NUNO SA PUNSO

            People usually say in our community that if you go to places you aren’t familiar with, or when you pass by mounds of soil forming small mountains, you should say “tabi-tabi po”. This has always been the precaution said in order to avoid disturbing unnatural creatures that are present there. Well, nothing will be lost if I follow it right? Extra precaution is always necessary if you want to return home in your whole self without anything sprouting or swollen in your body parts. Geez I couldn’t imagine having a pair of horns sprouting on my head or my feet swollen when I return home. Good thing for me because I’m a homebody, but for persons fond of exploring well it wouldn’t hurt if you try to follow with the traditions.

            Nuno sa punso, literally speaking, means goblin of the mound. Nuno is a dwarf-like creature in the Philippine Mythology. They are goblins or elves who live in mysterious lumps of soil (anthills) called punso. Their actual size id disputed, some claim they are invisible to the human eye, others say they are between 3 feet tall and others say it is about the size of a small insect. Their appearance is said to resemble that of an old man: small, bearded brown men who typically wear a loincloth, woven hat and walk barefooted. Nuno’s are usually related to duwende however there are qualities that make them different. Duwende is a hobgoblin who shows himself to children and tends to be playful and mischievous creatures while nuno is a temperamental goblin easily angered and will inflict a whole slew of terrible vengeance to those who damage or disturb his mound.          

            When passing by a nuno’s shelter, a person should ask permission on the resident of the mound to let them pass with the phrase, “Tabi-tabi po”. Also, to avoid punishments, children are always reminded not to play outside between noon and 3 pm. Thay are also cautioned not to be noisy in places where a nuno might dwell.

            They are said to provide people who steps on their shelter with good luck or misfortune, in some cases, inflicting harsh punishments to those who offend them (Swelling or any part of the body, vomiting of blood, urinating black liquid, or excessive hair growth on the back.).Usually, people who purposely trample around in tall grassy areas or urinate on suspected nuno anthills in order to display dominance over the nuno are likely to become the victims of curses. If the trespasser is within range, the nuno can spit at them. The effects of the curse are localized to where the spit landed on the human’s body. The worst punishment a nuno can enact is possession.

              People who are punished are called namatanda and must be brought to an albularyo for healing. The albularyo will perform a simple ceremony called tawas in which a piece of candle is melted in a disc or spoon. Once melted, the wax is poured into the water. An image will appear in the wax, either that of the nuno or of a certain place or situation. The albularyo will then interpret the image to determine the possible cause of the sickness. In order to be cured, the victim’s family will provide an offering to the nuno such as fruits or other foods, drinks, or material goods. If the offering fails to cure the sickness, it may be necessary to ask personally the nuno’s forgiveness.

            In order to kill a nuno, catching it and crushing its head between one’s fingers should be done. This will remove any enchantment casted by that particular nuno. However, this should be avoided for it is likely to evoke the wrath of that nuno’s friends and relatives. Legends also say that the nuno has an odd affinity for large bodied mammals of the opposite sex so, placing an obese or festively plump female on the side of the road after midnight is said to attract the nuno out of hiding, thus allowing those afflicted to seek revenge on the goblin.