Cristobal Mangubat is from a family of albularyos - faith healers that use the powers of good to avenge against evil. His wife Lorena is a babaylan, a spirit guide who call spirits to provide her with powers that can battle the forces of darkness. Both work together in times of immense need of the barrio of Kabuwasan, especially with the fact that it lies in the shadow of the hacienda.
The married couple had the support of the local chaplain, Padre Gregorio Labanan. The priest knew of all the supernatural occurrences that plagued the barrio since the hacienda was put up. That is why every Holy Week, all he spoke every Homily was to protect themselves and seek the guidance of the Lord Jesus Christ, The Blessed Virgin Mary, and the faith healer couple, Cristobal and Lorena. He recognized them as local heroes, who defeated many supernatural creatures of their day, and hopes they will defeat the manananggal estate someday.
One late afternoon, Lorena was cooking up tinola for her family for dinner, until something appeared in the soup, which terrified her. It was an apparition of the impending fall of San Roque to the manananggals led by the Del Fierro clan. She called up Cristobal about what she saw, and immediately Cristobal called up all his albularyo and babaylan colleagues to gather in the town plaza.
The townsfolk heard of the gathering of the albularyos and babaylans in the town, which agitated many of them, including Padre Gregorio.
"Why are you gathering this time of day, Cristobal?", Padre Gregorio asked.
"My wife Lorena envisioned an attack of the Del Fierros and their legion of manananggals," Cristobal answered.
"Yes, we will be invaded," added Lorena, "that is why we ask you to stay at your homes. Prepare garlic and chili, and put them in your doors and windows. Sprinkle them with Holy Water so that no manananggal can enter."
Padre Gregorio agreed with the plan. But the town mayor Soliman Desiderio wanted to oppose what Cristobal and Lorena wanted.
"How will you defeat Don Salvador and Doña Ariana?", questioned the mayor.
The couple showed him a crucifix made from the bark of the fire tree, the one that grows beside their home. "This cross will guide us to defeat the menacing couple," Cristobal said.
The mayor shook his head. He just wanted the couple to be safe.
At sunset, Cristobal and Lorena, and their team surrounded the town plaza, preparing for the invasion to come.
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The Moonlight Assassin
HorrorThe Moonlight Assassin embarks on an exhilarating journey into the heart of darkness and the unknown. Follow Miguel Mangubat, a seemingly ordinary man with an extraordinary secret, as he unravels the enigma of his true identity. With the allure of t...
