Remember The Girl: Liway
By aningness
***
News flash:
3 Manobo leaders clear military of Lumad killings - Last September 1, Bagani paramilitary forces executed Lumad tribal leader Joselito Malaya, Manuel Santana and alternative school executive director Bonifacio Renato.
The gruesome death triggered the mass evacuation of close to 3,000 stunned Manobo to Tandag City, where they remain to this day.
Joaquin read the news once more. He's not interested with it but like a lightning, an idea of someone struck him. Someone he knew years ago. An indigenous girl of Mindanao. He thought of that girl a lot before but as time passed by, it also passed in his mind. Just when was the last time he thought of that girl? He can't remember anymore.
He shook his head and arranged the papers in front of him. He needs to study to pass the MBA. He must not entertain distractions. Yet...
He heaved a deep sigh. Just one thought of her and the nagging feeling is back. Something's nagging in his chest. Like something was taken away from him yet he can't take it back.
Liway... Liway... his mind saying repeatedly. Oh, yes. Liway is the name.
Joaquin was 12 years old then when he went and stayed at the Dela Merced's mansion at Cagayan de Oro. His Lola wanted him to be there. He studied there for a year. It felt like he was away from life. Away from his comfort zone; away from home.
First week of March 2003, together with his Kuya Anton and some relatives and family friends, they attended the Kaamulan Festival in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. He was impressed by the street performances of the tribes. Their colorful costume shows their rich culture that is preserved even in this generation. The music made his heart leap in joy. It is not something you can hear at the Metro. The songs and the dances are unique.
And at that same day, Joaquin met the Manobo girl, Liway, who lives at the lowlands of Bukidnon. She's a friend of his Kuya Anton. Liway was a four or five years older than him. She is a Filipina beauty. Her tanned skin made her attractive. A pure morena. She wears a traditional indigenous dress. The intricate design of it added colors in her bloomy aura. The way she smile can melt someone's heart. As her face glow in joy and with just a little move of his lips, her dimples show. Her flowing long black hair matches her personality — simple, shy and innocent. She's lovable and Joaquin was dying to be her friend.
Joaquin was not innocent about feeling something towards others. He grew up in Manila and his not a newbie in this thing. At his young age, just a bit, he likes Liway in a freaking romantic way. He even swear, One day, I'll marry a girl like her. But it vanished as an ash mixed up with the air when he knew that Liway was his Kuya's girl.
Summer that same year, he went back to Manila to take his highschool in National College of Business in Arts. And a year later, his Kuya went back to Manila too with an intriguing news. His Kuya and Liway broke up. Because of different culture, beliefs and religion it made a crack to their relationship.
Liway's family didn't like Anton for her. For they don't belong in same parties, they can't be possible. Another thing is that, Anton chose his family, to finish his studies in Manila rather that fight for their love. They were young, they can move on.
Joaquin dreamingly think of Liway. Only if he could stay in Cagayan de Oro but his parents prefer them to study in Manila.
He learnt that Liway's tribe, the Manobo, belongs to the Lumads of Mindanao. He searched about it to know more. Lumads are group of indigenous people of the southern Philippines. It is a cebuano term meaning "native" or "indigenous". The term is short for Katawhang Lumad which literally pertains to indigenous people. There are 20 general hilltribes of Mindanao and it inludes the Manobos.
Lumads are free to express beliefs and practices. Up this day, they prefer to live in the mountain sides of Mindanao, living the traditional life unlike living in the city. Despite of the fact that the Philippines is a religious country, Lumads made a difference. Lumads of Mindanao are un-Islamized and un-Christianed austronesian people.
Lumads preserve their heritage and culture. Believing in spirits and gods show it. There's a god for land, another for water, another for harvest and many others. Death and illness or bad faith is believed to be the god's way of showing anger. Another thing is that, for them, the mountain is sacred.
The news about Lumads can't go away to Joaquin's mind. He refuse to care about but his system wants to do something. To find the girl of 11 years ago. Say hi and check if she's okay, how she's doing and to confirm something. Is it possible to like one girl for a long time? Or even in a lifetime?
Joaquin admits to himself that he likes Liway until now. After all those years, she is still the one. The puppy love he can't forget, can't let go and will surely find no matter what.
A week after knowing about the news, he booked a ticket flight to Cagayan de Oro. He'll find the love he tried to forget but still can't get over, to chase for the girl he wanna marry.
Joaquin heaved a sigh as he stepped out from the plane at the Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro. He tightly held the strap of his backpack. Morning sun touches his skin as the wind is playfully blowing. At the sight of CDO, he remembered his Lola. After going to Bukidnon, he'll visit their mansion at the downtown of this city. The next thing he did is he took a bus which is one of the convenient ways to go to Davao from there in Lumbia.
At the open view of the province in the window, everything is nostalgic. Years ago he hated staying in this region of the country. He didn't belong there but now, it feels like home to him. After an approximately one hour and a half land travel, he reached Davao City. The last transportation he needed was a public utility jeep to reach his final destination - the UCCP Haran Mission House.
In that Mission house, hundreds of Manobo from the hinterlands of Davao del Norte and Bukidnon had already been sheltered for months after soldiers and militars occupied their schools and entire villages. He asked for someone's assistance as he went over to the shelter. He don't have anything for them yet they warmly welcomed his presence.
"Do you know someone named Liway?" he asked the volunteer of the mission house. She handed him a notebook with names on it.
"Try to find her name here."
He immediately scanned the notebook. Liway... Liway... Where is it? Then his eyes stopped to one name that made his heart skip. Liwayway Renato.
He heard footsteps towards his direction. He looked up just to see a plain, lonely woman. She used to be a flower that bloomed on a summer breeze. She was a sun that shone brightly. Her smile was a sweet serenade but all that's left was the saddest song.
She was not like before. Everything's different.
Liwayway Renato... Bonifacio Renato... One of the murdered Lumad... Have she witnessed the death of that man? The death of her —father?
Joaquin can't see emotion in his face. But the way her eyes look at him, he can feel the sadness. No it's not sadness, it's agony. A pain he don't know how to take away.
With all the courage, he captured her gaze. His eyes understanding and sympathizing.
One day, everything will be okay. You won't be sad the way you feel now. You will be happy. Again. You'll be back. My Liway would be back for good.
It would take some days, months and even years. But the thing was, Joaquin was sure that one day would come and everything's alright. Maybe then, he'll have his chance to fulfill what he swore when he was 12.
The least and greatest thing to do now is for him to comfort Liway. Love her to mend her broken heart.
End.
***
Forgive my english.ಥ_ಥ Written last 2015. It was a written requirement in English subject during my freshman year in college. The original title was "Someday". Too cliché so I changed it.
REMEMBER THE GIRL: LIWAY ©2016 by aningness
