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Unang Kontemporaryong Babasahin UTOS NG HARI ni Jun Cruz Reyes See you in my cubicle after lunch.” Pahabol sa akin ni Mrs. Moral Character kanginang matapos ang klase. Si Mrs. Moral Character ang teacher namin sa Social Science. Siya rin ang adviser namin. Para naman akong g.go na isip nang isip kung ano na naman ang sasabihin nito sa akin. Nawalan tuloy ako ng ganang mananghalian. Halos tiyak ko nang sermunang umaatikabo na naman ito. Kamakalawa lamang ay halos ilabas niya ang kanyang calculator para makita kung gaano ako “katanga” at kung gaano katama ang kanyang pagsuma sa aking mga 5. Isinunod niya ang mga absences ko at tapos ay ang aking mga lates. Hindi naman maikatwirang “Paano ‘ko di masi-5, kung kailan ako absent ay saka ka magbibigay ng quiz. Kung kelan tinatamad mag-recite, saka namimilit. Saka pag sinabi ko naman ang gusto kong sabihin, kakapain yung pulang ball pen.” Pero tipong maganda naman ang kanyang mood sa klase kanina. Katunaya’y yung kanyang paboritong paksa ang pinag-uusapan namin...Yung kanyang dazzling Malaysian at ang kanyang paboritong pabango. Nagtsismis din siya (tulad ng dati). Kesyo si Mr. Espejo raw kaya tumandang binata dahil dalawang beses niyang binasted noong dalaga pa siya. Si miss kuwan daw, kaya wala sa eskuwelahan, hindi dahil nag-study leave, nagpa- abort sa America. Magbi-bell na nang maalala niya ang leksyon namin, ang normalization process sa gobyerno. Sabi niya kangina. “Para tayp maging fully democratic, kailangang mataas ang literacy rate.” (Sinabi na yon ni Rizal) “May sapat na communication system ang pamahalaan at may mataas na moralidad ang mga mamamayan. At higit sa lahat, kailangang maging westernized ang ating pamantayan. By doing so, hindi tayo magiging uncivilized sa western standards.” Nang tanungin niya ako, sabi ko’y mas basic ang dapat na pamamaraan sa pagtingin sa problema. Halimbawa’y bakit hindi umpisahan sa economic condition ng bansa. Kung kuntento ang mga tao, normal ang takbo ng pamahalaan. Pero kung maraming dissatisfied, natural na abnormal ang sistema. Hindi basta effective communication process, hindi rin basta mataas na literacy rate. Mga manipistasyon lang ito ng talagang problema. Nabigla siya. Doon na inabutan ng bell. Ay konsumisyon sa buhay, gusto kong lagnatin. Kay layo ng kahapon sa kasalukuyan. Pag nasa bahay, ako ang bida. Pag ang kababayan ko ang magkukuwento, ako ang sikat. Pero dito sa eskuwelahan, walang isko-scholar ng bayan. Talagang gusto kong maghinto, pero ayaw ni Tatay. Kung sabagay, sino bang ama ang matututwang magkaanak ng drop-out. Talagang sawa na akong mag-aral. Kay ganda sanang isiping hindi ako nakatali sa sintas ng sapatos ng teacher ko na kasama ko sa bawat hakbang. Ipaling kung saang sulok ko gustong puntahan, ilakad-kaladkarin kahit gustong mamahinga. At isa pa, kahit ako ang masaktan.

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Unang Kontemporaryong Babasahin

UTOS NG HARIni Jun Cruz Reyes

          “See you in my cubicle after lunch.” Pahabol sa akin ni Mrs. Moral Character kanginang matapos ang klase. Si Mrs. Moral Character ang teacher namin sa Social Science. Siya rin ang adviser namin.

          Para naman akong g.go na isip nang isip kung ano na naman ang sasabihin nito sa akin. Nawalan tuloy ako ng ganang mananghalian. Halos tiyak ko nang sermunang umaatikabo na naman ito. Kamakalawa lamang ay halos ilabas niya ang kanyang calculator para makita kung gaano ako “katanga” at kung gaano katama ang kanyang pagsuma sa aking mga 5. Isinunod niya ang mga absences ko at tapos ay ang aking mga lates. Hindi naman maikatwirang “Paano ‘ko di masi-5, kung kailan ako absent ay saka ka magbibigay ng quiz. Kung kelan tinatamad mag-recite, saka namimilit. Saka pag sinabi ko naman ang gusto kong sabihin, kakapain yung pulang ball pen.”

          Pero tipong maganda naman ang kanyang mood sa klase kanina. Katunaya’y yung kanyang paboritong paksa ang pinag-uusapan namin...Yung kanyang dazzling Malaysian at ang kanyang paboritong pabango. Nagtsismis din siya (tulad ng dati). Kesyo si Mr. Espejo raw kaya tumandang binata dahil dalawang beses niyang binasted noong dalaga pa siya. Si miss kuwan daw, kaya wala sa eskuwelahan, hindi dahil nag-study leave, nagpa-abort sa America. Magbi-bell na nang maalala niya ang leksyon namin, ang normalization process sa gobyerno.

          Sabi niya kangina. “Para tayp maging fully democratic, kailangang mataas ang literacy rate.” (Sinabi na yon ni Rizal) “May sapat na communication system ang pamahalaan at may mataas na moralidad ang mga mamamayan. At higit sa lahat, kailangang maging westernized ang ating pamantayan. By doing so, hindi tayo magiging uncivilized sa western standards.” 

          Nang tanungin niya ako, sabi ko’y mas basic ang dapat na pamamaraan sa pagtingin sa problema. Halimbawa’y bakit hindi umpisahan sa economic condition ng bansa. Kung kuntento ang mga tao, normal ang takbo ng pamahalaan. Pero kung maraming dissatisfied, natural na abnormal ang sistema. Hindi basta effective communication process, hindi rin basta mataas na literacy rate. Mga manipistasyon lang ito ng talagang problema. Nabigla siya. Doon na inabutan ng bell.

          Ay konsumisyon sa buhay, gusto kong lagnatin. Kay layo ng kahapon sa kasalukuyan. Pag nasa bahay, ako ang bida. Pag ang kababayan ko ang magkukuwento, ako ang sikat. Pero dito sa eskuwelahan, walang isko-scholar ng bayan. 

          Talagang gusto kong maghinto, pero ayaw ni Tatay. Kung sabagay, sino bang ama ang matututwang magkaanak ng drop-out. Talagang sawa na akong mag-aral. Kay ganda sanang isiping hindi ako nakatali sa sintas ng sapatos ng teacher ko na kasama ko sa bawat hakbang. Ipaling kung saang sulok ko gustong puntahan, ilakad-kaladkarin kahit gustong mamahinga. At isa pa, kahit ako ang masaktan.

          Ay buhay estudyante. Magkauno lang, kahit lulunin ang sariling dila. Kumontra sa kanila, singkong maliwanag. Tumango-tango ka naman para makauno, ibig sabihin noo’y sarili mo na ang kailangang lokohin. Pakisama lang talaga. Konting kumpromiso, konting tango at yes man lang, dos na yon o tres. Kungbakit naman kasi nauso pa sa mundo ang diploma. Kung wala kang diploma, sino naman ang maniniwalang may kaubrahan nga ako. Sana’y di nauso ang grade, di sana’y di ako mahihiyang pumasok kahit Metro Manila aide. Kung graduate naman ako, hingan ng experience sa pag-aaplayan ko, dedo rin. At kung tapos nga, nakakahiya namang pati trabahong pangmahirap ay pagtiyagaan ko.

          Grade lang naman, problema ba ‘yon? Kung 5, tapos ang usapan, bakit kailangang pahabain pa? Bagsak kung bagsak. Kickout. Pero hindi naman talaga ako dapat bumagsak. O.K. matigas ang ulo ko, rugged at medyo bastos pa raw, pero bakit kailangang isali pati conduct at ayos ng katawan sa usapan? Hindi namn ito military school, hindi rin naman seminaryo, bakit panay “yung conduct mo” at “appearance” ang panakot nila.

          Ano ba ang sama nang bumagsak? Kung si Recto, bar flunker pero isa sa kinikilalang constitutionalist ngayon. Si Einstein, bumagsak sa Physics at grammar school pero big time scientist. Kahit teacher niya hindi alam ang theory niya sa relativity. Kung sa bagay, hindi ako si Recto o si Einstein. Si Jojo lang ako kung ang walang sinabi kong teachers ang tatanungin. Sa mga kapitbahay namin, pambihira raw ako. Biro mong sa probinsya namin ay ako lang ang nakarating sa Maynila para mag-aral nang libre. Kung nalalaman lang nila.

          Aral nang aral. Aral sa umaga, aral sa tanghali at aral pa ulit sa gabi. Hindi ko naman maintindihan kung para ano ang pinag-aaralan. Hindi na naubusan ng ipari-research. Walang alam kung itanong kung hindi “What is our lesson for today?” Parang mga Diyos na sila lamang ang may monopolyo ng tama. Kaya hindi puwedeng tanungin at lalung hindi puwedeng pagsabihan ng mali.

          Ay ang teacher sa mundo, bakit ba ginawa pa ng kung sinong hayupak. Tulad ni Mrs. Moral Character, bago mag-umpisa ng leksiyon, magsesermon muna ng virtue of honesty, kesyo masamang mandaya, kasalanang mortal ang magturo sa kaeskuwelang nakalimutn ang sagot dahil sa pagkataranta, krimen ang magkodigo at kung anu-ano pa. Lahat na yata ng masama at bawal sa mundo ay alam. Pero ang kanyang lihim ay buko na namin. Noon daw nakaraang referendum, ang teacher naming morally upright ay biglang nabulag at nabobo. Nang mag-watcher daw ito sa presinto, tatlong letra lang ang kabisadong basahin. Katuwiran daw nito’y “Anong sama roon, kahit matalo, panalo pa rin. Bakit, me magagawa ka ba?” Kaya naman ngayon, hindi na siya si Mrs. Moral Character sa amin, Mrs. Eraser na lang.

          Tapos nagtataka pa kung kangino kami nagmana sa mundo.

          E, sino naman kaya sa kanila ang pwedeng gawing idolo? Yung teacher ko sa English, walang pakialam sa mundo. Basta magamit lang biya yung nalalaman niya sa voice  and diction, maligaya na siya sa buhay. Basta kami ang papel lang namin, tagapakinig sa kanyang mga sides. Para patuloy kaming pang-theraphy niya lang. At ang kanyang paboritong paksa, yung kaniyang nuno na purong Kastila raw na nagpatayo ng simbahan sa kanilang bayan. Antique siyempre yung simbahan (tulad niya at ng kanyang lolo). Ibig lang niyang palabasin na may dugong bughaw siya. Sarap sanang bukuhin na ang Kastilang napunta rito noong araw ay mga butangero at kriminal sa Espanya. Kesa nga naman maging problema sila sa gobyerno nila, di Pilipinas na lang ang bahalang magtiis ng kunsumisyon. Yung gaanong sistema ang namana niya sa kanyang lolo, ang mangunsumi ng mapagtiis. Pag nabuko mong hindi nag-aral, lagot ka. Pagsasabihan ka nito ng “What? Iyon lang ang hindi mo pa alam hanggang ngayon? O.K. that’s your assignment for tomorrow.” Saka niya sasabayan ng bura ang maling nakasulat sa blackboard.

          Kunsumihin ka ba naman araw-araw, pag naging g.go ka nagtataka pa. Hindi ka na mga pwedeng magwala, hindi ka pa rin pwedeng maglibang. Kung  sa pagtitiis ng kunsumi ay sigarilyo at beer ang mapiling pagbuntunan ng sama ng loob, ayun at “Sinasabi ko na nga bang masama sa pag-aaral ang bisyo,” ang agad ikakatuwiran ng mga ito.

          Kung bisyo naman ang pag-uusapan, masama raw sa katawan ng tao ang alkohol at nikotina. Para na rin sinabing pag teacher ka na ay pwede. Dahil estudyante ka pa lang, tiis. Itanong mo kay Mr. Discipline at alam niya ang sagot. Huwag mo nang itanong kung nagdaan din siya sa pagkabata, kung noong araw ay g.go rin siya, dahil ang isasagot nito’y “Kaya nga ayaw niyang matutuhan n’yo ang bisyo dahil pinagdaanan niya na yan.”

          Sa amin sa barkada, dalawa kaming mag-gu-goodbye my school goodbye. Kickout ako sa kagag...n daw. Si Minyong nama’y sa kabobohan daw.

          Kung paano nila natiyak na dapat nga kaming palayasin sa pinakamamahal naming paaralan, ganito raw ang naging takbo ng usapan nina Mrs. Moral Character (Eraser). Mrs. Gles-ing, Mr. Mathemathician, Miss Spermatozoa at Mr. Discipline.

 

          “Hindi naman korum, say qourom, kuwow, quorom. That’s correct, that Jojo Boy has no sense of deqourum. I feel though he is brilliant, only my reservation is that...”

          “Only he is stubborn. Papasok yan sa klase ko nang nakainom, para pang nag-iinis at lalapitan ka. Ipapaamoy sa iyo ang hininga.”

          “How true, how true, I swear to God that’s true.”

          “Hindi lang yan, minsan gusto pa mandin akong kulitin sa klase na akala mo’y mahuhuli niya akong hindi prepared sa lesson ko. Tambakan ko nga ng research work, di atras siya.”

          “And he is always absent. Sometimes, i don’t want to give him an excuse slip anymore.”

          “So what is the verdict of the group?”

          “I could not pass him.”

          “Ako rin.”

          “I second the motion.”

          “God will punish his naughtiness.”

          “I will report the matter to his parents immediately.”

          Ang masama ay ang akusayon nila kay Minyong. Nababaliw raw. Tuwang-tuwa silang pagtsismisan ito. Iyon ay kung hindi sila tinatamaan ng mga pinagsasabi ni Minyong. Pah medyo kinabubuwisitan nilang co-teacher ang tinatamaan, “hi-hi-hi-hi” lang ang sagot nila. Pag-bulls eye, si Minyong 

          “My God, baliw talaga, hindi alam ang sinasabi,” ang katuwiran nila.

          Si Minyong kasi ay cultural minority. Hindi naman nagprisinta sa kanila yung tao na rito sa Maynila mag-aral. Kinuha-kuha nila sa bundok, tapos pilit pinaniwalang makasasabay ito sa  standard ng exclusive school, pinaniwalang dito matutuhan ang paghango sa kahirapan ng kanilang tribo, saka ngayon, basta na lang pinagsalita, para raw mahasa nang gayo’y mawala ang inferiority complex nito. Ayun, nang matutong magsalita ang tao, na-shock silang marinig ang katotohanan.

          Sabi ng pangkat ng mga Hari.

          “I find him kinda weird lately.”

          “So what shall we do with him?”

          “Definitely, I could not pass him.”

          “Oo nga naman. Gagawa tayo ng masamang precedent. Mauuso ang bobo sa eskuwelahan. Remember, Philippine School of Science and Technology ito. Tapos magpapasa tayo ng estudyanteng bobo? Hindi pwede.”

          ‘Pero cultural minority yan.”

          “And so what?”

          “Kailangng babaan batin ang standard sa kanya.”

          “Excuse me, mayroon lamang isang standard ang excellence at wala nang exception pa.”

          “What now?”

          “Ano pa, di ibagsak.” 

          “Saka sila nagkurus ng “Ibagsak.”

          Kung sabagay, nang mabalita ang kaso ni Minyong sa eskuwelahan, humigit kumulang ay nakapagpasiya na sil sa mgiging dulo ng istorya. Ganito raw iyon.

          “Have you considered his case lately?”

          “Anong gagawin natin sa kanya? Meron ba tayong policy sa ganyang kaso?”

          “Mabuti siguro’y pauwiin natin sa kanilang tribo.” 

          “Dapat nga, naka manakit pa ‘yan at maraming madamay.”

          “Oh, how i abhor violence.”

          “Baka ‘ka mo manunuog pa ‘yan. Uso pa naman sa Maynila ang sunog ngayon.”

          “E kung ipa-confine natin sa mental?” 

          “At sino ang magsu-shoulder ng bill?”

          Tapos ang kaso ni Minyong bago pa man pasimulan ang deliberasyon.

          Hindi naman sila parating ganoon kabilis magbaba ng hatol. Paminsan-minsan nama’y humane sila, ikan nga. Tulad halimbawa ng kaso ni Oasis at Armando, mga kaiskuwela rin namin. 

          “Ipasa na natin si Oasis.”

          “Pero mababa ‘yan sa Physics.”

          “Sus naman, ito, e, talaga namang mahirap ‘yang klase mo.” 

          “Thoughtful ‘yang batang ‘yan. Kahit saan ka makita ay panay ang good morning.”

          “Talaga. At prisintado agad ‘yan pag nakasalubong ka na maraming dala.” 

          “How about Armando? Another cultural minority?”

          “Excuse me. He is not a thoroughbred minority. It is only the mother. The father is an Ilocano who migrated to Mountain Province.”

          “Ang sweet-sweet ng batang ‘yan. Manang-mana sa Tatay niya.”

          “Pogi pa talaga.” 

          “You bet. Doctor pala ang ama n’yan.”

          “Ipapasa ko yan. Kaya lang naman ‘yan mababa, kasi matagal umabsent. Nagkasakit kasi.”

          “Ano, pasado na ‘tong dalawa?”

          “Approve.”

          Mahirap talaga sa mundo ang hindi pogi at walang amang duktor.

          “Come on in. Sit down.” Sabi ni Mrs. Moral Character matapos aking kumatok at papasukin sa kanyang cubicle. Inabutan ko siyang nagsasalansan ng mga libro. 

          “Called your for two reasons. Regarding our lesson and your attitude in class.” Idiniin niya yung your attitude. Heto na naman kami sa loob-loob ko. Kung bakit kasi hindi na lang ako nagkasakit. Sana’y natuloy na ang lagnat ko para wala nang sermunang naghihintay.

          “Jojo, ang tao’y hindi pulos tiyan tulad ng gusto mong palabasin.” Sabi niya habang nakataas ang isang kilay.

          Huwag kang kikibo, paalala ko sa aking sarili. Konting tiis. Mahirap makipagtalo sa teacher. Ngiti ka lang basta. Titigil din pag nagsawa. Pero tipong wala siyang balak mag-short cut ng sermon.

          “Walang essence ang pinagsasabi mo kanina. Iyon ay isang halimbawa ng priori statement. Do you get me?” Tumango naman ako.

          “Good. Now, alam mo sigurong wala kang pinanghahawakang data, which I happened to have. Panay speculation lang ang pinagsasabi mo at walang katuturan ito sa scientific world. Our lesson is more complicated than you thought. What you mean probably is the role of economic determinism in contemporary Philosophy, which is all together wrong. Bakit hindi mo gamitin ang power or elite approach? Behavioralism and trend ngayon sa west. Bakit hindi ka makigaya?” 

          Huwag mong pansinin, ngiti lang. Paalala ko uli sa sarili ko. Hayaan mo lang siyangn magsalita nang magsalita. Pasasaan ba’t mauubusan din iyan ng sasabihin. Pasok sa kanang tenga. Labas sa kaliwa. Siya ang teacher kaya ang pakiramdam niya’y siya lang ang pwedeng tama.

          “Do you get me?”

          Tango pa rin ako. At ngayon, ang part II ng kanyang sermon.

          “To be honest about it, I don’t like your attitude in class. Smart aleck!” Yuko na lang ako. Saka ako bumulong ng “I’m sorry, mam.”

          Kahit hindi ko siya tingnan, alam kong tatangu-tango siya sa tuwa. Lihim na namang pumapalakpak ang kanyang tenga sa tuwa. Napaamo niya ang suwail ng eskuwelahan. Sana’y kasing honest din niya ako, di sana’y nasabi ko ring “The feeling is mutual. I also don’t like you, mam.” Sa halip, ang nasabi ko na lang ay “Can i go now, mam?” 

          “I’m not yet through.” Ibig pa palang sabihin, may part III pa ‘tong usapang ito.

          “They saw you in the chapel last night.”

          Diyos me, pati pala personal life ko’y pinakikialaman na rin nila ngayon, sa loob-loob ko. Naramdaman ko ang init ng kanyang titig sa aking mukha.

          “How young are you Jojo? Speak up.”

          “15, mam.”

          “15 and already you are...” Saka niya dinugtungan ng “I’ll let your mother know about this,” bago ako tuluyang lumabas ng kanyang cubicle.

          Gusto ko na talagang magwala. Gusto ko siyang balikan. Gusto kong isambulat sa mukha niya ang lahat ng hinanakit ko sa mundo. Sana’y kasing tapang ako ng gusto kong mangyari. Ano bang masama sa ginawa ko sa chapel? Magkahawak lang kami ng kamay ni Tess. Masama ba ‘yon? Siguro ang masama’y kung bakit biglang napasyal si Mrs. Gles-ing sa chapel nang ganoong oras ng gabi. Kawawang Tess. Halos natitiyak ko nang gagawin na naman itong halimbawa ng mga Mrs. Moral Character ng kung ano hindi dapat maging ang isang babaeng estudyante. Si Mrs. Gles-ing, tiyak na halos pumasok ang dila sa ilong sa pagbabando ng kanyang scoop.

          Ano pa ang magagawa ko, di suntok na lang sa hangin at magbubulong na balang araw, kung mababaliw ako tulad ni Minyong, siguro’y hindi nila ikatutuwa, pero natitiyak kong ipagtataka nila kung bakit.

          Nasa lobby ang mga kabarkada kong alaskador.

          “Jojo, balita nami’y bida ka na naman.”

          “Hayaan mo ang mga hayupak na ya’t magsasawa rin yan.”

          “E, kasi naman, pa chapel-chapel pa kayo. Alam mo nang teritoryo ng mga santo yon.”

          “Kung nagmu-motel kayo, di wala sana silang alam.”

          “Tigil,” sabi ko. 

          “Ano ba talaga ang ginawa nyo’t nagpuputok ang butsi ni Mrs. Gles-ing sa klase namin kanina?”

          “Isa pa to, anong magagawa ko sa chapel kahit ka may madyik, walang himalang mangyayari roon,” sabi ko.

          “Ligawan mo kaya si Mrs. Gles-ing?”

          “Tar....o, isa ka pa.” Buwisit na buhay ito, alaskado na naman ako.

          “Malay mo, baka lalong malahing Mrs. Robinson yon.” Saka sila nagtawanan. Nakitawa rin ako kahit naiinis na ako sa buhay. 

          “Tara na lang sa Cubao,” yaya ko sa kanila.

          Yung isang round ng beer ay nasundan ng isa pa nga at isa pa ulit. Saka pinabuntunan ng one for the road. Kung gaano kabilis ang boto ng beer ay ganoon din kabilis ang oras.

          “Ano ba talaga ang ginawa mo sa chapel?”

          “Ano pa. Di holding hands. Masama ba ‘yon? Para nagsumpaan lang kami sa harap ng altar na hindi maghihiwalay kahit ako ma-kick out. Kabastusan na ba iyon? Bakit kasi ang dudumi ng isip nila. Akala mo’y hindi nakipag-holding hands noong mga bata.” 

          “Sila kaya, paano naging tao?”

          “Nagtinginan lang, nabuntis na.”

          Saka sila nagtawanan. Buti pa sila, kahit paano’y masaya. Ako yata, kahit sa paglilibang ay mga teachers ko pa rin ang nakikita. Sobra na ito. Bakit ba ayaw nilang makakita ng katotohanang iba kaysa kinagisnan nila? Bakit ba kasi gusto nilang maging kamukha nilang lahat ang tao sa mundo? Dahil ba sa kanilang palagay ay sila ang nakadiskubre ng mina ng talino at tama, kaya wala nang natira sa amin para diskubrihin? Pero hindi ba yung tinatawag nilang expertise, yung dalawampung taon sa serbisyo, ang ibig lang sabihin, isang taong karanasang pinatagal ng dalawampung taon?

          Ngayon ko lang naiisip, kung buhay siguro si Beethoven at kukuha ng eksamen sa eskuwelahan, kahit bilang estudyante o teacher ay titak na hindi siya tatanggapin. Philippine School for Science and Technology ito, ang eskuwelahan ng mga magiging scientists balang araw, tapos pakikitunguhan at ituturing na tao ang isang kung sinong bukod sa tamad magbihis ay madalang pang maligo?

          Si Einstein kaya? Hindi rin pwede, mabisyong tao yan. Bawal ang lasenggo sa klase. E, si Maxim Gorky kaya, ang greatest Russian writer para kay Chekhov at Tolstoy, pwede kayang magturo ng comparative literature rito? Sa palagay ko’y hindi rin. Bukod sa wala siyang unit sa English ay wala rin siyang diploma sa education.

          Si Kristo kaya kung mabhuay ulit at magpunta sa Science? Maestro raw siya kahit walang M.A. at Ph.D. papapasukin kaya sa gate pa lang? Hindi pwede, kung makasalubong siya roon ni Mrs. Moral Character o ni Mrs. English, baka ma-shock pa ang mga ito. Palagay ko, ganito ang sasabihin nila. “Imagine, kay lakas ng loob, ang bastos naman ng appearance. Long hair, hindi nag-aahit, tapos nakasandalyas pa. Maano kung anak siya ng Diyos, wala naman siyang sense of dequorum.” Saka kung magsermon dito si Christ, baka mabuko lang siya ng “Who is your authority, where is your data, behavioralism na ang trend ngayon sa west. Bakit hindi ka makigaya?” Siguro kaya sa sabsaban na lang ang napiling birth place niya, dahil kung sa Science siya ipapanganak, mababago ang kasaysayan ng Kristiyanismo sa mundo.

          Ay, sense of propriety at dequorum, talagang nakatataranta. Clean cut (pagsuklayin mo si Einstein). White polo shirt at black pants (pagdisentihin mo si Kristo). Naiisip ko tuloy kung propriety rin yung tawag sa mga teacher kung makadamit civilian sila kapag Miyerkules. Yun bang parang a-attend sila ng party. Yun bang ang tipo ng tela ay mapapansin agad at mapagsasabihang “Ang ang ganda, saan mo nabili? Siguro ang mahal ano?” Na sasagutin naman ng kausap na “Mura lang yan, gawang Rustan.” At para talaga mapansin, kailangang humahalimuyak din sila sa bango. Yung parang walking pharmacist. Saka kukulayan ng brilyante ang tenga, leeg, dibdib, braso at mga daliri. Sa kanilang ganda at ningning, para kang nanakita ng X’mas tree sa isang mahal na araw. Yun ang proper sa kanila.

          Kung sa bagay, hindi na maiino yon. Noong gabing mahuli kami ni Tess ni Mrs. English, noon ko lang napansin ang ayos ni Kristo. Ininsulto raw ito ng mga Hudyo kaya ipinako nang hubo sa krus. Pero naiinsulto sa hubo ang mga Mrs. Moral Character, Mrs. English, Mrs. Spermatozoa, Mr. Mathemathecian, at Mr. Discipline at kanilang mga katribo. Kaya siguro nila tinakpan ang kahubdan ni Kristo sa pelus na nangingintab sa dami ng borloloy. Si Virgin Mary ay asawa ng hamak na karpintero, pero sa bikas niya ngayon ay mistulang peacock at X’mas tree na rin siya. Pati nga ang kanyang luha ay ginawang perlas.

          Ang hindi nila naging kamukha ay agad nilang napapansin. Ang taong naniniwala sa sarili ang gusto nilang lapastanganin. Sino nga ba naman si Jojo sa kanila na “isang kung sino lang.” Noon kayang mga estudyante pa sila, nakapasa kaya sila sa Science? Scholar din kaya sila? Pero bakit naging teacher lang sila sa loob ng mahabang panahon? Iyon lang kaya ang alam nila sa buhay, ang magturo? Para silang hindi naging bata. Para bang nang ipanganak sila’y alam na nila ang lahat ng bagay. Baka akala nila’y biru-biro ang maging estudyante. Yun kayang conduct nila sa klase noong araw ay panay uno? Kung talagang hindi sila nagkakamali, dapat itong i-report agad sa Santa Papa sa Roma. Nasa Pilipinas lang pala ang mga living saints.

          Alin na lang kaya ang pwedeng pakialaman? Saan kaya pwedeng maging bida sa mundo? Buti pa referendum, kasali kami. Alin kaya ang mahalaga, ang kapalaran ng Pilipinas o ang moral character? Yung kapalaranng Pilipinas pwedeng isugal, pero kung sino ang mas seksi, si Alma Moreno o si Elizabeth Oropesa ay hindi naman pwedeng pagpasiyahan, for adults lang kasi yon.

          Ops, nakadi-jingle mag-isip. Yung barkada, iba na ang usapan.     

          “Lagyan kaya natin ng thumb tacks yung upuan ni Mrs. English.”

          “Di aaray ‘yun!”

          “Hi-hi-hi.”

          Buti pa sila at nakukuhang ngumisngis. ako kaya, kanino pwedeng magreklamo? Sulatan ko kaya si Valencia? Baka naman sagutin ako nito ng “Uminom ka ng kape.” Si Marcos kaya? Santambak ang problema nito sa buhay, biro mong problemahin nito pati kapalaran ng Pilipinas, tapos ipasasagot pa ito sa kanya sa kasaysayan, paano ako nito mapapansin? Mag-report kaya ako kay Carter, issue rin ito ng human rights, ang kapalaran ng mga sinasadistang estudyante, pero mahirap namang um-Ingles. Saka interesado lang ito sa giyera na naluluma sila.

          Sa Diyos na lang kaya ako susulat? Pero nasa lahat ng lugar at sulok daw ito, kaya tiyak na alam na Niya ang problema ko. Bakit nga pala sa sermon on the Mount of Sinai wala yung “Blessed are the poor students for they shall inherit...” siguro’y dahil wala na siyang langit o lupang pwede pang ipamana sa iba.

          Ayaw kong maging Minyong. Kailangang magsalita na ako, baka ako mabaliw. Ayaw kong maging robot, ayaw kong maging bato. Hindi baleng drop-out, basta tao lang ako. Maliit ang comfort room kung doon ko isusulat ang aking mga sumbong. Marami na roong mauna. “What you’re holding now is the future of the fatherland.” “IF you can reach this high, you shall be great.” “Ibagsak ang pasismo.” “LABAN.” “Alpha Phi Omega.” “Wanted pen pal.”

          Magrereklamo rin ako sa pader kung kailangan, hanggang may makabasa at makarinig ng aking sumbong. Pero sa ngayon, idi-jingle ko na lang muna ang sama ng loob.

Ikatlong Kontemporaryong Babasahin

WALANG PANGINOONni Deogracias Rosario

Nang makita ni Marcos sa kanilang lumang orasan na ang mahabang hintuturo ay malapit nang sumapit sa ika-12

samantalang nakapako na sa ika-8 ang maikling daliri, hindi niya malaman kung saan siya magtutungo. Isiniksik niya ang

kanyang ulo kahi't saan. Saka ang dalawa niyang hintuturo ay ipinapasak sa mga butas ng kanyang tainga. Ayaw niyang marinig

ang animas. Ayaw niyang mapakinggan ang malungkot na palo ng bakal sa malaking kampanang tanso sa kampanaryo ng

simbahan sa kanilang bayan. Gayon man, kahi't saan siya magsiksik, kahi't saan siya magtago, kahi't na anong gawin niyang

pagpapasak sa kanyang tainga ay lalong nanunuot sa kanyang pandinig ang malungkot na tinig ng batingaw.

"Tapos na ba?" Tapos... ang sunud-sunod namang itinutugon ng kanyang ina na paniwalang-paniwala hindi nga niya

naririnig ang malungkot na animas.

"Ngunit, Marcos…" ang baling uli ng matandang babae sa anak. "Bakit ayaw mong marinig ang oras na ukol sa

kaluluwa? Iya'y nagpapagunita sa mga tao na dapat mag-ukol ng dalangin sa ikaluluwalhati ng mga kaluluwang nasa kabilang

buhay. Una-una'y ang iyong ama, ikalawa'y ang kapatid mong panganay, ikatlo'y ang kapatid mong bunso, saka… saka si Anita."

Ang huling pangalan ay binigkas na marahan at madalang ng matandang babae.

Si Marcos ay hindi kumibo. Samantalang pinapangaralan siya ng kanyang ina, ang mga mata niyang galling sa

pagkapikit kaya't nanlabo pa't walang ilaw ay dahan-dahang sinisiputan ng ningas, saka manlilisik at mag-aapoy.

Hindi rin siya sumasagot. Hindi rin siya nagsasalita. Subali't sa kanyang sarili, sa kanyang dibdib, sa kanyang kaluluwa

ay may pangungusap, may nagsasalita.

"Dahil din sa kanila, lalung-lalo na kay Anita, ayaw kong marinig ang malungkot na tunog ng batingaw," ang sinasabi

ni Marcos sa sarili. Kinagat niya ang kanyang labi hanggang sa dumugo upang huwag ipahalata sa ina ang pagkuyom ng kanyang

damdamin.

Akala ng ina'y nahuhulaan niya kung ano ang nasa loob ni Marcos. Sa wari ng matanda ay nababasa niya sa mga mata

ng anak ang lihim ng puso nito. Naiisip niyang kaya nalulungkot si Marcos ay sapagka't hindi pa natatagalang namatay si Anita.

Ang magandang anak ni Don Teong, mayamang may-ari ng lupa nilang binubuwisan. Nalalaman ng ina ni Marcos na lahat ng

pagsisikap nito sa bukid, lahat ng pag-iimpok na ginagawa upang maging isang ulirang anakpawis ay ukol kay Anita. At siya'y

namatay! Naramdaman din ng ina ni Marcos kung gaano kakirot ngang maging malungkutin ang kanyang anak. Ito ay kanyang

ibig libangin. Ito ay nais niyang aliwin. Kung maaari sana'y mabunutan niya ng tinik na subyang sa dibdib ang kanyang anak.

"Lumakad ka na Marcos, sa kubo nina Bastian. Tila may belasyon sila, o, baka kailanganin ang mabuting mang-aawit

at manunugtog ng gitara," ang sabi ng ina. "Walang pagsalang masasayahan ka roon."

"Si Inang naman," ang naibulalas na lamang ni Marcos. Iyan lamang ang kanyang nasasabi nang malakas. Sa kanyang

sarili'y naidugtong niya na hindi masusukat ng kanyang ina kung gaano ang pait para sa kanya ang pagkamatay ni Anita,

palibhasa'y lingid sa kaalaman ng matanda ang tunay na nangyari sa pagkamatay nito.

Kung nalalaman lamang ni Inang ang lahat, ang nasasabi niya uli sa kanyang sarili samantalang minamasdan niya ang

isang ulilang bituin sa may tapat ng libingan ng kanilang bayan, na ipinapalagay niyang kaluluwa ni Anita, "disi'y hindi ako

itataboy sa kasayahan."

Pinag-uusapan pa lamang ng mag-ina nang umagang yaon ang malaki nilang kapalaran sapagka't mabuti ang lagay ng

tanim nilang palay nang isang utusan sa bahay-pamahalaan ang dumating taglay ang utos ng hukumang sila'y pinaaalis sa

kanilang lupang kinatatayuan. Sinasamsam ni Don Teong na ama ni Anita ang lahat ng lupa nilang sinasaka.

"Inang, matalim ba ang itak ko?" ang unang naitanong ng anak sa ina matapos matunghayan ang utos ng hukuman.

"Anak ko!" ang palahaw na pananangis ng matandang babae, sabay lapit sa leeg ng anak. "Bakit ka mag-iisip nang

gayon, sa tayo na lamang dalawa ang nabubuhay sa daigdig?"

Ang tinig ng matanda ay nakapagpalubag ng kalooban ng binata. Gayon man, sa harap ng bagong pithaya ng may-ari

ng lupang kanilang binubuwisan, ay isa-isang nagbabalik sa alaala niya ang malungkot na kasaysayan ng kanilang lupang

sinasaka.

Ang sabi'y talagang sa kanunu-nunuan ng kanyang ama ang naturang lupa. Walang sino mang sumisingil sa kanila ng

buwis at walang sinumang nakikialam sa anumang maging bunga ng kanilang mga tanim, maging mais o tubo, o kaya'y maging

anuman sa mga gulay na tanim nila sa bakuran.

Subali't nang bata pa ang kanyang ama ay may nagsukat ng lupa sa sinsabing kanila. Palibhasa'y wala silang

maibabayad sa manananggol, ang pamahalaan ay nagkulang ng malasakit sa kanilang karalitaan upang tangkilikin ang kanilang

katwiran at karapatan. Sa wakas ay napilit silang mamuwisan nang di nila makuhang umalis doon.

Noong bata pa si Marcos, ang bayad nila'y isang salapi lamang isang taon sa bawat ektarya ng lupang kanilang

sinasaka. Subalit nagtatagal, unti-unti na silang nababaon sa pagkakautang sa maylupa dahil sa mga kasunduang ipinapasok sa

pana-panahon, ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />gaya ng takipan at talinduwa.

Kaya namatay ang ama ni Marcos ay dahil sa malaking sama ng loob kay Don Teong. Ang kapatid niya'y namatay din

sa paglilingkod sa bahay nito, at higit sa lahat, nalaman niyang kaya namatay si Anita ay sapagka't natutop ng ama nakipagtagpo

minsan sa kanya sa loob ng halamanan, isang gabing maliwanag ang buwan.

Saka ngayo'y paalisin naman sila sa kanilang bahay at lupang binubuwisan?

Si Anita ay lihim na naging kasintahan ni Marcos, mahigit nang isang taon noon. Sapul nang dumating si Anita sa

kanilang bayan buhat sa pag-aaral sa isang kolehiyo ng mga madre sa Maynila, si Marcos ay nagsimpan na ng malaking pag-ibig

sa kanya. Alam ni Marcos ang kanyang kalagayan na halos ay lumaki sa ibabaw ng kalabaw at sa pagtikin sa kanilang damo sa

ilog.

Si Marcos ay natapos lamang ng katesismo sa iskuwelahan na silong ng kumbento sa kanilang bayan at natutong

sumulat sa pisara ng malaking numero. Nguni't gayon man, nagsikap siyang idilat ang kanyang mga mata sa liwanag ng

kabihasnan at pagkaunlad. Katutubo kay Marcos ang hilig sa pagkatuto sapagaka't sa pag-anib niya sa mga samahang pambayan

ay natuklasan niyang walang mabuting paaralan kundi ang pahayagan. Walang aklat, walang pahayagan at lingguhan sa sariling

wika na hindi binabasa ni Marcos, kahi't manghiram lamang kung wala na siyang ibili. Nagbasa rin siya ng nobela at ibang

akdang natutuhan niya sa wikang Tagalog o kaya'y salinwikang nito.

Lalo na nang magsimpan siya ng pag-ibig kay Anita, wala siyang inaalagata sa kanyang buhay kundi ang baling araw

ay maging karapat-dapat sa mga kamay ng anak ni Don Teong na may-ari ng lupa nilang sinasaka. Isa pa'y bukod sa naniniwala

siya sa kasabihan, "Ang lahat ng tao, kahi't hindi magkakakulay ay sadyang magkakapantay," tinatanggap din niya ang palasak

ng kawikaang "Ang katapat ng langit ay pusalian." Dahil diyan kaya kahi't bahagya ay hindi siya nag-atubili ng pagsisimpan ng

pag-ibig kay Anita.

At naiibig naman siya ng anak ni Don Teong. Bakit hindi siya maiibig? Minsan si Anita ay namangka sa kanilang ilog,

gumiwang ang bangka at nahulog sa tubig. Si Marcos noon ay nasa lamo at lihim niyang sinusundan ang bakas sa tubig ni Anita.

Nang makita niya ang malaking sakuna ay lumundag siya sa ilog ata sa pamamagitan ng langoy na hampas-tikin ay inabot niya si

Anita na kumakamot sa ilalim ng ilog. Matapos niyang kalawitin ng kaliwa niyang bisiig sa may baba ang dalaga ay bigla niyang

isinikdaw ang dalawa niyang paa sa ilalim kaya't pumaibabaw sila, at sa tulong ng pagkampay ng kanyang kamay at pagsikad ng

dalawa niyang paa ay nakasapit sila sa pampang.

"Marcos, matagal na naman kitang iniibig," ang pagtatapat ni Anita sa binata, makaraan ang may ilang buwan buhat

nang siya'y mailigtas.

Tatlumpung araw ang taning sa mag-ina upang lisanin ang lupang gayong ang sabi ay ari ng kanilang ninuno at

binubuwisan na nila at sinasamsam pa ngayon. At saka silang mag-ina ay itinataboy. Sino ang hindi magdadalang-poot sa gayong

kabuktutan.

Dahil sa kanyang ina, natutong magtiim si Marcos ng kanyang mga bagang. Kinagat niya ang kanyang mga labi upang

huwag mabulalas ang kanyang galit. Kinuyom niya ang kanyang mga kamay hanggang matimo sa palad niya ang kanyang mga

kuko.

Isang takipsilim nang marinig niya sa kampanaryo ng kanilang simbahan ang malungkot na agunyas. Una muna ang

malaking kampana saka sumunod ang maliit. Bang! Teng! Bang! Teng! Babae ang nalagutan ng hinihinga. Maliit naman ang

kanilang bayan upang malihim pa kung sino ang binawian ng buhay. Wala siyang nalalaman na may sakit kundi si Anita. Dahil

sa pagkatutop sa kanila isang gabi, ang dalaga ay sinaktang mabuti ng ayon sa nagbalita kay Marcos ay mata lamang ang walang

latay.

Buhat noon ay nagkasakit na si Anita. Araw-araw ay tumatanggap si Marcos ng balita. At nang tangkain niyang

dumalaw minsan ay hinarang siya ni Don Teong na may hawak na rebolber. Susuong din sana si Marcos, subalit nagdalawang-

loob siya. Maaaring maging dahilan iyon ng bigla pang pagkamatay ng kanyang iniibig, bukod sa magiging subyang sa kanyang

ina kung siya ay mawawala.

Ang huling dagok na ito sa kanya ni Don Teong ay isinaman na lamang niya sa talaan ng pagmamalupit sa kanya ng

mayamang may-ari ng lupa nilang binubuwisan, pag-agaw ng lupa sa kanila. At saka noo'y pagtatangka pa sa kanyang buhay.

Pinakahuli nga ang pagkamatay nang tuluyan ni Anita, na ayon sa balita niya'y nalagutan ng hiningang siya ang tinatawag. Saka

nitong huli ay pagpapaalis sa kanilang lupang kinagisnan at pinagyaman sa tulo ng kanilang pawis na mag-anak.

Ngunit si Marcos, isang manggagawang hubog sa palihan ng bagong panahon, lumaki ang puso sa mga pagtitiis.

Naging maluwag nga ang kanyang dibdib sa pagtanggap ng pang-aapi ng may-lupa. Hanggang noong bago mamatay si Anita,

akala niya'y maaari pa siyang makalunok ng bagong pag-upasala ng itinuturing niyang panginoon. Datapwat nang tanggapin niya

ang utos ng hukuman na pinaalis sila roon, talagang nagdilim ang kanyang isip. Noon pa'y naisip na niyang gawing batas ang

kanyang kamay, yamang hindi na niya matatamo ang katarungan sa hukuman ng mga tao.

"Huminahon ka anak ko," ang sabi ng kanyang ina. "Hindi natutulog ang Bathala sa mga maliliit. Magtiis tayo."

Hindi niya itinuloy ang paghanap sa kanyang itak na matalas. Pagkakain niya ng agahan, nilibang niya ang kanyang ina

saka lumabas sa bukid. Gaya rin ng dati'y sinakyan niya ang kanyang kalabaw na lalong mahal niya sa lahat sa limang alaga niya.

Lumabas siya sa bukid at hinampas niya ng tanaw ang karagatan ng namumulang ginto. Pagdaramdam at panghihinayang ang

ngumatngat sa kanyang puso. Gaanong pagod ang kanyang pinuhunan upang ang palay nila'y magbungang mabuti? Saka ngayo'y

pakikinabangan at matutungo lamang sa ibang kamay.

Napapalatak si Marcos sa ibabaw ng kanyang kalabaw. Ibig mang pagdiliman ang isip kung nagugunita ang utos ng

hukuman, ang alaala naman ng kanyang ina'y walang iniwan sa bahagharing sumusugpo sa nagbabalang unos. Dadalawa na

lamang sila sa daigdig at ayaw niyang pabayaan ang kanyang ina; ipinangako niyang hahandugan ng kaligayahan ang nalalabing

buhay nito, bago malagutan ng hininga ang kanyang ama.

Dahil nga sa kanyang ina, kaya naisip niya ang kabutihan kung sila'y magsasarili: "Tutungo sa hilaga at kukuha ng

homestad. Kakasundo ng mga bagong magsasaka; paris ni Don Teong, kailangang magkaroon din ako ng gayak paris niya."

Kabalintunaan man ang sinabi ng anak ay hindi na nag-usisa ang ina palibhasa'y nababatid niyang sa dibdib ng binata

ay may isang halimaw na natutulog na hindi dapat gambalain upang huwag magising. Wala siyang nalalaman kundi tuwing

takipsilim, kung nakaligpit na ang mga tao sa nayon ang buong kagayakan ay isinusuot ng kanyang anak saka lumalabas sa

bukid. May dalawang linggong gayon nang gayon ang ginagawa, hanggang isang araw ay tawagan siya ng pansin ng matanda.

"Marcos," sabi ng matanda. "Dalawang lingo na lamang ang natitira sa ating taning ay hindi mo ginagawa ang

pakikipagtuos kay Don Teong… kung may magiging sukli man lamang tayo sa ating ani ngayon?"

"Huwag ka pong mabahala, Inang," sabi ng mabait na anak. "Nalaglag po ang dahon sa kanyang kapanahunan."

Talinghaga na naman ang sinabi ni Marcos. Gayon man may nagunita siyang isang bagay na ibig niyang malaman sa

anak.

"Bakit hindi mo iniuwi ang kalabaw sa bakuran?" Tinutukoy niya ang kalabaw na mahal na mahal sa lahat ni Marcos.

Maaaring magpakahinahon si Marcos, subali't ang huling kapasiyahan ni Don Teong ay namukaw ng lahat ng kanyang

pagtitimpi. Ayaw niyang gumamit ng dahas, subalit…

Nagunita niya ang sinabi ni Rizal. "Walang mang-aalipin kung walang magpapaalipin." Napailing siya sa harap ng

gayong masaklap na katotohanan. Patung-patong na ang ginagawang pamamaslang sa kanya ni Don Teong – takalang dapat nang

kalusin. Nagunita rin ni Marcos ang marami pang ibang kasama, katulad din niya, na sa kamay ng mayamang si Don Teong ay

walang iniwan sa mga leeg na manok na unti-unting sinasakal hanggang makitil ang hininga sa hangad na mahamig na lahat ang

kayamanang gayong minana sa kanilang mga ninuno ay iba ngayon ang may-ari at nagbubuwis pa.

"Kailangang maputol ang kalupitang ito!" Ang tila pagsumpa sa harap ng katalagahang ginawa ni Marcos.

"Bakit ka bumili ng pulinas, gora, suwiter, at latigo, anak ko?" ang tanong ng matanda kay Marcos, isang araw na

dumating siyang pagod na pagod sa naturang dala-dalahan.

"Inihahanda ko po iyon sa pagiging panginoon natin, paris ni Don Teong," ang nakatawang sagot ng anak. "Kung tayo

po'y nakaalis na rito, tayo'y magiging malaya," ang tila wala sa loob na tugon ng anak.

Ang totoo, ang naturang kalabaw ni Marcos ay nakapugal sa hanggahan ng lupang sarili ni Don Teong. Kung

takipsilim ay isinusuot na lahat ni Marcos ang pulinas, ang gora, at ang suwiter, saka dala ang latigong katulad ng pamalo ni Don

Teong. Pagdating niya sa pook na kinapupugalan ay saka aasbaran ng palo ang kalabaw hanggang sa ito'y umuungol na ang

alingawngaw ay abot hanggang sa kalagitnaan ng bayan. Kung dumating siya'y dinaratnan niya ang kanyang inang matuwid ang

pagkakaluhod sa harap ng isang maitim na Santo Kristo sa kanilang silid na naiilawan ng isang malaking kandila.

"Salamat, anak ko, at dumating ka," ang sasabihin na lamang ng matanda. "Akala ko'y napahamak ka na."

Si Don Teong ay may ugaling maglibot tuwing hapon sa paligid-ligid ng kanyang lupa. Ang ipinanganganib ng ina ni

Marcos ay baka magkasalubong ito at ang kanilang panginoon, ay hindi makapagpigil ang isa't isa. Nalalaman din ng matandang

babae na laging may dalang rebolber sa baywang ang mayamang asendero buhat nang magkaroon ng alitan dahil sa lupa, kaya

lagi niyang inaalaala ang pag-alis-alis ni Marcos.

Subalit isang hapon, samantalang payapang inihahanda ng mag-ina ang kanilang pag-alis, walang iniwan sa putok ng

bulkan ang balitang kumalat sa bayan na si Don Teong ay namatay sa pagkasuwag ng kalabaw. Sinabi ng mga nakakita na

pagkakita pa lamang ng kalabaw kay Don Teong ay tila may sinumpang galit sapagka't bigla na lamang sinibad ang matanda at

nasapol ang kalamnan ng sikmura ng matulis na sungay ng hayop. Pagkasikwat sa katawan ng asendero ay tumilapon pa sa itaas

at paglagpak ay sinalo naman ng kabilang sungay.

Ang katawan ni Don Teong ay halos lasug-lasog nang iuwi sa bayan, wasak ang suwiter sa katawan at saka ang

pulinas. Kumilos agad ang maykapangyarihan upang gumawa ng kailangan pagsisiyasat subali't ang lahat ng matuwid ay

nawalan ng halaga sa hindi kumikilos na ayos ng kalabaw na animo'y wala sa loob ang ginawa niyang napakalaking pagkakasala.

Nang malamang kay Marcos ang kalabaw, bawat isa'y nagkatinginan. Hindi nila malaman kung papaanong ang poot ni

Marcos kay Don Teong ay nagtungo sa alaga niyang hayop.

Si Marcos ay nakatingin din sa orasan nang gabing yaon. Tatlong minuto na lamang ang kulang sa ika-8 ng gabi. Hindi

siya gumagalaw, hindi siya nababahala.

Tumugtog ang animas. Hindi na gaya ng dating ayaw niyang marinig ito. Sa halip na idalangin, ang kaluluwa ng mga

namatay, ang naisip niya'y ang matapang niyang kalabaw.

"Mapalad na hayop na walang panginoon," ang kanyang naibulong.

Moses, Moses Ni Rogelio Sikat

Isang gabi, nag-uusap si Regina at Ana.napag-usapan nila ang tungkol sa nangyari kay Aida. Si Aida ay nagahasa

ng anak ng Alkalde. Si Aida ngayo'y hindi parin makapasok sa paaralan dahil siya'y na-trauma at wala siyang

maiharap na mukha sa kanayang mga kaklase. Kaya't kumuha ng leave si Regina sa pagtuturo upang mabantayan

niya si Aida.

Tapos, biglang dumating sa bahay nila ang Alkalde kasma ang isang Konsehal. Naproon sila upang humungi ng

dispensa sa nagawa ng anak ng Alkalde at ninanais nila na i-urong na lamang ni Regina ang pagsampa sa kaso.

Ngunit hindi pumayag si Regina dahil akala niya'y hustisya ang mananaig.

Ng umalis na ang Alkalde at Konsehal, nag-usap si Tony at Regina. Gusto ni Tony na i-urong na ang pagsampa ng

kaso dahil sa kalagayan ngayon, ang hustisya ay hindi na nananaig. Ang malakas, makapangyarihan, at mayaman

na ang hustisya, sila ang lagging mananaig. Ang nias na laman ni Tony ay mapatay ang anak ng Alkalde. Buhay sa

buhay kumbaga. Pinaalala rin ni Tony ang nangyari sa kaniyang ama. Nang namatay kasi ito, hindi nila nakamit ang

hustisya. Pero, ipinagpilitan parin ni Regina na itutuloy niya ang pagsampa ng kaso.

Matapos ang usapan, sumulpot si Ana at sinabing sinusumping nanaman si aida, kailangna ni Aida ng tranquilizer

upang siya'y kumalma. Kaya't nagpabili ng gamut si Regina kay Tony. Nung nakaalis na si Tony, nasi ni Regina kay

Ana na malaki na ang pinagbagi ni Tony. Biglang dumating si Ben at tinanong niya kung nakaalis naba si Tony.

Tumugon si Regina. At inamin ni Ben sa ina na may dlaang baril si Tony dahil binabalak niyang patayin ang anak ng

Alkalde. Binilin ni Tony si Ben na huwag itong ipagsasabi ngunit nagawang sabihin ito ni Ben.

Nagising si Aida at bumaba mula sa kwarto. Dumiretso siya sa cabinet at naghahanap ng gamut ngunit natabig niya

ang isang bote ng gamut at ito'y nabasag. Nagising mula sa pagkaka-idlip si Regina. Sinabi ni Aida sa ina na

hinahanap niya ang gamut. Tugon naman ni Regina ay binili na ito ni Tony. Nang matanong ni Regina kung anong

oras na, nagulat siya dahil hindi niya namalayang pasado alas-dos na ng umaga. Sinabi ni aida na hindi siya

makatulog, kaya't tinimplahan siya ni Regina ng gatas.

Naikwento ni Aida ang tungkol sa panaginip niya na pinapainow daw ng mga lagad ng anak ng Alklde ang kanyang

kuya Tony ng lason, kahit anung pilit daw niya na humngi ng tawad ay patulor parin pinapainow ng lason si Tony,

ang masaklpa sa panaginip na iyon ay ininom ni Tony ang laosn. Takot na takot na kinwento ni Aida ang kaniyang

panaginip.

Matapos ikwento ni Aida ang kaniyang panaginip na umabot hanggang umaga, biglang dumating si Tony na

duguan. Sinabi niya na tumawag na si Ben ng taksi dahil parating na sila. Pinatay na ni Tony ang anak ng Alkalde,

ngayo'y hinahabol na siya ng Alkalde at ng mga pulis. Iyon lamang daw ang paraan upang makuha ang hustisya.

Ngunit sinabi ni Regina na mali ang nagawang paghihiganti ni Tony, na si Tony ay isa ng mamamatay-tao. Kinuha ni

Regina ang baril at sinbing wag silang umalis dahil susuko si Tony. Nang nakarating na ang Alkalde, tinutukan niya

ng baril si Tony ngunit tinabig ito ni Regina. Pinagtulung-tulungan ng mga pulis si Tony. Nang kinukuha na ng mga

pulis iyong baril sa kamay ni Regina, sa hindi sinasadyang pangyayari ay nabaril ni Regina so Tony. At dinakip ng

mga pulis si Regina dahil sa kasalanan niya. .

Matapos ikwento ni Aida ang kaniyang panaginip na umabot hanggang umaga, biglang dumating si Tony na

duguan. Sinabi niya na tumawag na si Ben ng taksi dahil parating na sila. Pinatay na ni Tony ang anak ng Alkalde,

ngayo'y hinahabol na siya ng Alkalde at ng mga pulis. Iyon lamang daw ang paraan upang makuha ang hustisya.

Ngunit sinabi ni Regina na mali ang nagawang paghihiganti ni Tony, na si Tony ay isa ng mamamatay-tao. Kinuha ni

Regina ang baril at sinbing wag silang umalis dahil susuko si Tony. Nang nakarating na ang Alkalde, tinutukan niya

ng baril si Tony ngunit tinabig ito ni Regina. Pinagtulung-tulungan ng mga pulis si Tony. Nang kinukuha na ng mga

pulis iyong baril sa kamay ni Regina, sa hindi sinasadyang pangyayari ay nabaril ni Regina so Tony. At dinakip ng

mga pulis si Regina dahil sa kasalanan niya. .

HERCULES

Hercules, the Greek hero renowned for his strength and bravery, was born of a woman named Alcema.

The Greek god Zeus, who was Hercules' father, seduced her. The wife of Zeus - Hera - jealous at her

husband's philandering, vowed to have Hercules killed. A short time after the Greek hero was born she

ordered two deadly snakes to kill him. Hercules woke from his crib and strangled the two menaces with

his bare hands, such was his strength, even as a baby.

In young adulthood, Hercules was sent to the mountains near Thebes to work as a shepherd. The king

of Thebes, impressed at the way the young man rid the area of wild, vicious animals, offered his

daughter's hand in marriage. The strongman accepted but tragedy lay just around the corner. Hera

still wished him dead and had devised a wicked plan. She cast a spell that caused Hercules to lose his

mind. In a senseless rage he killed his two young children. When he came round, he couldn't believe

what he had just done. To find out how he could atone for his grievous sin he consulted the oracle at

Delphi (through which Apollo was contacted). There he was told he must serve scrawny King

Eurystheus as a slave for ten years. Initially the king was to set him one task a year, but our hero

performed twelve, which became known as The Twelve Labors Of Hercules.

1. THE NEMEAN LION

The King set what he thought were impossible tasks, such was his jealousy of Hercules' strength. First

he ordered Hercules to fetch him the skin of a terribly strong lion that hunted in Nemea. Undaunted,

Hercules set off and arrived at the village of Cleonae forthwith. There he stayed at the house of

Molorchus, a poor man. The beggar didn't rate Hercules' chances and so offered to sacrifice one of his

animals for good luck. Boldly, Hercules requested that he wait for thirty days, and, if he had not

returned, to sacrifice the animal in honor of him. If he were successful they would make the sacrifice to

Zeus, in recognition of his help.

Having tracked down the lion the warrior loosed off a few arrows from his bow. It was apparent that

they were useless against the thick hide of his enemy, which had fled to some nearby caves. The

caves had two entrances so Hercules pushed a huge boulder over one and entered the other. The lion

was trapped. Hercules tackled it with his bare hands and choked it. Victorious, he returned to the

beggar with the lion over his shoulder. After making a sacrifice to Zeus the hero returned to Mycenae,

where the king waited for news of his death.

Eurystheus was so amazed that Hercules had managed to kill the lion that he hid in a bronze well and

would only communicate from afar.

2. THE LERNEAN HYDRA

The nine-headed, poison tongued Hydra that terrorised the countryside near Lema, was Hercules next

foe. To complicate matters, one of the nine heads was immortal. The fighter took his nephew Iolaus

with him. They encountered the Hydra by the springs of Amymone and drove it from its lair by

unleashing a torrent of flaming arrows at it. After grabbing it, Hercules thrashed at its heads. Each

time he chopped one off though another would appear. He called on his nephew to hold a burning

torch to the neck of the head he had just removed. This way they gradually depleted the Hydra's

energy. After decapitating the immortal head, Hercules buried it deep into the earth. Lastly he dipped

his arrows in the poisonous blood of the beast and returned to Mycenae.

The king was not impressed though. He ruled that because Iolaus had aided him, it did not count as a

labor.

3. THE HIND OF CERYNEIA

One might have thought that the third labor, to bring the female deer of Ceryneia to the king, would be

ridiculously easy. However, the deer was sacred to Diana, Goddess of Hunting and The Moon. It had

golden horns and bronze hooves and was fleet of foot. If Hercules harmed the deer he would surely

face the wrath of Diana!

He tracked the deer for one year and became impatient. When the hind rested near Mount Artemisius,

Hercules feared she might get away, so shot her with an arrow. With the dying deer over his shoulders

he set off home, but was immediately confronted by Diana and Apollo. Diana was furious and about to

punish Hercules when he told her his story. She took pity on him, healed the deer and let him carry it

back alive.

4. THE ERYMANTHIAN BOAR

The King told Hercules that he must bring the boar that lived on Mount Erymanthus back to him alive.

It came down into the valleys, attacking farmers and their livestock. On his way to the mountains,

Hercules encountered Pholus the centaur, who cooked him a meal to give him strength on the rest of

his journey. Seeing a pot of wine, the warrior asked if he might drink some. Pholus warned him that it

belonged to the rest of the centaurs as well and that they might not be happy. Hercules opened the

pot anyway. A short distance away the other centaurs smelt the wine and rushed to investigate. They

attacked the hero, but he chased them away and shot several of them with his arrows (poisoned with

the blood of the Hydra). Pholus accidentally stabbed himself with an arrow and was killed also. After

burying the kindly centaur, Hercules set off after the boar.

The boar was quite an easy conquest compared with previous labors. It became afraid and hid in the

bush. Hercules trapped it in a net and carried it back to the king.

5. THE AUGEAN STABLES

For his next labor, Hercules was ordered to clean the stables of King Augeas. Powerful and wealthy, the

king had masses and masses of cattle. He was so impressed with Hercules offer (having not been told

about the involvement of Eurystheus) that he offered to give him a tenth of all his livestock if he

succeeded.

First Hercules ripped holes in the stable walls at either end. Then he dug two massive trenches to

nearby rivers, diverting their flow into the huge stables. The water then drained from the hole in the

far stable wall. Augeas was about to pay Hercules when he heard that Eurystheus had set him the

task. Thus he refused payment.

Fortunately, Augeas' son had watched the feat, and testified favorably for Hercules in front of a judge.

The King was forced to pay up. However, upon returning to Mycenae, Eurystheus declared that it had

not counted as a labor, because Hercules had been paid for it.

6. THE STYMPHALIAN BIRDS

For Hercules sixth labor, King Eurystheus demanded he drive away a large flock of man-eating birds

from a lake near Stymphalos. The hero travelled to the lake and saw the birds in the trees, but was at

a loss as to how to disturb them.

Suddenly, the goddess Athena appeared and handed him a pair of bronze krotala, made by the god of

the forge Hephaistos, which made a terrific noise. Using these he forced the birds away from the trees

and shot them with his arrows.

7. THE CRETAN BULL

The sea god Poseidon had sent King Minos of Crete a bull as a gift, which the king had promised to

sacrifice in tribute of him. When he saw the bull though, he decided it was too fine an animal to kill and

so slaughtered a different one instead.

When Poseidon found out he was very angry and made the bull run through the kingdom, causing

terror wherever it went. Also, he made Minos' wife fall in love with the animal and she later gave birth

to the Minotaur (a tale in itself!)

Hercules was required to retrieve the bull for his master. When he found it, he easily wrestled it to the

floor and then drove it back to the waiting Eurystheus. In his stupidity, the king let it go and it

wandered the area for several years, creating havoc amongst the locals.

8. THE MAN-EATING HORSES OF DIOMEDES

For this labor, Hercules travelled with a band of volunteers to the land of Bistonia, of which Diomedes

was king. Upon reaching their goal the band quickly overpowered the grooms and encouraged the

horses towards the waiting boat.

As they were leaving, Diomedes and a host of soldiers gave chase. Hercules turned to confront them,

leaving the horses with a man named Abderos. The Bistonians were no match for the powerful

Hercules and after he had killed their king, the rest fled. Returning to the horses, the warrior found that

they had eaten Abderos. He quickly herded them on to the boat and returned to Mycenae.

Again, the foolish king let them go, and again they caused terror, before perishing near Mount

Olympus.

9. HIPPOLYTE'S BELT

Hippolyte, queen of the Amazons, had been given a belt by Ares, the God of War. Eurystheus had

heard of it and wished it as a present for his daughter. Hercules was accompanied by a band of

volunteers and travelled by boat to his destination once more.

Upon reaching land, the group soon encountered the Amazonian queen who asked what they wanted.

Hercules told her the truth and, taking pity on him, she said he could have the belt. However, Hera,

disguised as an Amazon, made the rest of the tribe believe Hercules would kidnap their queen.

Suddenly they attacked and there was a huge battle. In it, Hippolyte was killed by Hercules, who

managed to get back to the ship and return to Mycenae.

10. THE CATTLE OF GERYON

To complete his tenth labor, Hercules had to travel to the end of the known world and confront the

monster Geryon. The beast was the son of Chrysaor, who sprung from the body of the dying Medusa

with Pegasus, and Callirrhoe, the daughter of two titans. It was a fearsome beast with three heads and

three sets of legs. Hercules was required to wrest Geryon's cattle from him.

To complicate matters, the cattle were guarded by Orthus, a two-headed hound, brother of Cerberus

(see labor twelve), and the herdsman Eurytion.

On his way to the island of Erythia, where the cattle lived, Hercules fought many battles and allegedly

split a mountain in half (the legacy of this feat in the modern world is the Strait of Gibraltar).

Finding the cattle, he disposed of the guards by clubbing them to death. Geryon attacked him, but was

killed by Hercules' poison arrows (covered in the blood of the Hydra).

Returning home, Hercules was ambushed by two sons of Poseidon who tried to steal the cattle. The

mighty soldier killed them for their impudence. In the aftermath, one of the cattle fled to Italy, where it

came under the ownership of a king. The king decided Hercules could have the creature back only if he

could beat him in a wrestle. Unsurprisingly, our hero won, killed the king and returned the bull to the

herd. Finally, Hera sent a swarm of flies to attack the cattle, forcing Hercules to regroup them before

taking them back to the waiting Eurystheus. The king sacrificed the cattle.

11. THE APPLES OF THE HESPERIDES

Far to the north of Greece, in a garden, these apples were guarded by a hundred-headed dragon and

the Hesperides (nymphs who were daughters of Atlas). Hercules searched for the garden, but to no

avail.

On his travels he fought several powerful beings. Kyknos, the son of Ares, was soon overpowered. The

sea god Nereus told him where he could find the garden after their battle. Then he encountered

Antaeus (a son of Poseidon) who he crushed.

He was less lucky against another son of Poseidon, Busiris, who captured him and planned to kill him.

Hercules escaped though.

Eventually he arrived at the rock on Mount Caucasus, where Prometheus was chained as a punishment

for ridiculing the gods. Each day an eagle would peck at his liver, but the next day the organ would

grow back, only for it to happen again. Hercules killed the eagle and, as a reward, Prometheus advised

him to send Atlas for the apples.

Hercules found Atlas and was forced to hold up the world and the sky for the titan while he was gone.

Upon his return, Hercules tricked him into holding up the earth again and went back to Mycenae with

the apples. Subsequently they were returned to the Gods.

12. CERBERUS OF HADES

The final labor is considered to be the most dangerous of all. Hercules had to travel to the underworld

and kidnap Cerberus, a vicious beast with three dog's heads, a dragon's tail and a mass of snakes

covering it's back. Its task was to prevent the living from entering the world of the dead.

Hercules realised the dangers, so beforehand went to visit the priest Eumolpus, who blessed him. He

entered the underworld through a cave at Taenarum in Laconia. Eventually he encountered Pluto (the

god of the Underworld) and asked if he could take Cerberus. Pluto agreed, as long as Hercules

overpowered the monster with sheer brute strength.

Continuing on, the warrior found Cerberus near the Gates of Acheron. He grabbed the creature in a

great bear hug and forced it into submission. Jubilant, he then took it back to the astounded King

Eurystheus.

Hercules had atoned for his sins as a young man and no longer had to serve the dubious King

Eurystheus. Through his deeds he became one of the greatest Greek Heroes, and in modern English,

the word Herculean is used to describe something requiring great strength or effort

TROJAN WAR

On a diplomatic mission from Troy to Sparta, Helen and Paris fell in love with each other. At that time, Menelaus (husband of Helen and King of Sparta), had left for Crete to attend his uncle’s funeral. Paris and Helen eloped and set sail to Troy.

When Menelaus returned, he discovered this and was very angry. He asked his brother Agamemnon to help him get Helen back from Troy. Agamemnon then sent several emissaries to the Achaean kings and princes to help retrieve Helen. There Achaean kings and princes were the past suitors of Helen, and upon Helen’s marriage to Menelaus had taken the oath to come to Menelaus’ aid in case any harm befell

Helen.

Several of these kings and princes tried tricks to avoid the ensuing war. Odysseus tried to portray that he was mad. Achilles’ mother, Thetis, disguised him as a woman so that he could not go for the war. But eventually, they were discovered, and they all gathered together.

All the suitors gathered at Aulis and made a sacrifice to Apollo. At the end of the sacrifice, a snake slithered out from the altar and then went to a sparrow’s nest and ate the mother and her eight babies and then was turned to stone. From this, they deduced that Troy would fall in the 10th year of war.

The Achaeans left for war in ships and accidentally landed in Mysia which was ruled by King Telephus, who was the son of Heracles. They ended up fighting a war. Afterwards, the ships were caught up and scattered by a storm.

Finally, eight years after they had set sail, the ships finally gathered again at Aulis. At that time, they sought the help from the Oracles again. Calchas, a prophet, said that the goddess Artemis was angry with Agamemnon. Calchas said that the only way that he could please Artemis was by sacrificing his most beautiful daughter to her. When Agamemnon refused, the others threatened to make Palamedes the commander of these forces, rather than him. So, in the end, Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia to Artemis, and then set sail for Troy, again.

Calchas had also prophesized that the first Achaean to land on Troy would be the first one to die. Therefore everyone hesitated to land on Troy when they reached the shores. Eventually, Protesilaus of the Phylaceans landed first and Achilles was the second to set foot on the shores of Troy. Protesilaus and Achilles killed several Trojans upon landing, but then Protesilaus was killed by Hector, the son of Priam, the King of Troy and the brother of Paris.

The war went on for 9 more years. Not many details of these nine years are documented in the texts of Greek Literature. They mostly focus on the last year of the war.

Achilles was amongst the most aggressive of the Achaeans and he raided, looted and conquered several of the outer territories of Troy. The war lingered on and on, without stopping. Plots within plots and politics ruled the scene. The soldiers were tired at the end of the nine years and wanted to go back home and were on the verge of mutiny. It was only because of the army of Achilles, were they forced to stay back.

However, towards the end of the almost mutiny, Agamemnon took Briseis, the concubine of Achilles. Achilles therefore refused to participate in the war. 

The Achaeans were relatively successful even after Achilles withdrew from the war. There was a fight between Menalaus and Paris, which ended with Aphrodite snatching the almost defeated Paris from the battlefield. Diomedes, an Achaean hero, won repute amongst his people by killing Pandaros, a Trojan hero, nearly wounding Aeneas and also for wounding the gods Aphrodite and Ares. But then the Trojans were enraged enough to drive the Achaeans back to their camp. The next day, the Trojans entered the Achaean camp and were about the burn down the Achaean ships.

The Achaeans then began to request Achilles to return back into the fight. Finally, Patroclus, a relative of Achilles, went into the war wearing Achilles’ clothes and armor. He was killed by Hector who thought he was killing Achilles.

Enraged by the death of Patroclus, Achilles joined the war again. Due to this Agamemnon returned Briseis back to Achilles, untouched. Back into the fray, Achilles managed to kill several Trojans. A duel raged between Hector and Achilles, which ended with Achilles killing Hector and dragging Hector’s body from his chariot. He refused to give the body back to the Trojans for the funeral. Later, King Priam came to Achilles and requested to have his son’s body back.

Later on, as the war raged on, Achilles ended up killing several of Troy’s allies including Penthesilea, the Amazon Queen, and Memnon, the King of Ethiopia. After that, Achilles entered Troy. It was at that point that Paris shot a poisoned arrow, which was guided by Apollo, into the heel of Achilles. This was the only part of his body which was vulnerable, and Achilles died on the spot.

A battle began to rage, and Ajax held back the Trojan army while Odysseus dragged Achilles’ body back to their camp.

The war was now in its tenth year. A prophecy was made that the fall of Troy would not take place without the bow and arrow of Heracles which was now with Philoctetes. Odysseus and Diomedes found Philoctetes in Lemnos and got him Troy. He then shot Paris and killed him.

Finally to totally destroy Troy, a plan was conceived by Odysseus. A giant, hollow, wooden horse was built by Epeius under the guidance of Athena. The horse was an animal sacred to the Trojans. On that horse were inscribed the words: ‘The Greeks dedicate this offering as thanks to Athena for their return back home’. The horse was filled with troops which were led by Odysseus. The rest of the army burned their camp and set sail for Tenedos.

The Trojans rejoiced, thinking that the armies had finally left. They dragged the horse back into the city and began to debate what to do with it. Some of them wanted to burn it down, while others wanted to keep the horse and dedicate it to Athena.

Cassandra, who had been given the gift of prophecy by Apollo was also cursed by him that no one would believe her. She warned the Trojans not to keep the horse. But, of course, no one believed her. 

Meanwhile, the Trojans celebrated their victory.

At midnight, when the full moon rose, the troops came out of the horse and began to attack the Trojans. Most of them were drunk or sleeping. The Achaeans massacred them. Disorganized, leaderless and disoriented, the Trojans began to fight back. But to no avail. Eventually no men were left behind in Troy and the Greeks took all the women who remained, for themselves.

King Priam was killed by Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles. Menelaus killed Deiphobus, a son of Priam and now the new husband of Helen. He was also on the verge of killing Helen, but was overpowered by her beauty and did not kill her.

Cassandra was raped by Ajax on the altar of Athena. 

The Greeks then proceeded to burn down the city of Troy. Cassandra was given to Agamemnon and Neoptolemus got Andromache, the wife of Hector. Odysseus got Hecuba, the wife of Priam. The Achaeans killed Hector’s infant son Astyanax by throwing him from the walls of Troy. They sacrificed Priam’s daughter Polyxena to the grave of Achilles.

After the Trojan War

The story of the Trojan War does not end with the end of the war. It ends with the return of the kings back into their kingdoms, after having gone for a very long time.

The only king to return home safely was Nestor, who did not take any part in the looting and who had the best conduct while in Troy. 

The rest of the kings faced severe storms at sea on the way back. The gods were quite displeased at the immoral conduct of these kings in Troy, and especially by the destruction of their temples. Those shipwrecked included Ajax.

Menelaus’ fleet was blown off course in the storm and they reached Egypt. Only 5 of his ships remained. Finally he caught Proteus, a sea god, and found out what sacrifices he had to make in order to go back safely and then did that. He was then able to return home with Helen.

Agamemnon returned home with Cassandra. His wife, Clytemnestra, was already enraged over the sacrifice of Iphigenia. Meanwhile, she was also having an affair with Aegisthus, who was Agamemnon’s cousin. They plotted to kill Agamemnon. Cassandra warned Agamemnon about this, but as usual, he did not believe her. Clytemnestra and Aegisthus killed Agamemnon and Cassandra. Later on, Agamemnon’s son Orestes plotted with his sister Electra to kill both Clytemnestra and Aegisthus.

Odysseus eventually reached Ithaca after having several adventures. He disguised himself as a beggar. He was recognized by his dog Argos. He also discovered that his wife Penelope had remained faithful to him all this time, but she was being plagued by a variety of suitors. He then managed to kill all of them. Penelope then tested him to make sure that he was truly her husband.

Aeneas and a group of survivors from Troy wandered around for several years looking to make a new homeland for themselves, but in vain. These wanderings eventually took them to founding Alba Longa, which was where the Roman civilization began 300 years later.

Thus ends the story of the Trojan War – a story of love, betrayal and above all, valor and courage.

Gintong Balat ng Tupa

This is the title of a poem by Apollonius of Rhodes who lived in the third-century AD. The poem deals with a Greek king, Athamas and his two wives. His first wife, Nephele was afraid of her two children (especially Phrixus, one of the two children) being killed by Ino, the soon-to-be second wife. Nephele, herself, was killed by the king, and Athamas subsequently married his second wife, Princess Ino. She came from a great family; Ino was the daughter of King Thebes. Ino had an urge to kill Phrixus, the boy, so that her children (presumably from an earlier marriage) would inherit the Athamas' kingdom. Princess Ino had thought up an elaborate plan to do away with Prince Phrixus. To accomplish this plan, Princess Ino had to

gather all of the corn seed on Athamas' farm and then parch the seeds so that the crop would not grow, a task which she accomplished. When the king became aware of the crop not growing, he sent a messenger to an oracle to ask what he should do. Princess Ino intercepted the messenger and persuaded, most likely through bribery, to say to the king that the crop would not grow unless the king offered up Prince Phrixus as a sacrifice.

The people of the region in Greece, who feared starvation, convinced King Athamas to permit the death of Phrixus. At the time of the death of Phrixus and his sister, who was included in this sacrifice, each were taken to the altar. Then, a ram with a fleece of pure gold, took the two and threw them into the air. Hermes had sent him and his sister in answer to their mother's prayers.

The ram, Prince Phrixus and his sister, Helle, travelled across Europe and into Asia. When they entered Asia, Helle fell into a body of water and as a result, drowned. However, Phrixus and the ram safely arrived in the country of Colchis on the Black Sea. The Colchians were kind to Phrixus and they even let him marry one of King Æetes' daughters. It was at this time that Phrixus sacrificed the ram that had saved him to Zeus and he gave the golden fleece to King Æetes, who was the Colchian king.

Phrixus had a cousin by the name of Pelias and he was the one who killed his own father to gain control of a kingdom in Greece. However, the king had a young son who was the rightful heir to the kingdom, and this man was Jason. Jason had been sent away to a safe place where he could grow into a bold man who would take away the kingdom from his wicked cousin, Pelias.

Pelias was told by an oracle that he would be killed by a kinsmen one day who would be wearing only one sandal. Such a man did come to the town in time and he did wear just one sandal. Pelias became afraid. For it was Jason who was the one who only shod one sandal. Jason told Pelias that he came to recover the kingdom that was rightfully his and that the kingdom should be ruled rightly, without evil. Pelias agreed to hand over the kingdom, but under one condition: The condition was that the dead Phrixus wanted the Golden Fleece returned from King Æetes, which would bring the spirit of Phrixus back to his home. Pelias asked that Jason go on the journey as opposed to himself, for he was old and Jason was young and strong. So Pelias promised to give up the kingdom on the return of Jason with the Golden Fleece. Jason agreed and organized Hercules, Orpheus, Castor, Pollux, Achilles' father, Peleus and many more. This group of men were subsequently known as the Argonauts. Hera was also with Jason, to remind him not to leave behind a dying life.

Jason and the Argonauts (which was named after their ship, the Argo) first sailed to Lemnos, an island where only women lived. Only one man, the king, was left on the island. Although the women had risen up against the men on the island by killing them, they gladly helped the Argonauts with gifts of food and wine.

The Argonauts travelled to where the Harpies lived. The Harpies were flying creatures with hooked beaks and claws who left an awful odour whenever they go. The Argonauts met an old man with the power of prophecy who had a problem. Every time Phineus, the prophet, came to eat, the Harpies would come and take the food, leaving nothing left. He was left withered and weak from the lack of food. The Argonauts decided that they would help fix this problem. Two men from the Argonauts who were sons of Boreas (the great North Wind) helped because the prophet knew that only two men were needed to defeat the Harpies (this was because Phineus was a prophet). The two brothers took their position while the old man started to eat. Sure enough, the Harpies attempted to snatch the food away from the prophet. However, the sons of Boreas followed the Harpies, who had already taken the food

from Phineus. They took their swords and hit the Harpies. However, they wanted to kill the flying monsters. But they remembered that these beasts were the act of Zeus and that they should not kill them. The old man thanked the Argonauts for their help and offered some advice for navigating through the Clashing Rocks, the next encounter on their journey. He said that to navigate through them safely, one should send a dove through first. If the dove survived and wasn't crushed by the rocks, the ship would survive. If the dove died, then the ship would not survive.

The next morning the Argonaut sailed off with a dove to the Clashing Rocks. They set the dove free and the dove made it through with the exception of the bird's tail feathers, which were cut off by the rolling rocks. Next, the ship went through, and, like what the prophet said, the ship survived and passed through safely, but part of the stern of the ship was cut off, like the tail feathers of the bird.

The Argonauts quickly sailed on and they passed by the country of the Amazons, because they knew that the Amazons were not gentle foes. They continued on, travelling all day. Finally, at sunset, they arrived in Colchis, home of the Golden Fleece.

On Mount Olympus, Hera went to seek Aphrodite's help. Since Hera had been overseeing the adventure, she knew that there was danger involved and discussed the matter with Aphrodite. To help the Argonauts, Aphrodite told Hera that she would send Cupid, Aphrodite's son, to the Colchis and would make the daughter of the Colchian king fall in love with Jason. Medea was the daughter of King Æetes. But Medea was a powerful magician and she could save the Argonauts if they ever were in trouble.

While this was going on, the Argonauts made their way to the city to ask the king for the Golden Fleece. Hera wrapped the Argonauts in a mist so they wouldn't be seen until they arrived at the palace. King Æetes welcomed them to Colchis and was hospitable to them. Princess Medea also made her way into the palace to see what these visitors, who had entered the palace, were doing. As Princess Medea lay eyes upon Jason, Cupid, who was sent by Aphrodite to make the two fall in love, drew his bow and shot an arrow into the heart of Medea. Amazed by the sight of Jason, she quickly returned to her chambers.

King Æetes gave the Argonauts something to eat, making sure to take care of the needs of the guest. It was only after this that King Æetes decided to ask what the men were doing in Colchis. They responded by saying that they were seeking the Golden Fleece in hopes to return it back to Greece. King Æetes was angered now for he did not like foreigners and he did not like the reason why they came to Colchis. He did not like the idea of the Golden Fleece leaving Colchis, but he said that if Jason proved his courage, Jason must do what the king himself has already done. He said that Jason must harness two flame-breathing bulls whose feet were made of bronze and to plow a field with them. As well, he must take the teeth of a dragon and grow them as if they were corn seeds. A crop of armed men would grow and he must fight this crop of armed men. The king said that he must do this if he wants the Golden Fleece returned. It was an impossible task but Jason accepted the challenge.

Jason thought of Medea, who would be able to help him complete this challenge. If she could invoke a magic spell to help him, he could defeat the bulls and the dragon-teethed men. Both agreed to this plan and Medea gave Jason a charm that when it was sprinkled over his weapons, he and his weapons would become invincible for a day. As well, he was given a stone that if too many men attacked him, he could throw the stone at the enemy. This would make the enemy turn on one another and fight each other.

Later on, Jason made his way to the field where the king and the other Colchians were. Soon enough, the bulls started to attack Jason, but Jason had the charm with him and he resisted the attack like a rock to the waves. After he defeated the bulls, many men rushed to attack him. Jason used the charm once again to make the warriors turn on each other and fight. Like Medea said, the warriors did so, and Jason's challenge was fulfilled.

The king returned to the palace, now thinking that he won't give the Golden Fleece. Meanwhile, Medea met the Argonauts and asked if she could join them on their journeys. She also told them to quickly get the Golden Fleece from a serpent which was guarding the sacred wool. Again, Medea worked her magic by lulling the serpent to sleep. The Argonauts grabbed the fleece and quickly retreated from where the serpent was lying.

By now, the king had found out what the Argonauts had done. So, King Æetes sent in son, Asyrtus, in pursuit of the Argonauts. He led an army much larger than that of the Argonauts. However, to even the odds, Medea killed her brother, Asyrtus. There were many stories as to how he died. The two that seem to be the most sensible were either the incident where Medea invited her brother to talk and while doing so, Jason would kill him by striking him down. The alternative was that Asyrtus came aboard the Argo (for reasons unknown). While on board, Medea killed him by cutting him up into pieces. King Æetes, in this case, would be commanding the ship that was trailing the Argo. Medea would then dump the mutilated body of her brother into the sea. The king then stopped the pursuit to pick up the pieces from the ocean. However, it is not known what exactly happened to the death of Asyrtus. In any case, the Argonauts had escaped.

On the return trip, they had to pass through the rock of Scylla and the whirlpool of Charybdis, most dangerous natural occurrences, however, Hera guided the Argonauts to safety. Another incident occurred when they sailed to Crete. They landed there, by the request of Medea, for she knew a man by the name of Talus. He was the last man left of the ancient bronze race. He was a creature made all of bronze except for one ankle - this was the only point where he was vulnerable. However, he was not a kind man because he threatened to crush the Argo if the Argonauts approached. Medea sensed this and made Talus crape his vulnerable ankle and he bled to death.

When the Argo reached Greece, the Argonauts disbanded leaving Jason and Medea taking the Golden Fleece to Pelias. When they arrived, Jason and Medea found that Pelias had forced Jason's father to kill himself and his mother had died of grief. Jason asked Medea for ways to punish Pelias. They accomplished this by convincing Pelias that there was a way to make the old young again. To prove this, they took an old ram and sacrificed it. Medea used one of her charms and turned the old ram, that was now in boiling water, into a young lamb. So, to make Pelias young again, Medea convinced Pelias' daughters to cut Pelias up. However, when this was complete, both Jason and Medea had vanished, leaving Pelias killed by his own daughters. If there was one benefit from this, it was that Jason had his revenge now.

It has also been said that Medea offered Jason to make Jason's father young again, and this might have happened. By doing this, she gave Jason the secret to perpetual youth.

Jason and Medea moved to Corinth where they had two sons. Medea missed her family in Colchis but her love for Jason seemed to be more important. All this for a man who would eventually betray her. The first example of this occurred when Jason married the daughter of the King of Corinth. As a result of the King of Corinth fearing the powers of Medea, the King ordered Medea and her two helpless children out of the country. While alone one day, Medea thought of Jason, and suddenly, Jason himself appeared. She said nothing but Jason said that if it wasn't for Medea's comments to the king about her powers, she could have still

lived in Corinth. He had come to Medea now because he was not a man to fail a friend, and he would see that she had plenty of gold and everything necessary for her journey. However, Medea was very angry. Through her words, she explained that it was she that was the one who obtained the Golden Fleece by conquering the bulls, the dragon-men and the serpent warder of the Fleece. Jason retorted by saying that he had not been save by her but by Aphrodite who had made Medea fall in love with him. He also said that she owed him a great deal for moving her to Greece, a "civilized country". Medea, who was an intelligent woman, knew that he was being stubborn and said nothing more. Medea wanted revenge. So, she decided that she would kill Jason's bride. She decided that she would take a robe and anointed it with deadly drugs. She then placed it into a casket and told her sons to deliver it to the new bride. To ensure that she would die, she would have to wear it at once. The princess received this gift and wore it at once. No sooner had she put it on when a fire devoured her, melting her flesh away. She had died.

When Medea knew that the deed was done, she turned her mind to one more dreadful task. This task was far more dreadful, for she was going to kill her own two sons. She did so, but not without feeling sorrow for what she had done. But when Jason realized Medea had killed her bride, he was determined to kill Medea. But when he arrived at Medea's house, she had already left in a chariot that was drawn by dragons. As this occurred, Jason cursed her, but not himself, for what had happened.