The Pigeon Breeder

No Rest

The opening sentence is always the most difficult thing to write. That's the thing about new beginnings no matter if it's a new document or a new journey in life, the struggle is always about finding where to start. I decided to leave Laguna for a while and travel south and temporarily leave everything behind and maybe get some fresh air away from everything that I am used to.

It is nearly 6 in the morning and the people are starting their usual routines. Everything is as quiet and cold as Mt. Talinis whose crooked peak stares down at this small, quiet town. My partner is currently taking her sweet time scouring the Sunday market for whatever catches her fancy. I don't mind. I find her enthusiasm calming -- it makes me forget about the horrible events that have transpired.

No. I am not doing research for any stories yet I find my situation amusingly apt as I consume my 3rd mug of a local brew, sitting in a small snack shop, and trying to digest the stories that were told to me by this old woman -- a stranger -- who decided it was a good idea to talk to me randomly out of all the people nearby.

The old woman looks harmless. Of course, I am aware that looks can be deceiving but this job has taught me to judge individuals accurately -- this is quite helpful in identifying mortals from the Diwata posing as one. This old woman gives off an aura of being able to walk through worlds and has seen and heard the most extraordinary stories in existence. Today, she decided to share one with me out of all the people in this area.

She wasn't sure when this event has transpired but she was sure where -- at a remote barangay in Sipalay in the neighboring province of Negros Occidental. The old lady said that people believe that the Negros island is a place where the Old Gods always roam and this story is one such instance.

Her story involves one pigeon breeder. She said she was no longer sure of the exact name but her mother, whenever she reprimands the old lady and her siblings back in their youth, will use the story of this particular pigeon breeder. She would always regard this person as Nato and would tell them warnings like "You should learn from Nato." "Do you want to end up like Nato?"

Nato was one of the well-known pigeon breeders in the area. Whether one needs pigeons for racing or farming, it is always best to get a pair from him in his aviary located at his parents' lot.

The day started like all the other days despite it being chilly and foggy. Nato is in his aviary cleaning the coop while his pigeons fly freely circling the area. As Nato busies himself in his morning routine, he noticed a woman walking towards him.

Nato takes note of every visitor in his aviary. He judges them by their looks and, if he decides that they look like people who will easily close a deal, he will put on his brightest smile and his most courteous attitude. Now, anyone who knows Nato can and will attest that he has a nasty attitude towards buyers who second-guess his flock. On this particular day, Nato wonders if this woman will be like those undecided.

According to the stories, the old woman says, Nato took his time observing the approaching woman through the door screen of a coop. The fog encircling his area certainly did not help. Nothing in her demeanor gave Nato an idea of what type of client she is. The story varies on how the woman looked like: some say she's middle-aged and wearing a blue dress, and some say she looks like a young adult wearing a dark green dress. But there is one constant element to the woman: she wears a dress embroidered with avian imagery.

The woman approached Nato with a neutral smile, her voice soft. She briefly glances at the pigeons flying overhead and then stared straight at Nato. She wasted no time and told him of her request.

She is looking for a certain kind of pigeon. The Puñalada (nowadays known as the Negros bleeding-heart pigeon). She said everyone directed her to him saying he is the best at handling pigeons of all kinds. As much as Nato's ego inflated upon hearing those words, he is not naive. He knows about the Puñalada. After all, the shy bird sports an unmistakable red streak on its chest giving it its name. Nato knows that it is no longer easy to find -- much more to capture -- this bird.