Maria Cacao: Fact or Myth?

Several days had already passed since Sendong hit our province but still, lots of people are still missing. The government had exerted much effort on regaining them but nothing was found. Where could they be? Many people said they could have been buried in the ground and were naturally decomposed while others said that they could have been carried by the water and were driven to far places. But have you heard of the Maria Cacao story by the residents in Bayug Island? Almost all of them saw this ghost ship. The Maria Cacao ship was believed to have gathered several people and where brought to nowhere.

As what an old man said, who was interviewed by some students, he saw the ship with his naked eye. “It was big. The ship portrayed a modern design, made of metal, and looked like a bigger version of Super Ferry. All the windows were closed. The ship was so bright and if you’ll take a closer look, you would be able to see two spotlights situated on both sides. The ship was like floating on the ground and river and along his trail were dead trees clumping together. This incident is not new to me. I saw the same ship years ago during the flash flood that happened here in Iligan on 1957 and exactly at the same place.”

Is this a fact or a myth? As what a legend says, Maria Cacao is a diwata or mountain goddess who lived in Mount Lantoy in Argao, Cebu, Philippines. Whenever rains flood the river coming from Mount Lantoy, or a bridge is broken, Maria Cacao and her husband Mangao travels down the river in their golden ship so that they can export their crops, or traveled up the river on their way back. She is supposed to live inside a cave in the mountain and the Cacao plants outside it are supposed to be her plantation.

All of us are unique. We have different point of views pertaining to a single subject. So in your case, do you believe this story? 

Typhoon Sendong

It was during night time on December 16, 2011 when the dreadful Typhoon Sendong hit our community, ending lives of innocent people, shattering hopes and dreams of each family and destroying all the plans a prestigious city have made. Almost all of us were alarmed the following day upon hearing the news that hundreds of people were killed and still hundreds of them are lost. There are several factors emerging why that incident happened. First, almost all of the people were in deep slumber when the water rose. Second, the water was muddled up with mud making it so viscous that almost all of them have difficulties in coping with it. Third, a false rumor was spread saying that it would just be a rainy night and there’s nothing to be afraid of. And lastly, several huge “trosos” rushed down from the mountains toward the city, destroying everything it encountered along its way.

12-16-11 was such a misfortune for most of the Northern Mindanaoans, some lost their homes, some lost their loved ones and some lost their selves. That’s the reason for the existence of hope, we must never give up for God has been gracious to us. Every time we say “I can’t do it”, the Lord answers us “You can do all things”, every time we say “I can’t figure things out”, the Lord will direct our steps and every time we say “It’s impossible”, the Lord answers us “All things are possible”. As what a saying states, trials in life are like sandpapers, they hurt us so much but in the end, we become more polished, strong and a mature individual.

Here are some photos that we were able to capture the following day after the typhoon.

This is a picture of a car driven away by the typhoon.

This is a picture of the Tatay's Grill Restaurant which was destroyed because of the typhoon.

The Lovingly Pension house which sheltered 9 couples when the incident happened.

Another picture of cars driven away by the typhoon.

This is a picture of a troso that came from the mountains.

This is a picture of the old bridge separated by the typhoon.