C A V I T E
Take care when passing through Kaybiang Tunnel of Ternate, Cavite to enter the so-called Barrio ng Aswang. As one story goes, a group of friends went to the barrio but was disturbed by the ominous aura that emitted from the locals. When they ventured back home, one of them had become cursed by an aswang that had to be purged from him with the help of an abularyo. You’d hear a lot of ghost stories about the haunted barrio.
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Haunted Barrio
Legend of Seahorse
(Alamat Ng Kabayo Kabayohan)
In the Philippines, there is a legend that might explain why these marine creatures look like horses. This legend was adapted from the Outline of Philippine Mythology by F. Landa Jocano
Long ago in the province of Cavite, located in the Southern shores of Manila de Bay, two majestic horses, a stallion and a mare, were enjoying the bright morning sun, occasionally grazing at the verdant grass by the seashore.
These two horses were rather special. They were personal ‘pets’ of the sea god, Amanikable. Anyway, the idyllic time was disturbed by a sudden flurry of activities. There in the distance was a group of men and their ferociously barking dogs.
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This unsettled the horses a great deal as the men and dog were fast heading their way.The men did not look friendly and the dogs doubled up their frenzied barking.Both the mare and stallion started galloping but it was too late. They have been cornered.The mare looked up to the sky piteously and prayed to Amanikable. All the while the stallion circled the mare to protect.
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“Please great lord of the sea, save us from these beings. We besiege you to help us. Please not abandon us in our time of need” the mare prayed.Amanikable heard the lamentable but solemn request of the mare.
He commanded the sea to create the biggest waves, huge enough to swallow the whole shore, including the mare and stallion.But the horses are unable to swim. With pity and great care Amanikable turned them into aquatic animals. Fish but not quite like fish. Being favoured ‘pets’ of the Amanikable, a crown like spine grew out of their heads.The grass washed away by the waves into the sea became seaweeds, where the magically created seahorses now live and feed.
This is the legend of the seahorse.
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References:
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Legend of Seahorse (Alamat Ng Kabayo Kabayohan) ⋆ Global Granary. (2020, January 30). Retrieved from https://www.globalgranary.life/2017/09/08/legend-seahorse-alamat-ng-kabayo-kabayohan/amp/
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Philippine Urban Legends You Probably Haven’t Heard Before. (2017, April 26). Retrieved from https://8list.ph/philippines-urban-legends/
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