Kapre, Nuno, Atbp: 3 Real-life Accounts Of The Supernatural You Should Not Read Alone
Tabi-tabi po.
On June 11, 2021, Netflix dropped the first season of the much-awaited Filipino animated series “Trese,” which centers on Philippine folklore and tackles legends rooted on our history. The reception has been outstanding, and people can’t stop talking about Trese’s storyline and cast. It is currently number 1 among the Top 10 shows on Netflix Philippines.
Maybe one of the reasons it’s so popular, besides it being the first Filipino animated series on Netflix, is that Pinoys always love a good horror story. Before Alexandra Trese came into the picture, we have all heard an account or two about the Kapre, Diwata, Duwende, and other mythical creatures in Philippine mythology from an aunt, a neighbor, or a classmate. Think you’re not a scaredy cat? Let’s find out.
Oblivious to a Kapre’s admiration
“My friend from high school had bad skin rashes all over her chest, stomach, and back,” shares 24-year-old college student Alex. “Sobrang pula, pero hindi makati. They went to different dermatologists, but nothing worked, and they didn’t know the cause.”
The rashes lasted for a couple of months, until they spread to her legs as well. “They went to an albularyo, and they made her wear a pouch na may mga laman sa loob at nadasalan. Hindi ako sure sa contents pero may bigas at asin,” says Alex.
According to the albularyo, a Kapre took a liking for her friend. “Du’n sa village sa tabi ng school namin sa Laguna, we would hang out there since most of our friends lived there. May malaking Balete tree just before the gate.” Alex and her friends would often joke that there was an engkanto living in the tree, and would often [just] walk right past it. However, a certain school activity changed everything.
“One time they had to film something for a class that involved tying someone to the Balete tree, and they stayed to hang out after filming,” she recalls. The rashes started to appear right after.
The albularyo told Alex’s friend “never to come back to the village.” A week later, the rashes disappeared. “Even my friends who weren't believers got scared. It happened during our third year in high school, and she continued to wear the patch every day until we graduated.”
Alex says that her friend never went back to the village after graduation. “Whenever someone would have a birthday or sleepover in that village, she wouldn't go and no one got mad. Everyone understood kahit mga hindi usually naniniwala sa ganu’ng kwento, kasi we all saw the rashes.”
Tabi-tabi po
We often hear the phrase “tabi-tabi po” from our lolos and lolas, especially when walking around places with lots of trees and grass to keep the inhabitants undisturbed. It is believed to be common courtesy to all the duwende, nuno, and lamang lupa that live in the area. Andrew, 37, was not a believer until it something happened to him in 2012.
“I was walking home a bit drunk from a small get-together with childhood friends. I think this was less than 10 years ago,” he shares. “S’yempre kapag umiinom ka, [there’s a tendency that you will urinate several times].”
Without realizing it, Andrew urinated beside a big tree a few blocks from his house. “This is a very quiet barangay in Puerto Princesa. Puro puno, puro bukid, hindi ko namalayan na may na-istorbo na pala ako,” he says.
After a couple of days, Andrew’s genitals started swelling. “Nakakahiya, sobra. Takot na takot ako sabihin sa pamilya ko kasi hindi ko alam ano sasabihin ko!” When the pain became too much to bear, however, he ended up telling his parents about his situation.
“Nu’ng una, dinala ako sa doktor pero dahil hindi pa masyadong urbanized yung province namin during that time, konti lang ‘yung available. Wala din urologist sa probinsya,” he shares. “Kaya ang naging resort namin ay albularyo.”
The albularyo told him that he may have disturbed a nuno sa punso when he urinated beside the tree, hence the swelling of his genitals. “Nu’ng una s’yempre mahirap paniwalaan. Pero nu’ng pinatawas ako sa albularyo at nagbigay kami ng offering sa nuno, naramdaman ko na gumagaan ang pakiramdam ko.”
Since then, Andrew has made it a point to be responsible when visiting his hometown, and now believes in the phrase “tabi-tabi po” more than ever.
They can be friendly, too
Mae, 24, went on a family vacation in Tanay, Rizal in January 2021. They stayed at a private resort hidden in the mountains, and were told about the non-human creatures on site.
“Sumama ako sa friendship group ng nanay ko and nag-tent kami sa may open field ng resort. May isa kaming kasama na nakakakita talaga ng engkanto, at meron daw kapre at diwata[doon],” she shares.
“Pumunta kami sa ilog para kumain at mag-chill. Tapos ‘yung kasama namin, nakakita ng magandang batang diwata na nakatingin sa amin, humihingi ng suha. Bigla niyang binigyan ng suha dahil favorite daw ‘yun ng bata. Tapos tinanong ng kasama namin kung gusto niya bang magpakita, ang sabi, ‘Wag na kasi baka matakot sila sa akin.’”
She says that this incident is somehow connected to the family that owns the resort. They had a seven-year-old daughter who had been sick since she was born. “Usually nagkaka-seizure. Du’n nila nakita na kamukha nu’ng batang diwata ‘yung anak na ‘yun (maganda at makinis ang balat) and na-kwento daw na kinuha siya ng mga diwata kasi may sakit siya dito.”
The group also had sightings of older diwatas at the resort. “Marami din kaming kasama na mga dalagang diwata na ang suot nila ay parang pang-abay na light blue, tapos merong makapal na flower crown, and may pakpak na nakalaylay sa likod na parang veil,” explains Mae. “Nakikisama sila sa nanay ko at mga kaibigan niya nu’ng nag-bonfire kami at nagsayawan sa mayopen field.”
According to her, the diwatas were very friendly. “Overall, hindi naman sila masama o nananakot. Nakiki-join lang that time kasi happy ‘yung group namin,” she adds.
This article originally appeared on OneLife.PH
