Berbenota: The Enchanted Guardian of Biri Islands

Once upon a time, in the peaceful village of Talisay on the enchanting Biri Islands, lived a little girl named Berbenota. She was known for her sparkling eyes that mirrored the vast sea surrounding her home and her curious spirit that was always eager to explore. Berbenota's days were filled with simple joys, like searching for seashells and seafood with her doting mother by the shallow sea in front of the majestic rock formations—Magasang, Magsapad, Macadlaw, Puhunan, Bel-at, and Caranas.

One afternoon, while the sun still painted the sky with hues of gold, Berbenota and her mother set out to find a bountiful catch. But fate had other plans. Suddenly, the heavens opened up, and rain poured down in torrents. Her mother, worried about leaving her daughter exposed to the elements, decided to seek shelter and left Berbenota in the safety of Macadlaw, one of the sturdy rock formations.

"Wait here, my darling, I'll be back soon with food and seashells," her mother promised before heading into the storm.

However, minutes turned into hours, and hours into days, but her mother did not return. Little Berbenota was left all alone on the rock, her heart heavy with hunger, thirst, and the crushing ache of missing her mother. The sea level and waves grew larger and fiercer, cutting off the little girl from her village, and no one could come to her rescue.

Berbenota cried and called for her mother, but the storm drowned her pleas. She endured two long days of despair, feeling the weight of loneliness and abandonment. It seemed that hope was slipping away with every tear she shed.

But fate had a peculiar way of intervening. On the third day, an ancient and compassionate encanto named Selina found the little girl lying pale and lifeless amidst the rocks, her tears having dried on her cheeks. Selina, a guardian of the encanto kingdom named Biringan, recognized the sorrow in Berbenota's eyes and knew she couldn't leave her behind.

With a gentle touch, Selina carried the girl away in her arms and transported her to the hidden realm of Biringan. There, Berbenota was welcomed and raised as one of their own, her memories of the past fading like the whispers of a distant dream.

As the years passed, Berbenota grew into a kind and graceful young woman, inheriting the magical powers of the encantos. With time, she ascended to become the Queen of Biringan, adorned with a crown that shimmered like the stars.

Yet, the memories of her past life tugged at her heartstrings. Berbenota couldn't help but wonder about the mother she had lost and the village that was once her home. When she turned 15, the queen mother granted her permission to visit the Biri Islands discreetly, under the guise of a mysterious and ever-changing tourist.

Berbenota's secret excursions became a timeless ritual. Each visit, she embarked on her magical golden ship from the familiar rock formation, Macadlaw, before dawn. The elders, attuned to the island's mystical whispers, sensed her presence but could never catch a glimpse of her true form.

Over the centuries, Berbenota became the unseen protector and provider for Biri. Whenever storms threatened the island, she intervened in her magical way, ensuring the safety and welfare of the villagers. She bestowed gifts of abundance and blessings without them ever knowing the source.

No one in Biri knew her true identity or recognized her face, as she changed her appearance with every visit. But they felt her presence—the mysterious benefactor who had become their guardian angel, guiding them through the toughest times.

And so, the tale of the little girl named Berbenota lived on, etched in the hearts of the islanders. They whispered about the ancanto queen who emerged from the depths of the sea, sailing her golden ship to protect and provide, never realizing that she was the same little girl who had once been lost and found amidst the rock formations of Macadlaw so many lifetimes ago.