Biringan land of the morning

In the Province of Samar, the Philippines, the mention of “Biringan” evokes awe, fear, intrigue, knocking on wood and innumerable signs of the Cross.

What is Biringan? It is reportedly an undefined location somewhere between Calbayog City and Catarman, Northern Samar, where a mythic city(ies) of indescribable grandeur is/are said to exist, unvisited by ordinary mortals, known only by magnificent folk stories that refuse to die despite the advent of television and the internet. Other reports extend its area to as far south as San Jorge, Samar.

Biringan’s “now-you-see-it, soon-you-won’t” quality indicates it is not of the usual land and water terrain in which we live in. It seems to exist in a different dimension, which explains why its boundaries can overlap with known towns and cities of Samar island. On moonless nights, seafarers aplenty have reported seeing a dazzling city of light. In a few minutes, though, the manifestation is no longer visible. Obviously, Biringan is not likely to be shown on any map or atlas. But specialized (infrared, ultraviolet, etc.) satellite mapping photography have reportedly turned up a shining area in the reported general location of Biringan.

They say Biringan is the legendary home of the encantos (enchanted ones) and half-encanto, half-human progeny. The encantos are most likely elementals, as old as the mountains and rivers in the area. They are apparently shapechangers because they have been reported to appear in whatever form they wish, human or not. But in human form, their distinguishing characteristic is the lack of the philtrum, the indentation below the nose and above the upper lip.

Contain economic freedom

I will not begin with a spell, but a very pretty incantation:

Visurus magam magni solis filiam,
His procedens é latebris,
Ibis Circêum liber in hospicium,
Haud arctis arctis clusum terminis.

Balantes oues, mugientes & boues,
Crissantes hoedorum patres
Visurus, vniuers' & campi pecora,
Cunctasque syluæ bestias.

Concentu vario errabunt cæli volucres,
In terra, in vnd' in aere.
Et to dimittent illæsum pisces maris,
Naturali silentio;

Tandem caueto, quando domum appuleris,
Inuenturus domestica:
Namque antè fores, aditumqu' ant' atrii,
Limosum se præsentans

Occurret porcus, cui si forté adhæseris:
Limo, dentibus, pedibus:
Mordebit, inquinabit, inculcabit,
Et grunditu t' obtundet.

Ipsis in foribus, in adituqu' atrii,
Moraus genus latrantium:
Molestum fiet baubatu multiplici,
Et faucibus terribile.

Hoc ni desipias, & nisi desipiat,
Metu dentis, & baculi,
Te non mordebit, ipsum non percuties,
Perges, nec te præpediet.

Quæ cum solerti euaseris industria,
Interiora subiens:
Solaris volucer to gallus excipiet,
Solis committens filiæ.