The History of Binaliw

• Early Times

There are several legends told by some folks that have been existing about the history of Binaliw. Several genres were told and uttered but very confusing which one to believe in.

Every generation means a new story about the place. Everything that is happening around are closely related to its origin according to some. About nature god's and Goddesses, extra-ordinary animals even humans, and other scary things and mysteries which tattooed in minds and feelings of the people in the place.

The Woman in the River

The river where the woman was hit with lightning

        Way back decades and hundreds of years, there was a strange place with only few people existing. The place was peaceful, no war, no noise but only the birds singing and flopping its wings, a silence over the dancing leaves of the trees, a very calm nature of peace and freedom. There was this woman in the name of Balin who served as a caretaker of the place. One time while washing her clothes and stuffs in the river, a stranger suddenly passed by carrying a bag with something enclosed in it. Due to woman’s curiosity, she asked the man what was inside the bag. The man did not answered her question. The woman asked and asked in countless times. Due to the man's tiredness of listening to her, the man beard anger to Balin and then dropped down the bag with full of energy exerted on it. The woman was frightened and started to shut her mouth up. The man then told her “don't blame me for what will happen to you”. After that statement of him, he ran away so quickly that Balin still had asked herself why he'd ran away. She then looked up inside the bag. She was startled when she saw what was inside in it. It was a huge turtle. Upon seeing that animal, thunderstorms began rolling and lightning began drawing up the sky. She was a bit scared of what happened since it was a sunny noon. When she looked at the turtle again, it bursted out in front of her and she was hit by a powerful lightning. After she was it by the lightning, she suddenly felt her body starting to freeze that she could not move any of her parts. After that great and mysterious incident, a huge stone stood up the place formed like a woman's body. Until now, no one could really tell what happened to that woman. But others believe that stoned the formed like a woman's body in the river was really that woman named Balin. Binaliw was named after the woman who became a stone after being hit by the powerful lightning. 

Maria Cacaw

This is the rock which according to the people Maria Cacaw hides

Once upon a time, there was this fairy who exist and hides under rocks along the river. She was named Maria Cacaw. Maria Cacaw, according to the old folks was a very generous and kind to the people in the place./ although she doesn't really exist but still they could feel how loving she was. Maria Cacaw was the provider of the needs of the people. Utensils such as tapper wares, knives, pans, and other kitchen wares were all provided by her as long as you pray and beg sincerely in front of a big rock which according to them had served as her home. Maria Cacaw was their God. She was very generous to the people with her rule “return what you borrowed”. Maria Cacaw never asked for something in return of her kindness but to obey and follow her genuine rule. The people had this never ending borrowing of things until it came to a point of abusing Maria's kindness. One man had not returned the utensils. As a result she was angry and disappointed to what the man did. She then refused to lend her help to the folks until in the latter days, she disappeared. The people wasted the chances until they learned to bear in their minds that she was really gone. Since no more Maria Cacaw who would let them borrow things, they worked hard on their own to supply their needs. Maria Cacaw left a scar in their hearts and minds. A scar that had taught them lessons about life's realm of existence. As a remnant of her, the people would just hear a boat serene on the river which had reminded that Maria Cacaw was an exporter of cocoa(cacaw) using her boat to buy things for the people.