Notes - Under the Santol Tree

Thanks to Imma Licayan can never be enough. She is the constant reader - the eager Muse. For that, I am eternally grateful. "Under the Santol Tree" was the first in the Culture Kids series - collections of stories told from a nine-year-old's unique point of view: Not quite an adult, but not still a child. It allowed me to bridge the gap and tell the story of both young adults and juvenile children in a variety of settings.

Under the Santol Tree was also a bit of a travelogue, expounding on my brief experiences in Mindanao and the Visayas. I found the Philippines truly rewarding, like an uncut diamond, waiting to be skillfully crafted into millions of tiny keepsakes.

Unfortunately, the Philippines suffers from this yet-to0-be-recognized greatness. In that, I find the unique point of view of a tourist-child - always romanticizing the most obscure and most mundate of items, whether it be stories by firelight or home-made songs.

Still, I find myself lingering on the Islands in my daydreams, remembering the short amount of time I spent in Mya's version of Paradise...and mine, too.

Thirteen Coins

Summer stretched out before Gemma and the rest of the Cruz family as they prepared for Josie and Pidro’s marriage. As a gift to Pidro and Josie, Mr. Cruz decided to build an additional room at the Cruz house.
Construction workers piled sand and cement blocks next to the house. All day long, they pounded and poured and scraped. A wall rose along one side of the house, extending back from the road.
Construction began on Josie and Pidro’s wedding, too. Maria spent weekends at Josie’s apartment, sewing beads into the wedding dress. Pidro chose Marco and Tingo to be the sponsors at his wedding. Pidro made several journeys to visit with Mrs. Concepcion. He helped her with many small tasks. He ran errands, getting groceries and medicine from the Market. He also repaired broken lamps and replaced light bulbs when they needed replacing. In return, Mrs. Concepcion fixed delicious meals for Pidro and Josie.
"Are you ready for the wedding?" asked Mrs. Concepcion.
"Not quite," replied Josie, "We still have to visit many friends and invite them to the ceremony."
"Are you going to pay a visit to Aunt Lala and Uncle Rico?"
"Of course, mama."
"How about Aunt May?"
"Yes, mama."
"I want to make sure you don’t forget anything."
Josie and Pidro traveled by bus throughout the province. They visited Aunt Lala and Uncle Rico as well as Aunt May, enjoying long evenings with them.
One evening, Mrs. Cruz baked a fish for Josie and Pidro. Everyone gathered around the table and, as usual, the topic was the wedding.
"Gemma, would you like to be in our wedding?" asked Pidro.
"I would love to," answered Gemma.
"We were hoping you could be the flower girl?"
"The flower girl? Isn’t that kind of girlish?"
"That’s why they call it a flower girl."
"I want to be the coin bearer."
"Gemma, you can’t be a coin bearer. That’s a boy’s job," said Ms. Cruz sternly.
"I don’t want to be a flower girl. Flower girls are stupid."
"Do you want to break tradition?"
"I want to start a new tradition," answered Gemma.
"You can be the flower girl or we will find someone else," said Pidro.
Gemma crossed her arms and looked at Pidro.
"Gemma, I want you to be the flower girl," said Josie.
"But why can’t I be the coin bearer?"
"Because we already asked my nephew Pepe to carry the coins and the ring."
"Alright, I’ll be the flower girl," said Gemma and that was that.
As the day of the wedding arrived, Josie woke up to thunder and rain. "Rain, rain, go away," sighed Josie as rivers of mud ran through the courtyard in front of their apartment.
"Don’t worry dear, you’re in luck. It’s a blessing from Santa Clara. I cooked us some eggs and rice for breakfast. Have a seat and don’t worry about it. What will be will be."
Josie sat down with her mother, nervous about the wedding. Several kilometers away, Pidro was also in a panic.
"We can’t go to the church in this rain," he groaned.
"Of course we can, dear," said Mrs. Cruz. "Tingo called and said he was going to take us all to church."
"But his car is too small," said Pidro.
"If you don’t like Tingo’s car, we can ride to church on your motorcycle."
"Mother, that’s not funny."
Tingo arrived at the Cruz house just before the wedding. Pidro and Tingo escorted the girls to the car one at a time. Pidro held the ladies’ arms while Tingo carried the umbrella.
Tingo drove to the church, where Marco helped guide the women into the church. Gemma followed Maria into the waiting room, where the most of the wedding party was getting ready for the beginning of the ceremony. Josie’s Aunt Lala and Uncle Rico were there as well as Marco and Marcella. Gemma was introduced to Pepe, who she sat next to and waited.
"I heard you wanted to carry the thirteen coins," said Pepe.
"It’s okay."
"I didn’t want to do this. Grandma Concepcion made me."
"It’s a great honor to carry the coins," said Gemma.
"At least you get to do something. You get to throw flowers on the carpet."
"I guess."
"Here, take some candy," said Pepe as he handed Gemma the candy bowl. She dug into the bowl and pulled out two mints. Empty candy wrappers were scattered across the table beside Pepe. They finished the candy while they waited for the wedding to start.
Tingo arrived at the Cruz house, where Pidro was in the bathroom, putting on his Barong Tagalog – the traditional men’s wedding shirt. The Barong was made of cream-colored silk. Fine white lace ran down the front of the shirt, from the Mandarin collar, to the dressage at the hem.
"You almost ready?" said Tingo.
"There’s a stain on my shirt," sighed Pidro.
"Where? I don’t see anything?"
"Right here, next to the collar."
"That’s not a stain. It’s a shadow."
"No, it’s a big stain."
"Step closer to the mirror and look again." The shadow disappeared, but Pidro still played with the collar.
"If you don’t leave it alone, it will be a stain, then what are you going to do?"
"You’re sure?"
"Of course I’m sure, Pidro. Now let’s go or we will be late."
The boys ran to the car, avoiding mud puddles the best they could. As they arrived at the church, many people were gathered outside: surfing buddies, high school friends and relatives. Pidro had not seen in a very long time. They had come from far-off cities like Cebu and Luzon and Manila.
Inside, the church was decorated with ivory ribbon and fresh orange blossoms. The men entered the lobby as music filled the cathedral. Everyone watched as Pidro walked to the altar. He stood there, patiently, waiting for Josie.
IN the waiting room, it was almost time for Pepe to walk down the aisle with the ring bearer’s pillow and coin pouch. Unfortunately, Pepe was in the boy’s room, getting sick from the mint and candies.
"Papa, what are we doing to do?" said Josie.
"I could carry the coins," said Gemma.
"You cannot carry the coins. You’re the flower girl."
"Why can’t I be both?"
"And who is going to be the ring bearer?"
Gemma ran over to the table and grabbed the flower basket and the ring bearer’s pillow.
"Look! It’s no problem!"
"Gemma, I knew you wanted to be the coin bearer, but it’s not right."
"I’ll be the best ring bearer-coin bearer-flower girl ever," said Gemma.
"Daddy, what are we going to do?"
"I say we let Gemma do it," answered Mr. Concepcion.
"Alright," sighed Josie.
Finally, Gemma came through the doors at the back of the church. The flower basket hung delicately from one arm while she balanced the ring bearer’s pillow on her hand. The cord from the coin bearer’s pouch hung around the wrist of her free arm. The coins inside the velvet pouch jangled as she spread the flowers along the aisle.
As she looked up, Pidro folded his arms and shook his head. The Priest simply smiled at Gemma.
When she arrived at the altar, she balanced the pillow in her hands and removed the flower basket, setting it on the ground between her and Pidro.
"What are you doing?" he hissed.
"Pepe’s puking in the bathroom," she whispered.
Whispers and giggles came from several of wedding guests in the front row, including Mrs. Concepcion and Gemma’s mother. The organ came to life as the wedding march began. Pidro forgot about Gemma as Josie and her father entered the back of the cathedral.
Mr. Concepcion escorted his daughter up the aisle and kissed her lightly on the cheek as he put her beside Pidro. Josie smiled at Gemma and then toward Pidro.
"We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Josie and Pidro," said the Priest.
Gemma looked up at the stained glass window behind the priest. She wondered how stained glass was actually stained. Did someone pour ink on glass or did they paint it on? The organ player was fiddling with her songbook, quietly flipping through the pages.
"Gemma?" said the Priest.
"Yessir?"
"Can I have the coins please?"
"Right! The coins!" Gemma pulled the velvet pouch off her wrist and poured 13 golden coins into Pidro’s cupped hand. Carefully, Pidro placed them into Josie’s cupped hands.
"These coins represent my loyalty. I promised to keep you nourished in body and in soul. I promise to provide for you for the rest of your life," said Pidro.
"Do you have the rings?" the priest asked Gemma.
"I sure do. Just let me get them." Gemma knelt down and put the velvet pouch on the ground. She dug her fingers into the pocket of her dress, but could not grab the rings.
"Hold on one moment," she said. Gemma then proceeded to pull the lace glove off her hand and place it beside the velvet pouch. She retrieved the rings and gave them to Pidro and Josie.
"No, you gave us the wrong rings," said Josie.
"Isn’t that your ring?" asked Gemma.
"It is, but you’re supposed to give it to Pidro so he can place it on my finger, just like the rehearsal."
"I forgot." Gemma snatched the rings from Josie and Pidro’s hands and switched them. Pidro placed Josie’s ring on her finger while Josie placed Pidro’s ring on his finger.
"Do you take each other to have and to hold for as long as you live?"
"We do."
"Now I pronounce you man and wife. Pidro, you may now kiss Josie."
And they kissed.
"I now give you Mister Pidro and Josie Cruz."
"Yippee!" shouted Gemma as she through her fists into the air in celebration.
"Yippee!" shouted Josie. She kissed Gemma and then walked down the aisle. As everyone exited the church, the rains had stopped. Gemma walked with Maria and Mama Cruz to Tingo’s car. Gemma waved at everyone as Tingo took them to the wedding reception, where they would sing and dance all night long. Gemma looked out the car window and daydreamed.
The Cruz family had just gotten one person bigger and Josie was a new sister. But Gemma also had other new family members, too. There would be festivals and street parties with Mrs. Concepcion. There would be stories about Uncle Rico and Aunt Lala. There would be new roosters and new songs for the rain.
And as she daydreamed, Gemma just knew they would live ecstatically, jubilantly, excitingly, lovingly, and happily ever after.

Lasang Pinoy

"Hurry or we’re going to be late," Pidro pleaded with the rest of the family. Josie and her mother were hosting a street festival and everyone in the Cruz family had been invited.
Josie’s mother held the street festival once a year to celebrate the end of the rainy season. They called it Lasang Pinoy – The Filipino Taste. As far as everyone was concerned, that was one of the best things about being Filipino. People would bring their favorite homemade dishes from all over, not only sharing the Filipino taste, but also swapping family recipes handed down from generation to generation.
"I don’t think I’ll be able to go Pidro. My knees are acting up," said his mother.
"You have to go," said Pidro. "I told Josie you were coming."
"I can always see her later," said mother.
"We’ve been planning this for weeks."
"It’s alright. Have fun without me."
"Dad, please tell mother that she has to come," said Pidro.
"I can’t force her to do anything she doesn’t want to do. You know how your mother is, when she wants to do something she will do it. If she doesn’t want to, then she won’t."
Mother sat in her chair at the kitchen table, looking like she might never move again. Pidro stood in front of her with his hands on his waist, waiting for her to move.
"Go on without me, Pidro."
Pidro went into the bathroom and combed his hair, hoping that mother would change her mind in the time it took him to finish getting ready for their bus trip to Mercado Pier. He also hoped that, in that short span of time, he could come up with a way of getting mother to come along.
Gemma came along and stood beside him, sharing mirror space while pulling a brush through her long brown curls of hair.
"Gemma, I’ll give you ten pesos if you tell mom you’re going to stay home and keep her company today. She’s not feeling well."
"Why do I have to do it?" she asked.
"Nobody has to do it, but do you want mom to stay home and be by herself all day. I think she is sad."
Gemma turned toward Pidro and looked at him suspiciously.
"How about twenty pesos?"
"Gemma...it’s your mother."
"It’s your mother, too."
"How about fifteen?"
"Twenty pesos."
"Okay, twenty pesos."
Pidro dug into his pocket and pulled out two ten peso coins and handed them over to her. Gemma carefully tucked them into the front pocket of her sundress and returned to the living room.
"Mama, I think I’m going to stay home, too," said Gemma. She plopped down in the chair nearest her mother, leaned her elbows on the table and smiled at her mother.
"Why on earth would you do that?"
"Because Pidro paid me to babysit you."
"Now why would he do that? I’ll be perfectly find by myself."
"Mom, he’s been talking about this festival for the last month. It’s obvious that he wants everyone there," said Maria.
Mother sighed. "Alright, but I’m not making any promises that I’m going to be the life of the party."
"I don’t think he was expecting that. I think he’d be happy if we were all there," Maria laughed.
By the time Pidro left the bathroom, his mother was up and about, getting ready for the festival.
"Mom’s going to the street festival so I guess I’m going, too," announced Gemma.
"Good, then we’ll all be there," said Pidro.
Mother finished getting ready and they walked out to the road, where the Mercado Pier Jeepney picked them up and delivered them to the Pier where the street festival had already gotten underway.
Maria had brought a tray of her Chicken Adobo and Gemma was in charge of the Yema balls, one of her favorite desserts.
All the Cruz’s climbed out of the Jeepney, even mama with her bad knees, and walked together towards the street festival. Three long tables sat in the courtyard in front of Josie’s apartment – dressed with several different of colors of tablecloth. There were probably as many different types of food as there were tablecloths, scattered over the tables.
Gemma and Maria walked into the courtyard, where they were directed to two separate tables: one for main dishes and one for desserts. Gemma carefully placed her Yema balls at the end of table. As she watched the crowd gather around the tray, she remembered what fun it was making them just the night before.
Gemma and Maria had stayed up late, cooking and taste-testing their food. Maria had set two skillets on the stove, one for the Chicken Adobo and the other for the Yema balls, which Gemma would be in charge of watching.
Maria began by simmering some condensed milk, then adding a few egg yolks. She turned down the heat and Gemma stirred it, gently blending the mix until it was smooth and creamy. Maria added some vanilla, then they set it into the refrigerator while Maria finished the Adobo.
After the Yema mix cooled, Gemma and Maria got to enjoy the second best part of Yema – making the Yema balls. Maria got out a small plate and covered it with sugar. Meanwhile, Gemma removed the Yema mix from the refrigerator and set it on the counter. She dug a spoon into the creamy mixture and gently rolled the mix into small balls. After that, she dropped the Yema balls on the sugar-covered plate and rolled it around. In their kitchen, Gemma and Maria were truly making the Filipino taste, vinegary Chicken for the main dish and confections for their sweet tooth for dessert.
"You sure those are okay?" asked Pidro as he came in the kitchen to investigate. He stole one of the Yema balls and popped it into his mouth.
"Pidro! You’re eating it faster than I can make it!" complained Gemma. She smacked him on the shoulder with the spoon, just like her mother would do whenever the children stole any food from the kitchen before it was truly ready.
They cooked until just after midnight, and put everything away. It was any wonder that they had the energy to enjoy the street festival the next day, but here they were, ready to share their yummy Yema balls and delicious Chicken Adobo.
Of course, Maria’s Adobo wasn’t the only Adobo at the street festival. There were several plates of Chicken Adobo, each one slightly different than the rest. Gemma walked along the row of tables with her mother
"Mama, do you want me to fill you a plate?" asked Pidro.
"Pidro, I’m fine," she replied.
"Really, it would be no problem. Let me get you a plate. Pidro picked out a plate and loaded food on top of it: chicken adobo, sinangag, pork in peanut sauce, string beans, as well as yema balls.
"Quit fussing over me, Pidro."
"I just don’t want you aggravating your sore knee."
"You could have let me rest at home."
"But you had to be here today, mother. Everyone’s here and the sun is shining brightly. It’s too beautiful of a day to be inside alone."
Pidro walked with his mother over to the table where everyone had gathered: Mr. Cruz and Maria were there, as well as Marco and Marcella, Josie, Josie’s mother, and even some of Pidro’s surfing buddies.
Pidro ignored Gemma, leaving her at the table to fend for herself. It was okay with Gemma, though. Pidro had been anxious for the last few days. He kept bothering Maria and Gemma while they were cooking. He was unhappy with Maria’s choice of ‘plain old Chicken Adobo’. Pidro had gotten up with Roberto and was buzzing about the house, showering and shaving and changing into and out of clothes until he found just the right outfit.
Gemma, on the other hand, was investigating the rows of tables, looking for something new, something special. In addition to the plain old Chicken Adobo that everyone seemed to prepare in their own unique way, there were all types of fish cooked all types of ways.
As Gemma walked along, Josie came up beside her.
"Are you doing okay?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Your plate is completely empty."
"I’m looking for just the right thing. There are so many choices. They all look so yummy."
"You can always take a little of this and a little of that. Then you can come back again and again until you find that right thing. Along the way, you might even find a few new right things."
"I never thought of it that way."
"That’s what Lasang Pinoy is, Gemma. It’s an adventure."
"It sure is an adventure."
"Actually, Pidro had sent me after you. He wondered what was taking you so long."
"Tell him I’m coming."
"He told me to find you and bring you back."
"He sure is acting strange today."
"I think he’s up to something," confided Josie.
"Like what?"
"I don’t know, but I’m kind of nervous, too."
Gemma quickly piled food on her plate, taking a little of this and a little of that until her plate was filled with many different colors. It reminded her of the many colors of tablecloths, none matching, but fitting together just right. Fish, pork, and chicken lined up next to beans and vegetables and rice noodles.
"Look! I made a food painting!" said Gemma.
"You sure did."
They returned to the table where everyone was already enjoying their food. Gemma found a seat, squeezing between Marco and Tingo. Josie sat in the middle of one table, next to Pidro. Both Pidro and Josie sat next to their mothers. Pidro kissed Josie on the cheek as she sat down, then put his hand in hers and smiled, eating his food using only his free hand.
Gemma worked on her food painting, carefully carving out pieces of green and white and red. She arranged her green beans, giving arms and legs to her chicken adobo. She spread the berry sauce across one of the chickens, giving it a bright red shirt, just like the one Pidro was wearing. She scooped out some mashed potatoes, spreading it over the second strip of chicken, dressing it up as Josie.
Voila! Chicken Josie and Chicken Pidro laid in the middle of Gemma’s plate. Gemma took her fingers and moved the beans so their hands joined, just like the real-life Pidro and Josie.
Then she ate the food around Chicken Josie and Chicken Pidro until she was left with only one choice. She cut a bit out of Chicken Pidro’s ribs, eating it, followed by eating his arms and legs, until it no longer looked like a food painting, but what it start out being: food for Gemma.
Pidro tapped a spoon on the side of his drinking glass. It clanged in a high pitch, bringing everyone’s attention to him. "I’m glad to see all my friends and family here today. I think Lasang Pinoy is a great time for being together and sharing friendship and good times with the ones you love."
Pidro looked around at the dinner guests. Not only were his friends and family watching him, but also other neighbors who had gathered for the street festival. Nervously, he lowered himself, leaning on one bended knee.
"Josie...we’ve spent quite some time together and you’re my best friend in the whole world. Not only do I know you as a friend, but a lot more. That’s why I decided today was a day I shared not only with my family and yours, but that I didn’t want it to end."
Pidro pulled a small black box from his pocket and opened it up. Inside, a bright and shiny diamond ring sparkled. Josie’s hands gathered to her face as she began crying.
"Josie, will you marry me?" he asked her.
Josie gasped as the tears of joy rolled down her face.
"Is that a yes or a no?" he asked. Everyone laughed, then Josie said yes. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly as everyone cheered them on, hoping they would seal it with a kiss. They did.
Gemma got up from her chair and ran up to Josie, hugging her tightly, too. Now, she knew why Pidro had been so crazy. He was crazy in love.
It also seemed like Gemma’s mother had begun to feel better, too. After she ate her meal, she got up and danced in the courtyard. Pidro swung her back and forth, as she glided around effortlessly.
The day stretched into night as family and friends laughed and danced and sang. They cleaned up the courtyard, rinsing out dishes and gathering up the tablecloth.
Pidro went with Josie and some of their friends to the Dive Shop to surf under the light of the full moon. Gemma went home with Maria and her parents. Everyone glowed like the moon, their faces lit with the joy the day had brought them. Now, Gemma was going to have another big sister she loved greatly.

Dive Shop Days

As Gemma stood on the beach, knee-deep in ocean water, she investigated her surroundings. People loaded their oxygen tanks onto the pump boat and tested the breathing regulators. They put the regulators in their mouths and dipped their heads underwater to make sure oxygen flow was correct.
"Gemma, quit standing around! I need you to help Marco load the pump boat for the next scuba trip."
Pidro kept his promise.
Gemma spent the last few weeks learning the ropes down at the Dive Shop, helping customers try on scuba gear or readying boats for the afternoon trip.
Gemma walked up the beach to where Marco stood, waiting for his next instruction. As she stood there, Marco moved around, not noticing her there at all.
"Ahem," she coughed.
"Hey, Gemma. What do you need?"
"Pidro sent me over here to help you get ready for afternoon launch."
"Run to the Dive Shop and get a new regulator. This one’s broken," said Marco.
Gemma took the regulator in her hand and ran all the way to the Dive Shop, where Marcella was helping a customer try on life jackets.
"Can I help you with something, Gemma?" she asked.
Gemma stood there, wheezing for a few moments, trying to catch her breath. Finally, she put out her hand, showing Marcella the broken regulator. Marcella led her to the scuba section and gave her two replacements. One to replace the one she was returning and another just in case the first one didn’t work.
Gemma jog-walked back to Marco, who was waiting for her next to the picnic table where all the oxygen tanks laid in the sand.
"Here you go. Marcella gave me two, just in case."
Marco took one of the regulators and fit it on the end of the tubing. Then Gemma walked beside him as he went down to the water to test the regulator in the water.
"It looks like this one works. I’m going to take this other one with us, just in case."
Marco tested the second regulator, fitting it on the tubing, pressing the valve, then dipping it underwater to make sure air flowed out from the regulator as he pressed the valve again.
"What do you need me to do next?"
"There’s really not much left to do. Will you be going with us?"
"I don’t know. Pidro didn’t say anything about it."
"He won’t unless you ask him."
Gemma walked over to the dock where Pidro was working on one of the boat motors. He also seemed too busy to be bothered with Gemma. She stood there for a few moments, waiting for him to notice her, too.
He looked over at her, standing idly by. "When you said you wanted to work here, I thought you really meant it, Gemma."
"I do. I just had a question." She stood beside Pidro, waiting for him to respond. When he didn’t, she frowned at him.
"Well, what is it?" he asked.
"Can I go diving with you and Marco today?"
"Not today."
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
"You always say that Pidro."
"It’s because you’re too small to go scuba diving."
"Am not."
"You are too."
"Am not."
"Gemma, I’m not going to argue with you about it. I’ll make a deal with you. If you can suit up into an oxygen tank and get on the pump boat, then I’ll let you go."
Gemma went inside and changed into one of the child-sized wet suits and emerged from the Dive Shop. She looked like a penguin, dressed in head-to-toe in black swim gear.
"You’re halfway there. Now put on a tank."
Gemma strode confidently over to the oxygen tanks and looked them over. She picked out the blue one, which she thought was the prettiest. She carefully leaned it upright and began to lift it off the ground.
Within seconds, she knew this was going to be some task. The oxygen tank weighed more than a big bag of rice. She grunted and groaned, straining to get it up on her back. She bent sideways and used her hips as a fulcrum, balancing it as she put her arms in the straps.
Gemma put on the scuba outfit, just as Pidro asked. Unfortunately, she still had to make her way from the picnic table to the pumpboat.
She took careful steps down the beach, bent halfway over. After a few moments of struggling under the weight of the oxygen tank, she made it to the boat.
"Now get on the boat."
Gemma groaned.
"Pidro, let her alone. She did everything you asked. Anyway, we can lower her into the water and pull her out. A tank is almost weightless underwater.
"I’m not making an exception for her. There’s too much that could go wrong. Marcella needs her help inside the Dive Shop anyway."
"Maybe when you get a little bigger," said Marco.
Against her wishes, Pidro helped Gemma out of the oxygen tank.
"I promise that you’ll get to go the moment I think you can do it, but not before, okay?"
"Okay," said Gemma as tears welled in her eyes.
"I still love you. That’s why I’m so hard on you, okay? Now go help Marcella. We’re going snorkeling tomorrow and you’re invited."
"Yippee!"
"But this afternoon I need you to help Marcella, okay?"
"Okay."
"That’s my girl," said Pidro. He grabbed his little sister by the ears and gently kissed her forehead. Gemma watched Pidro and Marco as they finished preparing for the afternoon launch.
As she skipped back to the Dive Shop, people gathered inside, waiting in line to pay for scuba gear.
"Oh good, you’re here," said Marcella.
"What do you need me to do?"
"Just answering the phones would be plenty."
Gemma climbed up on her stool and stood behind the counter next to Marcella. The phone rang and she picked it up.
"Magandang Tanghali po! Good afternoon, Shoreline Dive Club, Gemma speaking, how may I assist you?" she said as she answered the phone. Meanwhile, Marcella assisted customers at the other end of the counter.
"We have Jet Skis, surfboards, and sailboards for rent. Also, there are Scuba lessons," said Gemma.
Marcella overheard the voice muttering something on the other end, then Gemma responded.
"We operate one boat launch every day, just after lunch."
Another pause on Gemma’s end.
"It just left a few minutes ago, ma’am."
"Yes, we’re open until sunset."
"Well, tonight the sun will set around 8:30 p.m."
"Thank you, ma’am. Have a nice night."
Usually, the questions were always the same: "What do you have for rent?" "How often are the scuba trips?" and "How late are you open?" If it was a question about diving equipment, Gemma would transfer the call to Marcella while Gemma assisted customers in the Dive Shop.
As afternoon changed into evening, business died down and Josie showed up at the Dive Shop, waiting for the boys to return.
"I brought you some sushi," she said.
"I love sushi! What kind did you bring us?"
"Eel roll, lobster roll, and California roll."
They went outside and Josie placed the sushi in the center of the table as everyone sat down.
"Which one does everyone like best?" asked Gemma.
"I like the Eel roll the most," said Josie.
"I like the Lobster roll," said Gemma.
"I also like the Lobster roll, but I don’t think I could really pick a favorite. They’re all so good," said Marcella.
Gemma picked up a piece of eel roll sushi and bit into it. She savored the crunchy eel and the thin carrot sticks wrapped in rice and seaweed. Then, she picked up the California roll and bit into it, too.
"I changed my mind," she said.
"You like the Eel roll the most?" asked Josie.
"No. I don’t think I can pick a favorite, either."
"I don’t want to be left out. I’m picking them all as my favorites," said Josie. The girls laughed and talked as they shared the last bits of sushi.
As the sun disappeared over the horizon, the girls moved the kayaks and paddle boats toward the boat house. Gemma strung a heavy chain through the boats and locked them together. Then, Gemma and Josie fetched the sand-covered life jackets from the boat house and held them up as Marcella sprayed the sand off the jackets. Afterwards, Josie hung the jackets over the rafters of the boat house, ready to dry.
Gemma and Josie helped Marcella organize the Dive Shop. Marcella counted the pesos in the cash register. Josie arranged clothes on the racks and Gemma erased the chalkboard where Marcella had written the daily schedule earlier that morning. After that, Gemma ran the sweeper and put it away.
"What now?" asked Gemma.
"Now we wait for your brother and my boyfriend to come home," said Josie.
"Marco is your boyfriend?" asked Gemma.
"No silly. Pidro is my boyfriend."
"Oh really?"
"It’s official. I told Pidro he’d either have to be my boyfriend or I was going to find another surfer boy to hang out with."
"What did he say?"
"He asked me to be his girlfriend, of course."
Gemma and Marcella laughed at Josie, who just smiled slyly. Marcella closed the front door and changed the sign from "Open" to "Closed."
They returned to the picnic table, where Josie showed Gemma how to braid leather, making more craft gifts for her Burloloy stand.
"Why don’t you sell your burloloy here instead of Mercado Pier?"
"Nobody here would want burloloy. They’re more interested in scuba equipment."
"How do you know if you don’t try?"
"I guess I don’t."
"We will have a little talk with your boyfriend when he returns," said Gemma.
As Pidro and Marco returned, Gemma ran out to greet them. Marco jumped out of the with a tow rope, tugged the boat onto the shore, and secured the rope to a hitching post.
"Why are you so perky?" asked Pidro.
"I found out a secret," whispered Gemma.
"Oh yeah? Are you going to tell us?"
"I don’t know if I can trust you," said Gemma.
"You can trust me, right?" asked Marco.
"I guess so."
"Whisper it in my ear and then I’ll decide whether Pidro is worthy to hear your secret."
"Alright." Gemma stood on her tiptoes and whispered into Marco’s ear.
"Pidro’s in love? How could this be possible?" said Marco. Gemma giggled as Pidro glared at her.
"It’s not my fault. Blame your girlfriend!" Gemma stuck an accusatory finger at Josie. Both Josie and Pidro blushed, turning a shade of bright red. Marco let out a laugh and a few of the tourists joined in.
"And you were worried that she wasn’t going to talk to you," one of the tourists said to Pidro, "I guess you should have worried that she was going to talk about you instead."
Everyone unloaded the gear from the pump boat and took it to the boat house, showering up and getting ready for their trip home. Josie said goodbye to Pidro and Gemma, then walked down the beach towards her apartment near Mercado Pier. Pidro and Gemma got on the motorcycle and sped home.
As Gemma held on, she could hardly wait to get home; she had some juicy gossip to share with the whole family.
The motorcycle turned into the driveway and pulled up next to Roberto’s old roost, outside Gemma’s bedroom window. They got off the bike and walked towards the front door.
"I can’t wait to share my little secret."
"Gemma...don’t you dare."
"It’s the only thing I’ve been thinking about the whole trip home," said Gemma.
"You better promise not to tell anyone."
"What if I don’t?"
"Then I’ll tell Mom about the wedding glass you broke and buried under Roberto’s cage."
"How did you know about that?" Gemma gasped.
"You left the shovel under Roberto’s cage. I saw the hole and dug up the glass. After I saw what you did, I buried it again, only I made sure nobody would find it."
"I was just so scared. I wanted to drink some of the goat’s milk and we didn’t have any clean glasses, so I climbed up on the sink and got it from on top of the cupboard. As I reached up, it fell off the top of the cupboard and shattered on the floor."
Just don’t tell Mom about me and Josie or I’ll tell on you, too."
"You wouldn’t!"
"I would if you shared our secret about Josie."
Just then, their mother came out the front door. "What secret about Josie?"
"It’s nothing, Mom."
Mrs. Cruz rubbed her chin and looked at her children. "Is this about Pidro and Josie’s secret romance? You kids must think I was born in a cave. Why do you think Pidro goes out on his motorcycle after dropping you off?"
Gemma shrugged her shoulders.
"It’s because he’s a boy in love. I knew the moment he brought her home for dinner. It was totally suspicious. Now you kids get to bed."
Gemma and Pidro washed and went to bed. Gemma stared into the darkness and wondered what other secrets her mother knew.

The Cave Explorers

The sleek, white pumpboat skidded effortlessly over blue-green ocean waves as Pidro piloted it from Baybay to Camotes Island, thirty kilometers away. It was a trip he had taken hundreds of times, showing tourists his beautiful homeland. This time though, it was just him and four others. Marcella, Marco, Josie and Gemma.
The pumpboat was ten meters long and had two pontoons like a catamaran. A motor sat at the back of the boat, propelling it through the water.
Fastened into her bright orange life jacket, Gemma sat next to Pidro. She watched the pontoons cut through the water, spraying a fine mist on her face. As they neared the island, the color of the water turned from dark blue to sea green. Small boats dotted the coast, some with fisherman and some with children, taking turns doing back flips off their bows. Schools of fish followed the pumpboat as it made its way to the island.
"Look at all the fish swimming through the coral reefs!" exclaimed Gemma.
"Aren’t they beautiful?" asked Josie.
"I’ve never seen so many different colors of fish."
Pidro slowed the engines as they neared the reef. He idled the boat through the shallow waters, making sure not to disturb the coral just below the pontoons.
After he ran the boat ashore, everyone got out of the boat and walked up the beach as Marco and Pidro tugged the pumpboat onto the sand and tied it to a hitching post.
"Gemma, what would you like to do first?" asked Josie.
"What are my choices?"
"We can either go snorkeling or cave exploring. Which sounds best?"
Gemma stood and thought for a moment. She had done both and both sounded fun to her. "What do you like, Josie?"
"I’ve never been hiking through these caves."
"Will we see any fruit bats?"
"Maybe, but they’re more afraid of you then you are of them," said Pidro.
"I guess that sounds fun," answered Gemma.
"Then cave exploring it is," said Pidro.
Pidro led them up a trail past the cathedral on the hill. Fallen logs and large boulders sat in their way as they hiked deeper into the lush green forest. Bugs clicked and whistled all around them. Gemma waved her hands in front of her face, trying to shoo the bugs away.
"Oh gosh, this hill is steep. Are we almost there?" said Gemma.
"Not much further," said Pidro.
"I hope not. My legs feel like rubber bands."
A small sign that said "Historic Bukilat Cavern" marked their arrival.
They rested for a few minutes as Pidro unpacked flashlights and sweatshirts for the trip into the cave. Marco passed his water canteen to Gemma, offering her a sip. The cold water refreshed Gemma as she took several large gulps.
"Save some for the trip back," said Marco.
"I’m sorry, but it’s so yummy."
After everyone had a good rest, Marco was the first one into the cave. He carefully climbed over the fallen tree sitting at the entrance. Gemma placed her shoe on the tree trunk and held out a hand. Marco pulled her up and over the log. Eventually, everyone made it over the tree. Now, it was time to go cave exploring.
"Hello!" Gemma called out to the cave. Her voice bounced off the bare walls.
"I can feel a cold breeze coming up from the cave," said Josie.
"You can have my jacket. It’ll get colder as we climb further down."
"What about me?" asked Gemma.
"Do you need a jacket, too?"
"No. I was just asking."
"Don’t worry, I packed a jacket for you., too."
They continued hiking down into the cave. Pidro’s flashlight shone on large columns of stone, throwing grotesque shadows across the cavern walls. Stalactites hung from the ceiling of the cave and stalagmites grew up from the bottom of the cave, like the teeth of some ancient mud monster.
"Watch where you step, some of the stones could slip beneath your feet."
Gemma carefully chose each step, moving from stone to stone. She stretched her arms outward, keeping her balance as she walked over each stone.
"Do you see where I’m shining my flashlight?" said Pidro.
"I don’t see anything," said Gemma.
"What’s that chirping sound?" asked Josie.
"That chirping sound is coming from a colony of fruit bats."
"Why are they making all that noise?" asked Gemma.
"Instead of using their eyes, bats use their ears. The bats chirp, creating sound waves. The waves travel through the air and bounce off objects, like waves in water. As the sound waves return to the bat’s ears, they use those sound waves to locate objects in their way.
"Hello? Is anybody out there?" Gemma called out to the bats. Her voice echoed through the cave. She could not figure out how it worked.
"I think I would make a terrible fruit bat," said Gemma.
In places, large boulders stood in their way. Pidro climbed each boulder easily, pulling himself up. He stood on top of each rock, stopping to assist everyone. Marco climbed up next, followed by Marcella. Gemma was next. Josie pushed as Pidro pulled Gemma onto the rock.
Josie jumped up and grabbed the rock ledge with her fingers. As she scurried, her feet slipped on the smooth surface of the rock.
"Here, grab my hand." Pidro grabbed Josie by the wrist and pulled her onto the boulder with everyone else.
The tunnel closed in as they continued onward, hopping across streams and climbing over boulders deep inside the cavern. As Pidro climbed a small ridge, he turned off his flashlight.
"Stop and turn your lights off for a second," said Pidro.
As the last of the flashlights was turned off, the cave went pitch black. Except for the creek bubbling below them, they couldn’t tell where they were, except that it was vast and empty.
"Call out ‘Hello!’ now, Gemma."
"Hello!"
The cave echoed back with a hello of its own. As Pidro flashed on his light, a brilliant white beam shot across the cave. The cave opened below them, hundreds of meters wide. The beam of the flashlight shone towards a large opening that extended into the depths of the cave.
"This part of the cave is called a grotto. It was formed by water and ice, cutting a hole in the earth. If you follow my flashlight, you can see how old this cave is."
He flashed his light against a massive stone column that extended from the ceiling to the floor.
"A long time ago, that was once a stalactite hanging from the ceiling and a stalagmite rising up from the ground. Over time, they grew toward each other until they became one massive arm of stone."
"How do stalactites and stalagmites grow? Are they alive?" asked Gemma.
"They don’t grow like grass or people. They are formed by mineral deposits in the water. Caves begin as small holes, ice and water cut into the rock and break it into tiny pieces. As time passes, the hole gets bigger and bigger, until you have a cave. Some water slowly drips from the ceiling of caves. What hangs on tight from the ceiling is a stalactite. What grows mighty from the ground is a stalagmite."
"How long does it take?"
"A long time. Longer than it takes grass or people to grow. Much longer."
Everyone stood there for a moment, peering over the edge of the ridge into the heart of the cavern.
"How deep in the earth are we?"
"Not far at all," laughed Pidro.
Pidro flashed his light to the bottom of the cavern, where a small stream flowed from one end to the other.
"We came in down there by the stream, then we cut up into the other part of the cave."
They climbed down the path that curled around the edge of the grotto and over the stream again. Pidro stopped next to the stream and rinsed off his bandana, before tying it around his forehead. Gemma reached into the water. It was the coldest water she had ever felt.
As they crossed the stream, the temperature around them increased. A small, steady trail led up from the stream, then made a sharp turn. Pidro bend over and walked on all fours, using his hands to make his way up the steady slope. Gemma slipped on the slick rocks and she slid gently down the rock face.
"You need help?"
No, I got it," she answered.
Gemma paused, catching her feet in jags and spurs of rock that stuck out. She picked out spots for her feet and made it up the hill, step by step, slow but steady. A few minutes later, she too made it up the slope – all by herself.
"You made it all the way up without any help."
"It was no big deal," she gasped. All of the climbing wore her out, but she wasn’t going to admit it to her older brother.
They looked up towards the mouth of the cave. A faint gray light showed them the way out. A little more climbing over rocks and stones and they were in daylight again.
The heat and humidity outside the cave was a noticeable change. Everyone quickly took off their jackets and sweatshirts, tying them around their waists.
"I didn’t know it was this hot," said Josie.
"Let’s go snorkeling," said Pidro.
"That sounds great, but I want to eat first," said Josie
"I packed some rice and salted eel."
"That sounds good to me," answered Marcella.
"Me too."
They returned to the boat, walking the same trail that had brought them to the Bukilat Cavern, passing by the cathedral on the hill. Pidro unpacked their lunches and they had a picnic on the boat. The rice bowl sat on top of the cooler for sharing. Everyone took turns scooping out portions of rice with their hands, with no plates, no forks, and no spoons.
"Have you had enough?" Pidro asked.
"I could do this all day," said Gemma.
"Well, it’s getting late."
"But I’m not ready to go..." whined Gemma.
"You can come with me the next time I lead a cave tour. Would you like that?" Pidro asked his little sister.
"I’d love to."
"Then we have a deal. Now let’s get home. I promised Mama I’d have you home in time for dinner." Pidro drove the boat into the open sea. As Gemma looked toward Baybay, she thought about leading tours through the caves and smiled the whole way home.
As they neared the dive shop, Pidro and Marco got out of the boat and tugged it back to the shore. Gemma joined in, giving what little help she could give.
After they stored the gear in the boat house, everyone went separate ways. Josie kissed Pidro and Gemma on the cheek and walked up to the pier to catch a Jeepney with Marcella and Marco. Pidro pushed his bike up the sand dune and onto the road. He got on and Gemma climbed on behind him. As the motorcycle whizzed along the National Road, Gemma held on tightly to her older brother. She was happily exhausted as they rode home.

Song for the Rain

Storm clouds gathered over the Philippine Sea, then invaded the shores of Baybay, bringing wind and rain. Wet villagers scurried here and there, seeking shelter from the elements.
At Gemma’s house, it was time for the late afternoon snack called Merienda. Maria was preparing boiled bananas in the kitchen while Gemma’s mother made salted fish.
Gemma stood outside on the porch, playing with her takyan, the ball made from knotted rubber bands. Like usual, she was using her feet to juggle it in the air like a soccer ball.
"Wash your hands dear. It’s almost Merienda time."
Gemma washed her hands, then returned to the kitchen and sat down at her usual spot. Tiny bowls of food gathered in the center of the table, surrounded by three tiny plates. Gemma’s mother took off her apron and sat to Gemma’s right while Maria sat in her usual spot, just to Gemma’s left.
"I heard that another storm was coming our way," said Maria.
"How big will it be?"
"I heard some people say it might become a typhoon."
Typhoons were nothing new to the Cruz family, though. Gemma had help prepare for the rainy season every August. They’d gather plywood to board the windows and kerosene to fuel the lamps. Extra rice was stored in a hamper and fish was dried and cut into strips, just in case they couldn’t make it to the stores at Mercado Pier.
Thunder rumbled overhead as rain poured on the house’s tin roof, making its familiar drum-drum sound. It became the background music while the family shared many meals together.
"When is Pidro coming home?"
"He didn’t say. He had to do some extra work at the Dive Shop with Marco. He also said he’d be bringing home a guest for dinner."
Gemma pinned her fish on the plate with her fork and used the spoon to scoop pieces of fish off the bone. The sooner she finished her fish, the sooner she would be allowed to eat her dessert.
"Slow down or you’re going to ruin your appetite."
"But I’m very hungry," said Gemma.
"You’re just hungry for boiled bananas," said her mother.
Gemma’s mother was right. The fish was good, but Gemma couldn’t wait to dig her spoon into a sweet boiled banana. Gemma raked her spoon along the backbone of the fish. She quickly scooped up the flakes and ate them, until there were only skin and bones left.
Mrs. Cruz investigated Gemma’s plate and then put the remains into the green bucket. Mrs. Cruz rinsed off the plate and returned to the table. She served boiled bananas to Gemma for dessert.
Gemma licked her spoon clean, then sunk it into the middle of the banana, cutting off a bite. She hadn’t had it in such a long time, but it melted in her mouth as the sugar mixed in her mouth with the cooked banana. A warm smile came over Gemma’s face as the banana melted on her tongue.
"How is it?" asked Maria.
"It’s pure heaven."
"I sprinkled some cinnamon on them. What do you think?"
I absolutely love it. The cinnamon is so yummy. I know you can’t see it, but my tummy is doing cartwheels."
Everyone chuckled as Gemma enjoyed her dessert. She cleaned her plate again, hopeful to get a replacement banana. Gemma’s mother took Gemma’s plate and placed it in the sink. She was never one to let her children overdo it, even when it came to boiled bananas.
Gemma spent most of the afternoon and evening in the living room, watching television with her mother while Maria spent the afternoon studying in the girls’ bedroom.
Wind whistled through the trees and over the roof, growing louder as evening approached. Maria emerged from the bedroom and helped Mother fix dinner. Meanwhile, everyone waited patiently for Pidro and Father to come home.
Just after dark, Gemma’s father arrived home from work just in time for dinner. As he changed out of his damp work clothes and dried off, Pidro’s motorcycle could be heard pulling up outside. Finally, everyone was safe at home.
"Look what the cat dragged in," said Mr. Cruz as Pidro ran in from the rain. His guest came along, holding Pidro’s hand as he guided her inside.
A bright smile grew on Gemma’s face as she got up to greet them. Pidro’s guest was a familiar face to Gemma. It was Josie. They came in the front door dripping wet.
"Hey Gemma, it’s so cold outside," said Josie.
"Do you want me to get you a towel?" asked Gemma.
"That would be very sweet of you, Gemma."
Mrs. Cruz sat on the couch, investigating Pidro’s guest.
"You didn’t tell me you were bringing a girl home. This is quite a surprise."
"I didn’t think about it."
"You acted like it might be Marco or one of your surfing buddies."
"She is one of my surfing buddies."
"I meant one of your male surfing buddies, like Juan, Gancy or Tingo."
Gemma returned and handed towels to Josie and Pidro. They wiped the rain off their faces and arms.
"Mary, leave the boy alone." Mr. Cruz rarely referred to their mother as Mary. Usually he called her ‘mama.’
"You’re right. I just wish someone would have told me."
"I’m sorry, Mother," said Pidro.
"Come on, let’s eat," said Mr. Cruz, "Gemma, you can help your mother set the table while everyone washes up," said her father.
Gemma carted large platters to the table filled with Chicken Adobo, Sinangag-style rice, and leftover boiled bananas, which her mother rolled in coconut flakes before dinner.
"Who wants to say prayers?" asked Mrs. Cruz.
"I will, if it’s okay," said Josie.
"I would like that very much," said Mrs. Cruz.
Josie said a blessing for the meal, the friendship she had developed with Pidro, and even the beautiful noise of the rain, which nourished the plants and animals, making the Philippines her favorite place in the world.
After Josie finished the prayer, everyone filled their dishes and ate.
"This is really great Adobo, Mrs. Cruz."
"The secret is in the ginger. You have to dig up fresh ginger root and use a carrot peeler to shave off the outer part of the ginger root. That’s where all the sweetness lives in a ginger root."
"There’s a ginger patch right behind our house. We pick it fresh all the time," said Gemma.
"It’s my favorite spice. I think I add it to almost everything I cook," added Gemma’s mother.
As they continued eating, Gemma didn’t add a word to their conversations. Instead, she watched everyone while she ate. Gemma was always happiest at dinner time. Her mother was a great cook, but that wasn’t the reason she loved dinnertime. No matter what else happened with their family, dinner time was together time. When one piece of the puzzle was missing, the meal never seemed complete.
"Now for Mama’s coconut bananas," said Mr. Cruz.
"I can’t wait to try one," said Josie.
Gemma served the coconut bananas, making sure to get the biggest dessert for herself. As she dug her spoon into the crispy coconut crust, it crunched. The banana tasted delicious to Gemma as it melted in her mouth.
"Do I taste ginger here, too?"
"You do. I sautéed these in the pan with some left over ginger peelings and shaved coconut chips. Then, I rolled the bananas in the sauce and put them in the refrigerator until dinnertime.
Gemma finished her banana, then helped Maria clean dishes in the kitchen sink. Pidro and Josie sat on the couch in the living room, while Maria wiped down the table for a game of cards.
"BOOM!" a lightning bolt crashed nearby, followed by a jolt of thunder.
The lights flickered. Off and on and off and on and then off again.
"Gemma, get the kerosene lamp from your room. Pidro, you too," ordered mother.
They gathered the kerosene lamps and lit them. One was placed next to the kitchen table, while one sat on top of the television. The lamps threw a small circle of golden light in each of the rooms.
"What game should we play?"
"Let’s play Tongits."
"I haven’t played that in a long time, that sounds fun," said Mr. Cruz as he sat across from Gemma, his usual partner, while Maria and mama sat across from each other.
"Where’s my guitar?" Pidro called from the living room.
"It’s in my room. I was practicing chords," answered Gemma.
Pidro fetched the guitar and returned to the couch. He strummed the guitar while everyone listened and played cards. He sang several family favorites and traditional folk songs like ‘Kapiligiran.’
"Tong it! We win again," said Gemma as she placed her cards on the kitchen table."
"Well, that’s about enough Tongits for me. We’re no match for Gemma and Papa," said Maria.
Gemma hopped over to the couch and sat beside Josie. Gemma leaned her head against Josie’s soft shoulder and listened to Pidro play the guitar by lamp light. Gemma’s mother and father joined them, while Maria read a book at the kitchen table.
"Okay, quit hogging the guitar," said Josie. As she sat on the edge of the couch plucking the strings and tuning the guitar, Gemma leaned up against Josie.
"When I was a child, I used to play the guitar whenever it rained. I’d make up songs based on someone else’s idea.
"How about ‘Rain Song?’" suggested Gemma.
"That’s a good idea. Let’s call it ‘Song for the Rain."
As Josie began to sing, the sound reverberated through Gemma’s entire body.
"In the darkness, I see your bright and shining face
and you think I’m not listening when you share your pain
but I hear your heart drumming a beautiful beat
and it keeps time to the sound and song of the rain."
Gemma pressed her cheek into Josie’s shoulder. Josie’s muscles tensed and relaxed as her fingers plucked at the strings of the guitar. Whenever Gemma giggled, Josie smelled Gemma’s hot breath and felt her body twitching.
The guitar made its way from player to player, each adding a song of their own. Some were made up, but most were traditional Filipino folksongs they could sing – alone or together – as they listened to the song of the rain.
Josie pulled out a tiny necklace and braided the threads together. Gemma picked out each stone as Josie finished tying knots into the rope. She carefully threaded the beads onto the necklace and tied the ends.
"I think this necklace would go nicely with your bracelet. What do you think?"
"I think so, too."
Josie tied the necklace and everyone admired it while Pidro played the guitar. Gemma placed her head on Josie’s lap and closed her eyes. Josie’s legs were soft and warm. Pidro sang other rain songs as the light from the kerosene lamp flickered across the walls.
Finally, it was time for bed. Gemma’s mother set out a cot and blanket for Josie as everyone got ready for sleep by the sound and song of the rain.

An Aswang Tale

As thunderclouds rolled through the skies over Baybay, they cast gloomy shadows on the coast. Gemma’s mother worked in the kitchen, making crispy pork and prepared sinangag-style rice. Gemma sat cross-legged in the middle of the living room, juggling her takyan from one hand to the other.
Pidro stood in the doorway, with his arms crossed. He frowned as he looked up at the sky. Those clouds loomed overhead, waiting to let loose a downpour on the entire village of Baybay.
Unfortunately, it had been raining all week long and tonight, Pidro had planned to go to the dive shop to meet Marco and some friends for a feast to celebrate Halloween.
"Sometimes I think I am cursed," Pidro said, talking to anyone who would listen. Gemma and her mother continued with their separate activities, ignoring Pidro’s grumbling.
"Pidro! Come inside and set the dining table. Gemma, you can help too," said their mother.
"Mom, do you think it will rain tonight?"
"Pidro, it’s typhoon season here in the Philippines. You’re lucky it hasn’t rained any more than this."
"One night is all I ask."
"Maybe tonight you will be lucky," said mother.
Gemma’s mother carried serving platters, loaded with pork and rice, and set them in the middle of the kitchen table. As the sweet smell of crispy pork filled the house, almost everyone gathered around the table for dinner.
"Where’s Maria?" asked Gemma’s father.
"She’s at the library studying for her final exams and won’t be home until late," answered Mother. It was Friday evening, which was the night Mr. and Mrs. Cruz went bowling with friends.
"Then who’s going to watch Gemma tonight?" asked Pidro.
"You will, of course."
"Mom, I can’t watch Gemma tonight. I am going to meet Marco at the Dive Shop then we are going out with a couple of girls."
"You can still go wherever you want as long as you take Gemma with you."
Pidro groaned. What would a little girl do with a bunch of teenagers but get in their way? Pidro didn’t dare to argue with his mother or else she would ground him and he wouldn’t get to go on a date at all. Having Gemma tag along for a date would be better than no date at all.
There was little more conversation as everyone enjoyed their dinner and cleaned up afterwards. It wasn’t long until their parents left with Mr. and Mrs. Ramirez. Pidro took a quick shower and cleaned up while Gemma waited.
"Gemma, I hope you don’t ruin tonight," said Pidro.
"I won’t. I promise."
"You’d better not. Tonight’s very important to me."
By the time they were ready for their trip to the Dive Shop, the sky had cleared. They got on Pidro’s motorcycle and off they went, zipping along the wet pavement. The motorcycle bounced and swerved over bumps and bends in the road. Water sprayed up from the tires, licking at Gemma’s bare legs.
Gemma snuggled against Pidro’s body, trying to keep warm and dry. Rain and wind spat over her arms, covering her in a fine spray of road water.
As they turned off the National Road onto the dirt road leading to the Dive Shop, Gemma saw Marco on the beach, towing a kayak across the beach. Pidro drove the motorcycle up the hill, over the grassy dunes and stopped next to the Dive Shop. Gemma jumped off as Pidro leaned it against the building.
"Gemma, what are you doing here?" asked Marco.
"Maria’s at school, so Pidro is babysitting tonight."
"Well, we’ve got lots of fun and scary things planned, like Aswang Tales."
"Really?" said Gemma. Her eyes lit up. Marco had always told great stories by campfire light, but she had never heard his tales about the mysterious Aswang, a hideous night creature known for stealing children who wandered too far from home late at night.
Gemma hung out with Marco and helped him fold sails and store them in the boat house. After they finished, Marco locked up the Boat House. He walked with Gemma back to the beach, where Pidro was setting up for the Halloween party.
"Is there anything else we need to do before people get here?" Marco asked.
"Gemma, you need to get firewood while Marco and I move some logs around the fire pit."
Gemma walked over to the brush pile to get some kindling for the fire. She picked out a large tree branch, which had several smaller branches still attached. As she dragged the branch from the brush pile to the fire pit, it made long snake-trails.
Marco and Pidro built a teepee of wood for the fire. Marco broke twigs off the tree branch while Pidro assembled the kindling in the fire pit. After he finished constructing the teepee, he crouched beside his creation, attempting to light the fire. He struck a match and held it next to a piece of sandalwood bark. Flames spread from branch to branch and soon, a fire was burning.
"This won’t be enough. Gemma, go fetch another tree branch," ordered Pidro.
As she returned to the fire pit, everyone had disappeared. Gemma looked towards the Dive Shop, where she could hear several people talking.
Gemma approached the Dive Shop. Inside, Pidro and Marco counted pesos on the counter while Marcella stood next to them. Marcella also worked at the Dive Shop during busy weekends. There was also another girl, who Gemma did not recognize. Before Gemma could say anything, the other girl spoke up.
"Hi. You must be Pidro’s little sister, Gemma." she said.
Gemma didn’t answer her. Instead, she wondered why this strange person knew who she was.
"I’m Jocelyn, a friend of Pidro’s, but everyone calls me Josie."
As Gemma grabbed Josie’s hand to shake it, she noticed how smooth and delicate it was. Josie stood next to Gemma’s brother and smiled. It was a crooked little smile that filled the silence awkwardly.
"Yes, I’m Gemma," she finally answered.
"Your brother has told me all about you."
Now Gemma was really perplexed. Not only did this girl know who Gemma was, but this girl had heard stories about Gemma. Gemma looked over at Pidro, then back at Josie, then back at Pidro again.
"Have you ever kissed my brother?"
"Gemma!" scolded Pidro.
"I think he wants me to kiss him, but I’m too smart for that," said Josie.
"That’s good. He kisses like a fish," stated Gemma.
"Gemma, I like your style."
Everyone laughed but Pidro, who gave his "you’re ruining the party" glare, but Gemma ignored him. Soon, it didn’t matter, because others began arriving.
A delivery truck arrived with a small roast pig. People moved it from the truck and next to the fire. Everyone gathered around, helping themselves to the Halloween feast. Gemma watched her older brother, moving from conversation to conversation, talking to everyone at the party.
Gemma decided to fill a plate with food and enjoy the roast pig. She picked out her own campfire log and sat in front of the fire. She looked across the campfire towards Josie, who was also sitting alone. Josie looked up at Gemma, then walked around the fire to join her.
"Can I sit next to you?"
Gemma nodded.
"Are you having fun?" Josie asked.
"I guess."
"How old are you, Gemma?"
"Nine."
"You’re very mature for nine years old. What grade are you in?"
"Fourth."
"Fourth grade, huh? Do you like school?"
"It’s okay."
"What’s your favorite subject?"
Gemma sat silently beside Josie for a moment.
"Am I bothering you?"
"No. I am just thinking to myself. I don’t really like any of my classes."
"I didn’t like any of my classes either, except art class. I spent time after school in the art room. I’d help my teachers organize art supplies."
"Art is good, I guess."
"I use art everyday."
"You do?"
"Do you know what burloloy is?" asked Josie.
"Handmade jewelry?"
"That’s right. I collect seashells and gemstones and I polish them in a rock tumbler. Then, I drill tiny holes in them and string them on necklaces and bracelets to sell to tourists."
"Did you make that bracelet?"
"Do you like it?"
Gemma nodded.
"You can have it if you want. I make new ones all the time and give them to special people. I think you qualify."
"Pidro wears lots of necklaces. Did you make them?"
"All except the one you got him when you went to Cebu. He says that’s his favorite."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. He’s a sweet and gentle guy," said Josie.
"Who? Pidro?"
"He’s very sweet," answered Josie.
Josie continued talking about Pidro the Romantic and Pidro the Gentleman, but all Gemma could think about was Pidro the Prankster and Pidro the Gemma-beater-upper.
Pidro was the one who put a live frog into her bowl of soup when she wasn’t watching. Pidro was also the one who convinced her to climb up to the roof of the gazebo and then removed the ladder, stranding her there until their father came home.
"How long have you known him?"
"I met him several months ago. I’m a friend of Marcella. I’d come to visit her and the more I came here, the more time I spent with Pidro. Now, I seem to come to the Dive Shop to see Pidro instead of Marcella."
As they continued eating the roast pig, Pidro got up and stood beside the fire.
"Hey everyone, it’s time for Marco to tell one of his stories. Since it’s Halloween and my little sister Gemma is here, Marco has created a story especially for her."
Marco pulled up a small stool and planted it firmly in the sand beside the fire pit. Everyone gathered around, finding seats wherever they could. Marco sat down and began to tell his tale.
"Just up the coast from Baybay, there are several small fishing villages along the cost with no name. Inside the houses, strange men live. These men are skin and bones. Their spindly arms are ash gray and they reach out of their sackcloth clothes. Their eyes burn through the darkness as they walk along the shoreline looking for fish."
"Sometimes they leave the shore and walk into the cities. They walk alone. Their breath, a hot heavy breath. A child can barely hear their groan, but if they are close enough, a single word is uttered. The last word a child would hear is ‘hungry.’ The fisherman are hungry and it’s you they’re wanting to eat."
"These fishermen don’t smell like fish. They smell like the innards of little children, their favorite food of all. Crooked teeth, sit in rotten mouths, waiting to tear into their next meal. As children disappear, one by one, accusing fingers point to these fishermen, but unfortunately, the fisherman have eaten all the evidence."
Gemma’s eyes widened at the thought of it. She looked up to Josie for reassurance. Josie’s smile comforted her, but Marco continued on.
"One particular girl named Bella walked to the market alone. She was just ten years old, but her parents thought this independent adventure would do her some good. Bella took a shortcut through the woods to the market. Every child knows not to go too far from the safety of home, especially at night, for the Aswang love the taste of careless little children."
"He’s talking about you Gemma," said Pidro. Everyone laughed a little except Gemma. Now, the joke was on her.
"Inside, Mr. Silayan stood behind the counter, chopping meat and wrapping it in paper."
"Bella stepped up to the counter and smiled at Mr. Silayan. Bella had known Mr. Silayan her entire life. Bella visited the stores many times with her mother, but this was her first trip alone."
"Good evening Bella. What can I do for you?" greeted Mr. Silayan.
"Mom sent me down here to buy some pork loin," said Gemma.
"Let me see what I have," asked Mr. Silayan.
"Mr. Silayan went to the freezer, but came back empty handed. He approached the counter and looked at Bella.
"I’m sorry dear, we’re fresh out of pork loin. Can I interest you in something else?"
Bella stood tiptoed and looked across the counter. Mr. Silayan leaned towards her. He let out a small groan Bella couldn’t quite make out what he said, but it sounded like..."
"Hungry..."
"Bella darted out of the store, while Mr. Silayan shouted after her. Bella dared not look back. She cut back into the woods, ignoring the trails, which she could barely see in the moonless night. Voices emerged from the shadows. As Bella scurried through the woods, her left shoe stuck in the mud and stayed there. Bella continued running. The breathing grew louder behind her. Tree limbs poked out of the shadows and flicked in her face. Bella stuck out both arms, trying to get free..."
Before Marco could continue on with his story, he was interrupted by Gemma, who had become transfixed by scared little Bella, trying to escape the forest alive.
"Run, Bella, Run!" shouted Gemma.
Everyone laughed at Gemma as the story had come to a climax. They were probably relieved to have a break too. Marco always told campfire stories that took the listener wherever Marco led them. Gemma was embarrassed. She ran towards the Dive Shop and disappeared from everyone’s sight.
Marco, Pidro, and Josie found Gemma a few moments later, tears streaming down her face.
"I’m sorry, Gemma," said Marco,
"It’s not your fault. My emotions get carried away sometimes."
"The story’s over now, so come join us by the fire," said Pidro.
"I don’t want to."
"It’s not the same without you," said Josie.
Gemma took Josie’s hand and returned to the fire. Most of the kids went over to the volleyball court to play volleyball.
"The fire’s dying out. Can you get us some firewood?" asked Marco.
"Okay," said Gemma as she wiped the tears from her face.
Gemma walked toward the brush pile. Within a few steps, it went from warm and cheerful to cold and dark. The brush pile sat at the top of the dune. Tree limbs splayed this way and that. "A gnarled mess of dead tree arms," thought Gemma. Creatures slithered in the shadows beyond the brush pile.
Quickly, Gemma tugged several small logs from the pile. The pile shifted, then some of the logs crashed to the ground. A creature tittered in the darkness. Gemma took what she had and hurried back to the safety of the campfire.
"That’s all you brought back?" said Pidro.
"It’s your fault, filling her head with Aswang stories. Come on, Gemma. I’ll go with you." Josie took Gemma’s hand and walked with Josie across the sand. As they gathered wood, Gemma noticed it was quiet all around the brush pile. They each returned with an armload and fed the fire, piece by piece, until it was blazing again.
Everyone gathered around the campfire as people took turns playing guitar and singing songs. Glowing embers rose like angels, flying towards the black sky.
Gemma leaned against Josie’s shoulder, then fell asleep. Pidro woke her some time later. Only Marco and Josie remained.
"Time to go home," said Pidro.
"Already?"
Pidro picked up Gemma and carried her toward the bike. As he arrived next to the bike, everyone said their farewells and went their separate ways.
She clung onto Pidro as they rode home. She rested her head against his back and looked at the trees. They sped by in a blur. Gemma looked into the woods and thought of Bella. She also thought of Marco’s Aswang story. She thought it was fantastic.
Gemma smiled as she watched the shapes passing by. The moon threw silvery blue shadows across the road. The tiny headlight shot out a bright yellow beam, leading the way home.

Day Trip to Cebu

Just before sunrise, Gemma and her father first set foot on land after a long ride on the passenger boat. The morning sky was still gray. Few people were moving about, except those arriving on passenger boats.
"Are you ready?" Gemma’s father asked.
"I can’t wait."
Jeepneys, bright silver and painted in various bright colors were lined up at the pier. Every morning, they waited to take passengers to their separate destinations. Gemma’s father took her by the hand and led her to a Jeepney that said "Colon-Chariot" on the side.
"This is ours Jeepney. It goes to Colon."
The Jeepneys were old Army Jeeps that had been modified to hold many passengers. Many Jeepneys traveled through cities like Cebu. Gemma stepped into the open hatch in the back and found a place to sit.
The Jeepney sped along city streets, turning this way and that. Gemma was scrunched between her father and an old lady. Each time the Jeepney turned, their large bodies pinched against Gemma, squeezing her until it almost hurt.
There were frequent stops, to let people on and off. Gemma couldn’t wait to get wherever they were going. It was hot and crowded in the Jeepney.
"Where are we going?" asked Gemma.
"Luzon Lumber," Gemma father said.
As they approached Luzon Lumber, Gemma’s father tapped on the driver’s shoulder. The Jeepney stopped beside a large metal building. Painted on the side of the building in large black letters it said, "Luzon Lumber." Large piles of lumber sat outside and inside the warehouse. The lumber came in many shapes and sizes. As they walked around the warehouse, workers loaded forklifts, moving the lumber from place to place.
As Gemma and her father walked down the aisles, a young man in a uniform approached.
"Do you need any help?" he asked.
"We need four pieces of lumber cut about this long and four pieces twice that length." He stretched out his hands, holding them about two meters apart.
"I can do that for you," said the man. He pulled out some lumber and twisted each piece as he checked for warps in the wood. He picked out a few pieces and put them under his arm.
"Also, we need some chicken wire."
"Follow me," the man said.
"Will this work?" said the man as he pointed out some chicken wire.
"This will be just fine."
The man measured and cut a length of chicken wire, then bundled it with string. He gave the roll to Gemma to carry while they finished shopping.
"Are you building a chicken coop?" the man asked.
"A rooster room," said Gemma.
"Oh...a rooster room. Then I guess you’ll need some nails, too."
Gemma nodded. The man led them down another aisle and picked out a handful of nails from a bin and poured them into a small paper bag. He also handed that to Gemma.
"Anything else?" said the man.
"I think that will do it," answered Gemma’s father.
They walked over to a small wooden bench and the man placed the lumber across the tabletop. He grabbed a small hand saw and started cutting the lumber into two meter pieces, just as Gemma’s father had asked him. The saw bucked and jumped as it sawed through the wood. As he cut it, the lumber moved around on the table. Gemma’s father placed his hand on the free end and held it in place. Gemma put down her items and pressed down on the far end of the piece of wood.
As the man finished cutting, each piece fell and clanked on the ground. He moved the lumber as he cut each new piece. Gemma and her father also changed their positions, holding down the lumber as he made each cut.
Sawdust filled the air as they stood there, cutting pieces of wood. Gemma loved that fresh smell of wood being cut. She hardly noticed her hands becoming numb from the vibrations of the saw on the lumber..
"One more piece," said the man
After the last piece was cut, the man bundled the wood with string. They made a crude package that, luckily, would not have to go far. Mr. Cruz paid for the supplies and left. Gemma held out an arm and flagged down a bus.
"Good morning, sir," said a boy as he got off the bus and helped them load their supplies. Gemma picked out a seat and sat down next to the window. Her father sat beside her.
"Daddy, where are we going now?"
"Back to the pier," said her father.
"We’re going home already?" she asked.
"Not quite yet. There won’t be any passenger boats back to Baybay until this afternoon. We will have to find something to do until then," he answered.
The road back to the pier wound through back country roads, which jostled the tiny bus. The boy who had helped Gemma’s father load their supplies came up and held out his hand.
"Chariot Pier," said Gemma’s father.
"Twelve pesos," said the boy.
Gemma’s father dug into his pocket and pulled some change and counted it out into the boy’s hand. Before the boy walked away, he looked down at Gemma and smiled. She smiled back. The boy grabbed the metal rail running along the roof and carefully made his way to the front of the bus, where he stood beside the driver.
"Daddy can I have a peso?" asked Gemma.
"What for?"
"To stop the bus," she answered.
Gemma’s father dug into his pocket again and pulled out a 10 peso coin and placed it into Gemma’s hand. Gemma noticed that her hand was very different from the little boy’s hand. His was dry and cracked. Her hand was smooth and clean. She investigated her hand, wondering what it would look like when she was the boy’s age.
"Gemma, tap the coin," said her father.
Gemma looked up, only to notice that they had already arrived at Chariot Pier. She tapped the coin on the metal edges of the seat in front of them. It clanked loudly. The boy waved his hand and the bus quickly came to a stop.
As Gemma and her father got off the bus, the boy climbed up on the roof where many suitcases and packages were stowed. The boy handed the lumber down to Gemma’s father then climbed down a ladder at the back of the bus. Gemma’s father gave him a few pesos and thanked the boy.
"Miramang Salamat," he said.
"Salamat," answered the boy, thanking him in return.
As Gemma followed her father down the dirt road leading to the pier, she watched every passing vehicle. Jeepneys, busses, and taxis were speeding along the roads, taking people to and from the pier. Through the trees, boats were riding across the sea, taking people to and from Cebu.
"How many different places have you been?"
"I’ve been to many islands."
"I want to visit all of the islands with you," she said.
"All of them? That’s a lot."
"Have you been to all of them?"
"There are thousands of islands, Gemma."
"But have you been to all of them?"
"No. I have only been to a dozen islands or so."
"That’s not very many."
"Now that you mention it, I guess it isn’t," laughed Gemma’s father.
"Maybe we should go on more trips," said Gemma.
"I think that’s a splendid idea."
As Gemma and her father reached the pier, they found an empty table. As soon as she could, Gemma put the chicken wire on the ground beside the table and sat down to rest her feet. Her father set the bundle of lumber next to the chicken wire and looked at Gemma, who was exhausted from all the walking.
"What would you like to eat?" he asked.
"Can I have some Chicken Adobo?"
"Your wish is my command."
As Gemma’s father looked for a street vendor that sold Chicken Adobo, Gemma rested her head against her hands on the table. She watched the people wandering in and out of the boat house and she wondered where they were going. She wondered if they were shopping for their pet roosters, too.
Gemma’s father walked up and down the pier, searching for an Adobo vendor. One of the umbrellas over a street vendor cart said "Jose’s Adobo" Gemma father approached the man and ordered two skewers of chicken Adobo, one for him and one for his daughter. He also ordered a bowl of white rice and a large glass of ice water for them to share. He returned to the table where Gemma was resting. He placed the plate on the table and Gemma sat upright.
"It looks so yummy," said Gemma.
Gemma’s father handed one of the skewers to Gemma. She grabbed it by both ends and gnawed on the tender pieces of chicken on the skewer. Gemma loved the taste of chicken cooked in vinegar and soy, the way all Adobo-style dishes were cooked.
Gemma’s father quickly finished his skewer and his portion of the rice. He smiled at his daughter while she enjoyed her Chicken Adobo.
She also ate some of the rice and took sips of water to wash it all down. Between each bite, she would make happy sounds, like ‘mmmm’ and ‘yummy.’ Gemma’s father loved Gemma’s expressive nature. It reminded him of her mother, who also had very colorful emotions.
"You finished?" he asked. Gemma nodded.
Mr. Cruz. took the trash and threw it away. Now it was time to run one more errand before the next passenger boat left just before noon.
"I almost forgot," said Gemma’s father.
"Almost forgot what, daddy?"
"Pasalubong."
"What’s Pasalubong?"
"Gift-giving. Whenever Filipinos go on a trip, they aren’t supposed to return without bringing a part of the trip home to share with friends and family. It’s a way of sharing the joys of the trip with ones who did not get to go with you. Although they weren’t there physically, it tells them they were there in your thoughts."
"Who’s getting the gift?"
"Your mother, your sister and your brother. Do you want to help me pick something out?"
"I’d love to," said Gemma.
"What do you think your mother would like us to bring home?"
"Pistachios. She loves pistachios."
"Of course. How could I forget that? A long time ago, before you were born, your mother and I took a trip to Palawan. I rented a boat and we went fishing. She brought along a paper bag of pistachios to eat while I fished. She cracked the pistachios between her fingers and discarded the shells on the bottom of the boat. When we returned the boat, I had to clean all the pistachios out of the bottom before the old man at that Dive Shop would let me return it."
Gemma’s father grabbed a scoop and poured pistachios onto a scale. The vendor measured the pistachios and then poured them into a bag.
"What about Maria?" asked Mr. Cruz.
Gemma pointed to the tamarind, a soft sugar-coated prune. Often, Maria would buy tamarinds at the University and bring them home.
"We can’t forget Pidro."
"Does it have to be food?" asked Gemma.
"Of course not. It can be anything that symbolizes the trip or the person you’re getting it for."
"That’s good, because I think Pidro would like something other than food. He always wears necklaces."
Mr. Cruz paid for the food and followed Gemma to another booth, where a street vendor was selling jewelry.
Necklaces hung from a long wooden pole just above Gemma’s head. She reached up and sorted through them, looking for one that she liked. Finally, she picked a necklace made of tiny bamboo rods and metal beads strung on a piece of heavy black string.
"What do you think of this one?"
"I think Pidro will like that very much."
The vendor removed the necklace from the wooden pole and sold it to Mr. Cruz. Now, they had finished their last errand and it was just in time. It was time to get on the passenger boat back to Baybay.
They gathered their things and boarded the passenger boat, ready to return home with all their Pasalubong. They found their way to their cots and sat down. Gemma had a very long day shopping and traveling with her father. The Jeepney rides, the walking around the lumber yard, the yummy Chicken Adobo and the shopping for gifts had made Gemma tired. Before the boat had even left the dock, Gemma put her head on her pillow and fell asleep. She did not wake until they arrived safely at Mercado Pier.
They returned home just in time for dinner. What a coincidence! Gemma’s mother, Pidro, and Maria were enjoying Chicken Adobo for dinner. Gemma and her father enjoyed Chicken Adobo for dinner and shared their Pasalubong gifts and stories about their trip.
It had been some adventure for Gemma. She went to bed early that night, dreaming of her next adventure with her father.

Mercado Pier

As the sun poked over the edge of the horizon, everyone in Gemma’s family buzzed about the house, ready to greet the day. Today was about to be a busy day, with everyone going off in separate directions.
Maria had to go to the university to study for her final exam. She could take Gemma along, but there wouldn’t be anything for a little girl to do. The books were written for college students, not children. Pidro had to pick up Marco, because Marco’s bike was being tuned. A group of Australian tourists had reserved all the Jet Skis and boats from the Dive Shop. There was only room for two people on the bike, which meant there was no room for Gemma.
Every Saturday, businessmen gathered at the Farmer’s Market to buy and sell pigs, cows, and chickens. Gemma’s father was going to the Farmer’s Market, looking to sell some of his pigs. "Selling pigs was adult business," said Mr. Cruz.
Gemma’s mother was going down to the Pier to sell some of her handicrafts and buy groceries for the family.
All this activity left everyone taken care of except for Gemma. Gemma’s father and mother met under the gazebo to discuss what to do with Gemma. Meanwhile, Gemma sat between them, hoping for an opportunity to take care of herself all alone.
"Gemma is a big girl now. She can watch herself for one day," said her father.
"She’s only nine years old. That is much too young to be left at home alone. She could get hurt and what would we do?"
"What do you think Gemma?" asked her father.
Gemma relished this opportunity to speak up for herself. She had been taking care of her pet rooster Roberto for a whole year. Naturally, if she could take care of a rooster, she could surely take care of herself.
"When Maria takes care of me, I help cook lunch and sometimes I clean the dishes." Just then, Maria arrived under the gazebo to join in the conversation.
"Remember that one time you left a napkin near the fire pit and set it on fire?" Maria asked. "But that was a long time ago."
"Another time, you cut your finger open when you accidentally broke one of mom’s vases," Maria added.
"I’ll be careful,"
Just then, Pidro joined in the debate. "What if you leave Roberto’s cage unlatched and you lose Roberto again?"
"I won’t! I’ll be very careful, I promise," begged Gemma.
"We had to spend half the day looking for Roberto and I finally found him on the roof of the house," said Pidro.
Gemma shrunk in her seat. Suddenly, it was three versus two, and Gemma wasn’t so sure her vote even counted. She didn’t know why everyone had to gang up on her. Sure, she had made some mistakes, but she knew she was a big girl.
"I just don’t think you’re mature enough to watch over yourself, Gemma," said her mother. With that final judgement her fate had been decided. Gemma pouted as she sat there, eating her fish and rice. No matter what she said, it just didn’t matter.
"So, where is Gemma going to go today?" asked her father.
"She can come with me to the Pier. I’ll drop her off at the Nursery. They’ll watch her while I shop," answered her mother.
"But mom..." whined Gemma.
Gemma’s day was already drawn out. She would take the bus with her mother to the pier. While her mother traded with the vendors at Mercado Pier, Gemma would have to stay with the younger children in the Nursery. Also, she’d have to listen to the younger children, whining or fighting over toys.
Maria gathered everyone’s dishes and kissed her father on the cheek. "Wish me luck everyone," she said. Gemma folded her arms tightly across her chest while she pouted. Pidro rubbed Gemma on the head and took off towards Marco’s house on his motorcycle. Gemma’s father walked out toward the pig pens and rounded up his pigs. He tied leashes on the pigs and then strung them together in one long rope chain. He would have to walk the pigs down to the market and that would be some handful. Gemma didn’t understand why she couldn’t help him go to market.
"Alright Gemma, you clean yourself up. We’re catching a bus to the Pier."
Gemma marched into her room and grabbed her daypack, a hairbrush, and some rubber bands for her hair.
As Gemma emerged from her bedroom, her mother was all business this morning, making peanut butter sandwiches for lunch. She ordered Gemma to go outside and pick a handful of Santol off the Santol tree. Gemma went outside and investigated the tree. Several of the greenish-yellow fruit hung within reach. She plucked them from the tree and returned to her mom, who quickly used her knife to peel the tough outer skin off the fruit.
"That should do," said her mother.
Gemma’s mother grabbed the hairbrush off the counter and began combing it through Gemma’s hair.
"Ouch!" cried Gemma.
"Stay still," ordered Mrs. Cruz.
"But it hurts."
"Gemma, you’re being awfully difficult today."
Gemma stood silently as her mother yanked the brush through her tangled hair. As the brush caught a nest of hair, Gemma’s face scrunched up in pain, but she wasn’t going to complain. Gemma’s mother wrapped several colored rubber bands around the pony tail and looked at her daughter. She straightened the hem of Gemma’s dress and kissed her on the cheek. "We’ve gotten off on the wrong foot today. I’m sorry for not letting you stay home, but I just think it’s better, okay?"
Gemma nodded obediently, then gathered up the food and put it into her pack before putting it on her back. She followed her mother to the road where they waited for the bus. When a bus was in sight, Gemma’s mother stuck out her hand and flagged it down. It was a very short bus ride to the pier. Outside, there were lines of street vendors. They formed two lines along between two of the buildings at the pier. Some huts sold handicrafts like the ones Gemma made in her free time, while others were stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables. Gemma’s mother walked by most of the street vendors, stopping at a little shop filled with colorful shirts. To Gemma, it looked like her sister’s closet, full of hanging clothes. An elderly woman emerged from the clothes to greet Gemma and her mother.
"Hi, Eiselle," said Gemma’s mother.
"Good morning, Mary Magdelena," said the woman. It was a rare occurrence whenever someone called Gemma’s mother by her full name. Usually, her friends just called her Mary or Elena. The two women continued talking business, as Gemma’s mother showed the old lady her hand-made plant hangers and beaded jewelry. They discussed a price for awhile, then finally, the old lady purchased all of the crafts Gemma’s mother had to sell. Gemma’s mother took the handful of pesos that the lady gave her and tucked them into her purse, then grabbed Gemma by the hand and led her toward the nursery room at the pier.
"Stay here while I run some more errands."
"Why can’t I go with you?"
"Because I said so," answered her mother. Gemma’s mother had been making the decisions all day, and all the decisions involved Gemma.
Gemma walked onto the patio where groups of kids were playing. Some were knocking each other with small wooden mallets. Some were chasing others and some were sitting all by themselves, crying for their mothers.
"What would you like to do today, Gemma?"
"Work at a street vendor shop, selling sweet fruits, like star apples or tamarind."
"We can’t do that. What would you like to do here?"
Gemma looked around at all the children. One table was filled with kids playing with building blocks. Gemma joined them.
"My name is Gabriel. What’s yours?" said one boy.
"I’m Gemma."
"We’re making towers from wooden blocks. Want to try?"
"Sure," said Gemma.
Gemma stacked blocks until she had a tower taller than anyone else’s. As Gemma continued placing blocks, a girl came by and knocked it over. Gemma built another tower, only to have that same girl knock it over again. Gemma got up and walked away from the table and sat down at the edge of the patio. Gabriel joined her.
"Why don’t you tell on her?" asked Gabriel.
Gemma shrugged her shoulders. "It doesn’t matter anyway. I’d rather not play with her."
"But now she has all the building blocks," said Gabriel.
"We don’t need building blocks to play."
Gemma stretched her hands around to the back of her head and unfastened her ponytail. Her mother had used five rubber bands, which was always enough for rubber band games. She tossed them in a pile between her and Gabriel.
"Which one do you want?"
"I like the red one."
"Then I’ll take the light brown one," said Gemma.
"Have you ever played gagamba?"
"The spider fighting game?"
"Yes. I call this game ‘Rubber Band Gagamba’. This is like that, only you flick your rubber band, trying to push the other person’s rubber band off the stick. "There’s no stick."
"I’ll draw a chalk line. It will count as the stick. First one off the chalk line loses." She flicked her tiny finger at the brown rubber band. It flipped over once, then landed on top of the blue rubber band. Gabriel placed his finger next to his rubber band.
"But you can’t touch my rubber band with your fingers."
"I won’t," said Gabriel.
They took turns flicking their rubber bands until the blue rubber band pushed the brown rubber band off the line. Children began to gather around Gemma and Gabriel as they played with the rubber bands. Gemma and Gabriel were having so much fun that everyone else wanted to join them, too.
She handed out her three remaining rubber bands to three of the children and they played 5-way Rubber Band Gagamba, flicking each other’s rubber bands back and forth over the line, until only the blue rubber band remained on the line.
"You’re undefeated. King of the Gagamba," said Gemma.
When it was time for lunch, they stopped playing Gagamba and ate their meals. Gemma sat with Gabriel and his friends. After they ate their lunches, they returned to their rubber band games.
"Do you know how to play ‘magingisda’?" asked Gabriel.
"The fisherman game? Is that where you fish rubber bands out of a pile with a straw?" "Yes. We can use the drinking straw from my juice box as the fishing pole." Gabriel pulled the straw off his juice box and they were set. The five children sat in a circle and took turns fishing for rubber bands. A large of group stood behind them.
"Gemma, could you let other children play magingisda?" said the teacher.
"We don’t have enough rubber bands," said Gemma.
"I know where some are," said one girl. It was the girl who toppled Gemma’s building block towers. She returned with a handful of rubber bands. They were all sizes and colors.
"Now everyone can play," said Gabriel.
"Not her," said Gemma.
"Why not, Gemma?" asked the teacher.
"She knocked over my building block tower earlier."
"Is this true, Mary? Did you knock over Gemma’s tower?"
Mary nodded.
"You owe her an apology."
"I’m sorry," said Mary.
"Gemma, please accept her apology."
Gemma held out a hand and the girl took it and gave it a hand shake.
"You can play magingisda, but only if you follow the rules," said Gemma. The girl agreed and the children huddled around the fishing hole, fishing rubber bands out of the pile.
They played other rubber band games too, like ihip and pitik. After they knotted the rubber bands for pitik, Gemma led everyone in playing Takyan, juggling the ball in the air with their feet. Finally, several of the parents returned from work or their assorted errands and picked up their children. "Maria Magdelena!" one lady called out. Mary got up from her place in the circle and ran over to her mother.
Gemma continued playing rubber band games with Gabriel and the other children until her mother picked her up. Gemma gathered up her rubber bands, tying them into her ponytail. As they left, Gemma introduced her newfound friend Gabriel to her mother.
"Gabriel, I think I know your mother. Do you go to the Santo Domingo Church?" Gabriel nodded.
"I thought so. I guess you and Gemma can hang out together in the nursery at church, too.
Would you like that, Gemma?"
"Yes, I would," she answered.
Gemma helped her mother by carrying a bag of rice to the bus stop, then loading it onto the bus. The trip back home was just as the trip to the pier. Gemma told her about Maria Magdelena and all the rubber band games she played with the other children. All in all, Gemma was glad she got to go to the pier, but she was glad to be back home, too.

Roberto the Rooster

The full moon hung low over the Philippine Sea, lighting everything in a pale blue glow. In the earliest hours of morning, few things stirred about in the tiny port city of Baybay. Almost everyone and everything was still asleep, except Gemma’s pet rooster, Roberto and intruder in the night.
"Ruck-a-ruck-a-roo!"
With every jump this way and that, Roberto hit the inside of his cage. Roberto flapped and whirled about, banging on the inside of his cage.
"Ruck-a-ruck"
"Errrk! Ruck-a-ruck-errk!"
Gemma was stirred from her sleep by that horrible sound. Roberto cried out for her help, trying to escape something attacking him. Gemma shot straight up in her bed and opened the curtain of her bedroom window. As she looked over at his cage, she could only see shapes and shadows in the darkness. Even Roberto’s white feathers were gray and dull in the moonlight.
"Ruck-eerk! Errr-ruck-ruck-ruck!"
"Hold on Roberto! I’m coming!" she cried out.
Gemma quickly rose from her bed and woke her brother, Pidro. "Hurry quick! Wild dogs are attacking Roberto!"
Pidro jumped up from his bed and ran outside. A broom sat against the side of the house, which Pidro decided would make a good weapon, just in case these intruders were truly wild and not ready to give up their dinner.
Pidro rose the broom above his head, ready to save Roberto. The cage shook and rattled as Roberto hopped and jumped about in his cage. Pidro dropped the broom to his side as he approached the cage.
A mouse had found its way into the cage to steal Roberto's food. As it tipped Roberto's water bowl, the sound woke Roberto. Immediately, Roberto defended his cage from the intruder mouse. The mouse tried to escape as Roberto pecked and clawed at him, but got caught up in some of the chicken wire.
Pidro opened the cage and Gemma reached in for Roberto. He quickly jumped out of the cage, escaping the mouse. Pidro plucked the mouse from the wires and held it out towards Roberto. Roberto clucked and cawed again, flapping his wings wildly. Gemma could barely keep him still.
"Pidro!" screeched Gemma.
"Roberto, I can't believe you're scared of a tiny mouse."
Pidro dropped the mouse onto the ground and it quickly scurried into some tall weeds. With the intruder promptly sent away, Pidro and Gemma went back into the house. Gemma hugged Roberto against her chest.
"It's okay Roberto," she whispered as she petted the back of his neck. He clucked gently as he began to calm down. Gemma carried him inside and set him on the dining room table. He walked from edge to edge of the table, checking for the mouse. Gemma watched over Roberto as Pidro returned to bed to finish his sleep.
She hadn't seen Roberto that flustered since the day she first brought him home. Gemma’s parents had sent Pidro and Gemma to market to get rice and fresh fish for dinner. Near the pier, some boys were huddled in a circle.
As Gemma approached the crowd, some boys were fighting Roberto against other roosters. Gemma did not like what she saw. She begged her brother Pidro to save the roosters. He only had enough Pesos to save one.
Gemma looked at the roosters carefully before picking the one to save. There were black ones and brown ones and white ones. Then there was Roberto, who was a many-colored rooster. His wings and his head were brown and his tail was reddish-black. The rest of his body, though, was white.
Roberto was also her favorite because he was also much smaller than the rest of the roosters. This also made him too small to fight the other roosters. Pidro didn't even have enough to buy a cage for Roberto, so Gemma got to hold him while they rode home in the Jeep. He sat silently on her lap for the journey home.
"Croo, croo, croo," he purred to her. She rubbed her tiny fingers through his comb and his wattle on the whole trip home. When they got home, Gemma had to fight her father, too. Although he was obviously too small to be a fighting rooster, her father reasoned that he wasn't too small for dinner. "But daddy," she pleaded.
"Gemma. We can’t afford to keep a rooster."
"But he’s a special rooster. He can guard us and he’d make a great pet."
Gemma’s father looked at Gemma as she held her pet rooster close to her chest. Gemma’s father couldn’t resist her. Whatever his baby girl wanted, his baby girl got, he figured.
"Okay, but you have to take care of him."
So Gemma kept her promise. Whenever Roberto was sick, Gemma would watch for him, before and after school. If Roberto got corn cobs or fresh grain, Gemma had to pay for it out of her own allowance, which she did whenever she could. She also cleaned the dishes after meals, gathering the leftovers in a plastic green bucket that she kept under the kitchen sink. Some days, Roberto got to take walks with Gemma. She fixed a small leash around one of his feet and tied the other end around her wrist. At first, Roberto fluttered and tried to fly away from Gemma. Roberto learned how far he was allowed to stray, and always stayed near Gemma when they walked along the road.
When Roberto was sick or scared, Gemma would hold Roberto close to her chest. She pet the soft red comb that rested on his head like a crown. She also rubbed the wattle under his chin as he purred.
As she sat in the darkness of the kitchen, Roberto made hardly a sound. It wasn’t until Gemma’s father got up and came into the kitchen that Roberto called out.
"Rucka-ruckaroo!" Roberto’s voice echoed through the tiny house.
"What is he doing inside?" asked her father.
"A mouse got into his cage and startled him."
"There has been lots of activity around his cage lately. I caught something else near his cage a few days ago."
"I’d just die if anything happened to Roberto," said Gemma.
Mr. Cruz looked into his daughter's eyes as she propped her forehead against her hand. A sadness came over her face.
"Don’t worry, Gemma. We’ll come up with something. Until then, we’ll keep him inside."
"Yippee!"
Gemma took Roberto into the shower. He stood between a pail of water and the drain. Gemma grabbed the dipper and ladled out a spoonful of water. Her other hand steadied the bird as she slowly poured water over his body. He stood motionless until she finished washing him. Then, Roberto shook the water off his body, stirring loose feathers into the air.
When she finished with Roberto, she showered and changed into her school clothes. Afterwards, Gemma and Roberto returned to the house. Mr. Cruz had built a temporary cage in the girl’s room from an old cardboard box. Gemma’s father had also placed some newspaper in the bottom of the box, along with Roberto’s food and water bowls. Gemma sat Roberto in his new home and stood there with her father, inspecting things.
"There you go, Roberto. It’s your own apartment," said Gemma’s father.
Roberto stood there in the middle of the box, barely able to turn around. He looked around for a few seconds, then stared at the wall standing in front of him.
"Well...it’ll have to work for now," said her father.
Gemma returned to the shower and cleaned up before getting ready for school. Meanwhile, Maria had gotten out of bed and was feeding Roberto directly from her had. He picked at the dried meat and broken rice hulls cupped in her hand.
"There you go boy," said Maria.
"We’ve got a new roommate for awhile," said Gemma.
"Dad told me all about your adventures this morning."
"There was lots of excitement, that’s for sure."
After breakfast, Gemma walked to school alone. ((( grade school info needed ))). She studied about other worlds at school, but all she could think about was Roberto. She imagined he was a prisoner in a tiny cardboard box, while the mouse was out, roaming free. Maybe the mouse had found its way back to Roberto’s cage and it was treating it as home sweet home.
In the afternoon, Gemma ran back home, throwing her book bag on her bed as she changed out of her school clothes. "Roberto, I’m home!" she called out.
Roberto was still in his apartment, waiting for someone to let him out.
Gemma took out her walking leash and tied it around his foot. She made a tiny slip knot and looped it around her wrist. She placed Roberto on the floor outside his box and they walked out to the road near her house.
Roberto and Gemma walked in the gravel strip between the tall weeds and the road. Occasionally, busses and motorcycles would pass by. Sometimes, the passengers would wave at Gemma and Gemma would always wave back at them.
Gemma walked with Roberto all the way to the Grocery Store. As she stepped onto the concrete pad in front of the store, Roberto hopped up behind her. They had made this journey several times before and Roberto had learned to jump the step a long time ago.
"Hello, Gemma."
"Hello, Mr. Fuentes."
Mr. Fuentes pointed to a small glass bowl filled with lollipops. Gemma sorted through them and picked out one of the lime-flavored ones, pulled off the wrapper and put it in her mouth.
"What do you need today?" asked Mr. Fuentes.
"I need a treat for Roberto."
"Oh. How about a potato?"
"Do roosters like potatoes?" asked Gemma.
"Let's find out." Mr. Fuentes used his pocket knife to cut off a piece of potato, then dropped it on the floor. Roberto strutted across the floor to investigate the potato scrap. He pecked at it a few times, then grabbed it in his beak. He quickly gobbled it down and looked up to Mr. Fuentes for more.
"I would say yes," answered Mr. Fuentes.
"I'll take two potatoes," said Gemma.
"Will there be anything else?"
"No. I think that's enough for now."
Gemma paid for the potatoes and thanked Mr. Fuentes. He placed the potatoes into a small bag along with a second lime lollipop. Gemma returned home as Roberto tagged along. The trip home took twice as long as the trip to the market, while Roberto investigated everything. Gemma thought maybe Roberto just didn't want to return to the cardboard box. After a while, Gemma grew tired of waiting for Roberto, so she carried him the rest of the way home. When they arrived home, Gemma untied Roberto from his leash and went into the kitchen. Roberto walked along, right behind her.
"I knew you weren't tired!"
Gemma cut the potato into tiny pieces and scattered it across the floor. Roberto quickly ate everything on the floor and waited for more.
"That's all you get for now."
Gemma went outside and Roberto followed closely behind, stopping at the edge of the porch.
As she laid there, Roberto watched from the front porch.
An hour later, Mr. Cruz arrived home from work with a large bag under his arm. He walked up to the gazebo and placed the bag on the table.
"Daddy, what do you have in the bag?"
"I brought us some dinner."
"Dinner?"
"You and I are going on a trip and I thought we'd eat dinner before we went."
"Where are we going?"
"We're taking a passenger boat to Cebu. We won't be coming back until tomorrow night." Why are we going on such a long trip?"
"We can't keep Roberto outside. Today, it was a mouse. Tomorrow, it could be wild dogs. We'll build him a chicken coop inside the storage room."
"Did you hear that, Roberto? You're moving."
"Gemma, put him away, we don't have much time."
Gemma grabbed Roberto and hurried to her room.
"Don't worry, Roberto. I'll be back soon. We're going to build you a new apartment."
Gemma finished eating dinner with her father. Then, they finished packing and rode a bus to Mercado Pier. Gemma had never been on a passenger boat before. She could hardly wait to go on an adventure with her father.

The Passenger Boat

Mercado Pier buzzed with activity. Street vendors sold chicken skewers. Children climbed on the jungle gym in Market Park. People unloaded from busses. Inside the terminal, people arrived and departed from the passenger boats. Porters cleaned the decks and secured boarding ramps for passengers. Gemma’s father went to the cashier and purchased two tickets. He gave one to Gemma and held the other one in his hand.
Gemma followed her father outside, where a long line formed on the dock. They waited with other families going to Cebu City. A bus drove up and stopped at the front of the line and people got onto the bus.
The bus went around to the other side of the dock. Gemma and her father waited for the next bus and got inside. They rode around the end of the pier and the bus stopped in front of their boat.
"Daddy, why can’t we just get on the boat instead of getting on a bus?"
"It’s to keep people from getting hurt when loading the passenger boats."
"Oh, I see."
Gemma carried her bags up the wooden ramp. As they climbed onboard, they walked between rows of small metal cots. Other families had already found their places for the long trip to Cebu.
"Which cots are ours?" asked Gemma.
Gemma’s father pointed out two cots, sitting side-by-side, near the middle of the boat. They walked down the aisle and sat on their cots, which were side-by-side.
"I’ve never been to Cebu. Is it pretty?"
"It’s not as pretty as Baybay, but I’m sure you will like it. Are you excited?"
"A little," answered Gemma.
She placed her backpack on her cot and sat next to it, watching the people waiting on the pier. The boat’s motors began to rumble and the boat pulled away from the dock. It slowly turned about and left Mercado Pier behind. As she watched Baybay fade away, a girl in nearby cot sat next to her, leaning her arms over the railing.
"My name is Flora. What’s yours?"
"I’m Gemma."
"Hi Gemma. I’m six years old. How old are you?"
"I’m nine," she answered.
"I love riding on boats, don’t you? I’m going with my mother and my younger sister to Cebu." said Flora.
"This is my first trip," answered Gemma.
"It’s fun, but it takes a long time."
"How long?" asked Gemma.
"All night long. Sometimes I wish I could snap my fingers and ‘zoom!’ we’d be there."
"We could play games for awhile. Do you like games?" asked Gemma.
Flora nodded.
"There’s an open space near the front of the boat where we could play."
"Let me get my sister. I think she’d like to play, too."
Flora fetched her sister and returned to Gemma.
"My name is Jasmine, but my friends call me Jazz."
"Hi Jazz, I’m Gemma. We’re gonna play Agawang Sulok."
"We’ve never played Agawang Sulok," said Flora.
"It’s easy, I’ll show you how to play."
Flora and Jazz followed Gemma to the open space at the front of the boat, where Gemma picked up a small rock and etched a square, approximately 5 meters long on each side. As she began drawing the square, another boy named Jonny introduced himself and asked if he could play, too. The girls said yes and now they had a group of four, which was a perfect number for Agawang Sulok. At each corner, she drew a smaller square, which would be bases.
"Agawang Sulok means ‘grab a corner.’ One person is it, who tries to tag anyone not standing on a base. Everyone else picks a corner and then people try to go from corner to corner. You get a point for each base you steal."
"That sounds easy. Can I be it, first?" asked Jazz.
"Sure."
The children picked bases at the four corners and Jazz stood in the middle of the square. "Ready, set, go."
Gemma took a lead off her base and Flora took a lead in the opposite direction. As Jazz ran towards them, Jonny stole a base behind her. Jazz reached out to tag Flora, but Flora swerved, avoiding her sister’s outstretched hands. She was safe at her base, too.
The children ran back and forth playing Agawang Sulok, taking turns being 'it.' When it was Gemma's turn, she quickly tagged everyone but Jazz.
"Who wants to play again?" she asked. Jazz was the only one to raise her hand. Everyone tallied their scores. Gemma and Flora had stolen six bases each, while Jonny had thirteen and Jazz had 37. Jazz was declared the winner.
"What else can we play?" asked Jazz.
"Something that doesn’t involve running," gasped Flora.
They returned to Gemma’s cot and sat down. Gemma opened her pack and poured its contents on her bed: a lunch pail, a hair brush and her penguin, Pengoy.
"I have a stuffed animal, too. He’s a monkey," said Jonny.
"We brought stuffed animals too. We could pretend we were at the zoo," said Jazz.
The children retrieved their stuffed animals from their cots. Flora had a Lion named Leo and Jazz had Za-za the purple Zebra. They made up stories about the zoo. In one story, Jonny’s monkey (who was named Jonny, too) had climbed up the tree inside his cage and escaped. Then, he unlocked all the other cages and the zookeeper would have to find all of them.
Gemma’s father played the zookeeper. He covered his eyes while the children hid their stuffed animals. Gemma’s father asked questions and the children would have to answer them ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ until he found every escaped animal, except Pengoy the Penguin. Finally, Gemma’s father got up and began to look for Pengoy.
"You really did a great job of hiding Pengoy."
"I don’t think you’ll ever find him," said Gemma.
"Is he in the trash?" asked her father.
"I would never put Pengoy in the trash, Daddy!"
"Is he downstairs?" asked her father.
"You’re very close," said Gemma
Gemma’s father went down the stairs, searching the passenger deck below them. As he continued down the steps, Gemma ran over to her backpack and grabbed Pengoy. She returned to the trash can and tucked Pengoy beneath the plastic liner. As she finished, her father returned up the steps.
"I thought you said he wasn’t in the trash."
"He’s not," said Gemma.
"Then what are you doing over there?" he asked.
Gemma’s father approached the waste basket again. Quickly, Gemma snatched Pengoy from under the bag and threw him towards Jazz.
"You asked if he was in the trash and I said he wasn’t. So I put him under the trash."
"That’s being picky."
As Gemma’s father approached Jazz, trying to round up the last of his escaped animals, Jazz tossed the stuffed penguin in the air to Jonny. Jonny threw it to Flora and Flora threw it back to Gemma.
"Dakup Pengoy!" shouted Gemma, which means ‘catch Pengoy’ in Filipino.
Gemma’s father stretched out his arms, blocking Gemma. She flung Pengoy in the air towards Jazz. Pengoy flew, head-over-heels, and bounced off the guardrail. Pengoy did a back flip and disappeared over the edge. Gemma’s father quickly reacted, catching Pengoy between his hand and the outside of the guardrail.
"No!" shouted Gemma. She ran towards Pengoy and reached through the guardrail. Her tiny hands clamped over his head.
"Let loose Gemma," said her father.
"No! I can’t lose Pengoy!"
"I’ve got him, Gemma. Let loose."
"No, no, no!" she screamed. Her fingers clung onto the tiny penguin’s beak and one of his feet. "You’ll have to trust me Gemma. If you don’t let go, he might fall into the water and we will never get him back."
Slowly, Gemma let loose of the death grip she had on Pengoy, trusting her father. Her father reached his other hand over the guardrail, grasping the stuffed penguin in both hands. He pulled Pengoy back over the railing and gave him to Gemma.
Gemma hugged and kissed Pengoy all over. She was very glad he didn’t go for a late night swim in the Philippine Sea.
Gemma held Pengoy’s beak to her ear and listened.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, Gemma?"
"Pengoy wanted me to thank you for saving him."
"Tell him I would do it again."
Gemma whispered into Pengoy’s ear, then moved his beak up to her ear and listened again. "Pengoy says he would do it for you, too. He also said he’s no longer in a flying mood." "I think that’s a good idea."
Gemma tucked Pengoy away, leaving his head sticking out so he could watch the children.
"We could play The Laughing Game, Tawanan, if we had a coin," said Flora.
Gemma borrowed a peso from her father one of the pesos her father had given her to buy something during the trip.
"Heads for be laughter and tails for silence."
Gemma perched the coin on her thumb and flicked it.
"Heads!" said Gemma.
As everyone laughed, Gemma let out a tiny giggle-snort.
Jazz picked up the coin and flipped it. It landed on the ground and came up tails. Everyone stopped immediately except Gemma, who let out another giggle-snort. Then, Jonny giggled, too. Gemma clamped her hands tightly over her mouth. As she giggled, a squeak erupted through her fingers.
"Gemma’s out!" said Jazz.
Jonny picked up the coin and flipped it. It landed on tails again, which meant silence. Everyone looked at each other, trying to make the others laugh.
Flora flipped the coin and it landed on heads. Everyone began laughing. Jazz flipped the coin and it landed on heads again, everyone continued laughing. Jonny flipped the coin. Tails again, so everyone had to keep laughing.
On and off their laughter went. Adults watched and laughed as the children tried to keep straight faces. All the while, Gemma giggle-snorted, which made things even harder for those still in the game.
"Gemma, quit it! You’re going to make me burst out in laughter."
"Noink!" snorted Gemma as she giggled at Jazz. Flora snickered, then Jonny joined in the laughter. Soon, everyone but Jazz was laughing uncontrollably.
"You’re not even playing anymore. I guess I win," said Jazz.
Gemma kept snorting and laughing so much that a tiny bubble came out her nose.
"Ewww!" said Flora as she pointed at Gemma’s bubble.
Then the laughter spread to Jazz, too. All four children were laughing and some of the adults who were watching were laughing, too. Gemma pinched her side, trying to stop, but the harder she tried, the more she giggled and snorted. Soon, she was lying on the ground, breathless from all the laughter.
It had gotten quite late as a cold breezes blew over the sea. The children returned to their cots and prepared for sleep. In the darkness, there would be an occasional snort from Jonny or Flora, which made Gemma giggle-snort again.
Night time brought a calm to her tired little body. As silence came over the boat, each child fell into a deep sleep, only to wake as the boat pulled up to Chariot Pier at Cebu. Passengers unloaded as Gemma continued sleeping. Finally, her father put a hand on her shoulder and woke her. Jonny stood beside her cot.
"I just wanted to say goodbye before I left."
"Where are Flora and Jazz?" asked Gemma.
"They left a little while ago."
"Are you leaving now, too?" asked Gemma.
"We’re taking a bus ride to my Aunt Josie’s house, who lives far away."
"Have a good trip," said Gemma.
"You too," said Jonny. He stuck out a hand and she shook it before they parted ways.
Gemma and her father put away their blankets and prepared for the day ahead. Faint yellow lights dotted the shoreline. Waves gently knocked at the boat while porters walked along the pier, checking towropes and making sure the boat was securely fastened to the dock.
"You ready?" asked Gemma’s father.
Gemma picked up her pack and followed him towards the Jeepneys and busses waiting for them. Gemma looked back at the passenger boat and smiled. She’d already had a great adventure and she hadn’t even been to the big city yet. She could hardly wait to see what surprises were next.

The Pintados Festival

"Rucka-ruckaroo! Ruckaroo! Ruckaroo!"
In the earliest hours, before even the sun rose to meet the day, Roberto the Rooster crowed in the darkness.
"Rucka-ruckaroo!"
Roberto sat in a tiny wood and wire cage between Gemma's bedroom and the pig pens. Although he was just outside of Gemma's window, she never slept without the sound of Roberto cawing in the night. Sometimes Roberto would be the first one awake and sometimes it was Gemma's father. This morning it was Roberto, who cawed out in the darkness, which stirred Gemma's father from his sleep.
Gemma's father got up from bed and slipped into his sandals and robe, then shuffled through the house for his morning shower. He washed and rinsed his body and returned to his bedroom in the darkness. He changed into his clothes, then started a kettle of water for his morning tea. Roberto crowed in early morning light.
"Rucka-rucka-roo!"
Gemma's father poked his head through the curtains to see Roberto standing in the middle of his cage.
"Alright old boy, I'll be right out."
"Rucka-ruckaroo!" Gemma's father reached under the sink and pulled out a green plastic bucket and went out to the pig pens. The bucket was filled with leftovers and food scraps. He took a broom and swept the pig pens. Then, he poured some of the bucket's contents into the pig's trough as the pigs slept.Roberto crowed until Gemma’s father made his way back to Roberto's cage. Gemma's father opened the cage and put a hand inside. Roberto stepped onto his hand and Gemma's father guided him safely to the ground. As Gemma's father went about the house, getting ready for the Pintados Festival, Roberto followed closely behind.
Gemma's father went into the girl's room, where Roberto let out a loud caw. It startled Gemma from her sleep.
"Come here, Roberto," she said as she held out her hand. The rooster approached her and she combed her fingers through his comb and wattle. As she petted Roberto, Maria got up and made her way to the shower.
"Get up, Gemma, today is Pintados!" Her mother called from the kitchen.
Gemma had never been to the Pintados Festival, but she had been waiting since last year, when she could not go because of a cold. This year would be different. She ran right by her sister and into the shower.
Gemma stood in middle of the shower stall, while Maria grabbed a dipping spoon and dipped water from a bucket, pouring it over Gemma's head. Then Gemma quickly lathered her body in soap and Maria poured spoonfuls of water over Gemma, washing the soap suds off her body.
"Okay, that's it. I'm finished," said Gemma.
"That was quick," said Maria.
"Today is Pintados!"
Maria pressed her hands into Gemma's hair and checked for soap suds. Then she took a hair brush and combed out Gemma’s long black hair. Afterwards, Maria helped Gemma pick out clothes and get dressed.
The rest of the family was outside enjoying breakfast. Maria and Gemma finished getting ready, then joined them under the gazebo.
"What is everyone sitting around for?" Gemma asked.
"Gemma, we're having breakfast," said her mother.
"But we're missing Pintados!" pleaded Gemma.
"Gemma! Be patient. We still have to eat our breakfast and catch a Jeepney to the Festival."
"But mom," said Gemma.
"Gemma, we've got a long day ahead of us. Let's start it off right with a good breakfast." Gemma sat down as her mother served her a plate of eggs and rice. Gemma hurriedly ate her breakfast and took her cup and plate into the house. She cleaned her dishes and waited for everyone else as they finished breakfast and came inside, cleaning dishes and putting them away. The family walked out to the road and stood there, waiting for a bus or Jeepney to come by and pick them up. A bus came along and Pidro put out his hand to flag the bus down as it approached.
As they climbed onto the bus, people’s faces were painted in yellow, blue and green. Two sisters were even painted like a leopard and panther.
Gemma found a seat near the two girls and sat down.
"Magandang Umaga," one of the girl's said – Filipino for ‘good morning’.
"Did you do this yourself?" Gemma asked the girl in the leopard paint. She smiled, her mouth and nose painted like a leopard, too.
"I used this," she said, holding out small pieces of brown and black charcoal.
"It's pretty," said Gemma.
"My sister and I drew pictures on each other's faces. She drew my leopard and I drew the panther on her face."
"Would you like me to paint your face?" she asked. Gemma nodded.
"Close your eyes," she said.
The charcoal traced over Gemma's face, sketching eyes and a nose and whiskers. The hot air from inside the bus mingled with the smell of charcoal and the girl's perfume. Gemma twitched her nose, attempting to scratch an itch. The girl took her charcoal and rubbed it against the outside of Gemma’s nose, just where it itched.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"You're welcome. Do you want to see what you look like?" she asked.
The girl held up a small mirror and Gemma looked at her reflection. The girl had painted Gemma's face to look like a lion, with a bright yellow face and brown whiskers, which stretched across her tiny face. Gemma growled, then giggled at herself.
"You like it?"
"Of course I do!"
Gemma turned toward her sister and growled. Maria smiled at her. Gemma rose up over the seat and growled at her father. Her father acted scared of his little girl.
"Daddy, quit it."
"But you're a very scary lion."
"I am?" \
"Yes, and the most adorable lion in the jungle." Gemma's father kissed her on the tip of her nose. Black charcoal rubbed off her nose and onto his lips. He smiled, unaware of what he had done. Gemma's mother rolled her eyes, then took a handkerchief and cleaned his face. Gemma sat in her seat and smiled as the bus rode through the hills of Leyte toward Pintados. Gemma was becoming more and more excited with each stop and addition of more painted passengers on the bus.
The bus turned onto a street that was filled with all sorts of people in all sorts of costumes. They were painted in every color of the rainbow. There was singing and dancing all around. Gemma's heart began pounding excitedly. Finally, they had made it to the Pintados Festival. Maria took Gemma by the hand and led her off the bus. A group of men were seated in a drummer's circle, beating on drums and singing tribal folk songs.
As Gemma began dancing, a girl came up and gave her a necklace made of colorful beads and shells. Gemma continued dancing as people clapped and joined her, dancing to the beat of the drummers. One of the drummers motioned for Gemma to join him. She walked over and stood next to his drum. He gently grabbed her hands and beat the drum.
Gemma joined in as the men beat out a song. Her drumbeats were uneven and didn't match the other drummer's beats. After a few moments, she stopped beating on the drum and decided to dance again. After the song ended, Gemma returned to her sister.
"Did you see me drumming?" she asked.
"Yes." "I couldn't keep up with the others."
"That's okay. You made a song. That's all that matters."
Gemma took Maria by the hand and they walked through the Festival grounds. People were painted every color of the rainbow. They sang and danced and played musical instruments. It wasn't long before someone painted Maria's face, too. They drew bright blue and yellow lines down her face.
"Maria?" "Yes, Gemma?"
"What is Pintados?"
"Pintados celebrates ancient tribal warriors. They were called 'Pintados' because of the tattoos painted on their bodies. Their body paintings were signs of courage."
"So I'm a Pintado?" Gemma asked.
"Today, everyone is a Pintado, including our mother." Maria pointed out some boys painting bright colors on her mother's shirt, turning it from plain white to red, blue and green. They were painting stripes on her face, too.
Gemma and Maria watched a man getting a tattoo. One man was holding a cloth and he took it up to the other man's mouth. He grabbed his tongue and began to pierce it with an ink-filled needle. The man made a face, but didn't say a thing. Gemma flinched away.
As the tattoo artist continued painting the tribesman's tongue, several people gathered around in another area. Girls dressed in pretty yellow dresses danced in unison, their arms flowing like birds. Some had feathers braided into their long, black hair. Some had feathers attached to their costumes, while others had long yellow ribbons that swirled around as they waved their arms.
"Come here, quick," said Maria. Maria led Gemma through the crowd to an empty curb. They sat down next to the street. Soon, their mother joined them.
Gemma was too excited to realize that both Pidro and her father were missing. They had gone off to change into costumes and paint their bodies. They were also part of the parade. The girls in yellow led the parade. They advanced in two lines and then peeled off in two different directions. They swooped through the streets like a flock of yellow birds attacking the crowds. Another girl wore a dress covered with bright red and blue feathers. As she danced, other girls with yellow ribbons twirled about, weaving circles around her.
Next came the tribal drummers. They had bright green paint on their dark brown bodies. Each man carried a small drum, beating them in different beats, combining for a song. A man in a long silver suit walked on stilts. He was much taller than the tallest man there. He stopped and held a hand above his eyes, as if he were looking for someone in the crowd. Just then, he waved a finger at the crowd and flung a handful of candy into the street. Gemma scampered into the street with the other children and managed to grab a green lollipop for herself. A group of boys and girls came by, doing somersaults and backwards flips. They, too, were painted in pretty colors of yellow, pink, purple, orange, and blue. Some wore colored-wigs and some held bright-colored pinwheels which glimmered in the summer breezes. The girl painted like a leopard came up to Gemma and gave her a special wink, then one of her friends came up with a bucket. The girl in the leopard paint dipped her hands into the bright yellow paint. She grabbed Gemma hair and ran her fingers through it, coloring it with yellow streaks. The girl stood back and admired Gemma for a second, then went onward, changing people into Pintados.
A group of men sang folk songs and danced. They looked to the sky, let out a chant, then slapped the ground and waved at the crowd. One man came up and smiled at Gemma. It was Pidro. She hadn't even recognized her brother, decorated in paint and a festive costume. Gemma looked for her father, but could not see him. Maria pointed him out and Gemma waved. Gemma's father waved back, then continued dancing and singing his folk songs for the crowd. At the end of the parade, Maria and Gemma's mother got up. Gemma took Maria's hand as they joined the parade, following it to the festival.
At the festival, all the people she saw at the parade were there, including Pidro and her father. Gemma immediately ran up towards her father and gave him a big hug.
"You look great, Daddy."
Still, Gemma's family continued singing tribal songs and watching dancers perform on the main stage. Later that night, Miss Pintados was chosen from girls in the parade. The girl in the leopard paint finished in second place, although Gemma secretly thought she was the best.
Gemma also ate festival foods including Halo-halo. She also shared some Chicken Adobo with Maria. Gemma loved the salt and vinegar taste of Adobo as the tender strips of chicken melted in her mouth. Gemma ate what she could, then she left the rest for her older sister. At the festival’s end, the moon rose high into the sky, watching over Gemma and her family and all the other Pintados. Gemma walked for a little while before her father grabbed her in his arms and balanced her on his back as he walked towards the bus stop. She wrapped her legs around his waist and rested her hands on his shoulders. With each step, Gemma jostled from side-to-side.
Gemma fell asleep as her father carried her towards the bus stop. Gemma's family got on and rode home. Gemma’s father nudged Gemma on the shoulder. She woke up and looked at her father. He signaled to the driver to stop in front of their house.
"Come on, we’re home."
Gemma and her family got off the bus and walked toward their house. As she walked along, she held on tightly to her father’s hand.
"Did you have a good time?" he asked.
"The best," Gemma answered.
"Me too, Gemma. Me too."

Under the Santol Tree

Cool ocean breezes blew over the shores and into the valley where Gemma’s house stood. She swung back and forth in her hammock, enjoying the warmth of the summer sun. She lived in city by the shore – Baybay, in the southern part of the Philippines.
For Gemma, summertime was her favorite time of year. She had so many choices of things to do, whether it was going to the dive shop with her brother Pidro, going to the market with her mother, or having her sister Maria babysit her for the day.
Every morning, Gemma’s mother and father would wake up when their rooster Roberto crowed. They would take their morning showers, and then sit in their rocking chairs on the porch, drinking tea as the world buzzed to life around them.
Usually, her brother Pidro would be the next out of bed and he would wake Gemma and ask her to tag along with him to the dive shop. She loved going to the dive shop with Pidro. She would help him tow kayaks onto the beach and prepare the oar stand, fetching oars from the boathouse and filling the oar stands with oars for kayaks and rowboats.
While Pidro worked at the dive shop, she could also help tourists try on scuba gear or choose a kayak or a pontoon boat. She got to watch the dive shop while Pidro taught the tourists how to keep the kayaks from turning upside down. Today though, Pidro had gotten up much too early for Gemma, so today she would stay behind with Maria while her parents went to Market. Whenever Gemma's sister Maria wasn't busy at college, she'd watch over Gemma while everyone else ran their errands or went to work. Sometimes, Maria would lay in the hammock and strum the guitar while Gemma played in the yard.
Today was one of those lucky days when Maria watched over her. Their parents had gone to market and Pidro was busy at the dive shop, preparing for tourists. He was tying the sails on the sailboats, moving the kayaks out towards the beach, and checking the life vests for ripped cloth and torn strings.
As Gemma swung back and forth in the hammock, she could smell breakfast cooking in the kitchen. She stared upwards at the dark, green leaves of the Santol tree that hung overhead. The leaves cast spotted shadows over the hammock as the branches swung in the breeze. The hammock was tied to the Santol tree's thick, brown trunk on one end and a large metal pipe that stuck out of the ground at the other end. A small scarlet-colored bird sat in the tree and chirped. Gemma tried chirping back, but only scared the bird away. She watched it take off from its roost and fly towards the shore and out of sight.
Gemma closed her eyes and daydreamed of being a scarlet bird, flying high over her brother’s head. She could watch people in sailboats and pontoons as she flew from the Santol trees to the Ipil-ipil trees and back again.
"Lunch is ready," Maria called out from the porch. Her voice startled Gemma from her daydream. She looked up, to see Maria holding a tray of fish and a pitcher of juice. Gemma got up and tried to help her sister.
"No, I have it. You just sit down and I'll get this."
Gemma went out to the gazebo where the family always ate their meals whenever the weather was right. Four sturdy logs had been planted in the soil to hold the roof. Branches and leaves were woven together then placed on top of the logs, forming a thatched roof overhead. Beneath the hut were three benches, arranged in a U shape. In the middle of the U sat a small wooden table, good for gathering around and spending time together.
Gemma sat in her usual place in the gazebo, where the two high-backed benches met in one corner. She moved to the back of the bench and pulled her feet up against her chest. When Maria was around, it was one of the rare times when she could sit how she wanted to sit, not how her mother made her sit.
Gemma poked her fork into the piece of grilled fish and scooped the meat out with her spoon. It tasted like lemon pepper. It wasn't as good as the fish her mother cooked, but it was the only way Maria ever prepared fish when she was cooking, so Gemma thought it tasted great. Maria scooped some rice and some scrambled eggs onto Gemma's plate next to the fish. Gemma finished eating her fish first, then she finished all the rice on her plate. Gemma’s tummy was full by the time she started eating her eggs. She poked around at her eggs, taking long pauses between each bite.
"Did I put too much on your plate?" asked Maria.
"I think so."
Maria took Gemma's plate and scraped the eggs onto the ground, where one of the cats gobbled it up.
Then, Maria began gathering the dishes and silverware and taking them back into the house. Gemma picked up the remaining plates and followed her up to the house and into the kitchen, where Maria began washing dishes.
"Is there anything I can do?" Gemma asked.
"Yes there is. You can go fetch some papaya fruit."
"Yummy! We're gonna have papaya?" Gemma asked.
"I thought you were full," said Maria.
"I'm never too full for papaya."
"Well, this is better than papaya."
"Better than papaya fruit? Nothing is better than papaya fruit," said Gemma.
"You'll see."
Gemma ran out to the papaya tree and plucked several papaya fruit off the tree, gathering them in the flounce of her sun dress. She gathered as much fruit as her dress' apron could hold, then returned to the kitchen sink.
Maria had just put the last dish away and was cleaning a knife to cut the papaya. Gemma approached the kitchen table, and poured the papaya onto the table top. Maria gathered the fruit with her arms and placed them in the center of the table.
As Maria cut each papaya, Gemma stole slices and put them in her mouth. Maria could hardly keep up with her hungry little sister.
"Gemma! Go outside and I'll be out in a few minutes."
"You bringing the papaya?"
"Just go outside, Gemma. I'll be out in a few minutes."
"I just wanted to help," grumbled Gemma.
"You can help me by being patient. Now go outside while I finish fixing something for the both of us." Gemma frowned at her sister and went out onto the porch without saying a word. She grabbed her takyan and took it outside.
The takyan was a tiny cloth-covered metal ring with a bright red tail around one end. Gemma kicked it with the inside of her foot, trying to keep it from touching the ground. Gemma’s record was 11 kicks. When her brother kicked the takyan, Gemma would keep count. Often, Pidro would kick it 50 times in a row. Usually, he just caught the takyan in a hand and handed it to Gemma so she could give it a try.
She took the takyan out of her pocket and began kicking it into the air. "One...two...three," she counted. With each kick, the bright red tail fluttered in the air like a scarlet snake bouncing up and down off her foot. She kicked the takyan with the edge of her shoe, sending it flying across the porch and into the tall weeds next to the house. Gemma walked through the weeds, looking for her takyan. It had bounced under a prickly bush, just out of reach. As Gemma stretched her arm under the bush, needles scratched her arm. She strained to get the takyan, but it was just out of reach.
"Maria!" she called. Just then, Maria came through the front door entrance and onto the porch, carrying a tray with two glasses.
"Halo-halo!" shouted Gemma.
"Halo-halo special...with papaya fruit."
"That is better than papaya!"
Gemma grabbed her glass with both hands, careful not to spill one drop. The Halo-halo drink was the Filipino version of a milk shake, with crushed ice, milk, sugar, and fresh fruit. Since it was "special," that meant it also had a few scoops of ice cream on top. For Gemma, it was definitely a Halo-halo special.
Gemma wiped the excess Halo-halo off her chin and set the empty glass down on the table.
"How was it?"
"The best," said Gemma.
"Good. I wanted to surprise you," said Maria.
"You did surprise me."
They sat there for a few moments, until Maria realized something was wrong.
"Where’s your takyan?"
Gemma pointed towards the prickly bush at the bottom of the hill.
"Do you need me to help you get it?"
Gemma nodded.
Maria went down the hill and found the takyan under the prickly bush. Maria bent down and reached under the bush. Quickly, she rescued it and gave it back to Gemma. They returned to the hammock where Maria grabbed her guitar and strummed it gently. Gemma continued juggling the takyan with her feet until she was tired. She climbed onto the hammock with her sister as she continued to play folk songs. Gusts of wind blew in to keep the girls cool under the hot Filipino sun. The Santol tree continued waving and wagging in the breeze, throwing diamond-shaped shadows over the hammock. They relaxed and enjoyed each other’s company until Mr. and Mrs. Cruz came home.
Mr. Cruz worked at the pineapple plant. Mr. Cruz operated the pineapple-cutter, a large machine which removed the outer skin of the pineapple with one quick chop. Each day after work he would take the bus home, walking down the hill from the bus stop. Usually, Gemma and her mother would walk up to meet her father, but today she was shopping at Mercado Pier.
"Papa!" Gemma cried out as she saw her daddy walking along the road. She ran up the hill from her house to the road and gave him a great big hug.
"How was your day?" he asked.
"My day was a lot of fun. I played with my takyan, and Maria fixed Halo-halo special!" "Halo-halo?" "Halo-Halo special."
"That does sound like a lot of fun. Where’s mine?"
"I’m sorry. We were going to save some for everyone else, but I put it in a special hiding place."
"A special hiding place? Where could that be?"
"Right here, locked away in my tummy," said Gemma as she patted her stomach.
"I guess that’s a good place for it."
Maria and Gemma sat in the hammock while Mr. Cruz sat on one of the benches in the gazebo. Maria played the guitar and sang until their mother came home. Maria and Mrs. Cruz cooked dinner and when Pidro arrived home from the Dive Shop, the Cruz family gathered under the Santol tree, enjoying steamed rice and vegetable stir-fry.
After dinner, Mama and Papa sat in the hammock while the children sat around the table, playing cards. The moon slowly rose over the ocean, signaling the another end to another day. Maria put Gemma to bed then returned to the gazebo.
Gemma listened to them talk while she laid in bed. It was quite some day for Gemma. She wished it would never end. Luckily for Gemma, every day was a surprise. Whether there was Halo-Halo special or not, every day for Gemma always seemed to be an adventure.