In the country of the Philippines lies the kingdom of Pangasinan, so named because of the riches borne forth from the Asin (salt) that comes from its earth. There is a town named San Carlos in that land. This town was built in the 18th Century, rising alongside and
across the San Juan River from the older village named
Binalatongan.During that period, Spaniards still ruled the land and a
rebellion was taking place. The freedom fighters were in retreat. The Spaniards were better armed, better organized, better led, and more numerous in their number of soldiers. They were fast approaching Binalatongan.In a church of that village, there existed what was then the largest bell of the country, the Bell of Binalatongan, wrought of iron, laced with copper and gold flakes, and etched with strange, unknown markings. It was prized by the entire community and admired by all who came to visit.
It was said that this bell originally had been taken from an Aztec or Mayan temple from the newly conquered America and had been transported by the annual galleon’s voyage across the Pacific. Legend also had it that the Bell was originally a sacrificial altar, and when the Conquistadors brought it to the Philippines they turned it upside down and changed its purpose to that of a church bell. Villagers whispered that it still retained its magical powers.
In the village church where this bell resided lived a young maiden named Mangatarem.
Her task was to care for the Bell. At the height of the rebel retreat,
Mangatarem sensed that the Spaniards were beginning to close
in on the village. Mangatarem began to ring the Bell, warning of their
coming.The community decided to burn down Binalatongan to slow the
Spaniards and prevent the remaining
rebel forces from entrapment and destruction.As the villagers began to
abandon their homes and set fire to the buildings, Mangatarem could not bear to leave her beloved Bell. The order was given to save it and a large cadre of rebel soldiers came and brought the bell down.They tied it onto the biggest, most sturdy cart they could find and gathered the town’s three strongest karabao (water buffalo) to pull it.The burdened cart was the last to approach the bridge that spanned the San Juan River, with the karabao pulling, the contingent of freedom fighters and Mangatarem pushing. All strained to get the bell across. Binalatongan blazed behind them. Cannon balls began to land from the Spaniards, some bursting in the air above them, others exploding within the conflagration,
a few splashing in the river. It has been argued that a cannon ball
struck the bridge, but many believe the bridge collapsed because of the enormous weight put upon it. One of the karabao had already crossed, but two of the animals, the Bell, Mangatarem, and the soldiers fell into the river as
the bridge crashed into the roiling waters below. All the beasts and
the men were able to swim to the river bank and reach San Carlos. The Bell sank into the dark depths of the San Juan River. Mangatarem was never found. The Spaniards arrived and saw only the mounds and ashes of ruined Binalatongan and no bridge to cross the river. Eventually, the Spaniards were able to move forward and occupy San Carlos. The rebellion, as with many that followed, was crushed.
In the village church where this bell resided lived a young maiden named Mangatarem.
Her task was to care for the Bell. At the height of the rebel retreat,
Mangatarem sensed that the Spaniards were beginning to close
in on the village. Mangatarem began to ring the Bell, warning of their
coming.The community decided to burn down Binalatongan to slow the
Spaniards and prevent the remaining
rebel forces from entrapment and destruction.As the villagers began to
abandon their homes and set fire to the buildings, Mangatarem could not bear to leave her beloved Bell. The order was given to save it and a large cadre of rebel soldiers came and brought the bell down.They tied it onto the biggest, most sturdy cart they could find and gathered the town’s three strongest karabao (water buffalo) to pull it.The burdened cart was the last to approach the bridge that spanned the San Juan River, with the karabao pulling, the contingent of freedom fighters and Mangatarem pushing. All strained to get the bell across. Binalatongan blazed behind them. Cannon balls began to land from the Spaniards, some bursting in the air above them, others exploding within the conflagration,
a few splashing in the river. It has been argued that a cannon ball
struck the bridge, but many believe the bridge collapsed because of the enormous weight put upon it. One of the karabao had already crossed, but two of the animals, the Bell, Mangatarem, and the soldiers fell into the river as
the bridge crashed into the roiling waters below. All the beasts and
the men were able to swim to the river bank and reach San Carlos. The Bell sank into the dark depths of the San Juan River. Mangatarem was never found. The Spaniards arrived and saw only the mounds and ashes of ruined Binalatongan and no bridge to cross the river. Eventually, the Spaniards were able to move forward and occupy San Carlos. The rebellion, as with many that followed, was crushed.
Since then, many have tried to recover the Bell of Binalatongan. Spaniards, Americans, and Japanese during their respective periods of occupation, as well as Filipinos and other visitors to Pangasinan, have sought unsuccessfully to get their hands on the Bell. But
a strange story has arisen from the numerous failed attempts.It is said
that whenever the Bell is pulled from its watery grave, something would
grasp it and pull it back: a pale figure, purported to have the face and upper figure of Mangatarem but to have the lower shape of a fish.The place where the village Binalatongan once stood is now overgrown with weeds and vegetation. No marker identifies its location. The deep river still cuts its course through there. Within its folds, the San Juan River retains its hold on the Bell of Binalatongan and on its guardian, the mermaid named Mangatarem.
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