The only way to get there is to be lost.
Imagine a shimmering city looming before you. You hear voices calling in the distance. Large buildings reach to the clouds. Sleek cars slip through the streets. The latest tech is woven through the fabric of daily life, and so is the gold. This gleaming city is modern, yet futuristic.
Except – you were deep in the forest only a second ago.
Welcome to the hidden city of Biringan. You may not know how you got here, but that’s exactly how you found your way.
Folklore and legends about Biringan
Biringan is said to be located somewhere between Pagsanhan, Tarangan, and Gandara in the Philippine province of Samar. There are stories of people driving down a dark, silent road, turning a corner and having their senses blasted by the light and noise of Biringan traffic.
Despite the futuristic beauty of Biringan, people living in that part of Samar are often afraid of it. Some don’t even want to talk about it. “If you see someone or something, don’t make too much noise,” one local said. “During their feast, there are lots of food being served. You can eat anything except the black rice. Eating it will make you stay and live in Biringan city forever, you cannot return to your family anymore,” said another.
I love the layers in Biringan stories. On one hand it’s optimistic – the aspirational aspect of it, the reward of being lost – but there’s also an undercurrent of unease, of disorientation. It’s glittering and grand but somehow keeps us tethered to reality.
Want to learn more about Biringan?
This post is an excerpt from a deeper-dive about the Filipino invisible city of Biringan, including stories about engkanto and theories about why the invisible city legend endures. You can read the full post for free on my Patreon here!
NB: I’ve made every effort to find reliable historical sources for traditions that were often not recorded until much later, if at all. Please keep in mind that I’m not a professional historian, and I’m also limited by English-language sources and the foibles of Google Translate.
Main sources:
- https://www.gridmagazine.ph/story/city-of-the-lost-biringan
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/travel/697891/here-s-a-story-to-remind-you-that-not-everything-that-glitters-is-gold/story
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPQJJE9CDwU
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/394125587_Biringan_A_Folktale_of_the_Invisible_City_of_Samar
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biringan
- https://www.gridmagazine.ph/story/city-of-the-lost-biringan