SAMAR, Philippines (September 25, 2025) — There is a place in Samar that doesn’t exist on any map, yet everyone has heard of it. Some say it’s a city filled with golden lights, tall buildings, and strange people. Others believe it’s a trap — a place you can enter, but never leave. They call it Biringan City — the city that hides in plain sight.
For generations, Samar residents especially those from the towns of Gandara, Tarangnan, and Pagsanghan have passed down stories about this mysterious place. Some speak in whispers. Others speak with certainty. The only thing they agree on is this: Biringan exists, but only for those it chooses to reveal itself to.
Students Who Never Returned
One of the most talked-about stories comes from the 1980s. A university student from Manila returned to Samar and invited his classmates to visit his hometown during the semestral break. The group traveled together. None of them returned.
Worried families went to Samar to search. But when they arrived in the supposed town of Biringan City, they were told no such place exists. Locals shook their heads. The student they spoke of could not be found. His records, address, and identity vanished — just like the city he came from.
Deliveries to a City That Isn’t There
There have also been stories of ships from Japan arriving in Manila, reportedly carrying goods meant for delivery to Biringan. When questioned, crew members claimed the city was listed as the next stop. But port authorities couldn’t find it on any registry.
A retired postal worker from Samar once shared that many letters — complete with names, streets, and barangays — were returned because they were addressed to Biringan.
“We couldn’t deliver them,” he said. “There’s no such city in our database. But the letters keep coming.”
The Bus Driver’s Story
A more recent tale comes from a provincial bus driver. One night, he picked up a group of passengers headed north. Everything seemed normal until they passed a road between Gandara and Pagsanghan.
Suddenly, he felt dizzy. He said the road looked unfamiliar. The lights flickered. Then everything went dark.
The next morning, he woke up inside his bus — parked in the middle of a field. There were no roads, no passengers, no tire tracks. He had no memory of how he got there. Locals later said the area had long been rumored to be a “portal” to Biringan.
Only the Invited May Enter
Old folks in Samar say you can’t find Biringan unless someone from there brings you in. They speak of friends and neighbors who were “invited” — often by strangers who appeared friendly, even beautiful. These strangers would offer food or drink.
The warning passed down through generations is clear: “Never eat the black rice.” “Never accept salt.”
Those who do, they say, are trapped forever. One elderly woman recalled being taken to a glowing city in the forest by a kind stranger. She remembered the warnings and refused to eat anything. The next thing she knew, she was waking up under a tree, back in her barangay.
Vloggers Search, Still No Proof
In recent years, vloggers and amateur ghost hunters have tried to locate Biringan. They’ve walked through forests, crossed rivers, and interviewed locals. Some captured strange lights or heard unexplained sounds. But no one has found the city.
No photos. No ruins. No signposts. Just stories.
And yet, more stories keep coming.
More Than Just a Myth?
Scholars believe Biringan reflects the fears and dreams of the Waray people. It’s a place that represents escape, mystery, even hidden power. In a region where life can be hard, the idea of a magical city — rich, clean, advanced — is tempting.
But there’s also a warning hidden in the legend. Biringan is beautiful, yes. But it comes at a price. Those who enter may never return.
A City Between Two Worlds
To outsiders, Biringan is just a ghost story. But for many Samareños, it is very real — not just in the imagination, but in places you’re told never to go alone.
In Samar, when the wind is quiet and the night is still, some say you can see the lights of a city in the distance — glowing in a place where no city should be.
And if someone offers you rice, or salt, deep in the forest — maybe think twice before you say yes.
By Ricky Bautista, Samar Chronicle News & Features
(Do you have stories or experiences to share about Biringan City, or any unusual incidents? Please email it to samarchronicle@gmail.com, thank you!)
