A Paradise Lost

The Legend of Maria Cacao

Queen Raya took off the pink diamond necklace and put it inside the jewelry box. It was one of the rarest diamond in the world possessed by a few people. It was one of her favorite jewelry and the only jewelry she had that Queen Maya couldn’t take her eyes off whenever she wore it around her neck. That jewelry was so special for her because she inherited it from her great-great-great-great-great grandmother Queen Sheba who brought it from Africa. What made the jewelry attractive to Queen Maya was its unique swan pendant that was designed by one of the most skilled jeweler in the world. It was not the unique design that made the jewelry so sentimental to her but the thought that her late great-great-great-great-great grandmother Queen Sheba used to wear it around her neck. It pained her to be parted to her favorite jewelry but she had no choice but to give it to her cousin for the sake of saving her people.

Queen Raya gathered all her courage before entering the palace of Queen Maya. She was the type of person that would never ask a favor to anyone whether it’s a close friend or enemy not unless that person owed something from her. She waited for her cousin in the drawing room.

“How are you my dear cousin? To what pleasure do I owe you this visit?”

“I’m doing fine. Thank you for allowing me to visit you. Please take this small gift offering.”

Queen Maya opened the box. It was indeed her favorite necklace.

“What exactly do you want?”

“I wanted to form an alliance with you to overthrow the Spaniards. They don’t have a right to loot our natural resources. We need to preserve our natural resources for the next generation to come. They don’t have a right most especially to enslave our people. We are noble men. We don’t deserve any of this!”

“I will not risk my people to fight those giants off. Tell me how are we going to defeat them. Aren’t your casualties not enough yet to make you realize that we are powerless against them?”

“You are nothing but a coward and a stupid queen! You have not even achieve anything! You are a queen of the damned! How could you sacrifice the lives of your people for the sake of being remembered in history?! How could you sleep tightly at night while the Spaniards are looting our natural resources?! If we will just allow them to take whatever they wanted, time will come that there will be no more gold left for the next generation to come! We do not inherit our natural resources from our parent; we borrow it from our children!”

“How dare you insult me in my own kingdom! Who do you think you are?! Your name will be forgotten in history forever. No one will ever remember you! All your feat will be cancelled and your name will be change to Maria Cacao. Your stories of adventure was already changed to the ‘Legend of Maria Cacao’ who travelled the world aboard a golden ship selling cacao. Your name will be reduced into a mythical character. We will write in the annals of history that the ever first Spanish-Maharlikan war happened in Mactan Island and not in Mactang, Camotes. By the way, stop calling our country Maharlika. From now on, our country will be called Philippines in honor of King Philip of Spain and also as an acknowledgement of the sovereignty of Spain over our country. We will no longer be called as Maharlikans but Filipinos.”

“No matter how many times you tell a lie, the truth will always prevail. It is only the truth that will set us free.”

“How are you going to redeem yourself? All our history books are already burned by the Spaniards. Who will believe in you? You may go back to your island. My people are waiting for me. We will be celebrating our acceptance of Roman Catholicism. You may also join our Sinulog Festival if you want to.”

Queen Raya slapped Queen Maya. She was so furious with her. She never thought that her own cousin would betray her of all the people in the world.

“How dare you slapped me!”

Queen Maya attempted to slapped Queen Raya but she was able hold her arm. She slapped her other cheek so hard that she fell on the floor and went out immediately.

“Guards!”
The guards came at once and saw Queen Raya who hurriedly went out the door.

“I want you to throw that vile woman outside!”
The guards held Queen Raya’s arms.

“There is no need for you to lead me outside. I know my way out!”
Queen Raya twisted her arms to set herself free from the guards strong grasp. She held her head high and went out with dignity.