Biringan is a
myth
Myth is a genre of folklore consisting primarily of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society. For scholars, this is very different from the vernacular usage of the term "myth" that refers to a belief that is not true. Instead, the ...
ical city said to lie invisibly between the municipalities of
Gandara,
Tarangnan, and
Pagsanghan in the province of
Samar
Samar ( ) is the third-largest and seventh-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 1,909,537 as of the 2020 census. It is located in the eastern Visayas, which are in the central Philippines. The island is divided in ...
, Philippines.
Legend
The ultramodern city is said to be located in the province of
Samar
Samar ( ) is the third-largest and seventh-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 1,909,537 as of the 2020 census. It is located in the eastern Visayas, which are in the central Philippines. The island is divided in ...
. It is also designated as a
barangay
The barangay (; abbreviated as Brgy. or Bgy.), historically referred to as ''barrio'', is the smallest Administrative divisions of the Philippines, administrative division in the Philippines. Named after the Precolonial barangay, precolonial po ...
of
Pagsanghan and
Gandara. According to the local folklore, the population of Biringan comprises supernatural beings: the
engkanto
Engkanto (from Spanish '' encanto'', ) are mythical environmental spirits that are said to have the ability to appear in human form. They are often associated with the spirits of ancestors and spirits of the dead called ''anito'' in the Philipp ...
("enchanted beings"), and their progeny with the humans.
The engkanto are described as
shapechangers who can take human form. In their human form, they are described as lacking a
philtrum
The philtrum (, from Ancient Greek , lit. 'love charm') or medial cleft is a vertical indentation in the middle area of the upper lip, common to therian mammals, extending in humans from the nasal septum to the tubercle of the upper lip. Toget ...
.
The city is also alleged to contain treasures of gold.
According to folklore, there are seven portals leading to the city that are scattered across
Samar
Samar ( ) is the third-largest and seventh-most populous island in the Philippines, with a total population of 1,909,537 as of the 2020 census. It is located in the eastern Visayas, which are in the central Philippines. The island is divided in ...
, one of which is said to be located at an old tree inside the campus of the
Northwest Samar State University in
Calbayog
Calbayog, officially the City of Calbayog (; ), is a component city in the province of Samar, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 186,960 people.
It lies along the coastal region of the province stretching about ...
.
Paranormal claims
A small number of people claim to have seen the city. Some seafarers have claimed to have seen a "dazzling city of light" on
moonless nights, for a few minutes.
According to folk stories, most of the people who claim to have seen the city have been the victims of
demon possessions.
There were reports of satellite images from a Japanese company that allegedly showed brightly lit tracts of land in the region, which led the Japanese to believe that there were rich deposits of gold and uranium in the suspected area. They began work immediately, setting up a large work site in the town of
San Jorge, but mysterious accidents and mishaps plagued the project from the start, forcing the Japanese company to shut down operations and abandon the project completely to avoid bankruptcy and cut their losses.
Legacy
The 2009 Filipino supernatural horror film ''
T2'', directed by Samar native
Chito S. Roño
Chito Sarmiento Roño (; born April 26, 1954), also known as Sixto Kayko and Chito S. Roño, is a Filipino writer, producer, and director. He is known for his expansive vision and special-effects-heavy films. He came to prominence in the Cinem ...
, is loosely based on the legend of Biringan.
An upcoming film about Biringan was also announced by Mentorque Productions in 2024.
See also
*
Philippine mythology
Philippine mythology is rooted in the many indigenous Philippine folk religions. Philippine mythology exhibits influence from Hinduism, Hindu, Islam, Muslim, Buddhism, Buddhist, and Christianity, Christian traditions.
Philippine mythology ...
*
Engkanto
Engkanto (from Spanish '' encanto'', ) are mythical environmental spirits that are said to have the ability to appear in human form. They are often associated with the spirits of ancestors and spirits of the dead called ''anito'' in the Philipp ...
*
Elves
An elf (: elves) is a type of humanoid supernatural being in Germanic folklore. Elves appear especially in North Germanic mythology, being mentioned in the Icelandic ''Poetic Edda'' and the ''Prose Edda''.
In medieval Germanic-speakin ...
*
Orang bunian
*
Mrenh kongveal
Mrenh kongveal (, ) are beings in Cambodian folk mythology resembling elves of western folklore; they are particularly associated with guarding animals. By anecdotal accounts the roots of Mrenh kongveal appear to be uniquely Khmer. The mrenh ko ...
*
Brownie (folklore)
A brownie or broonie ( Scots), also known as a or (Scottish Gaelic), is a household spirit or hobgoblin from Scottish folklore that is said to come out at night while the owners of the house are asleep and perform various chores and farmin ...
References
Visayan mythology
Fictional populated places
Mythological populated places
Philippine urban legends
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