the golden ship - Bicol folklore

 Like most Bicol mythology, the golden ship is one of those stories with multiple version and is abundant in Bicol.  

There was once a Spanish galleon that sank during a fierce storm off the coast of San Miguel Island. As the ship went down, the captain managed to grab onto a floating wooden door while clutching a casket full of gold. However, the storm continued to rage, and a massive wave hurled him into the sea. Unbeknownst to him, a giant Banog (a local eagle) swooped down, snatched the casket of gold, and flew off toward distant shores.

When the captain awoke the next morning, he found himself lying on the dead corals of Corangon Shoal. Beside him was Magindara, a local mermaid. She told him that he had drowned when the ship sank, but Magindang, the Lord of the Seas, had revived him so that he could retrieve the lost casket of gold. The Banog had carried the casket away, likely a pet of Oryol, the half-maiden, half-snake daughter of the evil god Aswang.

“For now, your soul remains in the heart of the sea with Magindang,” Magindara explained. “You can only recover it by returning the casket of gold to him. Until then, you will have no memory of who you are or where you came from. But remember this—your name is Don Diego.”

One day, Pedro brought news to Don Diego that some villagers had spotted what seemed to be golden earth around a hill in Putsan, a coastal village. However, no one could reach the area due to a lake of boiling mud that surrounded it. Intrigued, Don Diego decided to see the place for himself. Before he left, Basyon handed him a protective necklace. Accompanied by Pedro, Don Diego set off on the journey.

Upon reaching the lake, a local advised them to visit Gurang Siloy, an elder who could explain the mysterious lake.

“According to my elders,” Gurang Siloy began, “that boiling lake is the exhaust of Gagamban, the dwelling of Aswang, the Evil God. The place is known as Naglagbong because people believed something immense fell from the sky when the lake first erupted. The area is feared because those who dare approach often vanish without a trace. Many believe they were drowned by Oryol, the daughter of Aswang.”

From a distance, Don Diego saw the hill with its golden-colored clay, but the boiling lake barred their way. With no clear solution, he and Pedro returned home, their hearts heavy with disappointment.

 After the triumphant recovery of the gold, celebrations erupted in the village. In gratitude for her intercession, they held a vigil to the Nuestra Señora de Salvación. As a gesture of generosity, Don Diego gave half of the gold to the villagers. However, Basyon, the village matriarch, decided to keep half of their share, saying it was necessary to build a chapel for the Holy Mother. “This was the message of the Nuestra Señora,” she declared, and the villagers agreed.

Don Diego then addressed the crowd, “My final request is that you help me build a ship to sail the open seas.” For several full moons, the villagers worked together, crafting a magnificent ship, which they painted gold so it would shine even in the night. Before departing, Don Diego promised Basyon that he would return after reclaiming his soul from Magindang, the guardian of the seas. Soon after, a great flood swept Don Diego and his golden ship out to the open waters.

Basyon waited for a long, long time, but Don Diego never returned. Various tales about his fate began to spread. Some claimed he failed to recover his soul because Magindang refused the diminished offering of gold. Others said that after recovering his soul, Don Diego lost all memory of Basyon and the village, and sailed back to his original homeland. Still, others whispered that he was seduced by Magindara, the sea enchantress, and stayed with her in the depths. By the time he remembered his vow to return to the Taqui River, Basyon had already passed away, having waited too long.

To this day, the legend endures. Some say that when the waters of Taqui River rise after heavy rains, Don Diego’s golden ship can be seen gliding towards the sea, sometimes even smashing the Naga Bridge in its wake. It is said that as his ship sails, Don Diego scatters gold coins along the riverbanks. To this day, people search the shores of the Taqui River, hoping to find his lost treasure. And even now, the riverbanks remain scattered with gold-colored pebbles, reminding all of Don Diego’s promise and the golden ship lost to the sea.

REMINDER

The orally transmitted mythology of the Philippines is intended for sharing and understanding, not for appropriation, commercial exploitation, or the promotion of foreigners and foreign products. It is a dynamic narrative tradition that evolves over time, distinct from the standardized mythologies found in Western and European cultures. Unlike these established mythologies, the Philippine government has not mandated standardized versions of stories and legends.

Orally transmitted stories undergo variations and evolve over time, resulting in numerous different versions. There are many different version told by Filipinos, and retold by Filipinos.