The world is full of urban legends, mythical creatures, and even a few entities that cannot be explained and that is very apparent even in the Philippines. Whether it was a legend passed down by the elders to mysteries that have no apparent origin and just popped out of nowhere, it never fails to give a scare to many people, whether they are a child or an old person. And considering that things in the past, gadgets, the internet, and modern society norms are still not a thing, tales of the old folks are what make the people entertained and the most common thing that are being told and passed down by many are those same tall tales that are more likely to be part of a wild imagination.
And if bad luck comes, one would get cursed and suffer from the consequences for not following certain rules. That's where the Albularyos and Babaylans come into the picture. Since modern medicine is expensive and some peculiar sicknesses sometimes hit people, many think that this was a consequence of disobeying the rules to ward off evil spirits or not following certain rituals that would anger the spirits, and the like. And since regular medicines sometimes never work on these illnesses, the Albularyos and Babaylans would do the work most of the time.
But those things came to pass the moment things progressed. The Internet has become the source of knowledge, gadgets are what cause people to get hooked on, and the tales that were once believed have been abandoned, left out, and forgotten by many people, so that many no longer believe in those things. Albularyos and Babaylans also became a rarity to the point that the only people doing it are the old people, and barely any young people are taking the mantle to carry the legacy.
And since medicine has progressed leaps and bounds, many have ceased to believe in Albularyos and Babaylans, and many now call them a derogatory term as Quack Doctors.
However, many didn't know that these urban legends and mythical creatures have also learned to adapt to modern society. And considering that the Albularyos and Babaylans are considered a rarity and looked down upon, they have finally taken a grasp on finally returning to reign, slowly but surely, to the unsuspecting people who no longer believe in these tales.
...
...
...
Modern Day.
Sancho and his sister, Arcana, arrived in Manila to live with their grandfather Lolo Juan, who is already ailing and on his last legs. Considering that the two siblings are already orphans and only have Lolo[1] Juan as their remaining relative, they know who is still alive. Lolo Juan decided to adopt the two siblings and have them inherit his land and house along with the money he had saved up to ensure that the house remains and his little business of selling herbal medicines remains even when he is gone from this world.
As a bit of payment for accepting Lolo Juan's inheritance and taking care of him before he dies, Sancho will be able to attend school for free, and Arcana gets to graduate from college with all the necessary payments to her student loans and bills fully paid.
Hearing this offer, the two didn't hesitate to accept. It's a free tuition fee after all, and an inheritance as well, it was like getting into a jackpot but with less riches.
"Wow, I heard Manila is a very big place compared to the backwaters where we came from, but just wow..." Arcana was so amazed by what she was seeing for the first time.
"Seriously, Sis? Considering that we always see this scenery on our phone, do you still get amazed by these skyscrapers and stuff of modern society? I think I still prefer the usual quiet life we had back then," Sancho sighed. Compared to Arcana, he doesn't find the scenery in Manila marvelous. For Sancho, he loves to see more greenery and nature compared to the colossal metal buildings of Manila; it is a far cry from the scenery of forest and grass plains back in the village where they came from. At least that was his opinion.
"Now, now, Brother. Lolo Juan said that his house is surrounded by nature, so you will be seeing what you really like to see anyway. Can't we just admire this beautiful scenery and the bustling place?"
"Ugh...suit yourself, I will be looking for a taxi to send us to our next destination. Don't get too caught up in sightseeing, alright? Otherwise, I will leave you behind."
"Hey, Sancho! Don't be a killjoy! Come on!"
The two might be starting anew in an unfamiliar city, but it is just regular life right now. Nothing new for them. However, little did they know, this move will be the beginning of their extraordinary life.
...
...
...
"Is this the place?" Sancho asked.
"Looks like it, there's no other houses in this place aside from this one so we are not lost," Arcana said as she pocketed the paper that contains the sketch of where they needed to go.
"And here I thought we would be moving in a small house but this is a big mansion and a big plot of land!"
What they are looking at is a hacienda with a land that is used to grow various crops and medicinal plant that their Lolo Juan uses to craft the herbal medicine he sells that Sancho's imagination about a life in nature with a simple house is broken immediately. However, it is indeed far from the bustling metropolis of Metro Manila. It was even a bit of a miracle that this place seems to be a bit secluded with barely any houses in the area.
"Why are you so surprised, Sancho? Considering how Lolo Juan decided to fully sponsor our studies so much, do you think he was a poor man? I don't think that was the case. Alright, let's get inside and talk to Lolo Juan before he gets impatient of us!"
Although Sancho is not against this, he was not briefly informed about this development. It would have been less shocking if he have knew in advance at all.
Just as he was about to enter the house, he saw something in his peripheral view but when he turned around to look at what suddenly moved, there was nothing there.
"Hey, Sancho? Are you going in or not?"
"Wait! Don't close the gate yet!"
Sancho returned his attention to the gate leaving behind what he saw earlier.
Although the Hacienda is indeed big, it isn't as big as what millionaires own with plot of land so big that one needs a vehicle to ride around. The land is decent enough size just for planting crops and herbal medicine. The rest of the hacienda's territory is a small forest that Sancho is curious to explore.
The mansion of the hacienda is also quite old. Although there are some signs that it has been renovated here and there, it is also clear that some of those original materials remained in the house. Only a few parts remain and that was just for the sake of making sure the house doesn't fall. Still, this place was quite a luxury compared to the last house the two siblings are in.
"I heard Lolo Juan maintains this hacienda all by himself. How is that even possible? This place is quite big! If he is gone in the future, can we even clean this whole place in one whole day?" Arcana frowned.
"Why are you complaining? Just be grateful that we will be living in a place that is not rickety enough that one strong blow of the wind will cause it to be blown away," Sancho frowned.
"Hey, I didn't complain! Just stating the obvious!"
As the two siblings bicker, someone chuckled not too far from them and the two looked at the source of the laughter and saw an old man approaching them. He is dressed simply and looks like a regular old man that they always see in various sari-sari store drinking beer first thing in the morning with their friends.
"Hoho, kids these days are so lively. I kinda miss my youthful days back then."
The two approached the old man. Although he looked really old, surprisingly, he didn't even have a cane to aid walking. He still walks like a regular young man. If not for his face and his wrinkled skin, one would mistake him when facing his back as a tall mid-thirties man.
"Are you Lolo Juan."
"Indeed, I am. Welcome to my hacienda, my grandchildren."
...
...
...
The house has a rustic vibe while also slowly transitioning to the modern society. Flat screen tv, computer, and other modern things are present in the house that one can feel the modern comfort while also feeling the rustic old-school vibe. Sancho really likes it.
"Knowing that my grandchildren are coming, I had the two bedrooms in the second floor renovated. Pardon for the smell of fresh paint once you two enter the room, but it should be ready to be decorated to your liking."
"Oh! Finally, we don't need to share a room now, brother!" Arcana is very happy and rushed to her own bedroom. Sancho on the other hand didn't and keep the grandpa before him company.
"I never expected you to be rich, Grandpa. No wonder you can afford to pay for our tuition fees like nothing."
"Hahaha, you can say that I like to flex a bit. Treat it as some sort of habit."
Sancho glanced at the old man before him. Although he is old, Sancho couldn't even tell he is dying. He looks energetic and unlike other old men he have seen before, his Lolo Juan shows no sign of the telltale signs of a dying person.
"Say, Lolo. You told us on your messages on the phone back then when you are still offering us to be adopted to you that you are dying but seeing you in personal, I don't think your claim is real. You look very healthy to me!"
Lolo Juan taps Sancho on his shoulder, "Sancho, right? You might think I look healthy right now, but my time here in this world is almost over as I didn't transcend my humanity into a higher being..."
"What? Transcend your humanity?" Sancho frowned.
"Ahem. What I mean is that I am already feeling the pain in the body that I despite moving like a young man, I am no longer feeling the same way back when I was still young. My body is already screaming constantly and sooner or later, it won't be a weird thing that I would suddenly not wake up on my bed one day."
"Lolo, don't say that! You still didn't know us yet, please, spend more time with us. We might have just met today but please last long enough so that even if you are going to die soon, you will be die happy."
"Don't worry, my boy. We still have plenty of time to bond along with your sister. Before I let go of this mortal body and ascend to the other plane, I will ensure that we will be acquainted enough that you will start shedding tears when I am gone. HAHAHAHA!"
Sancho chuckled. Although his jokes are bad and a bit dark, he is happy to have a new family besides his sister. It might be only for a limited time but he wanted to cherish it as they miss having an older figure watching over them. Before they let go of their childish desires, perhaps having a bit of familial love before stepping to the harsh world would be a good idea.
On the other hand, Sancho has yet to realize it but at the current moment, dozens of eyes are currently watching them. But Sancho would not be knowing this matter until a little later living in the mansion.
[1] Grandfather or an old man endearment in the Filipino language