story is the legend of the
"bakunawa," a monstrous sea serpent that was said to have terrorized the people of Calbayog.
According to the myth, the bakunawa would emerge from the depths of the ocean during
eclipses, seeking to devour the moon and plunge the world into darkness. The people of
Calbayog would bang pots and pans and make loud noises to frighten away the beast, and they
believed that their efforts were successful in protecting their town from its wrath. As for the
origin of Barangay East Awang, little is known about its early history. However, it is believed
that the barangay was named after a local chieftain who once ruled the area. According to some
accounts, Awang was a brave and charismatic leader who united the people of Calbayog and led
them to victory against their enemies. He was known for his wisdom and fairness, and he was
beloved by his people.

Now, let me share with you a short story set in the fictional barangay of East Awang:

The Legend of the Golden River

Long ago, in the sleepy barangay of East Awang, there lived a young boy named Juan. Juan was
a curious and adventurous child, always eager to explore the world around him. One day, while
wandering in the forest near his home, he came across a sparkling river that he had never seen
before. The water was clear and cold, and it shimmered in the sunlight like liquid gold.

Juan was fascinated by the river and decided to follow it to its source. He walked for hours,
deeper and deeper into the forest, until he came to a hidden glade that he had never seen before.
In the center of the glade stood a majestic tree, with leaves that glowed like emeralds and
branches that reached to the sky. As Juan approached the tree, he heard a soft voice calling his
name. He looked around, but there was no one there. Then he heard the voice again, and he
realized that it was coming from the tree itself. "Who are you?" Juan asked, amazed. "I am the
spirit of the forest," the tree replied. "And you, Juan, are a brave and curious boy. I have chosen
you to be the guardian of my most precious treasure. "With those words, the tree parted its
branches, revealing a glittering cache of gold and jewels. Juan gasped in wonder, but he knew
that such wealth would bring only trouble and envy. He thanked the tree and promised to protect
its treasure with his life. From that day on, Juan became the keeper of the golden river. He would
visit the glade often, marveling at the beauty of the tree and the riches it guarded.

Calbayog began as early as 1600 in a settlement called Hibatang by the river bank of the present
Oquendo River. It had 2,000 inhabitants under the spiritual guidance of a certain Jesuit, Father
Ignacio de Alzina. The present barangay Anislag was the forerunner of Calbayog settlement. The
barangay is located along the river bank of Oquendo river, about ten kilometers north off the city
proper. Historical remains of what was once a village church can be noticed by travelers passing
this barangay. The place was often visited by flood during stormy days, so Anislag settlement
became unsafe. The hardy settlers left the place in “balotos” (bancas) and hastily rigged bamboo
raffs following the river towards the sea. At Cahumpan (now barangay Cahumpan) they decided
to stop just for a moment’s break. Somehow, at the spur of the moment and by common consent,
they settled down at Cahumpan to start life anew.

More settlers came. Some crossed the river to Sabang (now barangay Trinidad). After a certain
period of time, the restless settlers moved again and settled at Taboc (now barangay Obrero), a
settlement which directly face the open Samar sea. The place was once a vast swampland which
extended from the present Nijaga Park, where the monument of national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal
and local hero Benedicto P. Nijaga now stand. Taboc is the place where the name Calbayog
began. Taboc, so legend says, once abounded with “Bayog” trees. They were cut down and
burned for fuel in making “Cal” (lime) out of sea shells and corals. From these two things, the
Spaniards called the place “Calbayog”. The second version says that there was once a man
named “Bayog”. It so happened that there was no other path leading to the sea except at Bayog’s
place. Fishermen used to say “tikang kami kan Bayog” (we came from Bayog) or “makadto kami
kan Bayog” (we shall go to Bayog). One day a “guardia civil” asked for the name of the place.
The fisherman mistaking the query for another thing, answered “tikang kami kan Bayog” (we
came from Bayog), with the correct query and a wrong answer, the Spaniard took the last words,
“kan Bayog”, for the name of the settlement.

A lot of tongue-twisting and mispronunciation changed the original name of Calbayog. Biringan
is a legendary city that is said to exist in the province of Samar, particularly in Calbayog.
According to local folklore, it is a mystical place that can only be seen by those who are chosen
by the spirits. The story begins with a young boy named Juan who lived in Calbayog. He had
heard stories of Biringan from his elders, but he never really believed in them. One day, while he
was walking through the woods, he stumbled upon an old, rusty door. As he pushed it open, he
saw a beautiful city that he had never seen before. He was amazed by what he saw, but then he
heard a voice calling out to him. It was a woman's voice, and she was telling him to leave
Biringan immediately. Juan ignored the voice and continued to explore the city. He saw many
beautiful things, but he also noticed that the people of Biringan were not like ordinary humans.

They had a strange aura about them, and their eyes seemed to glow in the dark. As Juan was
walking through the city, he heard the woman's voice again. This time, she sounded more urgent.
She told him that if he did not leave immediately, he would be trapped in Biringan forever. Juan
started to feel scared, but he was also curious. He wanted to know more about this mysterious
city. He kept walking until he found himself in the middle of the city. Suddenly, everything went
dark, and he felt a strong force pulling him down. He tried to run, but he couldn't move his feet.
He looked up and saw the woman who had been warning him earlier. She was now surrounded
by a group of other women who were all chanting and holding candles. The woman told Juan
that he had been chosen by the spirits to see Biringan, but now that he had seen it, he could never
leave. He would have to stay in Biringan forever. Juan felt hopeless and scared.

He didn't want to spend the rest of his life in this strange place. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in
his chest, and everything went black. When he woke up, he was lying on the ground outside the
rusty door that he had found earlier. He looked around and saw that he was back in the woods.
He realized that he had been dreaming the whole time. From that day on, Juan never forgot about
his experience in Biringan. He continued to tell the story to his children and grandchildren, and it
became a part of the local folklore. Many people in Calbayog still believe in the legend of
Biringan, and some even claim to have seen the city.