Holes in Cave Fish Story

It is highly believed that there’s an opening to underwater cave (or amphibious cave) at the back of Liloan Church’s altar. In the old days (perhaps until the early 1970s), the cave opening was left open for public viewing. If you throw something in the hole, it would send off a hollow sound suggesting a sizable hollow space. Some brave souls even went as far as going down the hole.

The underwater cave could be man-made and used as escape route during the marauding days when Spaniards ruled the town. Or maybe it is just a freak of nature and nothing but a black hole. The actual opening of the “cave in a cove” is some meters from the shore at the back of Liloan Church. It runs underneath towards Suba Channel and back to the altar of the church or elsewhere. In any way, there’s a huge tourism potential for it. The cave could contain past secrets and other unveiled beauties.

Deep inside the underwater cave, as blogged earlier by Immortalundead, there were reports that the inhabitants down under are ancient sea creatures. Giant fish called cogtong? Octopus? Mermaids? We don’t know. And there’s not much available literature about it even in Internet archives of folklores.

So we asked around. The older Liloanons we interviewed failed to provide conclusive answers. Wanting for authoritative take, we went several times to hear words from Church people. A few days ago, we were able to finally “corner” Fr. Eric Jecong, the parish priest of Liloan. He is one cordial priest and appears very animated when he talks. He allowed us to take pictures inside the church but not beyond the altar.

Swerver: “Can we have a look at the hole for a sec, father?”
Father Jecong: Why?
Swerver: We would only take some pictures… very quickly. We won’t go down inside for sure. If the hole is padlocked, we won’t ask anyone to open it…
Father Jecong: Dong, I’m just new to this parish. I don’t really know where’s the hole or if there is really a hole.

I know he’s a good and sincere priest. Father Jecong is. But something tells me there was an apparent “air of discomfort” with Church people whenever we talked about holes. Something fishy?

-Swerver

The Story of a Sea Creature Living Below the Church

Like I mentioned in an earlier blog, the Church of San Fernando Rey in Liloan is the subject of a few myths and urban legends. Well, perhaps not just the church itself but the general vicinity of the church. Let me say first that these are just stories, passed down from generation to generation, that some of the things I have heard might differ from those that you might have heard.

Most importantly, it has not been proven that such stories have some truth to them. I will not claim anything for that mater.

For years, there have been stories that an underground cave network or tunnels exist beneath the foundations of the San Fernando Rey Church and the immediate grounds. It is said that when you try jumping on the grounds behind the church, near the sea, you'd find that the sound is hollow suggesting the presence of a tunnel below it.

I've heard stories from people there that this supposed underwater cave terminates right below the altar of the church itself. What makes it more interesting is the legend of something big, a sea creature, living right below the altar in the underwater tunnel. Of course, Swerver and me hasn't seen it, and I doubt anyone did and lived through it. All we know are the stories.

There have been several versions of what creature is supposed to live there. Some say it's a big fish, maybe a primordial fish called a cogtong in the local dialect. Still, some of the current generation of Liloanons were told that it's a giant squid or octopus. Whatever it is, the creature is said to spit something out from time to time into the church. It is said to eat something, and then regurgitate it the same way anacondas do with their prey. In another version from another person that Swerver interviewed, though, the cogtong's catch is never found.

And, yes, the cogtong is known to swallow a person whole. Not much unlike the anacondas in the Anaconda movie series, to give a more vivid description.

Even the nearby Suba channel is linked to the story of this underwater creature. One of the people we talked to in one of our visits told us that, once a year, there is a very big whirlpool in the channel. Legend says that it is a sign that the creature below the church is pulling something -- or someone -- to eat. Scary huh?

Then again, legends are legends. It may or may not be true. However, this makes the Liloan all the more interesting. I can't help but think what other interesting stories does this wonderful town have for the imaginative and the inquisitive?

~Immortalundead