MARAHUYO: The Tale of Maharlika

CHAPTER ONE

DISCLAIMER:
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
 
A rainy afternoon in the year of September 2018 as the coldness seeps through the thin linen uniforms of the students that are already hurrying back to their homes, afraid that the weather may become worse later if they continue to stay and wait for it to be better. The already busy streets of the city as jeepneys, relas, and other transportation vehicles had all their share of busyness as the ride became jam-packed in no time.
 
Maharlika bid goodbye to her friends as they all went in separate ways. As she was scurrying her way on finding roofs as to not let herself be wet from the rain, someone suddenly approached her with an umbrella on his hand which made Maharlika look upon her shoulder in surprise.
 
“What the hell are you doing?” He asked worryingly as he searched for his handkerchief to pat down some droplets on Maharlika’s face. “You should have called me and waited in your school for me to pick you out.” He scolded as some fumes of anger can be seen from his ears.
 
Maharlika just rolled her eyes and raised her had slightly in surrender. “Yeah, yeah. You sure act like a mother, Miguel. Do you know that?” She said in annoyance.
 
“Well, sucks on me for just ensuring your safety AND HEALTH.” He said, emphasizing the word ‘health’. Maharlika on the other hand, straight out laughing as it already became a habit of her to annoy her companion and it is rarely an occasion for him to snap like that. “Again with your annoying antics. Anyways, we should go home and continue for the training. We are yet to receive new missions from the gods.”
 
Maharlika’s face turned sour as soon as she heard the word ‘training’. “Can we just not train and never do it again?” She mumbled to herself as they walked on the sidewalk.
 
“You said something, Maharlika?” Miguel raised his eyebrow. She immediately shook off her head in retort, afraid not to worsen her companion’s ‘already bad’ mood which is ironically, her fault.
 
They took a ride home via jeepney and as soon as they are home, was greeted by her mother. “What took you so long?” She asked. She then presented the merienda she had prepared. It was lumpia with banana & cheese filling. Maharlika immediately grabbed a bite as she put down her bag on the couch.
 
“Who said that you can eat already?” Miguel raised a question as he stopped Maharlika from eating.
 
“Fine. What a killjoy.” She returned the lumpia and immediately went to her room, closing the door hard and locked it. They really can’t do anything once Maharlika locked her room and nested herself inside.
 
An hour later had passed and Maharlika finally opened the door. She was greeted by Miguel. “I thought you’ll last a week in there.” He said sarcastically.
 
“Haha. Funny. Even though I want to cooped myself in there, the gods will continue to annoy me anyways with their little whispers inside my head.”
 
“Glad that they are on my side.”
 
They then started their routinely training of manifesting their spiritual energy. This kind of manifestation is just an easy job for Maharlika but as to Miguel, he is having difficulties in this skill and the gap between him and Maharlika is evidently huge.
 
Maharlika Francisco. Age 18. Senior High School student, STEM. A gifted individual whose talents with spiritual energy is incomparable. She began manifesting her talents in the age of two. She is a descendant from a nameless tribe that practices paganism. In order to blend in with today’s society, they lived in secrecy but in the disguise of being normal people. This tribe worship their highest god, Bathala. In this tribe, only few gifted people have the ability to become mediums for their gods, depending on their spiritual energy thus, being able to converse with the gods and be able to seek help from them. The higher their manifestation of spiritual energy, the more they are a stable candidate to be mediums of their gods. It was said that Maharlika can be able to house the Bathala but never did they try.

Miguel de Luna. Age 20. Fresh graduate with the degree of Information Technology. One of the gifted individuals in the nameless tribe but also has the most difficulty in polishing his manifestations. They call the gifted people, Babaylan. There are only two babaylans in their generation, him & Maharlika. He is the most diligent and but truly, he is far more inferior than Maharlika so he tried to never miss a day honing his skills.

Gabriela Francisco. Age 53. Mother of Maharlika. She was the only Babaylan in her generation. Being a Babaylan holds responsibility and an honor but all power has its own consequences. It is also a given that a Babaylan must also guide,teach and passed all their knowledge to another Babaylan. A rule that should never be broke, “They must never stray the path of darkness.”
 

[ MTTM ARCHIVES ]  

·        Jeepney – a public transport is unique to the Philippines. They are known for their crowded seating and kitsch decorations, which have become a widespread symbol of Philippine culture and art.

·        Rela – Motorela or rela. It has the same fascinating colors and design as the jeepney, but it is small and three-wheeled like the tricycle. It can only be found in Northern Mindanao, particularly in Cagayan de Oro. The motorela can accommodate 8 passengers.

·        Merienda – is a generic term encompassing two light meals: the first is a morning snack that may correspond to either brunch, elevenses, or second breakfast; the second one is the equivalent of afternoon tea.

·        Lumpia – Lumpia are various types of spring rolls commonly found in Indonesia and the Philippines. Lumpia are made of thin paper-like or crepe-like pastry skin called "lumpia wrapper" enveloping savory or sweet fillings. It is often served as an appetizer or snack, and might be served deep fried or fresh (unfried).

·        Bathala – In Philippine mythology, the highest-ranking god of the ancient Tagalog people is Bathala, also known as or Maykapal or Abba. Bathala is the creator of all things — the sea, the sky, the earth, and all the plants. He dwelt in the highest realm of the sky.

·        Babaylan – Philippine shamans, commonly known as Babaylan (also balian or katalonan, among many other names) were shamans of the various ethnic groups of the pre-colonial Philippine islands. These shamans specialized in communicating, appeasing, or harnessing the spirits of the dead and the spirits of nature.