BER BE RO KA

Tom and Luana have lived 40 years in the village near the pond. Ilocos Norte was the homeland of both, they fell in love and created a family there, it’s a fond place for both. As Tom is getting ready for his Sunday fishing Luana prepares breakfast. The air is tense since they’ve just got into a fight, the Sunday fight, same each week. Luana doesn’t want Tom near the pond, “you never know what you find there” she says. Tom says it’s nonsense, he will still go, but the argument is not in vain, deep down he is scared, he understands his wife’s fear, I mean who wouldn’t, with the ugly ogre hanging around ready to get you.

Berberoka, they call it, the green rocky beast living in their pond. “Be aware” they say, “if you see floating fish lying around, don’t be too naïve to think it’s just a lucky day”. Berberoka’s favorite victims are fisherman, she pulls fish to the top of the water to attract them, then grabs them, drowns them, and finishes them for lunch. There is only one thing she is afraid of, crabs. The clingy animals get their way with the Berberoka for being annoying, if you want to scape form it, just throw one in its face.

Tom finishing his breakfast puts his hat on remembering old times, Sunday fishing with his children. Overwhelmed with nostalgia he kisses his wife goodbye and walks out the door. Luana is as well informed as Tom on the Berberoka. It can change size, and looks just like an ogre. Luana knows what the Berberoka is capable of doing, she fears for her husband’s life, the cruel beast has no mercy, it has killed millions of innocent people going on the lake, Luana hates the beast, she more than anyone in the world, after all, she believes that in all Ilocos Norte her lost was the biggest. Nothing compares to the lost of children, everything changed for her, and she blames it on the scary sea monster, and she would not be able to forgive or forget, only to regret letting her children go to the