"Wow." The only that came out from my mouth the moment we stepped foot in this so called 'bayan'.
It's different from the typical towns in 2016. Colonial buildings, dirt roads, horse drawn calash, Spanish soldiers, women dressed in Maria Clara attire, men wearing barong. The whole place was decorated. Colorful flags are hanged everywhere. Kinda looked like a town fiesta.
"Ipinagdiriwang ngayon ang pista ng patron kaya maraming tao mula sa kalapit bayan ang narito." Antonio stated.
Napatango na lang ako. The town is crowded. You'll see people in every corner of the town. The music that the music band is playing is lively. Some are singing, others are dancing, drinking. They're all having fun even without smartphones? Internet? How can they have fun without those?
"Halika na, Kristin." saka ko lang naibalik kay Antonio ang atensyon ko nang magsalita ito.
"Sa'n?"
"Sa tindahan ni Mang Gorio. Doon natin iiwan ang kalabaw."
"Teka, akala ko ibebenta mo 'yang kalabaw?"
"Kaya, tara na." saka niya hinawakan ang kamay ko at nag-umpisang maglakad.
It didn't take us long to get to Mang Gorio's shop. Antonio gave the carabao to the old man who seems to be owner of the shop. They talked for a while bago bumalik si Antonio.
"Halika na." kunot-noo akong napatingin kay Antonio.
"Sa'n? 'Diba ibebenta mo 'yung kalabaw?"
Napatawa siya, "Si Mang Gorio na ang bahala. Mamayang gabi ko na kukunin ang pera kung sakali mang naibenta ang kalabaw. Kaya ngayon," he held my hand, and I felt bolts of electricity running from my hands all throughout my whole body. "magsasaya tayo. Minsan lang sa isang taon ang maganap ang pista rito, kaya susulitin natin."
'Di na ako nakaangal nang hinila niya ako papunta sa sentro ng bayan.
We went to lots of houses. Parang kilala siya ng lahat ng tagarito. They welcomed him, offered him food, talked to him. And he, he talked to the them, laughed with them, like they weren't strangers. He's so friendly. Unlike me, all I did was sit in the corner and watch him getting friendly with others. Some tried talking to me, asking if I was a mestiza, but I just gave them cold shoulders. They can't blame me, I don't like talking to people I don't know. They creep me out.
"Bakit hindi ka kumain kanina?" Antonio asked nang makaalis kami sa bahay ng kaibigan niya.
"Diet." I answered.
"Alam mo, maraming nagtatanong kung ikaw ba'y isang mestiza?"
I looked at him, raising a brow. "Mestiza?" People kept asking me if I was a mestiza, what the hell's a mestiza anyway? Kano? Maputi? Aish!
"Oo, kung ikaw ba'y may lahing banyaga." he answered.
Ah. If I was half? "Yes, I am. One fourth canadian."
"One fourth canadian?"
"Sabi ko, oo. mestiza ako." I looked at him with a 'seriously' look. Then, I noticed. He has foreign features. Like I said before, maybe he's half spanish? "Eh, ikaw? Mukha ka rin namang banyaga. Except for your skin color."
Napahawak siya sa batok niya habang nakangiti. He's mannerism again. He's cute doing that. Damn. "Pilipina ang aking ina at kastila naman ang aking ama."
"Nasa'n sila?" I asked.
"Hindi ko alam." he answered bluntly.
I stopped on my tracks, "What do you mean you don't know? Anong 'di mo alam?"
Huminto rin siya sa paglalakad at nilingon ako. He stared at me for a moment before smiling. "Sabihin na nating, isa lamang akong pagkakamali."
"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" I could feel my heart beating fast. He's smile didn't reached his eyes. His eyes was sad. He's sad.
Instead of answering, he turned his back on me and started walking, "Halika na, binibining Kristin. Marami pa tayong pupuntahan."
***
We spend the whole day in town. We watched the games, eat and a lot more. To be honest, I didn't have fun. Aside from the fact that I hate fiestas, I was bothered by what Antonio said about his parents. I want to know what happened to them. Gusto kong malaman kung bakit niya nasabing isa lang siyang pagkakamali.
Sa totoo lang, I want to know him. Gusto kong makilala ang pagkatao niya. I want to know his other side, his past, his weakness, his strength, everything about him. He kinda resembles my brother. He looks at life in a positive way. He always smile, he's responsible. I admit, I am interested in him. But it doesn't mean I like him. He just, y'know. Ugh. The hell's happening with me?
Tirik na ang sikat ng araw so I'm guessing it must be noon or one in the afternoon. Naglalakad na kami ni Antonio papunta sa simbahan. May magtatanghal daw sa harap ng simbahan. Antonio looked excited. But, my mind is preoccupied with Antonio's words. 'Di naman talaga ako mag-aabala pang alamin kung anong nangyari sa mga magulang niya, but, he said those with sadness and anger. Sino ba namang hindi mababahala dun? I may be a bitch, but hell, tao pa rin ako. I worry too.
Antonio stopped walking, dahilan upang mabangga ako sa linkuran niyang singtigas ng bakal. Shit. May abs kaya 'to? But, "What the fuck, Antonio-"
'Di ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko when I saw the expression plastered on his face. He looked like he was rooting to the spot. Nakatingin lang siya sa harap, then I saw how he clenched his teeth.
Tinignan ko ang tinitignan niya. And there, in a wooden mini stage sorrounded by lots of people, ay isang lalaki. Nakabitay at wala ng buhay. He's got no upper shirt kaya kitang-kita ang mga pasang natamo niya. He's got wounds all over. And what's worse, may nakasulat sa may bandang dibdib niya. It was written in blood.
"K..K.. K?" napasinghap ako. Yes, I was horrifyed because of the dead body, but what scared me the most are the letters written on his chest.
It's KKK? It's the organization Andres Bonifacio founded.
"You're in the year 1896, ang taon kung saan nadiskubre ng mga Kastila ang sekretong organisasyon ni Bonifacio. Ang Kataas-taasang Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan."
Fuck. It's the start of the Philippine Revolution. A bloody war.
I clenched my fist. I could feel my knees and hands trembling.
Karlos hates me. He sent me here to witness a bloody battle between the Filipinos and the Spaniards. He sent me here to die. He sent me here because he loathes me and wants me to die. Darn it.
Nahinto ako sa iniisip ko nang may umakyat na lalaking sa mini stage. Based from his looks, his a spanish guard.
"Makinig ang lahat." umpisa nito. "Ipagpaumanhin ninyo kung naabala ang inyong kasiyahan. Narito ako upang bigyan kayo ng babala. Ang sinumang lumabag sa batas ng mga Kastila, and sinumang kasapi ng organisasyong kinabibilangan ng lalaking ito, " then he pointed the dead guy. "ay papatawan ng parusang kamatayan."
"Sumusobra na sila." Napalingon ako kay Antonio nang magsalita ito. His face turned dark, as if he wanted to kill someone. And to be honest, it scared me. This is my first time seeing him this mad.
I almost jump when he gripped my hand. "A-antonio-"
"Uuwi na tayo." he said in a cold voice. I could feel the hair in my whole body standing up.
'Di pa man ako nakakasagot ay hinila na niya ako paalis sa lugar. Malalaki ang mga hakbang niya, and crap, hinihila niya ko. I can't keep up to his speed!
"Wait, Antonio!"
I almost tripped for like, tenty times and he still didn't stop walking! "What the hell, Antonio! What the fuck is you're problem?!" his grip, it's so tight. My wrist hurts. "Antonio, you're hurting me! Goddamn it, nasasaktan ako!"
His grip loosened, and stopped walking. Agad ko namang hinila ang kamay ko mula sa pagkakahawak niya.
"Ano bang problema mo?! Ba't bigla ka nalang nanghihila?!" I shouted.
He turned around, and there, I saw that face of his again. That sad look in his eyes. That look that stirs something inside me. That look, pains me.
"P-pasensya na."
Why is he sad and angry all of a sudden? He became like that after seeing what the spanish guards did to that dead katipunero guy- Wait, does that mean?
Oh. My. Ghad!
But there's no proof that Antonio's a- Ugh! His reaction a while ago, he was consumed by his anger that he even forgot that I was a woman and that he was hurting me!
But there's no proof!
I gulped, only one way to find out.
"Antonio, may-"
"ANTONIO!"
'Di ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko when a guy suddenly approached us. Hinihingal ito na para bang ilang oras siyang tumakbo.
"Rafael? Bakit? Ano'ng problema?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Antonio sa lalaki.
The guy breathed in and out before answering. "Pinapapunta tayo ng pinuno sa Kalookan. Ang lahat ng pinuno ng konseho ay ipinatawag ng supremo-" Antonio covered Rafael's mouth before he could finish his sentence.
"H-huwag kang maingay."
Supremo?
Oh. Fuck.
I hate the Philippines but I'm not dumb. Pinag-aaralan ang Philippine History mula elementary hanggang college. I'm not oblivious to what and who this supremo is.
It's Andres Bonifacio for the love of shit. And crap, this information answered my question.
I looked at Antonio, he was talking to the Rafael guy in a low voice. I sighed. I was right. Antonio's a member of KKK. He's a Katipunero, and so as the Rafael guy.
"Kristin, ihahatid na kita sa bahay nina Mang Gorio. Doon ka na lang muna manatili. Babalikan kita mamayang gabi. May importante lamang akong pupuntahan."
"Hindi. Sasama ako." I said.
I heard them talking about a place called Kalookan. I don't remember what happened in Kalookan but I know it's an important part of the Philippine Revolution. And.. I can't help but worry about Antonio. No. I mean, Karlos brought me here to witness history then be it.
"Hindi maaari, Kristin-"
Namewang ako while raising a brow, " 'Pag sinabi kong sasama ako, isasama mo ko. get it?"
"Pero-"
"Antonio, isasama mo ko o sasama ka sakin pauwi?"
"Krist-"
"Goddamn it, Antonio!" My blood is boiling. He's so stubborn! I looked around, walang tao sa paligid. It'sjust the three of us. Halos lahat ata nandun nagtipon-tipon sa ministage kanina. I inhaled, "Alam ko."
They both stiffened, "A-ano?" the Rafael guy asked.
"Alam kong kasapi kayo ng, umm, Katipunan. At 'yung supromo niyo, si Andres Bonifacio 'yun. But, don't worry, wala akong pagsasabihan. I don't plan on changing history either." I explained.
They didn't answer. THey just stared at me.
I hope they didn't get creeped out.
Who am I kidding? Of course, I creeped them out. Who wouldn't be? A girl who just came out of nowhere with no background or identity suddenly tells you that she knows you're a member of a secret revolutionary organization.
"Antonio, kasintahan mo?"
"Hindi."
In the end, hinayaan nila akong sumama sa kanila. 'Di ko kinausap si Antonio habang papunta kami sa Kalookan. 'Di ko pa rin nakakalimutan 'yung ginawa niyang paghila sakin kanina. Ilang beses akong muntikang matumba dahil sa lakas ng pagkakahila niya. And no, it is not a shallow reason. Would you like to be drag like that in public? I talked to Rafael instead. Kahit 'di ko na matiis ang kapangitan ni Rafael ay nakipag-usap pa rin ako. Talking to Antonio would be awkward. Saka mukhang nasa ibang lupalop ang isip niya kanina.
The ride to Kalookan didn't take long. It was already sunset when we arrived there.
Maraming tao ang nagtipun-tipon, mapalalaki man o babae. They were all waiting for Andres Bonifacio to come out. Antonio was beside and his mind's still preoccupied. Good. I have no intention in talking to him either.
Ilang sandali lang ay lumabas na ang hinihintay ng lahat.
"Supremo!"
"Supremo!"
"Supremo!"
The people cheered for the man standing in front of us.
My jaw dropped. I was rooted to the spot. In front of me, was Andres Bonifacio, a national hero. The leader of the Filipino Revolution.
"Magandang araw sa inyong lahat." bati nito. "Hindi naging matagumpay ang mapayapang pagbabago na isnulong ni doktor Jose Rizal. Patuloy pa rin ang pang-aalipin sa atin ng mga kastila. Isa na naman sa ating kapatid ang walang awa nilang pinaslang!
Mga kaibigan, kung nais nati'y tunay na kalayaan, walang ibang paraan kundi ang himagsikan! Kailangan na nating wakasan ang ilang daang taong pang-aalipin ng mga kastila!"
Sumang-ayon naman ang lahat ng nandito, maging si Antonio.
Nang tumahimik na ang paligid ay may dinukot si Bonifacio mula sa bulsa niya at itinaas ito. It was a small pice of paper.
"Ilabas ang inyong sedula!" sinunod naman ng mga tao dito ang sinabi niya. Lahat sila ay may hawak na maliit na papel, even Antonio. "Ang maliliit na papel na ito ang umaalipin satin! Punitin ang mga sedula niyo!"
They tore their cedulas accompanied by patriotic shouts.
The Cry of Pugad Lawin happened in Pugad Lawin, Kalookan. It was the beginning of the filipino revolution against the spaniards.
And, I'm here watching history. I'm watching the greatest part of the Philippine History. I should feel honored, but..
I looked at Antonio.
But why do I feel sad?
-
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