A long time ago, when magical creatures are believed to have existed, there was a beautiful mermaid named Florinda. She was known for her captivating voice. Whenever she sings, wounds heal, storms pacify, wars end.  The flowers blossom with her chants, the blue whales dance with every melody that she croons.  Whenever anyone is sad and upset, they just call out for Florinda’s name to the sea. In just a few blinks they will see her leap from the water. Florinda would listen to their dilemmas, then she would sing a song that fits (they)their needs. And she would never complain; because The God created her to be such.

One day, Florinda heard someone shouts for her name. And so she swam towards the caller, Peter the fisherman. “I want a wife. A woman that will lie with me at night, a woman who will bear my beautiful child”, Peter cried. Florinda was shocked at what she heard. Never have I known a person desperate for love, she said in her mind. With Peter’s revelation, Florinda fell in love. She decided to give up her golden tail and golden voice to be with Peter, to be her wife.

The couple lived in an old hut built on top of a cliff in an far island. Every morning, Peter would go to catch fish for food. Florinda would wait  for her love at the shore while holding a lamp. They lived a practically happy life.

But one Friday morning, the clouds were as dark as ash. A storm was coming. Florinda begged Peter not to go. “But I must. Or else we’ll have no food for supper”, he insisted. And SO her love sailed across the monster waves. When dusk came, she ran through the rain and to the shore she went. But Florinda didn’t see Peter. Not even his boat can be seen in the turbulent waves. But her hope did not subside. She held her lamp and did what she thinks would save his love. “O Ocean my friend, please give me back my love. From him, yes Ocean, I don’t wanna be apart”, Florinda uttered. But no melodious voice was heard, nothing but a loud and shrieking sound. She continued to screech and cry until her tears has gone dry. But she went on and on with her dry but lonely eyes.

To this date, people claim that they would hear screams in the middle of the storm in an isolated island. Old people  say it is Florinda, still waiting for her love to come back.