The Thirteenth Boy (Legends of the Sto. Niño de Cebu) - Part 2

A book entitled “Legends of the Sto. Niño de Cebu” was published in 1965. It was written originally in Cebuano by Manuel Enriquez dela Calzada translated into English by Martin Abellana.

It printed legends about the Sto. Niño handed down through the centuries by word of mouth from generation to generation, starting at the landing of Magellan in old Banawa (now called San Nicolas). Among the legends written is the “Thirteenth Boy”:

(Continued from previous article)

“His patient waiting paid off. On Thursday afternoon the pangko surreptitiously landed at Lutaw (this is part of Carbon now) beach not far from the municipal hall. The Cabo de Mar was there waiting for it.

“As the pangko touched the shore, a small boy, leaped from it with the agility of a wildcat. Upon seeing the Cabo de Mar, the boy in distinct Spanish, told the officer “Senor Cabo de Mar, arristad el arraez y os entrego los ninas”. Which in plain English means, “Arrest the head of this boat and in your hand I deliver the children.” No sooner had the small boy spoken than before the eyes of the Cabo, the strange boy disappeared. Where had the boy gone? What happened to him? Who was he? The officer dismissed the boy from his mind and attended to the present pressing matter.

“Why did you change your anchorage several times? The cabo cross-examined the arraez of the pangko, “Why did you not land at once?”

“The waves were big, Senor Cabo,” the Arraez alibied. “I was afraid that our boat, had we landed, might be dashed and destroyed at the shore”.

“Shallow alibi”, the cabo commented. “But where are the children?”

“The arraez vehemently denied of having children in his pangko. “There are no children in my pangko,” the arraez said. “The only child we had was that boy who leaped from it a few minutes ago.”

“You lie!” the cabo shouted in anger, his close fist ready to land a hay maker at the face of the cringing arraez. “Where are the----“.

There was no need to press the matter further. From the hull of the pangko could be heard the shouts of the children.” (To be continued)