Kapre by Rosita L. Nieva as narrated by her grandmother
Once upon a time there lived a couple who had three children. They lived in a big house in Gazan, Marinduque. The father and mother died within a week. The children believed that there were evil spirits in the house. So they decided to go to Sta. Cruz, Marinduque and asked a woman to stay in their house.
Every evening when the woman could not control herself anymore, she shouted for help. But no one went to help her. At about twelve o’clock the falling of stones on the roof of the house and knocking at the doors became frequent. So she shouted again and said: “Whoever you are, please go away because I am afraid of you.” The she heard many heavy steps in the attic. After a few minutes one leg fell on the floor where the woman was. Then another leg, then the trunk, the arms, and the head. After that they were all joined together and became a very tall man with black clothes. He had long black hair and a white hat on his head. The woman covered her face and did not look at him. The man said to her “Oh woman, do not be afraid of me. I am a cafre. I came here just to tell you a very important matter. The people who died in this house asked me to come and say that you must get the box of gold which they left in their garden, and give it to their children.” The woman answered, “Yes, yes, I will do it, but go away.” His body separated again into many parts and were scattered over the floor. They were changed into long cigars. When the woman saw these cigars she ran away from the house to the forest. After three days she went to the garden and took the box of gold and gave it to the children. But she did not return to the house anymore because she was afraid of the cafre.
