University of Southeastern PhilippinesCollege of Education

Obrero, Davao City

Submitted to:

Prof . Maxima PialaMythology and Folklore

Submitted by:

Duhaylungsod, Joyce T.

Cabural , Leonardo Achi l les C.

BSEd-English III

In old times, people greatly believe on the existence of supernatural beings.

They believed that humans co-exist with supernatural beings. These beings are

endowed with certain capabilities that humans do not have. But despite these

extraordinary capabilities these creatures have weaknesses. This is a story of how my

cousin’s grandparents managed to escape a supernatural creature.

It was fiesta at the neighboring barrio. My cousin’s grandparents decided to

come to the barrio and celebrate with friends who lived there. The two had to go

through a forest before reaching the barrio. They set off early in order to enjoy the

highlights of fiesta. On their way to the barrio, the two did not encounter any

problem in the forest. They reached the barrio safely and enjoyed the festivities for

the whole day. They decided to go home by the afternoon before it was dark.

Unfortunately, before the sun set they were still inside the forest. When it started to

grow darker and darker, they moved close to each as they felt something was

following them. They saw a suspended light coming towards their direction. My

cousin’s grandmother searched for a match and commanded her husband to do so.

When they found the match, my cousin’s grandmother lit the match and the creature

disappeared. It has been believed that when a santelmo, the suspended light they

saw, was afraid of fire. A santelmo is a creature of fire that when it comes to contact

to the human body the body burns from the inside with an inextinguishable flame

until the human being dies. So it is convenient to bring a match with you when you

are going to the forest. Just in case you might encounter a santelmo.