Mahalla Sikatunna

Meet Mahalla, the daughter of Datu Sikatunna of Bohol Island. Her mother was from Cebu who raised her speaking Cebuano. One of the servants who took care of Mahalla was from Lanao and spoke the Maranao language. Her father was Datu Sikatunna who spoke Bolanon. Mahalla grew up speaking three languages.

At the age of three, she had been exposed by her mother to different events involving royal visitors from other islands. Mahalla would listen to her mother's visitors and would easily absorb languages. She could acquire fluency in just a few minutes.

Mahalla's linguistic skills made her famous all around Visayas, Mindanao and neighboring islands in Indonesia, Borneo and as far as the islands of Guam and Vanuatu.

Datu Sikatunna's political ties was strengthened by Mahalla's translation skills. International Sanduaguan pacts mostly require Mahalla's participation. These blood compacts sealed important treaties and major business deals between datus and diplomats.

Mahalla's services were costly. Even Datu Sikatunna had to shower Mahalla with gifts especially pearls. She loved pearls. She wanted to have all the pearls in the world. She used her linguistic skills to expand her collection. She collected pearls and made them into jewelry, clothing, hair ornaments and even her shoes were decorated with pearls.

Her interpretation skills come at a price. When wealthy businessmen visited Bohol, she would ask for rare pearls in exchange of her interpretation skills.

Mahalla was very valuable to the kingdom of Bohol. Words. Sentences. Languages.
Languages were music to Mahalla. Once she learned the words, the melodies come innately. But languages are not the only skills Mahalla possessed. When foreign men landed on the shores of Bohol, Mahalla had to use powers that she had been kept hidden for years. Trouble was demonstrating her powers meant trouble for her father and her people.