Cebu Urban Legends

An urban legend is a modern folklore made up of fictional stories that often feature gruesome elements associated with local pop culture. These stories may not necessarily come from urban areas since the term is used to distinguish it from traditional legends during the pre-industrial era. These stories are typically used as entertainment and are sometimes used to provide an justify unexplained occurrences in the locality. 

Cebu City has its share of urban legends that have been passed on from one generation to another.  While it remains uncertain if some of these urban legends are true, they do have contributed to the interesting history of the Queen City of the South.

The Kugtong of Lapu-Lapu City

Kugtong – image source: choosephilippines.com

Lapu-Lapu City residents are aware of an urban legend about a “kugtong” or grouper fish that is said to live under a milling company. The kugtong or large pugapo/Lapu-Lapu is supposedly big enough to swallow a whole man.  The urban legend indicates that the fish supposedly became so big after it mutated due to the waste products from the factory. It is supposedly armored and has razor-sharp teeth.

The Ghost of Minda Mora

USC Main – image source: sunstar.com.ph

Cebu City has a number of ghost stories and these typically come out during the Holy Week and Halloween season. One popular urban legend in Cebu City is about the ghost of Minda Mora. Minda Mora was supposedly a student of a local university who loved performing. But, tragedy struck when a number of security guards supposedly violated her before burying her body at the cultural center of the university. Due to this, he spirit continues to roam the cultural center of the campus.  One room in the cultural center is reportedly remains locked. Stories indicate that the vengeful spirit of Minda Mora lives inside this particular room.

Siopao in Colon

Siopao – image source: commons .wikimedia.org

One well-known urban legend in Cebu City dates back to the Second World War when meat was hard to come by. Due to the scarcity of pork, cat meat was supposedly used by siopao makers in Colon. The story continued to spread even after the war. But, this particular urban legend may have resulted from the rivalry of two siopao makers who wanted to vilify each other by making disparaging remarks about the siopao of each other.  These comments were eventually carried over even after the war. It soon evolved into the use of cat meat for the siopao. 

Half-Man, Half-Snake at Mall 

Robinsons Cebu – image source: skyscrapercity.com

Following the opening of one of the first malls in Cebu City, stories of a half-man half-serpent victimizing young women started to emerge. The story actually started in the Metro Manila following the opening of a high-end mall. The mall was supposedly built to house the twin-brother of the owner’s daughter. The young ladies would be taken while they are in the fitting room of the mall. The story went as far as saying that a pretty model/actress was one of the victims of the serpent. But, the mutant offspring was smitten by the beauty of the celebrity that he let her go.

Lapu-Lapu Monument Curse 

Lapu-Lapu – image source: g1d.me

A monument of the chieftain of Mactan in the island was initially designed to carry a bow and arrow pointing towards the municipal hall. The statue was built following the approval of a resolution in 1933 to honor Lapu-Lapu. After the statue was built, the mayor of Opon (old name of the place), Rito de la Serna, died. The successors of the mayor died without completing their terms. Due to this, locals connected the statue with the death of the successors.  In 1938, incoming chief executive Mariano Dimataga immediately had the statue renovated by replacing the bow with a pestle. Dimataga went on to finish his term and serve as mayor until he retired in 1968.

Lily 

Aswang – image source: youtube.com

An aswang is a shape-shifting monster that is among the most feared mythical creatures in the Philippines. The myth is popular in the Visayas and Mindanao areas. One urban legend was that of Lily, an aswang who terrorized Visayas and Mindanao. She supposedly comes out when the moon shines out brightly. She preys on people who stay outside their houses at midnight. The people tried to end her reign of terror but every time they know her location, Lily always disappears by the time they reach the town.

Maria Labo

Maria Labo – image source: moviesinthephilippines.com

Another urban legend in Cebu tells the tale of a female vampire. Maria Labo was supposedly an OFW who was cursed by the old man she cared for in Canada. After returning home, she started to crave for human flesh. She became deranged and killed her two sons before cooking them. When her husband asked where their children were, she said she cooked them. Her husband took a bolo and struck her. Due to this, she has a huge scar on her face. Maria Labo supposedly has the ability to change her appearance and terrorized the Visayas area.

Lightning Fast Leon Kilat

Leon Kilat – image source: commons .plus.google.com

​Pantaleon Villegas, popularly known as Leon Kilat, was one of the leaders of the Philippine revolution in the Visayas. While he was born in Negros Oriental, he led Filipino revolutionaries against the Spaniards in Cebu. Stories emerged on how he is invulnerable to bullets and the way he moves fast from one place to another. He supposedly wore talismans that allowed him to repel bullets. Stories also emerged indicating that he kept a sigbin to allow him to move fast from one place to another. He supposedly can fight against the Spaniards in Cebu in one day before moving back to his hometown in Negros the next day.

Urban legends are stories with obscure origins that have been retold through generations. There may be some variations on the stories depending on who is the storyteller, but all of these simply demonstrate the creativity of the imagination of Cebuanos. Do you know of any Cebuano urban legend? Tell us the story on the comments section below.