Kap Miso

Chapter 1: Pirate Leader

Philippines, 1980

IT has been three years since the tragedy happened. Everything still remains fresh in my memory, as if it all happened just yesterday.

I am currently walking casually on the busy streets of Quiapo, Manila, where I can hear the noise of traffic and people talking in the background, mostly wearing denim jeans and t-shirts.

I passed by street vendors selling fruits, vegetables, and other goods. They called out to me, trying to get my attention and persuade me to buy something. I ignored them and continued walking, and as I turned the corner, I saw a group of protesters marching down the street. They were holding banners and chanting slogans, demanding change and justice for the marginalized and oppressed.

As I walked further, I heard news on the radio coming from the pawnshop---about kidnapping.

"Puwersahang isinakay sa isang kotse ang isang lalaki at babae sa Maynila. At hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin nalalaman ng kanilang mga kaanak kung nasaan at ano ang nangyari sa kanila. Ito ang iuulat ni Carlo De Castro."

I stopped for a moment and looked across the bakery. I went straight there and stood in line with people to buy bread. Sa dami ng mga nakapila ay umabot na hanggang dito sa labas ang pila.

"Jusmiyo, nauuso nanaman ang
kidnapping."

"Kumakalat nanaman ang masasamang loob."

The people in line in front of me started murmuring as they listened to the news on the radio. Palibhasa'y matatanda, halata ang panik at pangamba sa kanilang mukha.

Humalukipkip ako at naiinip na naghintay na lamang sa aking pila para sa pakay kong bumili ng tinapay.

After a while, noise prevailed all around as the cars honked one after another, which were mostly jeeps, beetle type, toyota, and mitsubishi.

Napaharap ako sa kalsada at doo'y nakita ang puno't dulo ng biglang paghinto ng mga sasakyan na nagsanhi ng trapiko.

May isang lalaki ang tumatakbo habang may dalawang pulis na naghahabol sa kanya patungo ngayon dito sa kinaroroonan namin

Naka-kaswal na kasuotan ito at aakalain mong isa lamang ordinaryong tao. But that's the opposite based on the two cops desperately chasing him.

He probably committed a crime.

Hindi ko na sana papansinin ang eksenang iyon nang dito pa talaga sa tabi ko huminto itong kriminal na lalaki, kaya naman nagsimulang mabulabog ang mga tao dito sa panaderya.

The two policemen continued to chase this man, however, they suddenly stopped and the people around screamed in shock when this man suddenly pulled out a gun.

And yeah, I felt the familiar tip of the gun, the muzzle, touched my neck.

I sighed and let the people watch, suddenly alarmed by the unexpected scenario. Halata ang sindak sa mukha nila, samantalang kalmado lamang ako kahit pa nasa bingit na ng kamatayan ang buhay ko---isang kalabit lamang ng lalaki sa baril nito.

"Jusko, kawawa naman ang walang kamalay-malay na dalaga, nadamay pa," dinig kong bulong-bulungan ng mga tao sa paligid.

"Sige! Subukan ninyo akong hulihin kundi papatayin ko 'tong babaeng 'to!" nakakabinging sigaw ng kriminal na 'to sa dalawang pulis, na wala nang nagawa kundi dahan-dahang dukutin na rin ang kanilang mga baril sa bulsa.

"Subukan niyong paputukin 'yan para paputukin ko rin 'to sa leeg nito!" sigaw pa nitong lalaki. As if naman mapapaputok mo pa 'yan kapag napuruhan ka na.