MV Escano was easing out from the big river into open sea. At port side was the
barrio of Magallanes and farther down the coastline was the cozy little hamlet
of Caloc-an. It was there where I left my heart that night.
I was in agony as the ship sailed away. I knew that she was looking in tears
from the shore. She told me about this last night. We were then sitting on a
wash-ashore tree trunk that was partly embedded in the sand. Fronting us was
the vast ocean. We watched the flickering lights of fishermen from afar. It was
full moon and there was not a cloud in sky.
It was a beautiful evening. We could see the vague outline of distant mountains
and coconut trees adorning the shoreline of the bay. The scenery indeed was an
ideal setting to a romantic interlude, but melancholy feeling instead engulfed
us deeply. I was going away the next day and I was not coming back. We settled
not to jeopardize each other's future that consequently, we painfully agreed to
go on separate ways.
We listened to the sound of little waves as it hits the shore. She leaned close
to me once more. I held her tight. Gentle sea breeze caressed her dangling hair
and the moon's radiant light brightened her face. I saw an angelic beauty in my
arms and sensed the purity of her soul. She whispered sadly and for the last
time, I kissed with a passion the waiting lips of my beloved. We said goodbye.
She wept and so did I.
From the ferry, the seacoast behind me gradually vanished. Although the ship
was mostly filled with excited and gleeful students to Manila, I felt alone. My
longing for her intensely wrapped me completely. I yearned to hold her once
again. I gazed upon the horizon and wandered back in time.
It started in Magallanes a year ago. I was the only police officer assigned to
maintain order. Well, Villaraza was supposed to be with me, but he was in his
last year to retirement that he just stayed most of his time in his home in
Lombocan. Magallanes was where federation workers loading logs to foreign ships
anchored at the bay would spend their off time from work. Suffice to say that
it was a rowdy town. Foreign sailors won't even dare go ashore.
Late afternoon, a motorboat operator handed me an envelope. It was an order
from the department. I was instructed to go to Caloc-an to investigate rampant
dynamite fishing. I was informed further that detectives Acompaniado and
Barrientos would join me the next day.
I was at the edge of Caloc-an just after sundown. It was a good ten-kilometer
seaside walk from Magallanes. There was nobody around. Everybody was at the
plaza to watch a drama show from a makeshift stage. It was the night before the
fiesta.
I was looking for the barrio captain. I found him sitting in front the crowd
with his family. I was offered to join them. I was on time for the show was
about to start. I was told that the director was the daughter of the barrio
captain.
The main curtain opened and the director welcome the crowd. She was beautiful.
She captivated my attention and my heart. She was almost my age and the way she
talked and moved put me into a trance to dream of her in my arms. I can hardly
believe that a little and isolated village like this could harbor such alluring
beauty. She mesmerized me. I was in love.
It was the beginning of a wonderful relationship. My visit to Caloc-an was
frequent. We usually found ourselves walking along the beach like happy
children playing in the sand. We always wound up sitting together on that
wash-ashore tree trunk. It became our adored rendezvous.
Pizzaro lost his re-election bid as mayor of Butuan. Badong Calo came in. It
was politically practiced then that mostly all employees from the previous
administration had to go. Like others, I also irked some people and staying
against the grain would somehow compromise my well being.
It was at Pier 8 of North Harbor where I started another chapter in my life. MV
Escano docked in and scary looking people rushed aboard and grabbed whatever
they could carry for a fee. It was chaotic. I went down the plank and mingled
with the crowd. I realized that I was in a different world. I was a total
stranger in a big city with much to learn to find my way.
I looked back to the sea once more and softly whispered into the wind.
"Goodbye, Manuela."
