Wonder how
snakes become a man’s housemates? I found myself in endless
perspiration when I heard of the snakes-housemates in an isolated
islet in the Island of Olutanga.
Mang Tero, as he
is fondly called, had his first encounter in 1982. Two sea snakes
crawled in their stilt nipa house. In an interview with Starweek,
the Sunday Magazine of Philippine Star, Mang Tero said, “I am not
really the bravest when it comes to snakes.” and “I did not actually
invite them to come to my house.”
Mang Teros’
usual encounter with the sea snakes moved him to build a house for
the friendly-venomous creatures locally called walo-walo
(eight-eight). Walo-walo because it is believed that when a person
is bitten by the sea snake the person will die after eight days and
eight nights if left untreated. For 22 years, Mang Tero had his eyes
glued on his housemates. He took care of them and does regular
visits. His wife and children have become the snakes’ good buddies
too.
Now, more than
300 sea snakes are slithering through the house of Mang Tero.
