A Paradise Lost

Fighting What's Rightfully Ours (Pre-Spanish)

March 30, 1520

It was a bright and sunny morning. White, fluffy clouds dotted the azure blue sky as the sun beamed beatifically, casting a golden glow upon the earth.

Habagat stretched his arms ready to start a brand new day. He was known as the eagle-eye in the beautiful island of Camotes, Cebu. His job was to watch over the island for any incoming visitors or potential enemies that would approach towards their island. He started working as the island's watchman ever since he was 16 years old. As the eldest son in the family, he needed to work at an early age to help his parents raise his ten brothers and nine sisters. For ten years that he had been keeping a watchful eye on the island, he hadn't encounter anything exciting so far like an invasion except for some traders who got lost on their island. Their merciful queen would helped these traders go back to their respective countries. But there were some who chose to stay in their beautiful paradise.

Habagat was standing on his post in the low-lying mountain of Mactang island. He adjusted his golden binoculars. He was confused when he saw five ships approaching towards their island from a distance. They didn't receive any information that they are going to expect any visitors. He was surprised to see that many ships. They didn't look like a merchant to him because most merchants will only travel via single ship or two. He wondered what they were going to do in their island. He was debating in his mind whether they were merchants, lost explorers, or worst, conquerors. There's no better decision but to be prepared whether it's a guest worth welcoming or an invader.

"Caylao (Habagat's messenger), please tell Queen Raya that there are five ships approaching towards our island."

"Should I tell her if it's a guest or an enemy?"

"I don't know. Our wise queen will decide on how we are going to receive the unexpected guests."

Caylao wrote that there are five ships approaching to their island on a small piece of paper using a charcoal. He rolled the small piece of paper after composing his message. He tied and attached it on the legs of the pigeon. The pigeon flew towards Queen Raya's palace.

Kaalam, one of Queen Raya's advisors, pulled the small piece of paper from the pigeon's legs. He handed the rolled paper to Queen Raya without opening it.

"Call Bayani and his warriors now! Prepare yourselves for battle!" Queen Raya exhorted.

"Is there an enemy approaching our island?" Kaalam was confused.

"I'm not sure. Habagat is also not sure with what he saw. But it's better to be prepared. Tell all the women to prepare a banquet of food in case the coming visitors will bring us good tidings."

Queen Raya handed the small parchment of paper to Kaalam. He smiled with a genuine satisfaction upon reading the message.

"You are right, my queen. You never cease to amaze me. I will tell everyone to stand on their respective posts."

Kaalam told everyone that there are five unknown ships approaching the island. He also explained that they were not yet certain whether it's a friendly visitor or an enemy. He instructed Bayani to prepare all the able men in the island for battle. He sternly instructed the men to treat the visitors as their allies. If proven to be enemies after a few negotiation, then Bayani would give them a go signal to attack the visitors. The women on the other hand prepared a banquet as if they were expecting a lot of visitors with good tidings from a land far, far away. Before they assembled themselves to meet their unexpected visitors, they prayed as one to Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Maayo, the island's chief priest lead the prayer.

Bayani stood on the shore with four of his finest warriors behind him. He saw hundreds of men went down from the ship. A tall man with haughty nose and big eye bags was on the lead. It was apparent that he was the leader. He was accompanied by a short dark slave from Borneo.

The leader of the newcomers said something in foreign language.

"This is Miguel Lopez from Spain. He come here to your island in search of spice and gold under the command of King Phillip of Spain and with the blessing of Pope Alexander VI from the Vatican." The slave spoke who also serve as the translator.

"Why are you here? What do you want from us?" Bayani asked suspiciously. He started to sense a foreboding danger based on the authoritative tone and the stern facial expression of the Spanish conqueror.

"He said that he came here to give tribute to King Phillip of Spain. He wanted you to do the same as well by giving your gold and spices. You need to submit yourselves and serve the King of Spain or else.." The translator was not able to finish since Bayani and the rest of the man already pulled their bolos out from their hilts. He also saw thousands of men holding a spear on top of the mountain surrounding them. He didn't see those vast number of men when they arrived.

"Or else what?!" Bayani yelled hoarsely.

"Or else it will be a bloody battle." The slave cowered. He was afraid to become a casualty of their bloody battle.

"Viva España!" Miguel Lopez exhorted.

Bayani raised his bolo.

"Mabuhay Maharlika!"

A blizzard of spears was shrilling and fizzing through the sky.

Hundreds of Spanish warriors went down from the ship holding their swords. They were obviously outnumbered by the Maharlikans but they were too arrogant to flee from the battle.

The Maharlikan warriors went down from the mountain to fight with the Spaniards. Their feet thundered on the mountain's cold floor. They were holding either a spear or a bolo.

Swords and bolos were clinking and clashing under the churning sky. The tip of the spears of the Maharlikans glinted like wicked hoar frost, but the scream of the Spaniards were bowel-loosening. The beach of Mactang was baptized in blood.

The left side of Miguel Lopez' neck was hit with a bolo by Kusog, one of Bayani's man.

Despite of the wound that Miguel Lopez got on his neck, he still stood up and continued to fight against Kusog.

Kusog was one of Bayani's fiercest warrior. He wanted to teach Miguel Lopez a lesson because of the arrogance he'd shown to their island as if he was the most powerful man in the world.

Miguel Lopez did not waver despite of his bleeding neck. He tried to hold his sword up high but it was difficult for him to do so with his bleeding neck. He touched his bleeding neck to stop the bleeding but it was futile. So he decided to hold his sword with both of his hands and fight till the end in the name of the Kingdom of Spain. He tried to slash Kusog's shoulder to get even with him but Kusog was quick enough to dodge his attack.

Kusog slashed Miguel Lopez's right waist with his bolo.