by: Felisa Daskeo
My father was a prolific storyteller who spiced my youth with interesting if not adorable stories. There was this strange story that was left unexplained.I haven’t heard any development of this story since then, but I believe it was true.
When tribal wars were still predominant in our region; an unexplained phenomenon kept my father’s village safe from the neighboring enemies.My father said that Tadian, Mt. Province has never been attacked by the enemies since they thought that the lights were the villagers themselves protecting their village.
When we were young, we often saw lights scattered around the mountains. We often thought they were men, but we learned from my father that they were not. They were the “APADE”, which were like fairies of the town.
When modernization was adapted by the Igorots, the “Apade” slowly left the village. There was this story told that a man once saw lights parading away from the town and a voice saying, “We’ll leave this place. We are of no use anymore.” Perhaps they left to find another place to protect from danger. As for Tadian, it still is a very safe and peaceful place to stay even to these days.
Copyright 2020 Felisa Daskeo. Do not copy.
What’s even sadder is that these fairies will never come back to Tadian.
