The Tagalog Quest: The Lost Town of Tansô

Language learning adventure Chapter 1: Dust clings to the parchment as you unfold it. The words shimmer faintly, pulling your eyes toward a single command: “Magpakilala ka muna.”

The Tagalog Quest: The Lost Town of Tansô
Photo by Ruslan Zh / Unsplash

Chapter 1: May Isáng Museyo


You find yourself wandering through the hushed halls of the Museyo ng Gabáy-lakbáy. The air is warm and sticky. The humidity hangs in the air like a memory, along with the scent of old paper and things past. Tall windows let in slivers of afternoon light through the heavy curtains, and the rays of light catch on some of the artifacts in the room. The echoes of your footsteps bounce softly off marble floors, as if the building itself is waiting.

Tucked between two shelves of dusty books, your hand brushes against a rolled parchment. When you pull it free…