Numerous tales have been told about a collective of verdant trees that surround a very small pond-like body of water called Putat. These tales hail from a small barrio in Pinamungajan town called Campo. The citizens of Campo are peaceful people who are mostly builders and corn farmers.
One among the corn farmers in Campo is Mang Timo. He is very kind and hardworking besides being a loving father to his beautiful daughter, Marcelina. Mang Timo raised Marcelina on his own since his wife died after giving birth to her.
One cloudy afternoon, Mang Timo together with his eager carabao worked to plow the marshy fields he was set to plant corn. To his surprise, his carabao jolted and changed course. He tried to redirect it back to the plot lines but it went straight to the Putat. He was so lucky the carabao did not cause damage to the trees or it would have been the end of him. Mang Timo immediately said,
“Tabi! Tabi! I’m so sorry, I do not intend to harm your abode.”
He was referring to the Putat as home to the engkanto, a place no human should tamper with. That same day Atong Engkanto was enjoying his daily afternoon habit, fishing. As guardian of the Fae world, Atong spent most of his time fishing at the core of the putat where a huge magical pond was located. However, that pond is very small and ordinary to the human eye.
Sensing the commotion outside the putat, Atong immediately came to check what might’ve caused it. He heard Timo’s plea, he was ready to forgive him to return to his fishing routine, when he laid eyes on Marcelina. Marcelina saw what happened to her father and immediately rushed to his aid.
Atong saw an opportunity and told Timo that he would only be forgiven if he offered her daughter. Timo said “no” and brought Marcelina back home to their kubo. Atong remained eager to get Marcelina, so he cursed Timo with an inexplicable illness. Marcelina was saddened by what had befallen on her tatay. Atong on the other hand, transformed into a white goose to put a smile into Marcelina’s face. She was so delighted and bewitched by the goose that she chased it until she got inside the putat. Timo waited for Marcelina to come home for supper but she never came. The next day, though still groggy from illness, he went to look for her. One of the neighbors said he saw Marcelina chasing a goose towards the putat. Upon hearing such, he became so worried and rushed to the verdant collective. He pleaded,
“Tabi!Tabi! Please give me back my daughter…please…I am so sorry..Take me instead.”
Atong appeared and told Timo that the only way he could be forgiven is if someone like Marcelina could stay with him to repair the damages his carabao has done to the walls of the fae world. Timo offered his services as it was all his fault but Atong had made up his mind. The old man said “yes” in the end but in one condition, Marcelina be allowed to come home with him to prepare her for the journey. Atong agreed. When the day came for Marcelina to enter the putat and leave his tatay, she was surprised that she couldn’t find him anywhere.
Before Marcelina awakened, Timo himself went inside the putat and fought Atong, the commotion brought attention to the royal Faes. The king asked the magical pond to show him the truth and it immediately revealed Atong’s misdeeds. He was incarcerated at once, unfortunately for Timo, he can never return to the human world as was the rule of the Fae world. He pleaded once more that he be forgiven for the inconvenience his actions had brought to them. He also begged that his daughter Marcelina be spared as she was only tricked by Atong into getting inside the putat. Mang Timo sincerely surrendered himself to them. The king was pleased, agreed to Timo’s plea and made him the new portal guardian. With his new responsibilities Timo may not be able to be with his beloved daughter for eternity but he will be able to continue watching over her from the putat.
The story of Mystique of Campo, The Guardian of PUTAT is clearly a folktale narrative since of how well written it is. It is about some supernatural beings like fairies not only that, It is also a belief because of maybe a story time being told by our lolo or lolas. it' s our culture that we filipinos believe that there are some beings living among the putat as home to enkanto. If i forgot to mention that they are aware of the consequences, This also shows of how much a parent is willing to do for their child especially when it's their own life to be taken and because of their sacrifice it's very clear that parents are very loving when it comes to their own child. sadly the father and daughter were not able to reunite but they are now living in peace, Overall this story is absolutely amazing it's great.
Elaine Tiffany Q Ortiz
Grade 7/Loyalty
The story is bewitching and interesting to read. This a story that has been in many years but just know it by now. Truly, Cebuanos are rich in literature.
The narrative is a folklore, it talks about the place and its people. The imaginary life of what could have been. It does tickle the mind of the readers and pop up questions if does it really happened. All the magic and bewitching are all part of a folklore narrative.
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