A Paradise Lost

The Journey that Changed the Lives of the Maharlikans

Queen Raya woke up early the next day. She summoned all the innovators in her island to discuss to them on how to install electricity to make their lives easier. The Egyptians used the flowing river of Nile as their source of electricity. However, there is no river in the island of Camotes. So they used the sea as their source of electricity.

It took them a month to install electricity in the whole island of Camotes through the joint efforts of the islanders.

Queen Raya led the lighting of the lamp posts. She turned on first the lamp post at the side entrance of her palace and the rest of the lamp posts turned on simultaneously throughout the island.

The islanders clapped and cried from extreme happiness and excitement. They cried because they used to depend the moonlight as their guiding light at night but now the dark hours of their night was getting brighter. They were excited at the same time since there’s no need for them to take so much time and effort to finish their work like irrigation, washing their clothes, fanning themselves during hot days and many more. Since they just started to install electricity in their island, they had only built  a few machines. The installation of electricity and the building of machines were all based on the book that Queen Raya brought from Egypt. The very first installation of electricity marked the beginning of a new era. Queen Raya’s travel changed the lives of the islanders forever. All the things she did went down to the annals of history.

“You’re the best queen we ever have! The technology you brought to our island was so advance. I felt like I am living in the 19th century. Your travel was so fruitful. This is the best souvenir you brought for us from your travel.” Anita said tearfully.

“Thank you, Anita. I am also planning to share the knowledge about electricity to all the people in Maharlika.”

“That’s very generous of you, my queen.”

“Of course! Knowledge is meant to be shared and not just to be tuck away in the bottomless pit of your mind.”

“My queen, the islanders are so happy with the improvement you made for our island. So far this is the best improvement our island has ever achieve. No king or queen in our island has ever done what you have done. You are the best queen we have so far. Several years from now as long as we continually improve, our country may become the most powerful nation in the world considering all the natural resources we have. We may be small but mighty.” Igor said.

“I am glad that our journey was fruitful. This journey would never be possible without your wisdom and support Captain and of course I will never forget the courage of the 250 warriors who left their families and friends for the sake of joining us without hesitation despite of the dangers that lie ahead of us.”

“Long live Queen Raya! The bravest queen in the whole wide world!” Dodong cheered.

“Thank you, my dear.”

“Long live, Queen Raya! May she live a long, prosperous life!” Captain Igor cheered.

“Long live, Queen Raya! The greatest queen who ever live! The queen who traveled the world, not for fun, but to help her people prosper! Our island may be abundant of gold but this time is the real golden age of our island!” Kaalam cheered.

“Long live, Queen Raya! You never cease to amaze us! We hope and pray that you will find the love of your life someday. May Yahweh bless you with a beautiful family!” Anita said.

Queen Raya suddenly felt sad. She remembered Bayani. How could she ever find the love of her life if the man she only loved is already married to someone else. She still flashed a genuine smile to the islanders who cheered for her greatness even though deep inside her she felt like dying.

Queen Raya drank coconut wine alone in her back garden while staring out the vast ocean. She looked at the moon and the stars wondering what the future held for her.

“Excuse me, my queen! Is there anything else you need from me before I go to sleep?” Felipe asked.

“Nothing. Thanks for checking on me.”

“You’re welcome, my queen. Good night!”

“Good night, Felipe.”

Felipe turned his back away from Queen Raya.

“Felipe?”

“Yes, my queen.”

Felipe smiled. His beautiful smile sent a thundering thrill on Queen Raya’s spine. His beautiful smile took her breath away. She wondered if the thrill she felt was caused by his beautiful smile or was it the power of coconut wine.

“Have you tasted a coconut wine before?”

“No.”

“Why don’t you try to drink one?”

Queen Raya poured coconut wine on the coconut shell that was broken into half and handed it over to Felipe.

Felipe drank the coconut wine.

“How was it?”

“It’s good.”

“Do you know that drinking coconut wine has many health benefits for your body. This is the secret of my ancestors why they lived long. Tell me about yourself, Felipe. How did you become a gladiator?”

“My brother sold me as a slave. The Roman who brought me trained me into a gladiator.”

“Your brother must be so jealous of you that’s why he sold you as a slave. Did your parents know that your brother sold you into slavery?”

“All my parents were already dead.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“Do you want to ask anything about me?”

“Why do you drink alone?”

“I prefer to drink alone so that I can unwind and reflect on life. I can think clearly when I’m alone. Is there anything else that you wanted to know more about me?”

“Where is your lover? Does he accompany you sometimes in drinking coconut wine?”

That question touched a sensitive cord on Queen Raya’s heart. She looked at the vast ocean so that Felipe would not see her tears. She didn’t want to pour out her emotions to the person whom she didn’t know so well. She wiped her tears but every time she wiped her tears, it just kept on pouring like torrents of rain. Felipe didn’t force her to answer his question. He could feel that someone must had broken her heart so badly.

“My queen.”

“Yes?”

“Do you mind taking a walk with me?”

“I don’t mind.”

Felipe offered his hand to Queen Raya. She took his hand without any hesitation. She went with him. She had no idea where he was going to take her. She didn’t bother to ask. All she wanted to do is to get Bayani completely out of her mind.

Felipe swept Queen Raya off her feet and sat her down sideways on top of his white stallion. He took the rein with his queen sitting in front of him and off they galloped through the night.