Video is in Tagalog
Continued from Episode 7“Eban, since you are the eldest son in the third family, I will assign you to do Maramag’s job. You will supervise the workers.”
Eban grinned from ear to ear. “I’ve been telling you that Maramag could not be trusted, Tadeo. I am right!”
“Eban, you know I hate traitors… I trust you are unlike Maramag or Anson?”
“You can trust me, Adi.”
“Agawe here will work in the plantation. Teach him how to do work here.”
Tadeo then called out to the workers, “You there… is everything alright with you?”
“Yes…” everybody nodded.
As they left the plantation, Tadeo gave instructions to Agawe, “You will work in the plantation. You will tell me everything that is going on with the workers and especially Eban. Gain his trust. I want to know if that one is loyal to me. Can you do that?”
“Yes, Tiyo!”
That afternoon, Agawe and Apô Ira negotiated the narrow trail through hills and brooks to the next village. Apô Ira sat on a sled with the gifts she brought for the girl’s family. Agawe rode on top of the carabao that pulled the sled. Two men on horsebacks escorted them.
They travelled quietly. It was past noon but the weather was fine. It was a breezy day. Maybe it was the wind that made Agawe ask, “Apô… does Tiyo Tadeo and Tiya Amaya have other children?”
Agawe thought Apô did not hear him because she did not reply. He let it go.
They reached the village of Ammehan after a long trek and stopped near a large bamboo house next to a rice field.
They were met by two men who led them up the house. At the long bamboo porch, an older man stood waiting for them. With him was a young man about Agawe’s age. Agawe could see they were richly dressed.
“Andin ag ulitn no?” The man asked Apô Ira the reason for her visit as they were ushered inside the large bamboo house.
As Agawe was about to enter, the man stared at him and asked, “Sadan ni? Apô no?”
He wanted to know who Agawe was and if he was Apô Ira’s grandson.
“Agawe here will work in the plantation. Teach him how to do work here.”
Tadeo then called out to the workers, “You there… is everything alright with you?”
“Yes…” everybody nodded.
As they left the plantation, Tadeo gave instructions to Agawe, “You will work in the plantation. You will tell me everything that is going on with the workers and especially Eban. Gain his trust. I want to know if that one is loyal to me. Can you do that?”
“Yes, Tiyo!”
That afternoon, Agawe and Apô Ira negotiated the narrow trail through hills and brooks to the next village. Apô Ira sat on a sled with the gifts she brought for the girl’s family. Agawe rode on top of the carabao that pulled the sled. Two men on horsebacks escorted them.
They travelled quietly. It was past noon but the weather was fine. It was a breezy day. Maybe it was the wind that made Agawe ask, “Apô… does Tiyo Tadeo and Tiya Amaya have other children?”
Agawe thought Apô did not hear him because she did not reply. He let it go.
They reached the village of Ammehan after a long trek and stopped near a large bamboo house next to a rice field.
They were met by two men who led them up the house. At the long bamboo porch, an older man stood waiting for them. With him was a young man about Agawe’s age. Agawe could see they were richly dressed.
“Andin ag ulitn no?” The man asked Apô Ira the reason for her visit as they were ushered inside the large bamboo house.
As Agawe was about to enter, the man stared at him and asked, “Sadan ni? Apô no?”
He wanted to know who Agawe was and if he was Apô Ira’s grandson.
To Agawe’s surprise, Apô Ira said yes.
The man named Shaman introduced his wife Maleah and their son Isagani to Apô Ira and Agawe. Isagani’s eyes swept him from head to foot.
Agawe thought that the young man was a brat.
The man of the house offered fresh betel nuts, betel leaves, and lime for “mamâ” but Apô Ira refused saying that they would not stay long.
“We are here to inform you about our intention to ask the hand of your daughter in marriage for our young Ansel. Ansel is my grandson and I have taken care of him since his parents died when he was just a baby.” Apô Ira explained.
Shaman seemed pleased.
Apô contined. “I brought gifts for you and your household from Tadeo and we are willing to give a “sablag” fit for you and your daughter. If you accept the gifts I brought today, then we will be back for “pamalaye” and we will bring more gifts.
“What have you brought for us?”
Apô Ira turned to Agawe and he unfolded the gifts in front of the man. There were colorful t’nalak cloths, bright colored beads, and a sword with brass handle. The man pulled the sword from the sheath half-way, pushed it back in and laid it on the floor.
The man named Shaman introduced his wife Maleah and their son Isagani to Apô Ira and Agawe. Isagani’s eyes swept him from head to foot.
Agawe thought that the young man was a brat.
The man of the house offered fresh betel nuts, betel leaves, and lime for “mamâ” but Apô Ira refused saying that they would not stay long.
“We are here to inform you about our intention to ask the hand of your daughter in marriage for our young Ansel. Ansel is my grandson and I have taken care of him since his parents died when he was just a baby.” Apô Ira explained.
Shaman seemed pleased.
Apô contined. “I brought gifts for you and your household from Tadeo and we are willing to give a “sablag” fit for you and your daughter. If you accept the gifts I brought today, then we will be back for “pamalaye” and we will bring more gifts.
“What have you brought for us?”
Apô Ira turned to Agawe and he unfolded the gifts in front of the man. There were colorful t’nalak cloths, bright colored beads, and a sword with brass handle. The man pulled the sword from the sheath half-way, pushed it back in and laid it on the floor.
“I am glad you and Tadeo chose my daughter to be part of your family.”
He turned to his wife who sat next to him in silence throughout the conversation. “What do you think?”
“I have no problem with Tadeo’s family. They are good people,” the woman called Maleah replied.
“I have no problem with Tadeo’s family. They are good people,” the woman called Maleah replied.
Agawe was drawn to Maleah. She looked beautiful but there was a sadness about her.
“So it’s settled. We come back in the full moon for the pamalaye,” Apô Ira stood up. “Agawe, let’s go..”
Agawe scrambled to his feet.
Agawe sat in the now empty of gifts sled with Apô Ira. Apô Ira sat there chewing her “mamà” and occasionally spitting red on the road.
“Agawe, you asked if Tadeo and Ira have other children…”
So she heard me, Agawe thought. “Yes, Apô… I wonder…”
“Agawe, I have to warn you … never talk about this in front of Tadeo and Amaya. Yes… they have a son…”
Apô Ira seemed anguished so Agawe did not pursue the subject although he wanted so much to ask where the son was.
After a deep breath, Apô Ira continued, “When Amaya gave birth to the boy, the mabalian took him away… and we never found him.”
Agawe could not believe his ears! “The mabalian took him away? How? Why?”
“No one knows. Amaya had a difficult delivery. She almost died so she did not know what happened. Agawe… remember, do not talk about this anymore, do you understand?”
***
That night, they were at Maramag’s house where his body was laid in the middle of the house flanked by his family and the wailers. The body was dressed in his best clothes. Food and drink were partaken while his family and friends talked of his virtues.
Agawe wondered if plotting to kill a half-brother was a virtue.
“So it’s settled. We come back in the full moon for the pamalaye,” Apô Ira stood up. “Agawe, let’s go..”
Agawe scrambled to his feet.
Agawe sat in the now empty of gifts sled with Apô Ira. Apô Ira sat there chewing her “mamà” and occasionally spitting red on the road.
“Agawe, you asked if Tadeo and Ira have other children…”
So she heard me, Agawe thought. “Yes, Apô… I wonder…”
“Agawe, I have to warn you … never talk about this in front of Tadeo and Amaya. Yes… they have a son…”
Apô Ira seemed anguished so Agawe did not pursue the subject although he wanted so much to ask where the son was.
After a deep breath, Apô Ira continued, “When Amaya gave birth to the boy, the mabalian took him away… and we never found him.”
Agawe could not believe his ears! “The mabalian took him away? How? Why?”
“No one knows. Amaya had a difficult delivery. She almost died so she did not know what happened. Agawe… remember, do not talk about this anymore, do you understand?”
***
That night, they were at Maramag’s house where his body was laid in the middle of the house flanked by his family and the wailers. The body was dressed in his best clothes. Food and drink were partaken while his family and friends talked of his virtues.
Agawe wondered if plotting to kill a half-brother was a virtue.
They were all seated on the floor when the mother of Maramag approached Tadeo, “We will bury him tomorrow beneath this house.”
Tadeo nodded.
Tadeo nodded.
The woman turned to Agawe and without warning, “You, you brought this upon my son… madat to gimokod no…”
The other women pulled her to a corner as she repeatedly screamed that Agawe possessed an evil spirit.
Agawe did not know what to do. Tadeo turned to him and whispered, “Go down the house.”
***
Agawe stood looking up to the moon and his mind wandered. He was jolted out of his thoughts when a figure suddenly appeared next to him. His hand flew to his sword.
“Don’t fear. I just want to offer you this coffee. It’s cold down here,” a woman said. “Who are you?” Agawe asked.
“I am the sister of Maramag’s wife. I am helping out here.” She handed the cup to Agawe.
“Thank you,” Agawe said as the woman climbed up the stairs.
It was a cold night and the coffee smelled so good. He was about to drink when he remembered the purple stone. He moved to the side of the house and fished the stone from the pouch.
As he laid the hot cup on his open palm over the stone, he again did not feel the heat of the cup and he was amazed. Suddenly, the coffee bubbled over like soap suds.
Agawe jerked and the cup fell from his hand. His other hand gripped the stone so hard as he dashed up the stairs. Half-way, he stopped. The woman who gave him the coffee stood at the top of the stairs giving him the most venomous stare, then she turned and disappeared into the house.
His heart racing, he bounded up the stairs but Apô Ira appeared at the door. She motioned Agawe to go back down as she climbed down.
“You did not drink the coffee?” she asked when they reached the ground.
“It was poisoned…” Agawe said, still shaken.
Apô Ira stared at Agawe, took a deep breath and said, “I know you can take care of yourself. Where’s the cup?”
“Over there.” They walked to where the cup was and Apô bent down to look at it. She slowly stood up and spat on the ground.
“Come up with me. We’ll get Tadeo and we’re going home.”
Apô asked Agawe to stand by the door while she walked to where Tadeo was. He saw her whisper to Tadeo, then slowly walked to the woman who gave Agawe the coffee. She was seated in one corner with the other women. Apô Ira gently patted the woman’s hair who looked up scared. Apô Ira smiled faintly and walked to the door. Even before Apô reached the door, the woman shrieked and everyone ran to her. Apô Ira, Tadeo, Amaya, and Agawe casually got down the stairs.
On their way home, Ansel came running to meet them. “Waeg is very ill. His wife is waiting for Uncle to ask help because the mabalian cannot do anything.”
“And she thinks we can do something?” Ira asked with a trace of annoyance.
“I will take care of this,” Apo Ira said. Tadeo, Amaya, go with Ansel through the kitchen door so she won’t see you. Agawe, come with me. We will take this woman home.”
Agawe did not know what to do. Tadeo turned to him and whispered, “Go down the house.”
***
Agawe stood looking up to the moon and his mind wandered. He was jolted out of his thoughts when a figure suddenly appeared next to him. His hand flew to his sword.
“Don’t fear. I just want to offer you this coffee. It’s cold down here,” a woman said. “Who are you?” Agawe asked.
“I am the sister of Maramag’s wife. I am helping out here.” She handed the cup to Agawe.
“Thank you,” Agawe said as the woman climbed up the stairs.
It was a cold night and the coffee smelled so good. He was about to drink when he remembered the purple stone. He moved to the side of the house and fished the stone from the pouch.
As he laid the hot cup on his open palm over the stone, he again did not feel the heat of the cup and he was amazed. Suddenly, the coffee bubbled over like soap suds.
Agawe jerked and the cup fell from his hand. His other hand gripped the stone so hard as he dashed up the stairs. Half-way, he stopped. The woman who gave him the coffee stood at the top of the stairs giving him the most venomous stare, then she turned and disappeared into the house.
His heart racing, he bounded up the stairs but Apô Ira appeared at the door. She motioned Agawe to go back down as she climbed down.
“You did not drink the coffee?” she asked when they reached the ground.
“It was poisoned…” Agawe said, still shaken.
Apô Ira stared at Agawe, took a deep breath and said, “I know you can take care of yourself. Where’s the cup?”
“Over there.” They walked to where the cup was and Apô bent down to look at it. She slowly stood up and spat on the ground.
“Come up with me. We’ll get Tadeo and we’re going home.”
Apô asked Agawe to stand by the door while she walked to where Tadeo was. He saw her whisper to Tadeo, then slowly walked to the woman who gave Agawe the coffee. She was seated in one corner with the other women. Apô Ira gently patted the woman’s hair who looked up scared. Apô Ira smiled faintly and walked to the door. Even before Apô reached the door, the woman shrieked and everyone ran to her. Apô Ira, Tadeo, Amaya, and Agawe casually got down the stairs.
On their way home, Ansel came running to meet them. “Waeg is very ill. His wife is waiting for Uncle to ask help because the mabalian cannot do anything.”
“And she thinks we can do something?” Ira asked with a trace of annoyance.
“I will take care of this,” Apo Ira said. Tadeo, Amaya, go with Ansel through the kitchen door so she won’t see you. Agawe, come with me. We will take this woman home.”
Ang ganda ng pagka gawa nito...aabangan ko talaga ang susunod na kabanata.
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