Western Visayas

The Datto Somacuel



Datto Somacuel was one of the seven chiefs who, coming from Borneo many years before the Spaniards conquered these islands, settled theIsland of Panay. He lived in Sinaragan, a town near San Joaquin, in the southern part of Iloilo Province. His wife’s name was Capinangan.Somacuel went every morning to the seashore to watch his slaves fish with the sinchoro, or net. One day they caught many fishes, and Somacuel commanded them:–“Spread the fish to dry, and take care that the crows do not eat them up.”A slave answered: “Sir, if your treasure inside the house is stolen by the crows, how do you expect those out of doors to be kept safe?” This was said with a certain intonation that made Somacuel conjecture that there was a hidden meaning in it.“What do you mean by that?” he asked.“Sir, I have to inform you of something that I should have told youlong ago. Do not reprove me if I have been backward in telling youof the injury done you by your wife. It was due to my desire to getcomplete proofs of the truth of my statement.”“End at once your tedious narrative!” said the datto, “What did mywife do?”“Sir,” answered the slave, “she deceives you shamefully. She lovesGorong-Gorong, who is at this very moment in your house jesting atyour absence.”“Alas!” said Somacuel, “if this be true he shall pay well for hisboldness.”The chief hurried home, intending to surprise the offenders. He carrieda fish called ampahan in a bamboo tube full of water, going around bya secret way, so as not to be seen. On reaching home he went up intothe attic to observe what was going on, and found that his informanthad told the truth.Gorong-Gorong and Capinangan were engaged in an affectionatedialogue. Involuntarily Somacuel spilled some of the water down, and,fearing that he would be discovered, seized a spear that was hiddenin the attic and, dropping it down, dexterously ran Gorong-Gorongthrough the body, killing him instantly.“Oh, Diva!” exclaimed Capinangan, kneeling beside the inert corpse,“How shall I be able to take it away without being discovered bySomacuel?”Somacuel, who had not been seen at all, stayed quietly above, watchingwhat Capinangan would do. Capinangan did not suspect that her husband was there, as he usually did not come home before nightfall.She tried to take the corpse out for burial, but could not carry the heavy body of her unfortunate lover. She must conceal it in some way, and it was dangerous for her to call for aid, lest she might be betrayedto her husband. So she took a knife and cut the body into pieces so that she could take them out and bury them under the house.After this task was done she managed to wash the blood up. Shebecame tranquil for a moment, believing she would never bediscovered. Somacuel, however, had observed all, and he formed aplan for punishing his wife as she deserved. When everything seemedto be calm he crept down, doing his best not to be seen. At the doorhe called his wife by name.Capinangan was afraid, but concealed herfear with a smile.“Capinangan,” said her husband, “cut this fish inpieces and cook it for me.”Capinangan was astonished at this command, because she had never before been treated in this way. They had many slaves to perform such tasks.“You know I cannot,”  she said.“Why not?” asked her husband.“Because I have never learned how to cut a fish in pieces nor to cookit,” she replied.“I am astonished that you don’t know how to cut, after seeing thatcutting is your favorite occupation,” said Somacuel.Capinangan then did not doubt that her husband knew what she had done, so she did as he had bidden.When dinner was ready the husband and wife ate it, but without speaking to each other. After the meal, Somacuel told his wife that he had seen all and should punish her severely. Capinangan said nothing. Aguilty person has no argument with which to defend himself. Somacuelordered his servants to throw Capinangan into the sea.At that time the chief’s will was law. Neither pleadings nor tears softened his hard heart, and Capinangan was carried down to the sea and thrown in.Time passed by; Somacuel each day grew sadder and gloomier. He wouldhave been willing now to forgive his wife, but it was too late.He said to his slaves: “Prepare a banca for me, that I may sail fromplace to place to amuse myself.”So one pleasant morning a banca sailed from Sinaragan, goingsouthward. Somacuel did not intend to go to any definite place, but drifted at the mercy of wind and current. He amused himself by singing during the voyage.One day the crew descried land at a distance. “Sir,” they said,“that land is Cagayan. Let us go there to get oysters and crane’s eggs.” To this their master agreed, and upon anchoring off the coast he prepared to visit the place.Oh, what astonishment he felt, as he saw, peeping out of the window ofa house, a woman whose appearance resembled in great measure that of Capinangan! He would have run to embrace her, had he not remembered that Capinangan was dead. He was informed that the woman was named Aloyan. He began to pay court to her, and in a few weeks she became his wife.Somacuel was happy, for his wife was very affectionate. Aloyan, on her part, did not doubt that her husband loved her sincerely, so she said to him:“My dear Somacuel, I will no longer deceive you. I am the very woman whom you caused to be thrown into the sea. I am Capinangan. I clung to a log in the water and was carried to this place, where I have lived ever since.”“Oh,” said Somacuel, “pardon me for the harshness with which I meant to punish you.”“Let us forget what is passed,” said Capinangan. “I deserved it, after all.”So they returned to Sinaragan, where they lived together happily for many years.